Moving forward and upwards

Irenadler

I am a wuss when it comes to the cold. I have tee-shirt, cardigan, thick joggers and a sort of shoulder poncho on because it's cold and the heating has been on since 6am! The temp is around 20 degrees (it does have a timer to come on in the morning, and it's off now, and back on late afternoon). Wasn't brought up on it until we were late teens, but, having it for years I think has made me a softie....

I think cats are sun magnets, just show them the heat and they are there....  

If you aren't used to heating (and believe me it's easy to get used to it), I have seen elsewhere - Old style I think? There's a chat about whether people have theirs on yet or not.... ? I have dipped into it, and there's some good advice, some easy like draw curtains once the sun's going down so its already heated that room, and you are retaining it as long as possible. I bet you could beat a lot of them on that!    

MovingForwards

I've commented on the heating thread before, there's one or two more seasoned than me.

Our monthly gas direct debit for the last flat was just over £16, that covered heating and hot water. The flat before that was just over £18 a month, that covered hot water and gas hob (GCH didn't work).
Never drew lounge curtains in either flat.

Now I've got GCH, gas hob and oven, hot water, but electric shower. No curtains, but blinds, as the windows are near enough wall to wall, loads of light comes in.

It will be interesting when the bills are finally sorted out for here. However, I think it will all balance out between the gas and electric and will be roughly what we used to pay.

I've planted the onion sets and transplanted my little apple trees; pips to hand size in 12 weeks 😁 it was a lot warmer outside than I expected and I had to take my coat off.

Waiting for TomBo to come home, then we are off to see sibling and mini me.

This is just too much excitement for me on a weekend!

savingholmes

I have got more nesh as I have got older. We do tend to use blankets to and jumpers first where possible. Sunny here today.

MovingForwards

Glad I'm not alone with wrapping up first SH.

Had a nice few hours with sibling and mini me, took some greens and herbs over for their new little pets, been asked if I can grow some just for the little squeaking furballs. 

Will be getting some strawberries, need to pop over in the week to pot them up, let them settle and then snip from the main plants. Swapping some compost for them.

Had haggis and spuds for tea.

savingwannabe

Yum. I spent most of the day resting! How do you do so much? I am going to try to avoid using the heating as my bill is over a £100 a month!!! 

MovingForwards

I think it's possible I make it sound like I've done loads, when in reality it's not much SW, with a good helping of rest / breaks / sitting down while doing the tasks.

Ouch that's a lot each month, but you've also got your lodger to think of. Perhaps have it on for a shorter time, I honestly don't know what to suggest as it's alien to me.

MovingForwards

September financial round-up, saved £504.06.

Savings:
Communal Fund 1 = £970.49
Communal Fund 2 = £100.03
EF = £659.73
Home Repairs = £493.40
Garden / ERCs / Updating = £304.39
Car Everything / Home Insurance = £306.61
Float = £22.31 (moved some to below account)
General Savings = £43.48 

Total Savings = £2900.44

Mortgage:
Mortgage O/P = £100
- Balance O/S = £65200 ish
--- My lender doesn't do online accounts and I'm doing a rough guess as to what the balance is each month, taking into account how much capital is paid off with each instalment and my O/Ps.
--- Once a year I can do a proper balance update.

Pension / Early Retirement:
SIPP* = £50
- waiting for two pensions to transfer in
S&S ISA* = £20
- waiting for my old one to transfer in

*I won't be monitoring my balances here, only what I pay in each month. I do a weekly check and write it in my note pad.

CC:
Balance O/S - £185

Plans for October:
- Clear CC
- Save £350

This is less than my usual goal but due to 'borrowing' from my car fund, paying the car tax today and having breakdown cover to pay, I thought it best to aim for a realistic target.
My MOT runs out at the start of November and hopefully there will be enough in the car pot in case of repairs.

The £5k target is looking a little shaky at the moment. I may be a couple of hundred under it, but I can make up the missing money next year when I start my next £5k target. 

Misc Information:
Next year I'm splitting the car / everything pot as that's potentially up / down like a yo-yo.

Every year I want to save £5k into savings. 
-- I've got no immediate plans to do anything to our flat, over and above what's already planned and I've loads of paint.

I plan to put a minimum £100 per month into the SIPP. The SIPP, my DB and old pensions will make a nice retirement fund.

The mortgage O/P will be increased as I'm still working towards it being gone by 2030.

savingholmes

Great savings - well done. Good plans. Very inspiring. I am hoping that we will be able to do a bit better - as our fuel bill should reduce with less trips to work - and more WFH for both of us - but having said that - DH is in work tomorrow.

MovingForwards

Thank you SH, it's awkward for you due to the plans for your house, once the big things are done hopefully it will make it easier to save and pay down.

Irenadler

And I keep getting impressed with how well you are doing... and I will get things sorted, very inspiring ta very much...