The Four D's

alt80

@FootyFanDan thanks mate. Def know what you mean re life being a test at times FML had enough of those to last a lifetime seems sometimes. Is your Mrs back home yet? 

3 months and debt free is brilliant.

Getting there with both of your goals is fantastic progress mate. Not sure if its the way you want to go but the pots thing never really computed for me - I've settled on setting my yearly budgets and so long as it adds up over the year it's not a problem. Doesn't really matter if something is going on a card temporarily if it's accounted for (but stick with the 0%s). Not popular on here don't know why but anyway if you saw Getmore4less's cash flow graphs on my diary you'll have seen it 100 works and imo no where close as stressful as this whole pot thing. Nothing like a visual rep. Similar idea really I get that as I do track everything, sit down once a week for a date with my card apps and Excel ha. However - you'll find at some point you want to buy something (budgeted) you don't have the ready cash for I'm sure - it could well be somewhere else earning an income for itself in the future. Nothing wrong with using the 0% if it's accounted for mate. Not even sure how much sense that makes I'm totally whacked lol but I do wonder if you are maybe getting hung up on each separate bit of cash being allocated for something when you could be better off paying if off the debts whilst still in debt (which are presumably interest baring) - it's all the same pot ultimately. 

FootyFanDan

Morning All, 

Hope everyone is doing well and keeping safe, I haven't been on much this week due to work lol, however I will properly catch up at some point today.  I have a bit of a busy chores day today haha. 

Todays To Do 

- ) Clothes Washing
- ) Do a shopping list and either order or go get it.
-) Transfer over the car ownership into My Partners Dads details for him to come collect and then sell on ( he already has buyer)
-) Give the kitchen a little tidy round 
-) Check my car insurance renewal and sort that ( I think this will be monthly payment but I am comfortable with this as already lower than my current monthly outgoing so will get other quotes and compare)
-) Change Bedding and put other in to wash

A busy bee I will be today, but first a cuppa and some breakfast. I have really been sleeping great and also eating poorly too so I need to make a conscious effort to get this under control, hope everyone has a good day and I will check in again later 

Poppy1984

FootyFanDan said:

@Poppy1984 Thank you Poppy for your kind comments I am just trying to be there for her as tough as it is me making the stuff more tough doesn't help I guess. We are pretty strong unit to be honest so that helps I think. So sorry to read about your own loss of your mum, its hard at the moment for me as I am not as close to my parents as I once was but I can't imagine the feeling of losing one of them. I can only imagine for a daughter that is close to her mum that must have been a really tough time.

 I am loving being in control of the finances and not worrying about any little thing that comes up, whilst I am not fully where I want to be and there maybe some minor tweaks. At the start of this all I wanted was to be DF and to not have to be skint on payday... I am getting there with both these goals, I may re think the whole using this months money to pay next months bills I mean we are a relatively young family so I still want us to be enjoying life to its about the finding the right balance. Similar to you I never had the savings and I am determined to not put my daughter in that place - although I maybe need to not put as much focus on it right now, I just want to give her the best start I can and I am determined she won't follow my path of debt.

 I will hopefully be debt free in 3 months - even writing that seems crazy right now haha.  I hope you are taking care of yourself, stay safe x

3 months!!!!! 😁😁😁😁 wow that's amazing!!! Bet you can't wait. That is going to come round so fast. Well done, what an achievement. 

Like you say that feeling of being control of finances and getting some savings behind you is the best feeling. 

Get yourself sorted first, pay off all your debt, start to build some savings then you can set something up for your daughters future, still plenty of time as she's still only young. And like they say you need to put your own life jacket on first before you can help someone else with theirs. So definitely focus on getting yourself in a secure place first then it will be easy peasy to help her. 

Poppy

Naomim

I had a bit of an epiphany yesterday when doing the budget and thinking I was over budget and telling the kids it was a tight month. I realised I had budgeted for stuff that comes out right at the end of the month by which time I will already have been paid again.  It will come together.

You've done really well budgeting for future months. I agree about DD's savings.  Concentrate on debt payments first. Although I don't practice what I preach but I put £10 a month into a savings account for both of mine 🙄  

FootyFanDan

Hey All, 
All tasks yesterday completed, not a massive amount planned today other than a bit of recycling to do now the bins are emptied. I might also do a little bit of work admin while I have nothing planned we will see haha.

@alt80 I get what you mean re the pots, it isn't something I have always done tbh but I do feel it gives me some element of a back up. I think the thing I need to possibly look at though is maybe setting a target and then as long as I am on course with the target just fund that and forget about it. I think at times I overthink it, so that is the next thing I need to overcome. I guess I am that used to living to a stricter budget that now things are falling into place it is trying to adjust to that. I also want to be in a place where we can now enjoy things a bit more especially given the year we have just gone through. The positive is that I now have learned that things can still be done even when living to budget and that having a budget doesn't have to be restrictive its just about planning. 

@Poppy1984 Thank you I never thought the day would come when I didn't owe anyone money if I am being honest, I wish I would have not buried my head in the sand and just dealt with this a long time ago. I think more than the debt been gone (which I am delighted about) the fact I have now learned how to budget and live within that will stand me well moving forward. I couldn't have done it without this place though, the ideas and support have been amazing. I am not anywhere close to where I want to be with EF and savings but I have never ever had savings and it isn't something I have always thought about I have just paid for car repairs and stuff as and when it occurs which then destroys that months income.  My debt wasn't as much as some on here but I am proud to have got to where I am now.  

@Naomim haha, it is all a learning curve!, I like this element of YNAB though I have all the dates that stuff are due so I know which income has to cover which part of the budget, although it does take some learning when it falls into place I think you will love it. Its tough re savings coz time goes so quick I just want to be able to give my girl the best start possible and figures the sooner I start the better and we have never been in a place to think of future savings, I think maybe I might do what you do a just put a tiny amount away and then as life progress maybe increase that

Naomim

I've now gone back and done this, adding the dates to the categories and putting them in date order.  I do feel much more in control knowing exactly where every penny is going.  I've even set up a subscription pot for next years ynab subs. 

FootyFanDan

The end of another night shift nears haha.

All monthly payments have now left the account and all my mo they pots for food/travel are full so not really any other major spends to consider for rest of month providing I can stay within budget. 

The work situation is improving and hopeful that I will be on my own shifts by April, we have finally got a new person starting who I will train for the next three weeks(well this is the plan). I am managing to keep up oaky with the increased workload but the switch (even if temporary) back to days/nights has helped a little. 

The girls are still in Scotland at the moment awaiting further news from doctors but all being well they will also be back at the beginning of April but that is very much dependent on the results of scans and stuff. So I am just literally not doing very much, I have been walking more and doing a bit more running too though so that is a positive.

In finance news I will be debt free in 3 months...HOW THE TIMES HAVE CHANGED!!!. I am delighted at how I have managed to totally change my own outlook to finances and turn ITV around in a relatively short time. Pots update below.

Breakdown cover pot £27.16 / £96
Car maintenance £83.34
Xmas £63.64
Emergency Fund £100

I do also have finds left over in joint account that isn’t currently allocated to anything so I need to look at how that will be used. It’s good to not feel like I’m not sure of where finances are at. Also like coming towards the end of a financial year and not have any outstanding amounts on the utilities and household bills too.

Ah enough rambling from me haha 

Stay safe all 😊

Poppy1984

Oh wow 3 months!!!!! That must be such an amazing feeling 😄😄😄 well done you I bet you can't wait. What a massive achievement and to become debt free with some savings built up in your pots too is fantastic.

cheering you on from the sidelines good luck! Nearly there 🎉😄

Poppy  

alt80

Good to hear things going well mate. Echo @Poppy1984's comments above. 

Great news re work and hope your Mrs / little one are as OK as they can be given the situation. 

FootyFanDan

Thank you @Poppy1984 & @alt80. It is quite crazy to think debt freedom nears, its been such a long time since I didn’t owe someone money of some kind so it’s going to be a totally new feeling. I think more than anything the fact I have learned to budget and live well but within my means. The fact I have been able to learn that will make it easier (hopefully) to not fall back into the debt trap again.

Family stuff is crazy at the minute and I’m missing the two girls like mad to be honest but hopefully they will be back by early April.