Moving forward and upwards

doingitanyway

You finished 2020 in fine form. Happy New Year for 2021 🎉

longway2go

Happy New Year 

MovingForwards

Thank you everyone 🤗

Plans are firmly underway for this year. It's very ambitious, but I won't be unhappy if I save the same as I did last year. To recap for 2021:
- Save £5k across my various pots. 
- Pay £1200 into my SIPP.
- Couple of hundred into PBs and S&S ISA.
- Pay £1200 mortgage O/P.
- Pay the outstanding £100 O/P to finish catching up to make up for when the mortgage first started as I only rounded up (makes it a lot easier using the O/P calculator)
- Save £1200 for car expenses, home insurance (goes up and down like a yo-yo).

Where possible I'm going to shop at the antique shop; it's an antique, second hand and new shop and very local independent business, as is my butcher. 

DIY will feature, but not to the extreme the lounge did as that was a huge task. As will gardening and self-sufficiency.

My other lampshade arrived yesterday, it looks fantastic!
- somehow I caught my nail on the box and it broke partway down the nail bed 🤢 😬 only the second time I've ever done that. It's the finger I normally 'text' 'write' with on my phone and I'm slowly getting the hang of using a substitute 🤭
- still not tempted to keep them short!

My GP has finally prescribed my one med in the right format, so that's helped pain levels a bit better 🤗

As it's the 1st of the month I've made the normal O/P and moved some money to savings, DD's come out on Monday, payday in 27 days 🙈

Here's to 2021 and taking it in our stride!

savingholmes

Great start other than the broken nail. Glad your pain levels are getting back under control.

MovingForwards

Thank you SH, I'm feeling a lot more hopeful and comfortable since I've got these ones back. 

TomBo is starting to come up with ideas for the flat and we've agreed on style of rug for the lounge; apparently MIL has a small version tucked away and not being used, so he may try and claim that when we get the table.

Irenadler

Hey Babs! Here we go on another wild ride for 2021 - I am so glad your pain meds are sorted and it's more comfortable for you. Let the saving commence!

longway2go

Ohhh I like your goals, lots of luck with them I'm sure you will do amazingly 

Skint_yet_Again

Ouch to the broken nail. It’s weird how these things can be so blooming painful. 

I’m glad your new lampshade has arrived I bet they look fab! Good luck with your new year plans Babs I bet you will smash them targets ☺️

MovingForwards

Thank you Ren, LW2G and Skinty!

I'm feeling very positive that I can keep the pace going. Everything I've done the last few years has set a strong foundation which I can keep building on each year.
- when I'm back in the office properly, I will have the commute costs, currently I'm able to save / spend that £140 each month.

TomBo sent me money last night, so a chunk of the CC has been paid, the rest added to savings and it's a couple of days until the bills come out.
- as always, I will keep adding money to savings each week, it all helps build them up.

I need to buy a wood meter thingy to make sure the lampshades are hung from joists. It's possible to buy a ceiling rose with the hooks on them, but then it's a case of making sure everything is earthed as they are metal.
- the shades are gorgeous 😃

I'm being very careful with that nail, keeping a plaster on so I can try and stick it back on the bed as it grows out and avoid catching it on anything 😬

My first alternative spending of the year happened today. I've cashed in more of my survey points and ordered another compost bin. Saved just under £29, total cost to me £0 🤗
- need to start doing the surveys properly again to get the point built back up.

savingholmes

Great use of survey points. I hope your garden continues to flourish. Sounds like you are getting a lot of enjoyment from it.