The Four D's

mark55man

sounds like a great week ahead - beer, friends and family - all adventures we took for granted!!

great news about YNAB, that was the one thing I took from it (although I didn't really get on with it) was to try and get a month or two ahead of spending, sounds like you are right on track to get it all over the line

FootyFanDan

mark55man said:

sounds like a great week ahead - beer, friends and family - all adventures we took for granted!!

great news about YNAB, that was the one thing I took from it (although I didn't really get on with it) was to try and get a month or two ahead of spending, sounds like you are right on track to get it all over the line

Yeah I am really looking forward to the week ahead Mark. I know we still have to be careful but it will be really nice to get some sense of normal back. 

I must admit there are still little things that I can't get round with YNAB and I still sometimes think I could go without but overall its been nothing but positive for myself and my finances in general. It has made me see and realise that just coz money is in my account it doesn't mean it doesn't have a job later in the month. In addition this is the first time I have had savings of any note at all without struggling to service my main bills and while maybe its a mindset thing I do believe YNAB as been very much the driving force behind it.

I hope everything is well with you & the family.

DancingInTheRain

Great updates Dan, sounds like YNAB has worked really well for you. I've tried to use it a couple of times but it just didn't 'click' with me. Enjoy your weekend and week off  x

FootyFanDan

DancingInTheRain said:

Great updates Dan, sounds like YNAB has worked really well for you. I've tried to use it a couple of times but it just didn't 'click' with me. Enjoy your weekend and week off  x

Yeah YNAB has changed the way I view my finances and maybe I would have figured it out eventually. I often think of reverting back to spreadsheet because some aspect of YNAB I don't really use like some of the reporting. I do believe even without YNAB I could now handle finances better but happy to be in the place I am with things. x

FootyFanDan

Dear diary...I am sorry for neglecting you....

Hope everyone is doing well. I have not really updated much on diary as I have just kinda been taking a little bit of a break from all stuff money wise and trying to enjoy the week of I had just to enjoy with the family. I enjoyed the week break from work and also enjoyed the meet up with the boys on Friday, it was such a nice change to going on a walk and food shopping haha.  

I have just done my first few days of my 'new' shift pattern and it feels weird not doing 12 hours, the days seem to just fly by, I have enjoyed the not getting up at 5am. Hopefully once I am into the routine I will start feeling loads better in myself and not as exhausted, it is also nice to not have to worry about other people's job. Tomorrow is a different challenge as I am working from home as I only have half day so that will be nice.

Finance wise things are still moving along well, although MOT is due in May so that needs booking and I am sure that will take up some funds. I have managed to build up a decent amount in savings now so I am not as worried about it as I normally might have been. All the direct debits have left the account, there has been a little change to debt total upwards grrr...we had a universal credit advance before I started this job three years ago that I totally forgot about it was only £500 and there was £295 outstanding so I have set that up to get cleared in two payments. 

I have slowly started getting used to things been open again, although not really ventured too much just yet, the one thing I still haven't got back is the spending bug...which I guess is both good and bad. I don't like the idea of just saving for the sake of saving and I have always felt that it would be nice to spend a little money on ourselves every month, that used to be a tiny amount and was fine but now we have a little more I am still in the frame of mind of not spending.  I don;t want to ever get in debt for stuff again but I am now in a more comfortable place so feel I should allow myself a little treat money but I allocate it and the spending doesnt affect the budget in any way but I still am reluctant to part with it!.

Overall I think whilst the new role is going to certainly bring its own stresses and challenges, as well as knowing I need to learn to switch off at times and not think of work, I do think it's going to really suit me doing this role. I won't have 4 days off between shifts like I am used to but I also won't be doing as many hours. 

EF : £500
True Expenses : £500

I know I could really use these savings to pay debt but I am more comfortable have funds to fall back on if needed and I am comfortable with the position I am in debt wise.

Hope everyone is well 

FootyFanDan

Right, time for me to get back in the game! I have been in the background but pretty quiet on my own diary, partly due to not having much to update and partly due to RL taking over. It’s been a pretty crazy few weeks to be honest. My Nan and grandad have been very ill recently and my grandad been in a pretty bad way, so my dad wanted to go visit which we did ( although I stayed in the car, I wasn’t particularly keen to see my grandad in a bad way or pass on anything even though I’m tested weekly). On the way back half-way down the M18 my Dad decided that was the perfect time to have a seizure so that was scary but luckily managed to pull over and get him in recovery position quite quickly. Everyone now on the mend thankfully but not one of the best days out 😩.

I am slowly getting used to the routine of permanent day shifts and having a little flexibility although I’m getting bombarded with work which was to be expected, seems like there was work outstanding for a while before I took up the role. So it looks like there’s going to be a few busy weeks although I’ve managed to get myself on top of the schedules so can easily fit in the other works. It does feel a little strange been able to set my own sort of schedule though and I’m liking it so far.

Finally ventured out and got my first pub pint over last few days 😊, boy that was worth the wait, we took the little one for a walk and to the park which she enjoyed and it was so nice to be out and about. It really does feel like some normality is coming back, this lockdown has absolutely destroyed me this time around but I feel lucky to have got through it relatively unscathed and I’m aware some haven’t been so lucky. The last few months we have lost ppl, some really close friends and this morning waking to news about the poor little lad who died football training absolutely broke me, it really does show life is so fragile 😢. 

Finance wise things are going pretty well still and I did treat myself last month but that hasn’t affected any budget so that’s positive. I need to get MOT booked for the car which I will do tomorrow and we have finally got the kittens vet visit done and she’s feeling a little sorry for herself at the moment the poor little thing. 

I hope everyone is doing well 

alt80

Sorry to hear about the ill health in the family and friends lost mate you're really having a rough time of it at the moment with family health. Wishing you all the best.

Great to hear you're on the day shifts on a permanent basis too and on top of things. You'll smash it. Getting through all that with the finances intact and all accounted for, you're out the other side mate 100%. Well done.

FootyFanDan

alt80 said:

Sorry to hear about the ill health in the family and friends lost mate you're really having a rough time of it at the moment with family health. Wishing you all the best.

Great to hear you're on the day shifts on a permanent basis too and on top of things. You'll smash it. Getting through all that with the finances intact and all accounted for, you're out the other side mate 100%. Well done.

Thanks mate, also good luck with everything you are battling too. It’s defo been a rough time but guess these times are sent to test us. I probs oh haven’t really kept on top of tracking and financial stuff last few weeks as I normally would but we haven’t really gone overboard a few unexpected top up of fuel and a few extra meals out then normal nut nothing to cause too much sidetracking 

alt80

If you haven't kept track too much and it's working you're doing well. You're a young family making the most of it mate there's going to be a bit of spending on having a life. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for that. I always say to my staff they need to make the most of things if they have kids and kid has an award or whatever they go if they can make it work. Important they don't miss these moments. Actually done a little end of lockdown bonus for my staff this month (token really but will pay for a nice meal out for them and their loved ones).

FootyFanDan

you sound like a pretty good boss to work with @alt80 although I know it doesn’t always feel like that in your own mind. Despite what you might think Is a token gesture the staff will appreciate it. Even more so if some of them know what you are going through. I think over a period of time I’ve realised just how lucky I am to still have what I have. Life is never perfect and there’s probably always going to moments of feeling meh but think that can happen to everyone.