2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

Lazy tax, stupid tax there's one for everything - although lazy and stupid does cover a lot of ground

So I am very pleased to announce that following an unexpectedly early payday (I thought it was Monday because I had forgotten the bank holiday), I sailed over (under?) the no overdraft for a month bar.  I'm genuinely scared to look back to the last time that happened.  So that's an important milestone, and although confident of next month I'll move the £95 excess to an instant access account just in case next month needs a little support.  Especially as I still have some shenanigans with the CC to rebalance after my DS PC incident. 

I just happen to be listening to "say hello wave goodbye" by Soft Cell on my playlist.  Which is now officially my Overdraft song - currently in "wave goodbye" mode

One-step-at-a-time

I've always called it idiot tax

mark55man

ha ha - yes that works as well

mark55man

Budget Report for August

• CAR - Relatively cheap this month - mainly working from home, but with a few more office days with clients
• CASH - No  Cash
• CLOTHES - Over budget as needed new suit - jacket, trousers, shoes smalls for £130 from M&S - quite pleased.  Beginning to have more meetings with clients, and to be honest had needed an upgrade for a while.  Got a bonus 30% discount - which was nice
• COFFEE - Regular coffees beginning to return
• CRAFTS - Bit under budget this month - more sun less knitting
• ENTERTAINMENT - Took advantage of discount meal offer, and a little but of take out coming back into the menu, but much less than pre-lockdown
• GROCERY - Within £10 of last months spend, which is consistent, but not satisfactory.  Tried to do frequent smaller shops with a couple of bigger ones.  So still work in progress
• HOLIDAY - Popped up country to see FIL so a few spends whilst up there
• KIDS - Bit high, but through Just rebalancing DS1 with PC shenanigans - but he has decided to just make do with his old one for a few more months whilst his hours gradually increase
• LIFE - Slightly under Budget - this category is non food, non utilities.  
• AMAZON - Amazon creeping up again, but have had a few things for work and a few for DD so deceptive

 

mark55man

General report back - well have enjoyed the nicer weather in some of July and August but not the rain rain rain. 

Managed to take a few days up north with OH dad, staying in his spare room which was cosy but nice.  Did a few coffees and lunches and some nice lakeside walks (beautiful and mainly flat!!) then just family chit chat over evening meals so very relaxing.  OH had gone up a few days before so I joined by train - which was pretty empty and felt pretty safe + wasn't too dear.  Then we drove down together, and the roads are filling up but all the pinch points were clear

Been doing well on the money (see above), with no overdraft this month and the last time that happened was nearly 3 years ago (and even that was because some money for a different purpose was resting in my account before being moved on).  I don't talk a lot about pensions on here because there's not a lot to say other than keep reading up, keep topping up and keep an eye on them, especially as for me its 5 years or so before its starts getting very real. My only advice is to try and understand your position in respect to the state pension (get a forecast) and any personal or company provisions.  I'm asking for a CETV on my old works pension, and not really intending to anything but its always nice to know.

Been doing litter picking as part of a community group 2 a month or so (definitely a fair weather commitment), generally its fine, but you get hot spots where the wind blows stuff, or fast food outlets bins overflowing, but generally its nice where we are so this just makes it better - typically a team of 20-30 will end up with a bin bag each - which is a lot when you think about it.

Our house with 6 adults in it is a bit cluttered and there seems to be a lot of churn - bit of rearranging, lots of amazon, "temporary" storage - and stuff randomly moving about.  Honestly its like the hokey cokey except we don't get to sing "lets sort the whole thing out - hey!!".  Did have a really good go through the kitchen yesterday with OH so that's looking nice 

Focus for next month will be grocery's and clutter - I'm due a relatively quiet month after next week with some WFH so should be able to keep it free in the late afternoons rather than commuting.  

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Sounds like you've been keeping busy   The break away sounds lovely.
6 adults in the house will always be hectic, but sounds like you're juggling everything like a pro.

mark55man

Thanks ODHDTH - yes it feels a lot better than before - I may flirt with Mr OD now and again, but we're definitely on a break - who knew a global pandemic could be so restorative to ones finances. As one of my DC said, the only difference that quarantining did to their preferred lifestyle was give it a name and make it acceptable

If I may say you're doing pretty fabulously as well - can't wait to get "debt free" into my signature and out of my dreams

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Awww, thanks.  Although we did cheat a bit and put some of it on the mortgage, we were pleased to have tackled more than half of it the hard way!  You've been helping your kids out a lot though and have a nice balance of making good headway, without being tight and still enjoying life.  I enjoy your diary, you come across as very kind and wise
I agree, it's been very restorative and has highlighted where changes can be made moving forward too.
Haha, you have a wise DC there, I'm a natural homebody as is my husband, so we've not minded too much at all.

mark55man

so enough is enough weight wise, having got down to 105kg, I'm now back at 110kg - still much better than in January but definitely heading in the wrong direction.  So OH and I are doing a keto-variant diet that's been on telly the 800 calorie diet.  This will be quite harsh as instead of keto (which doesn't focus on calories, but on limiting carbs), this diet consists of limiting calories to the extent you have to eat keto friendly things just to get enough.  So far (2 days in) we have had

* Day 1 - Breakfast: Yogurt & Berries - Lunch:bacon and broccoli - Supper: Chicken with lemon and herbs & Kale
* Day 2 - Breakfast: Porridge & Fruit - Lunch:vegetable soup - Supper: Chicken in lettuce Fajitas

Drinking a lot of water and not feeling too hungry, although OH is feeling a bit worse (its called keto flu and is just the body adjusting to burning fat and not sugar (from carbs)).   

Hoping to save some money by having much smaller portions as well, and its not particularly boutique food.

mark55man

In other news, part of the excess grocery has been explained, in that I had not listened to OH when she said she was buying supplies for a food bank on behalf of a local charity - so we will be getting £200 a month refund for June through August, which brings our 6 adult spending down to a sum that is merely eye boggling rather than absolutely eye watering.  Also now I have paid attention we will be doing receipted claims monthly