The Four D's

FootyFanDan

A bit longer between updates than I had planned oops! It has been an hectic few weeks on the work front and I just really haven’t done much other than work/sleep/housework. I have been reading along in the background though and trying to keep upto date.

Today I hit a major goal I have hit £500 emergency fund, which is incredible for me. I have moved around some funds in pots and month ahead fund to fully fund my EF. Realistically as a tenant this should cover the vast majority of any slight hiccups that could occur. This will be transferred to an account separate fro my spending accounts and I will continue to top this up regularly, I will probably decrease the amount I now put to this but funds will keep flowing in to it so it does go up but now I have hit my goal that can move down the priorities. 

Once my debt is paid off rather than put that back into the budget I am going to put the money I paid to debt straight into the help to buy account to try build that up. The budget we have right now seems to work okay although I do plan to review this and maybe try work in some more leeway and flexibility. I have been quite lucky in the fact my partner has been onboard and backed every budget decision that has been made,while I don’t want to fully take the reins off I would like to live a little as well so want to work towards that balance. Debt has controlled my life decisions for so long that I want to try find a good mix of saving but enjoying the not having to watch every single penny.

in work news my replacement starts next week and will hopefully be fully trained in three weeks to allow me to then move onto my new rota. My shift pattern and sleep has been destroyed the last three weeks but hopefully the end is nears.

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well 

alt80

Good to hear everything going well financially mate. 

I’ve screwed my sleep patterns tonight too. Worked a long day when meant to be on quietish week and can’t keep away. Idiocy 100%. Need to get out of the office and go to bed, not tired and over stimulated lol.

FootyFanDan

Cheers mate. Yeah I’m am getting there financially, taken massive strides forward but yeah it’s time to free up a little now just not going crazy just gotta try enjoy family time again and not micro manage the spends 

Sorry to read your sleep is ruined too, nothing worse than been not rested enough

mark55man

alt80 said:

Good to hear everything going well financially mate. 

I’ve screwed my sleep patterns tonight too. Worked a long day when meant to be on quietish week and can’t keep away. Idiocy 100%. Need to get out of the office and go to bed, not tired and over stimulated lol.

there's a lot of it about - had my worst nights sleep in years on Sunday night - it felt like I was awake all night.

But well done Dan sounds like you are in the home straight now.  I slipped my date from Easter to August as we needed to do a few things so its always a balance.  but things can only get better - right?? The only way is up

alt80

Lot of us on poor sleep schedules @FootyFanDan I think yours probably related to your shifts rather than a complete inability to switch your brain off though mate. Possibly just hold you in higher regard because you seem to have your head screwed on ha.

 @mark55man the all-nighters aren't good at all I'm def too old for it now so you will be can empathise with that 100%. Hope you get back into a pattern soon mate.

Poppy1984

FootyFanDan said:

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.

That's exactly right, you have learnt so much during this time that you don't fall back into the debt trap again, which puts you in such good stead for the future. Really huge well done 😁😁 

aw I bet you are missing them so much, hopefully not long until they're back. 

Take care 
 Poppy

FootyFanDan

@mark55man I think its about striking a nice balance, or a balance you are comfortable with. If that means moving a target back abit and you are happy with that then thats a good place to be in.

@alt80 not so sure about head screwed on lol but defo sure that my sleep is affected by the work shift pattern. I used to have a nice steady sleep pattern but night shifts certainly ended that

Thank you @Poppy1984, I think I have defo learned along the way and there have been moments where it was tough but I am on the right track. The savings is something that is being tweaked along the way but I feel in a much better place. I have been keeping up with your progress to the figures are looking in a much better place well done!. In other news I have planned to go collect the girls on the weekend of the 4th so not long now

FootyFanDan

Hello diary world.
Not much really going off, I have no settled back into day mode after my night shifts which always takes a few days. I am back on days for next two sets of !!!!!! training my replacement so hopefully not too bad. 

Weekend plans are to get out and do a little walking but mainly be a relaxing weekend. I have put a wash on this morning so once that is done I will put that to dry and then I need to go do the shopping. I am hoping that I can get that done quite early today and then that leaves rest of day free.

5 days to payday and budgets are holding up pretty well. The food budget has gone a bit over what was planned but that is probably down to the fact we are doing two separate shops so not too worried in the long run. Everything else is ticking over and not really any massive over-spends. 

Hope everyone is doing okay. Have a good weekend all.

mark55man

hey Dan that sounds great - I think you might have the letter "f" out of "shifts" in your post.  I am surprised the censors let that one through - but good to know - may come in handy one day

FootyFanDan

mark55man said:

hey Dan that sounds great - I think you might have the letter "f" out of "shifts" in your post.  I am surprised the censors let that one through - but good to know - may come in handy one day

oops....hahaha