Working the numbers 2019 style

mark55man

Thanks BabyStepper - I hadn't thought of that, but changing any habit means changing yourself AND your perception of others

Off to help DD buy her new car after her old much loved and well travelled starter car went to the graveyard of beyond economic repairs. I suspect that I may be reporting back tonight having breached my targets on using my CC as travel is important to her and although she doesn't need a car immediately she will soon, and for a long time. So I may top up her purchase power a little to get her if not out of he lemon zone - at least to a better chance of a happy outcome

this would save the family £500 p.a in reduced interst which is good, but does on the surface mean a little more debt for me although I know she is good for it (really!)


didn't quite make 12K yesterday so off for an early toddle

LondonGirl252

mark88man wrote: »

Yes I know its a lot - but I am so unfit mine isnt a manly pacing stride its more of a shuffly mince (think John Inman from Are you being served, although you are not remotely old enough to remember that) so I figured 12,000 was actually more like a proper 10,000

hahaha! Yes I loved that show!

LondonGirl252

Baby stepper - I really agree with your point on booze, smoking etc. I definitely used alcohol to an extent last year to cope with a few things and feel so much better now I have exercise, outdoors, friends and good food instead. I still drink but a lot less and am achieving a lot more!

Hope the car shopping was successful Mark!

mark55man

Well a busy stay spent mainly test driving and driving between dealers - we ended up successful - spending a little more than DD had planned on a newer car (2016 plate) which was much nicer than the older ones without being much more expensive. she is delighted with what she has got

I was happy to broker a better deal on credit for her even though it means notionally at least I am carrying more debt. but I would rather that then her paying an extra £1000 cost of credit on car finance over the 2 years she has calculated she can afford to repay over, or driving around in an accident waiting to happen

so a bit mixed feelings about introducing her to the dirty cycle of premature gratification, but as an ex student she is used to dealing with tight budgets and paid off her uni OD very promptly. I was pleased she plans to overpay the car to pay it off before 2 years although I told her to priortise her emergency funds, which she needs to replenish after the costs of relocating into a new area.

an unexpected day but really very enjoyable. I will post my weekly results on Tuesday which should be fun - although I wil try (and probably fail) not to write an essay

ohdearhowdidthathappen

How lovely that you helped your daughter in that way; makes sense to save on credit costs and to get the newest car possible. It will def save her money in the longer term...
she sounds like she has her head screwed on. Budgeting is an amazing life skill to learn young, wish I had!!

mark55man

she has got her head screwed on - tighter than mine probably!! yes it just felt like the car she chose - a metal purple DS3 (Citroen) - was made for her

mark55man

a small behaviour change today - alongside the coffee I have (provided free at work - and not bad) I am drinking an equivalent size mug of water. then when the inevitable happens I am using the loos on the bottom floor (I work on the top floor) so as well as being better hydrated I am getting more steps in - and I am struggling at the moment to make that target.

The only down side is that the receptionists are wandering why I'm popping down about every hour - I can't imagine what they are thinking - I may have to stop on the 1st floor instead

LondonGirl252

LOL! benefits all round! Don't worry they probably just think you fancy one of them!

mark55man

Lol - not in my case LG as they are men (part reception/part security) although if I repeat my 3 litres hydration splurge even they may begin to wonder

mark55man

Report Back for 1st Week in January 010119-->070119.

Basically I am going to report on a Tuesday for the full week Tuesday to Monday so everying is settled rather than trying to second guess the last Tuesday mid way through + the year started in Tuesday so that seems fair. Do let me know if this is too much or too little. I don’t want to post pie charts or bar charts, nor go into all the details.

Money
A good start on my main CC an error meant I didn’t change my DD in time so in effect I overpaid £200, and I think I can cope this month, but have sorted it for next month. Progress (Amount to go) 90.4% (this won’t change until February). Remember I am paying minimum of the CC but putting money into 5% regular savings and will pay down the balance in December - but counting as repayments and not as savings

Car loan doesn’t go out until next week so that’s 100% left, mortgage goes out early so that’s gone and is now 98.8% to repay based on 1/1/2019 baseline. My £2019 in 2019 challeneg is going well with £62 in this week although a lot of that was hard work done last year so that may lag until I get on the case ebay and other stuff. My “No CC spends” was appalling but then my debit card stopped working so that was effectively the same as my NSD. As previously reported one big spend was a new old car for DD which we agreed I would do – haven’t quite worked out how to report it yet - Laters. NSD 3 which is good.

My separation of work and home spends has been complicated by the bank (which I have been with for 2 years wanting to reidentify me for the new account which means going into the branch which I can only do Thursday - so should be sorted this week)

Non Money (Weight/Health/Green)

Weight is down a kilo in this week so that’s a total loss of 1 out of a target 17. My steps average was 5759 for the week include a 12K and a <1K. Must do better – but to be fair a MSE spreadsheet is much more fun in the cold wet days we have had. I did well on the food taking in a packed lunch of every day I was at work, and the only food waste was xmas niche items so I scored 6 days out of 7. Didn’t make three Vegetarian (of which one Vegan) but did one fully Vegetarian and one fully vegan so that was good. The Veggie ne included a delicious Minestrone which was fabulous with some cheese on top. I’m 6 for 7 on no alcohol purchases – I was not mindful enough on New Year’s day so that was 2019 money spent on 2019 booze. I am mainly AF midweek but have a Cider (on the company tab) as I’m staying away so that was nice

Highlights – definitely enjoyed doing the diary and having OH help in eating more frugally. I think I can report back without boring the pants off you on a weekly basis, but may alternate Money / Other / Money/ Other as the money ones will be a bit dull outside of month end/start
Lowlights – Need to get my steps up and get a replacement current A/C card (ordered) to keep those CC unused!! Plus any sense of how to start an emergency fund with so much going out towards the debts is a worry – but I may have to survive without one for a bit longer