Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

Thanks SH, so do I, but I don't see it happening.

Bit of a finance post this morning.

Utility company have updated their prices following the cap:
- It's down to £95pm on the variable rate, being an average across the year, total £1140pa.
- If I pick a fixed rate tariff, on DD it's £120pm, total £1440pa.

In 2021 we spent £522 (1600kwh E, 6434kwh G).
The 8 months of 2020 we lived here cost £310.

I'd still reject the £200 'loan' contribution if there was opt in / out and not repay the extra £40py. 

Home insurance is due next month, I had to start it up before the lender would release funds. I may do a comparison site search this year, but I do like how DL do the upto £1m buildings and upto £50k contents, saves me having to check and be mindful about how much stuff I would have to replace.

- Obviously they only payout ¹/6 of the building if anything happens, just in case you were curious about how 'freehold' works up here.

My mortgage statement should be arriving soon. I'm not currently making any O/Ps as I'm doing a big push to clear the CF before the new tax year.

I'm still filling my car each weekend, a full tank gives me about 370 petrol miles, I use on average 220 petrol miles for my 300 mile commute. 

Car insurance is due in July, as is the MOT, I'll get both sorted in June; no tax on this car.

Food we're spending about £50pw, but that includes all the indulgences like branded tomato soup, nice bread, trip to the butcher's plus cat food, cleaning products etc. 

I have tried to convince TomBo to let me buy him a mobile outright, or he does, and go SIM only, but that fails. I've been SO for a few years now. 

Internet and N-Flix we have the basic ones.

I've received my new tax code, plugged the details into a calculator. As I've been repaying underpaid tax, due to changing jobs I'll be £14pm better off in April.

- Had I not been repaying the tax, I would have seen my take-home pay drop by £8pm.

Pensions I've my works one I'm paying into and adding some to my SIPP; again that was reduced due to focusing on the CF and it will be increased again in the new tax year.
- I've also got long-term savings building up.

Short term savings I'm still plugging away at each month and will be able to make good progress in the new tax year.

Think I need a coffee now 😄

ForestBluebells

The energy prices are scary. I’m on an old good rate which ends in October, I fully expect my prices to at least double then 😬 

atrixa

You're doing amazingly! Fingers crossed that the weather forecast continues to behave

MovingForwards

Just look at where you can use a bit less FBB or make cutbacks elsewhere to cover it. I do feel for people not in a stable financial position.

TomBo went for his run this morning, has done the washing up, put the recycling out and is making a start on cooking.

We've agreed to have earlier nights a few times a week, it's about 10pm when we turn in and I'm hoping that will help TomBo a bit. He sleeps when the light goes off but doesn't feel like he gets a good rest. That's mainly the reason when I don't sleep I get up, to give him a chance without me continually turning, same as when I do get broken sleep. 

Sibling is continuously moaning about everything, won't listen to anything and I'm running out of patience; I'm ignoring a lot of messages now as I kept repeating myself.

It's a cold one today, still some snow on the 'mountains' which is pretty to look at.

I had a vanilla coffee 🤭

doingitanyway

You do well with your £50 food shop as you eat well.
I have a similar sibling issue so know how you feel...
Vanilla coffee sounds interesting. Tell me more...

savingholmes

Budget forecasting sounds like you are going to be alright. Well done as I know it takes effort

MovingForwards

Thanks Atrixa, DIA and SH

Made a mistake with my financial post, it's April the home insurance is due. Think I already mentally moved into March when writing.

Hopefully another few weeks of naff weather and it will improve, based on last year. Have to get my spuds in next month as they're sprouting well.

It's A1DI vanilla latte sachets, think it's 69p a box and they're a real weekend treat which I savour. We do eat well and have just spent £47 in T, that got us cleaning products, breakfasts, lunches, snacks etc for work, plus the usual food and treats.

I'll definitely be ok and the post was to show where my salary goes. I've got good wiggle room when things go up as it means less goes into savings.

We had beef stew and gnocchi for lunch, having cheese on toast for tea.

Classic film night, The T Inferno 😊

Skint_yet_Again

Another one here that had beef stew for lunch 😋 Used up the last bread roll with butter with mine. 

Your grocery budget is very good for 2 and overall budgeting looks good too. A few earlier nights a week is a good idea & I need to try that too before falling asleep on the sofa
 
sorry to hear sibling still being a pain

MovingForwards

Thanks Skinty, 

It's going to take years before I'm able to instruct a valuation the way sibling is going. Frustrating as they could have made great inroads while not having work, instead their time has been spent in property fantasy land and not the reality they can afford.

I pretend the gnocchi are dumplings. Just saw you had stew too!

If it was just me going to the shops the budget would be a lot lower, TomBo adds loads of treats.

It's a lovely blue sky today and I've got to get ready in a bit. TomBo is going for a run and I'll meet him at the end destination, where we'll have coffee. 

Skint_yet_Again

sounds like a good plan. Are you taking coffee in a flask or having a nice treat out? I’d be tempted to have cake too  🎂 🍰 🧁 😁