Moving forward and upwards

Irenadler

You are really smashing it Babs, so nearly there, I do like that wood panelled look that I've seen on decorating shows. Especially pastel coloured & kind of distressed effect, it makes me think of a beach house, or a Scandi look, like being on your holidays.... 

£1 in the bank? Now that's what I call white-knuckle zero budgeting!   

MovingForwards

Thanks Ren, turns out it's not that kind of panel he wants, need to find a compromise as I don't like what he has shown me 🙈
Starting to get somewhere with colours, more off the list than on and it's solid, not pastel colours TomBo likes, which will close rooms down again.

I would have took the account down further, but I don't like random pennies. Still, it's back up today!

MovingForwards

December financial round up: Saved £473.39

Savings Pots:
All pots for home and garden £2597.00
Car everything and home insurance £190.00
Earmarked Utilities money £228.81
EF (mortgage) £920.00
General savings £180.63
Total £4116.44

Mortgage:
Mortgage O/P £162.50
- Balance O/S £64,977 ish

-- Missing O/P to catch up £100

CC:
Balance £679.82
- waiting on the statement before I pay any more off.

Plans for 2021:
- Save £5000 across pots

- Save £1200 to car everything

- Save £1200 to SIPP

- Save £180 to S&S ISA

- Save £100 to PBs.
- Pay the £100 missed O/Ps.
 
Miscellaneous Information:

I've still got all my different savings posts, just thought it was easier to read if I merged the amounts. I'm conscious how long my posts are, unless it just looks worse because I'm on my phone.

The missed O/Ps are from the start of the mortgage, where I was only making rounding up payments; I've planned to have that cleared by the end of April, hence why I've identified them differently in my reconciliation.

January target is £250, that's due to getting paid very early this month and I'm focusing on clearing the CC over the next 3 statement cycles.

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on all your savings & next years targets I bet you will smash them. 😊 Hope you have a lovely festive break and you & tombo can agree on the decorating ideas!

savingholmes

Great progress. So are you both insomniacs too or are you just awake early. I literally haven't slept all night. Frustrated.

longway2go

Hi,
Well done on your savings, can I as what EF (mortgage) means?
Looks like some great targets for the new year. Bet it will be nice to wave goodbye to your Cc. 

MovingForwards

Thank you Skinty, SH and LW2G.

We've managed to agree on style of lampshade for the lounge! I'm now watching several goldfish bowl, with chains to hang it from the ceiling and will keep trying to get one, if my bid isn't successful I can move on to the next one.

I'm more of an insomniac, it's because my mind doesn't switch off or I can't get comfy in bed. TomBo is an early riser, but has a few hours rest after tea.

I'm only putting big spends on the CC, then clear it quickly. It's not a financial worry. I've paid some off this morning 😁

The EF (mortgage) is a dedicated emergency fund for my mortgage payments in case of job loss.
I literally have savings pots for everything, structural repairs, interior communal repairs, modernising, decorating, garden, ERCs etc. If I need money for it in the future, I have a pot or set one up.
- For full breakdown of pots see page 108.
 
Aside from my cash ISA (money for utilities when that's sorted out), all the others pay reasonable interest, which helps boost the balance. I also have cash from my bank each month and pay that into savings.
- I do micromanage my savings as I never want to be in the position I was before. 

I'm very aware of my health. A slip in the snow means I'm housebound, as does a fall, even a cold is enough to knock me down for a bit as I'm on a knife edge with pain.
As you've seen with my diary, it only takes one illness and I'm out of commission for a while, then battling to get back to 'normal' for months afterwards or dealing with another long-term health condition and learning to adapt.

There's now daylight and I can make a start on painting 🤗

doingitanyway

Door handles make a big difference. I always notice them. 
Great the lounge is nearly done

Irenadler

I can see you have a powerful motivation Babs, and covering all your bases, it really helps me to think clearly about what I should be saving for. I think I shouldn't just be saving blindly for EF, but, a household maintenance one too.....

Lovely to read your progress on painting, I can 'see' it is all coming together now....

doingitanyway

I cross posted and missed your most recent post.
You are great with your pots and I will go to page 108 to get more detail. Thank you.
I know what you mean about your health, how one slip can have major repercussions. Long may you continue to stay well (enough).
Have a good day