Moving forward and upwards

savingholmes

Glad things are going well

MovingForwards

Skinty, If it's raining I'm staying in the car and TomBo is running round 1K3A, he is after some stuff for the kitchen, there's nothing else I want. I could go in for the free coffee!

SW, Most of the money has gone into the CF and in reality it was only £190ish in our pocket due to buying the new insurance policy.
- I'm tempted to pay the leftovers (£50ish) into the CF, but like paying a full month off each time. Instead I'm keeping the money for trips.

SH, Things are going well. I'm adapting and changing, making the most of everything and taking each day as it comes 😊

MovingForwards

The tax refund cheque has cleared already, moved £20 to my normal current account in readiness to pay for my new licence.
- Couldn't get my licence sorted out, the machine is being fixed. I will call them in a few days and try again.

I've picked up my new wheel trims and TomBo will fit them at some point. 

The skies opened up while we were out, that's another new car driving experience off my list, just need snow, ice and fog and I've covered it all 🤭
- don't need to water the garden!

Popped to 1K3A, picked up a potato ricer 🤨, bins, food and a cuddly toy. TomBo spent £35 (from scrap money)

My salary is increasing by just over £1100 due to annual payrise. It's under £60pm extra after deductions and I will rejig my spreadsheet the weekend.

Having fish and couscous for tea, cream yum for pudding.

£256 in the bank, £24.50 for licence, £2 is bank fee, 21 days until payday.

savingwannabe

Brilliant pay rise! omg. I am still waiting to see my proper salary rise! 

What is a potato ricer?

MovingForwards

Still not as much as I should be on! But it all helps towards my overall plans 😊

A potato ricer is like a big garlic press. A square tub with handles, put boiled spuds in, squeeze the handle and it forces the now perfectly mashed spuds through 🙈 TomBo has wanted one for a few years 🤭

savingwannabe

Lol. I have seen them but didnt know what they were called. Well done you!

Skint_yet_Again

Cheques clear very quickly these days don’t they. I keep looking at getting a potato ricer but I have mash so rarely I haven’t been able to justify the spend. Last time I pushed boiled potatoes through my metal colander with a fork 😆

Glad to hear you are saving some money for trips. It’s all about a good balance between saving & having a life 😁

MovingForwards

I don't know why we (he) wanted a ricer, we don't have presentation plated food.

They do with V, that's why I'm happy to use that account for the occasional cheque. It's slower with NW, although I've yet to find the cheque in part on the app.

I didn't have the money on my original salary to do much, especially with focusing on savings and overpaying the mortgage. It was the right thing to do, as the first year of home ownership is high debt risk eg wanting everything nice and with an older property making it look how I wanted it to. However, I've kept my head, done things on a tight budget and can relax as I've a good financial routine.

Covering the second role and having most of it amalgamated into mine is exhausting; I don't know how I keep going without a proper break and hopefully later this year things will ease.

Thankfully the temp, and then permanent payrise, meant I had spare money. While the urge to keep saving and increase the overpayments was strong, I knew I had to slightly alter my mindset and find a way of switching off from the work stress, especially as the garden runs itself now. Had I kept up with saving every penny, it would have been hard to start spending it when I do retire. The coffee and ice cream trips are indulgent, but I'm getting to see so many different places.

In a way, I am 'rich' as I'm comfortable and have achieved quite a bit in near 5 years 😊

savingwannabe

You have done so well and help us all so much. I do hope the new job will calm down soon and become easier so you can rest more and am so pleased the garden is looking after itself for now. The extra money is so useful though and will mean freedom form your mortgage earlier and allow you to buy what you need. I do hope you have a good weekend. 

MovingForwards

Thanks SW, it depends on how quickly the role is filled and whether the person can stick it / the office 🤨 I couldn't have realistically got the new car on my original wages, therefore something good has come from it. 

We've been to the beach today. Had a walk around, took photos, had a hot drink and went home a few hours later.

I popped to the bakery and butcher, spent under £60. My butcher also doubles up as an old style corner shop selling cupboard items and I often get my weekend shopping from him instead of the supermarket.

It's raining and I don't need to water the garden, although it's really warm. My veg will be like triffids again 🙈 

Having sirloin for tea tonight 😊