2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

doingitanyway

I'm also thinking of using my bike again. I need new tyres but the money would be well spent and recouped in saved travel costs. Cycling to the station sounds like a good idea.

mark55man

There are a lot of charities/volunteer organisations that offer free servicing - although I imagine you might have to buy any spare parts. Might be worth looking if there are any locally to you so you can get a check over and be confident in the mechanics of your bike

mark55man

Bit more on budgeting. Looking at the total I have to clear this year I had a bit of a wobble about it being achievable. However, if you are short of target its critical not to wait 6 months to start dealing with it, as its then twice as hard.

So I have revised my budgets for the year as follows
* Took all the averages for my categories in 2019
* Removed known one-offs and glitches from the figures
* Took 10% off all of the variable (elective) ones, and will try and shave costs off the fixed costs eg power
* Slashed my kids support budget (harsh but see below)
* Halved my Amazon spends

I suspect the kids one won't hold but will be significantly less as DD2 leaves Uni, DS2 is now supported by benefits, and DS1 is looking to go back full time

OH and I are also going to spend everything on our joint account so I can reduce the to-ing and fro-ing I between accounts and reduce the amount of cash/cheques we use

Together with a bit of luck and willpower this should free up the extra I need to meet my 2020 CC Zero Balance target.

mark55man

Report Back 002 - for 08/01/20

Fitness & Health: Week 1 weigh in 260lbs or down 4 (yay) , although I suspect its different scale syndrome. I'll still take it though!! Have been managing 5000 steps a day but the 10000 are not yet up to target, but will try again tomorrow

Budget and Financial: A little overdrawn at the moment, but a payment from work is a bit delayed so I will be OK a bit later in the month. Although there is still a lot of month left, will be a good test of my new budget targets

Environment & Green: more garden and household tidying - its never ending and we are about 5 years behind schedule

Community& Volunteering: Not progressing much with volunteering, but have joined a couple of local facebook groups to get into the swing and make some decisions about what I really want.

Organisation & Household: still adding and removing actions from my todo list. But some frogs remain stubborn. Perhaps I should call them toads!!

in_need_of_direction

Did you watch the Michael Moseley programme on exercise? Apparently it’s not the number of steps that matters but the rate at which you walk

mark55man

No I didn't - but I am a big believer in the value of high intensity workouts - its just I can't manage them anywhere near what I could even 2 years ago

so slowly slowly (literally) to start with

mark55man

Doing the numbers 2020 tyle - Budget Report Back 001

• CAR - The new old car I inherited from DS1 is running nicely, looking good to meet budget following good deal on OH insurance
• CASH - Doing well on no cash
• CLOTHES - On target - needed new work shoes, but went to Tesc0's not M&5
• COFFEE - Looking a bit over but a lot of new year socialising
• CRAFTS - Crafts bit over budget
• ENTERTAINMENT - No meals and just a few outings so doing well here
• GROCERY - Really working well, lots of cheaper meals and using up some store cupboard.Especially with some days away this good be the cheapest in a long while
• HOLIDAY - Holiday expenses will be high this month and next but it is in the annual budget
• KIDS - Kids all managing their money better post xmas so no demands
• LIFE - Just focusing on making do with what we have seems to be working
• AMAZON - Avoiding Amazon largely although DD2 needed a couple of things which was just easiest to use here

mark55man

Hi everyone. Hope this isn't too "listy" for you. Quite a lot of same ole same ol going on.

Targets Report Back 003 - for 15/01/20
Fitness & Health:

Week 2 weigh in flat at 260 - haven't got into a regular routine yet. Its very up and down - some days 12000 other days 1200 - have been to gym once, and picked up my bike today and wheeled it to the car, where it still is as I couldn't find a rain cover for it!!

Budget and Financial:

A bit more overdrawn at the moment, but the work payment isnt in yet, and I think when that is in and my OH pay goes in I will be in the black

Environment & Green:

Still doing well on recycling and careful driving, but freecycling seems to have fallen off. Been very good with packed lunches and using tupperware - get me. Haven't had a sandwich or a take out all year

Community& Volunteering:

Nothing to report

Organisation & Household:

Have moved from big car loads, to trying to empty out the kitchen cupboards and fridge. Last weekend was a bit of a washout really. I am tackling the frog of the DS1 Van - which we have agreed we will take a bit more of a loss on, but its up on EBAY now and attracting a lot more interest so fingers crossed

mark55man

Good news on frog busting - in that my overdue payment from work has been paid, so am now very nearly in the black, and in a few days my OH pay will go in and that should be enough to make it through to my payday

plus the £30 cash I took at at the start of the month still intact - although a chunk of that will go for my monthly Friday evening out with my local friends

not counting NSDs as such as its difficult on a joint account to line it up so gets a bit dispiriting as my inner geek likes to avoid automatic payments as well which rules out at least 10 days a month

doingitanyway

Well done on the progress with your OD.

I know what you mean about NSDs. I signed up for 20 this month and I'm on 7 Hey ho...