The Four D's

FootyFanDan

Well, that is my 4 days off over for another week lol. I have actually managed to get quite a bit done in my days off so can't grumble too much. I have managed to get grass cut and got the little one's swing and a few garden games set up ready for when we can enjoy some sun . I have also managed to get my hair cut whoop whoop! The small things ey!

I have today seen the joy of saving come to fruition, I have been eyeing up a new gaming desk for ages now and thought about it and set up the target in my YNAB, today after 12 weeks of saving little bits I put the final £20 to it and then went and got it...all guilt free too. I think this is how I need to do things moving forward, its deffo a little different for me but the 12 weeks it took to save made me really think about whether it was worth spending my money on and I was then able to buy it without it affecting any other part of budget.

Savings have been added to through the month too so this is looking good.

EF - £350
Annual Cost Fund - £400

Plan for this week is working 4 days, however half of one of those days is spent in Newcastle for some work thing. I am hopeful that this month is my last month on 12 hours, the new girl has settled in really well and as picked up the role quite quick....must be her awesome trainer  

There's not really much else happening really, we have started saving for some new blinds and we are now in a place where the Help To Buy balance will start increasing. I need to do a few minor tweaks to our budget but nothing major so will do that when I am off.

No other planned spends - we have just got this week's shop to collect tomorrow - which should take us til we next get income but there's still £20 in the pot. Petrol needed tomorrow but again accounted for and I have bought stuff to take for work lunch so hopefully no spends there, I do have some money in my personal spend allocated for lunches/coffee but will leave that maybe for a treat on Saturday morning.

Hope everyone having a good week so far and here is to my work week starting lol.

alt80

Are your girls back home mate? Sounds like you’re making a great area for your little one in the garden.

Getting my hair cut first thing tomorrow can’t come soon enough ha. 

Really good news re gaming desk. I’ve been doing the wish lists and park for a while makes me think on the spends too though need to get to the point of not over analysing and agonising doing the stupid stuff to sit and stare at potential purchases. 

Well done re training the girl at work and her getting on well; some of that will def be down to you 100%.

 

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

Are your girls back home mate? Sounds like you’re making a great area for your little one in the garden.

Getting my hair cut first thing tomorrow can’t come soon enough ha. 

Really good news re gaming desk. I’ve been doing the wish lists and park for a while makes me think on the spends too though need to get to the point of not over analysing and agonising doing the stupid stuff to sit and stare at potential purchases. 

Well done re training the girl at work and her getting on well; some of that will def be down to you 100%.

 

Cheers Alt, yeah the girls are back home and settling back in nicely. The little one has now gone back to school so some sense of normal for her which is a relief . The wish lists as really helped to be honest, my purchases are more considered and although I am still spending money, I am not missing payments to do so. I have found leaving it a while means that it goes on my list I review it and top up funds or if I have funds and I know I want it I get it without guilt. Theres times I think i like a top or trainers and they stay on the list and then never get bought lol. The way I see it is if I badly want the item I will save for it and find a way to get in my personal  spends

The new girl did say she has found training really simple and learned alot through my training methods, I am sure she is just trying to be nice though lol

FootyFanDan

So today it's now in my rota that I am on my rota from the beginning of May!!!! Whoop this has been a long time coming but at last lol. It also means I get a long weekend as I get bank holidays off haha. I am super excited to move into the new role fully and invest in it fully, although I do know the challenges have only just begun. Here is to the next chapter.

Not really much else gone on today, collected the shopping and now time for dinner before an hour tv. Up early for a work trip to Newcastle.

Last night I treated myself to steak and chips, and tonight is chicken burger with cheese and bacon topped fries .

10 days to payday, so far all budgets in line with where I should be, although will need extra petrol in car for the work trip but will claim that back. Hope everyone has had a good day.

BlueJ94

I've followed your diary so I can cheer you along! As you always support and cheer me on! Good luck 🤞 

FootyFanDan

jadewest94 said:

I've followed your diary so I can cheer you along! As you always support and cheer me on! Good luck 🤞 

Hey Welcome haha. I haven't really updated much recently (need to change that!). And Thank you

FootyFanDan

Hey All, 

Not really much happening really, just plodding along. Last few days off have been pretty relaxed and with it been a little bit warmer I have been able to get out and about a bit more. I am back at work tomorrow for my final set of 12 hour shifts, feels like it has been a long time coming. I think there will be a few shift / holidays I might need to cover but primarily will be on my own shift pattern and only doing 8 hour days.

I have got all my work stuff prepared, just gotta do some quick lunch stuff. So rest of night will just be a lazy night in front of tv. All budget is pretty much just ticking along right now, me and partner now discuss budget on payday and go through budget to see if there is anything family wise or event wise coming up we need to budget for so it doesn't get missed and at least it is then accounted for. One week to go to payday with no real spends needed other than fuel for car but this is already budgeted. Hope everyone is doing okay and had a good week so far.

Legs21

Isn’t it mad that when you first start the journey all you can think about is money, constantly watching every penny, becoming obsessed with spreadsheets etc.. but then you get into a routine and know exactly where every penny is going and what you can/can’t afford to buy. You think more about purchases and whether you are getting value for your money and consider spends rather than mindless spending. It may take a while to get there but the journey is worth it. 

Glad you can finally start your new job properly. It’s been a long time coming 😉

FootyFanDan

Legs21 said:

Isn’t it mad that when you first start the journey all you can think about is money, constantly watching every penny, becoming obsessed with spreadsheets etc.. but then you get into a routine and know exactly where every penny is going and what you can/can’t afford to buy. You think more about purchases and whether you are getting value for your money and consider spends rather than mindless spending. It may take a while to get there but the journey is worth it. 

Glad you can finally start your new job properly. It’s been a long time coming 😉

100% I wouldn't have even thought at the beginning of the journey that there would come a time when it was just ticking over. I find myself looking forward instead of feeling held back. And yes I do treat myself but they are now more considered purchases and certainly not ones I get in debt for. I am so glad I finally focused on this and got my head out of the sand, whilst there as been difficult choices to make and some cutbacks I have defo benefited from the journey. I feel so much more content and now the lockdown is starting to ease I know I need to make some tweaks but I feel in control of the money now.

Haha yeah, it will be nice to not have to focus on two roles and training a new person at the same time, although to her credit she has been a delight to train and I have managed to slowly step back from my old role.

FootyFanDan

Well another set of...wait final set of nights is nearly done 🥳 then I have a whole 7 days off work. I am looking forward to some routine now so adjusting will be interesting. 

Today is is payday so I need to allocate the wage into YNAB, the good thing is that I’ve managed to keep up with the trying to get a month in front so my wage only has to cover rent, personal spends and food costs. Once all these have come out I will spread the rest across saving pots and EF.

Next week I will be trying to get out a little bit, my mate was 40 this week soo Friday will be a meet with a few of the lads for food and a few beers. Saturday will be a family day out possibly the zoo with the little one but still undecided.

I hope everyone is keeping safe