2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

That's a good way of looking at it @alt80 - I have separated property from my financial / pension investment.  Possibly the only extent I consider property as an investment is to avoid it - ie funds that have a property element as I already consider my home my biggest single asset and I don't want to double down on that.  Properties as pensions hasn't been a bad strategy but nothing can go up for ever, and it is a bit eggs in one basket (which is OK if you keep a very close eye on the basket), but not my taste.

Thanks @savingholmes - I gave myself a stiff talking too and had a play with my spreadsheets and will report back a bit later.

mark55man

Here's the report for September

• CAR - Relatively cheap this month - mainly working from home. £150 under last year average

• CASH - Under budget just £25 cash - just to have some in the wallet

• CLOTHES - Under budget just - getting some autumn clothes

• COFFEE - Regular coffees beginning to return but a £100 less than last year

• CRAFTS - Considerably over average this month as OH getting in a lockdown winter nights quilting project - annual average just under last year

• ENTERTAINMENT - A few meals out, family and date nights.  So under budget but trending up.  Still £150 less than last year

• GROCERY - Within £10 of last months spend, which is consistent, but just too much.  However, with 6 adults and young adults we might just have to live with this. £200 more than last year

• HOLIDAY - Nothing this month, but planning our usual Feb seaside holiday for next year.  Last year was expensive so this year much cheaper £250 per month

• KIDS - Kids have been net neutral this month - so really pleased they are all more self sufficient

• LIFE - Over Budget as we have started to buy a few things to improve various rooms which are in need of care.- this category is non food, non utilities.

• AMAZON - Amazon relatively steady,but still indispensable for things at the moment

So on balance I am living about 10% cheaper than last year, and have been able to accelerate repayments.  Next few months are quite cheap as well in terms of regular annual expenses, but December gets nasty for XMAS and car insurances.  Fingers crossed

alt80

@mark55man the one's I've got are a lot of work TBH not really a thought out pension plan - I was just obsessed with the idea of a seven figure portfolio got that now so aiming for eight figures... should be a decent pension for when I'm older even so.

doingitanyway

Living on 10% less when everything is going up is a big achievement.

mark55man

Weekday Focus 

• Improve house environment - normal chores done 
  
• eat more frogs more often - (save/make) - managed all end of month reports and watched over the start of month outflow of DDs etc, so everything is in and most things are out - £1250 to last the month - a bit closer to danger zone because of the final OP on CC1 - but I think I can get through, and if I have to do a bit of juggling at the end of the month with CC0 (my day to day clear every month CC) then I think I can live with myself 
• Hobby/Personal stuff - not cycling - busy day at work today so just watching telly - which was nice

mark55man

Meals - Day 5 is today
Day 3 - Brunch: Scrambled Eggs Smoked Salmon - Supper: Coconut & Lime Mince

Day 4 - Breakfast: Yoghurt - Lunch: Bacon and Egg - Supper: Pulled Pork & Coleslaw 

Day 5 - Breakfast: Coleslaw - Lunch: Scrambled Egg & smoked Salmon - Supper: Chicken Tikka

savingholmes

10% less - this year in particular is a major achievement.

mark55man

well thank you SH - I think its just exposing how much fat was left - or rather that I could go a little bit further towards the discipline part of the hedonism --> discipline diagram in this link/picture - its from "The Escape Artist Blog" which I heartily commend to you all, although I suspect you are all converts

mark55man

Weekly Focus (Long Standing Goals)

• Weight:- Weighed in today - 1.5 kilos down this week so now at 222lbs or a very little over 100Kg which is my 2020 target from my OP.  Looking very good, even if I slow down but 3lbs a week for 6 weeks is as good as I could have hoped with only a couple of days off the wagon and even those not too much

• Money:- Going well 72 days not overdrawn, plus 19 days with no spends on CC0 (routine paid off in full CC) - later this month will be tighter, but OH agreed to postpone xmas prep until November when it should be better

• Personal Environment:- As below starting to think about making a real push on decluttering prior to xmas, now work and diet are under reasonable control

New Daily Focus 

• Improve house environment - normal chores done (some of them twice) - made big effort at DS2 requests to help sort out his room so he can move it around and paint it.  He doesn't sleep well and we ran out of steam with a bit to do, but significantly decluttered

• eat more frogs more often - not much frog eating this week, end of month was my key focus 

• Hobby/Personal stuff - dreadful today today weather-wise, so we watched films whilst I pottered on my laptop

savingholmes

Making progress.  A little better every day. Now can you come and declutter my house?