The Four D's

FootyFanDan

Thanks Mark, Ideally I wouldn't really like to do both jobs long term as it would be a lot of work, but I am hopeful by showing willing and helping out that maybe then I can be in a good position to take over when they do decide. 

FootyFanDan

Evening, 

Today seemed to just fly by. I hate the getting up a bit earlier as I now have to set of a little earlier due to traffic, but once I am up and ready I don't feel so bad. The thing about my dual role duties at the moment it just feels like I am hardly at work and then its time for home lol...good in one respect but it feels like I don't have enough hours in the day.

I have to run various reports so these take up lots of time and effort due to various filters and formulas, so I have had a bit of an admin day today trying to setup lots of templates to hopefully help me long term.  Also set up a to do tracker to be able to try keep on top of stuff, the plan is to check this daily and then mark off as I do them/update in the morning once I do my other reports. I do think long term doing two jobs just isn't possible as both are pretty full on roles and at the minute I am just exhausted trying to do both as well as holiday cover the third role lol, although that should be it after next week for that one.

I have upped my fuel budget by a tiny bit to cover the extra distance I am doing, but other area's of budget are going down so can't grumble to much. My pay date has now been changed by my employer but only by a day. I have amended DD and in the process of that water has now been re-calculated and dropped by £8 per month, which is a decent saving  

I am hopefully of getting a decent sleep tonight, I really need to re-assess how much I need to start taking care of my self properly and try get in a routine but that is so tough to do when been pulled all over different work shifts and departments of work. 

FootyFanDan

Hi MSE world, another week begins. I hope everyone had a nice weekend. 

This weekend has been pretty relaxed, we had the usual drama class for the little one, so myself and OH just went for breakfast and coffee. We have spent most of the weekend trying to get the house decluttered a bit. Also took the little one to see the Christmas stuff at a local garden centre which we always visit, we couldn’t do much there though as weather was a bit miserable so we took a little walk around a local country park. A pretty cheap weekend, had to get a few bits of shopping to top up on food but nothing much was needed. The food budgeting the way we are doing it now seems to be working pretty well at the minute.  

Today I am off work as I am covering my old role on Friday & Saturday, so I get days off instead of overtime unless there are lot of shifts that I am covering. I am working Tues-Saturday and then have four more days off so not too bad.  

I am going to spend to day setting up a few things that will hopefully help me keep track of my eating/health. I have been feeling pretty rubbish last few weeks and just in general don’t feel like I am eating properly or resting properly. I am normally pretty rubbish at sticking to a night routine but I really need to try something different. I need some sort of wind down routine (ideas welcome!) I keep saying I will do x,y,z to make morning routine better too but just never do. I just need to try get into a routine and stick with it and then hopefully it will stick. 

 

To Do: 

0 – Meal plan template for work days – to include breakfast, snacks, lunch. - I totally suck at eating properly at work, I tend to just work through so many lunch breaks it is unreal.  I find it so tough to break away from what I am doing. I also find sandwiches all the time boring. I also think because I leave this lunch making til the morning I tend to find myself so many times just not bothering and saying ‘ Ah I will buy something on route’  

0 – Sort my clothes out – I need to have a clear through my wardrobe so that I can sort stuff into work wear and normal wear. I want to get into a position where all my work wear is prepared so I can just get it out the night before or the morning. Again this task is normally a morning thing where I iron on a morning. 

0 – Look & plan schedule in planner for this week. - I tend to find I am more productive if I set my days and times out, it takes a little bit of my day but I have found keeping track make it easier for me 

Looking at the above tasks made me realise if I can find time in the night to make work lunch and have work clothes prepared it will make my mornings a lot less hectic. I also need to think about just how much tech I am consuming on a night – I think maybe having a set bedtime and then no tech a certain time before might help. 

Finance wise things are going pretty good at the moment. I have got pretty much into the habit of been able to have money we get through the month sat there and it doesn’t feel like we are stretched come payday. I still think I could track better and still sometimes think I still spend without checking the budget allows. The spends most certainly have gone up since lockdown ended though lol. Although the month ahead idea hasn’t ever really stuck, I don’t ever remember a time I felt so in control of finances, but I am also conscious of how quick that can change should circumstances change 

 

Poppy1984

Hey 👋 
Sounds like you're doing great with your finances, and having money left over at the end of the month is a real achievement. You've just reminded me of the Dave Ramsey one month ahead rule. I remember when I first started debt busted that was something I really aspired to do. Although now it's coming closer I have to admit I had completely forgot about it. 

Do you have an emergency fund in place? I sometimes think that's probably more important than being a pay check ahead. It's a lovely idea though isn't it. 

As I get closer to becoming debt free I've got lots of things whirring through my head to as what I can do once I'm there and i definitely want to prioritise a healthy emergency fund as well as different pots for yearly expenses etc. i do have those now but as I'm getting closer I have been using them a bit to overpay, a bit naughty but I'm getting impatient now and just want it gone!!! 

Poppy

FootyFanDan

Hey Poppy, how are you?

I do have a tiny emergency fund and tbh I feel quite in control of finance stuff at the moment (which tbh is probably the only thing i feel in control of at the moment) I always wanted the month ahead thing but like you it kinda just never happened and now it isn't really a focus of mine. I think I need to try find a purpose for this spare money though so I don't feel like it is wasted.

haha I get the impatience and when it is gone and you can focus on the EF and pots you will be so much more at peace with the steps you are taking now to get debt free

I know things felt a little crazy for you over last few months so I really hope that has settled a bit and you are looking after yourself  

mark55man

Hi Dan - glad things are boring for you - that's a good thing!!.  I'm struggling with focus at the moment, so always good to see others in control and in an unconscious sort of way.  Just about to do my monthly reporting, but its all a bit flat.  Is boring an aspiration - not sure really!!

Poppy1984

FootyFanDan said:

Hey Poppy, how are you?

I do have a tiny emergency fund and tbh I feel quite in control of finance stuff at the moment (which tbh is probably the only thing i feel in control of at the moment) I always wanted the month ahead thing but like you it kinda just never happened and now it isn't really a focus of mine. I think I need to try find a purpose for this spare money though so I don't feel like it is wasted.

haha I get the impatience and when it is gone and you can focus on the EF and pots you will be so much more at peace with the steps you are taking now to get debt free

I know things felt a little crazy for you over last few months so I really hope that has settled a bit and you are looking after yourself  

I'm doing okay thank you, yes it's been a stressful few months and I've took a real knock to the debt busting confidence and I'm still worried about my finances but I think I've just accepted the situation is what it is. Hopefully things will change at some point. 

That's good you have an emergency fund, and are feeling in control of your finances well done 😁😁 keep up the good work! Hopefully I'll be joining you on the debt free roll of honour in 3 months time 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Poppy

alt80

You're doing well mate always a pleasure to read your updates.

FootyFanDan

Evening All, 

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, its been a pretty crazy few weeks again. I finally have a bit of chill time this week but the last month work and life in general have just got me into a pretty tired / burnout way to be honest. I feel I am kind of letting work take over thoughts and its making me worry way more than is normal. I think I need to find a way to be able to just switch off at hometime and not worry about it until the next day. I have spent this week sick and feeling exhausted...don't know if this is due to the crazy hours and pressure I am putting on myself workwise or just a coincidence but certainly glad that I am starting to feel better now lol. I think I am going to speak to my manager when I am back of my holiday from work, I think that I am been expected to do way too much considering I have my own full time role to do as well, I don't mind helping out but now feel my own job is suffering and I am missing stuff in my job role which makes me look s**t and I don't like it.

Finance wise everything is running pretty smoothly and payday's seem like a non-event now! which I guess is a good thing. My payday has now finally changed, it is only a day difference so shouldn't really impact stuff direct debit wise.  I still need to get a grip on my food bills however I expect this to go up as previously I wasn't really eating properly or anything, when we come to do the food shop online I would just be too tired to even add some stuff. I have now made a list of stuff that pretty much as to go on every shopping list like fruit and some healthy breakfast foods as well as proper work lunches.

We have started do the Xmas stuff and are pretty much done for the little one...we never try go to crazy to be honest as family always seem to but we really want to get her into bike riding so its a bike this year. We do still have a few family members to buy for but this isn't something we will be going crazy with either. One thing that we will be buying this year is a new tree, ours has lasted us pretty well but is way too big so we will get a smaller one that will hopefully last a fair while if we store properly. We don't really know what theme to have this year but we aren't really feeling the xmas spirit yet lol

Hope every one is doing okay and I will try make sure I update regularly

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

You're doing well mate always a pleasure to read your updates.

Thanks mate, hope you and the family had a great time away