The Four D's

FootyFanDan

Just gone back over my targets that I set at this point last year and I haven't really progressed much with any of them, which to be honest seems an epic fail on my part. However I am in such a better place work wise, which I hope will improve further with the new role and set hours. We currently are in Tier 3 but still not entirely comfortable with the gym so this is under review for when we get a little bit back to normal (which I pray isn't now far away). 

Debt wise I have paid off a fair chunk again this year and go into the New Year with all my bills and Utility bills up-to-date which is a massive win for me. Whilst ideally I would like to have been out of debt by now we have had a few curve balls thrown which my budget just isn't at a stage to be as prepared for as I would like, but this is work in progress and will be more stable in 2021. One thing I must do is either keep up with YNAB and check it properly or just ditch it which would be a shame as it does help me, I just need to maybe set some time aside to check it maybe weekly.

Going over the last year posts and what stood out is how much on the ball I was with the food / meal planning - I don't know if it just coz of the nature of the year we have had and how awful shopping is right now but this just seems to have gone out of the window. I plan to get back on the ball with this.

One target where I have done quite well (except a obsession with a brand of trainer collection building up) is kept my possession of things under control. There are things I need to replace this coming year due to age of items and just generally needing an upgrade. I talked myself out of a new phone despite having my current provider offer one, I purchased one earlier in year with a tax rebate but this was purely due to all fixes for my old one just not working. I am quite happy with my phone and I am on a good sim only deal so that is good for now.  I feel like my spending is more under control now than ever before but this year as also shown that life is so fragile and I want to make memories with my family and friends. So whilst I want to be debt free I want to find a balance that also allows me to enjoy life as well. I feel incredibly lucky to have what I have and be where I am given how crap this year has been overall, I understand not everyone has been so lucky and want to send nothing but love to the people who have been affected by this god awful disease

I don't really like setting new year's resolutions....its just another target to fail at haha, but over the next few days I need to think about 2021 goals. 

FootyFanDan

Financial Targets

1. Be in a position to pay annual car tax in full by December 2021 renewal & Annual Car Insurance in March In reality this should be quite easy as only for car tax is £30 lol, but a goal is a goal. Insurance could prove a bit tougher

2. Ensure YNAB gets kept up to date and transactions entered – If I can achieve this I will be in a fab place, when I was doing this I felt so in control but this slipped as the year went on. I plan to enter transactions daily which should be easy as most are via Monzo. The direct debits will be entered automatically via scheduled transactions

3. Clear the remaining debt by December 2021, this is a bit longer than I would want but I aim to have cleared well before then. I need to go back through the data and check my current total as I have probably mis-counted somewhere but the figure isn’t much over £1k

4. Save for a family break away, once we are back into freedom. This may turn out to be a week at the coast with the plan of a massive holiday in America in 2022 but we shall see. Hopefully by summer 2021 we have a little bit more freedom and we can start having some days out that venture further than our garage!

I am sure there will be more to add at some point but that is all I can really think of at the minute. My first task will be to sort my Monzo pots and refresh YNAB for the new year. Unfortunately I am working nights tomorrow so I am needing to stay up tonight and sleep through day tomorrow so I am not totally shattered, this plan never seems to work haha but I know that Saturday I won’t sleep much as I wanna watch the football which is on at 11:30am. I can’t wait til these night shifts are done, fair play to anyone that does permanent nights these have destroyed my body clock

DancingInTheRain

Happy New Year Dan, I'm sure you'll achieve the goals you've set but be kind to yourself with what you've already achieved especially on the mindset front. When do you start the new role? X

mark55man

well done for surviving 2020!

Wishing you a great year in '21 and that you smash through your new targets as thoroughly as you did last year

FootyFanDan

DancingInTheRain said:

Happy New Year Dan, I'm sure you'll achieve the goals you've set but be kind to yourself with what you've already achieved especially on the mindset front. When do you start the new role? X

Thank you Dancing & Happy new year, a massive well done to you to, what you have achieved in 2020 has been outstanding. I do need to try look out for myself and look after myself that little bit better this year. I don’t know if it just routine or not but some days I eat fine others I hardly eat. Same with water intake some days I am proper on the ball others not so much. Mindset wise I am doing okay it's been an up and down year for various reasons but I am focused on trying to be positive and not let too much negative stuff creep in. I see it as I am here, my family are here and healthy despite the few scares

Regards the new role, I am technically already in it, but as they have to recruit for my role and also now another person who is leaving I am mixing my old role and new role which isn’t a major issue at the moment while the new role work load is low. Unfortunately due to having to cover my old role that little bit longer it does mean the hours haven’t changed yet, I am hopeful this isn’t too far away though. They have already had quite a few applications so I would imagine it will be towards mid Jan (hopefully before another set of nights haha)

FootyFanDan

mark55man said:

well done for surviving 2020!

Wishing you a great year in '21 and that you smash through your new targets as thoroughly as you did last year

Thanks Mark, Happy New Year!

Yeah, I would overall consider 2020 a successful, if some what different year. While it has been filled with some crappy, real low moments, it has also taught me some perspective and made me appreciate how lucky I am. It also brought me some incredible moments with friends (when allowed). I for one can’t wait for 2020 to do one lol, but in retrospect it hasn’t all been bad.

Wishing you a cracking 2021

FootyFanDan

First win this year, due to being a good boy and having no debt on the water account and keeping up with all payments. I have now cleared the outstanding debt from last year and kept up to date with this year’s usage cost too, the direct debit for the next year has dropped by £20 per month which sounds minimal but annual saving of £240. I will happily take that.

Now to work on the broadband, we currently have a deal with VM, which was given has a sorry for the total mess around they made when selling us their package. They applied two discounts codes, discount code one must have expired has the next bill is £8 more than expected. When the other code expires the bill defaults to £52 per month which is not going to happen on my watch haha. So shopping around for some deals whilst also trying to get VM to budge on the price – its a work in progress. The discounts were due to expire in beginning of Feb so need to move on that.

My mobile sim only deal as elapsed but is now at same price on rolling contract so don’t really need to do anything with that.

Added to the annual savings £235 I made now that annual car tax as well that is now £30 rather than £265 my annual costs are already down by nearly £500. There are definitely other areas I could trim too that are only minimal but may help in the long run. So I will maybe take a review of these as even £5 per month on something daft is £60 per year, which I am not to fussed about if I am using but if I am not getting the benefit it may as well be cancelled. Food for thought maybe.

alt80

@FootyFanDan happy new year mate. 🥂 

Know exactly what you mean about the balance post debt and also so many good people on here too. Actually glad to hear you’ll stick around too mate - you’ve got a lot to give to those of us not quite so far into the journey.

You’ve done amazing as I’ve said before your diary been a real inspiration for me so you’re def making an impact on other people’s lives on here too. 

Will be time to break the champagne out when you have that last night shift - can’t imagine what it’s like but fairly certain it’s probably !!!!!! your body clock up. 

Re BB - have a look around for offers. I swapped mine to a business plan £20/m+VAT for the standard fibre package, you should get something for similar money.

FootyFanDan

Thanks @alt80. I am glad that my journey can help even if just a little bit. The nights can be a bit of a pain as I don't really sleep well through day, I have normally caught up sleep by my last shift and then it's time to change rota back to days. I haven't minded nights so much this week so far as I have got so much admin stuff done ready for new role so it's been productive. Its just crappy boring stuff but meant I could get completed while office isn't full

Re BB I think I am going to switch to BT but need to do bit more homework first. I currently have a rolling contract via Sky for my BT sports which is £25 a month and then BB is £32 - If i switch I can get both for £40 through BT directly and also as a new customer could get cashback of up to £100. Its only saving £17 per month but that coupled with the cashback seems a good deal. I need to check that when VM installed their stuff they have messed with any of the other connections though before I commit to swap.

Last few days not really been up to much I have now worked out to use file import to get transactions into YNAB which I was well impressed with haha...its the simplest of pleasures i guess. I plan to download a file from my monzo and joint account every Friday as that is when we account for shopping. I am also going to try go down route of properly doing a list and online shopping as i think if done proper it could save money.

Hope everyone had a good saturday

alt80

Good stuff re the BB/ BT Sports deal - tbh I’ve had a complete change in attitude over saving small amounts on things didn’t used to give a !!!!!!. Listened to a podcast - someone else in property but a lot more big time massively changed my perspective essentially little things compounding into bigger ones and compound growth. Not gonna lie not a revelation to me but I’ve always neglected my personal finances/ personal life too really. Anyway point is - keep up the good work.