The Four D's

FootyFanDan

forgot to mention that the LISA as been opened and funded with a £1 at the moment just to get it opened and ready to go. I plan to fund this monthly with the full amount it allows. I need to add myself a new signature with all the savings goals I am tracking at some point

FootyFanDan

Ah, end of week 1 of January work, this has probably been the first week since taking my new role almost a year ago that I have been able to focus purely on my own job and I have managed to get so much more organised. I am feeling a bit more positive about this now.

It has been a pretty steady week really, not any major unplanned spends (phew!) however did need to pick up a few bits today for lunch. I have managed to keep up with all my targets for the week so that is moving in the right direction too. 

This weekends plans

Saturday - Drama with drop off
               - Go to Bank and deposit a cheque ( lil one xmas money from relatives)
               - Sort wardrobes and bag up clothes to donate
               - Plan my week ahead in diary/calendars and work schedules (would normally do Sunday but football this weekend will prevent that

Sunday - Up early and in London all day for Football so that day will be pretty much a write off! Although I am sure I will feel the affects on Monday when that alarm clock goes off.

MSE Money Stuff for next week


Our broadband provider has advised us of a price increase due in Feb so this needs looking at as I already feel it is too expensive, also the TV package deal is due to run out in Feb and we become out of contract so will need to negotiate there too. I have had an email saying they will keep at same prices for another 12 months but don't ask don't get I suppose. So these need to be added to my late Jan to do.

This week has been tough for the little one, I think it has finally sunk in that her Gran is no longer around and there is a few episodes of crying and explaining we have had to overcome. Normally over xmas there is a lot of excitement and contact with them so maybe it hit her. She does seem unusually anxious sometimes too so that is something to keep an eye on. 

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend

mark55man

Great start with week 1 and Good luck with the other 51!!

A lot of mobile bank apps have a deposit a cheque feature - just in case you hadn't heard.

When we got V1rgin Broadband in January last year they basically threw everything at us discount on package, free TV subs and free 5GB mobile plan.  That was as a new Virgi1n customer 18 month costing £35pm for everything.  It will double in July but I will revise then.  I used the phone to become my personal phone was previously work only but at worst you can just migrate you existing contract if you want.  

Enjoy the football!!
  

FootyFanDan

Evening All, 

Not really much to update but wanting to check in to keep active. Weekend went as well as it could, I managed to avoid spending too much as I had to change travel plans slightly so drinking kinda went out of the window. On another note West Ham stadium is the worst football ground I have ever been to!! and I have been to Histon haha.

@mark55man we are currently with V!g!in too and it is pretty much ready for renewal so that does need to be looked at.

I have spent a few days at work trying to set myself up well for the year. A lot of reports I do are through various spreadsheets but I was using what others had done previously but now I have had time I have put my own little stamp on them and now it will hopefully save me some time. 

FootyFanDan

So last night I tried to be good and get an early night....that didn't work out great ahaha, wide awake at 1am - least we are one day closer to the weekend. We had planned on not spending much this week other than our food shop, unfortunately we needed to get a few bits that we had not got and I also used some personal spends to get breakfast on the go yesterday as I slept in. 

Not much else really happening, hope everyone has a good day

mark55man

nothing beats a cheeky take out breakfast - apart from knowing its a treat you can afford 

FootyFanDan

ah....why does it only take a crappy budget month to make you feel like you totally suck at this budgeting lark! What a battering my budget as taken this month and it has made me realise I need to get my butt back into gear. My pay from 22nd Dec til payday yesterday as had to withstand an over indulgent Christmas with extra activities chucked in, a few birthdays a broken washing machine, a broken down car and a few to many unbudgeted spends! Whilst I have got through the month (just about) it is the first in a while that I was badly needing payday. I feel like since clearing my debt i have totally thrown out was I learnt in that tough spell and I am worried if I don't get a grip on it then it will all fail again. The spends in isolation are nothing drastic but altogether it is just not sustainable to think that now I am debt free I don't need to budget. I want to find a good balance of course but this last month it was heavily weighed in favour of not having a care for what I spent. So time to re-focus and get into shape. 

I have never really shared my SOA but did one at the very start and I have never really done another assessment of it which is something I now need to do. The general household bills are all covered and we are in a good place, we aren't struggling for the everyday stuff and are in a better position than a lot of people but any emergency now feels like it can knock us. Last year whilst still in debt we prepared for these and now I need to focus on doing this again. 

The car for the moment is off the road and will be going into the garage next week to see what is the issue, it could be anything from a blocked filter through to a new head gasket needed so fingers crossed. It literally went into limp mode today which is scary on roads so I am lucky it didn't happen on a motorway. So for next week I either need to work from home or take public transport. Public transport isn't actually that bad with the hours I now work and is probably going to add aprox 30 mins in travel to my day but cost wise is neutral. I could probably drive but it just isn't worth the risk.

The positive of this month is that although it was a stretch we ate fine, all bills were paid, we replaced the washer and in general enjoyed some really nice treats and survived without getting in debt so that is a win I guess. 

New plan needed though to try ease these things that come up.

FootyFanDan

Plan for remainder of weekend

New SOA
Food Shop - we used to do Ald! but then slowly stopped and the food shop slowly creeped up. I think we need to re-visit this and maybe use a mix of Ald! and other shops

Budget in general is looking good although need to factor in a car repair which will possibly be done towards middle of month. There isn't really much scope for cutting much out of budget and in reality the amount we have left in budget is a good amount but I think I have neglected the budget over last month or so. 

I need to look into the saving for things that we know will eventually come up even if we don't know when. So I will review how I look at pots as this worked for me last time. Budgeting via spreadsheet again is actually working well as I get a full overview of the month which is good as I can tweak and see impact. I think overall I am in  a good place i just need to iron a few things out.

Food budget went slightly over as did entertainment and misc. (random stuff). This is mainly due to top up shops, the odd costa morning and treating family to eating out - all which we should do but maybe in a bit more moderation. 

Work is going okay despite me having a few reservations about certain things. I feel like I am starting to be able to switch off more from work now which is good

Hope everyone is doing ok

BlueJ94

@FootyFanDan

Don't be so hard on yourself, you've done amazing since being debt free.

FootyFanDan

Thank You Jade - it has been a pretty tough month finance wise so kinda beating myself up over letting the reigns go a bit and enjoying a bit of family time as i now think that money could have gone elsewhere but ah that can't be changed now. I think i just need to dust myself down and go again