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A Year in the Life of...

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  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,937 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    girlatplay wrote: »
    Thank you. I am really trying hard.


    Shredding update: I managed about 50% of the pile. It may have been slightly more but I'm going with 50%. It took about 50 minutes, I stopped twice to empty the shredding bin and it smelled a bit of burning plastic by the time I finished but I feel good for having done it. nd updating my spreadsheet, that is far more important than boring old shredding. See how I get into this shredding pile trouble?! :o

    I got to keep the half cup and also got a fresh, full cup. They were starting to clear up and one of the guys who was clearing the food shelves gave us a sandwich and two protein pots (all sealed) for free as they were going in the bin. Think he felt bad about the half cup. I let boyfriend have it all under the pretence that he paid for the drinks so he should get the goodies. I would have suggested sharing but they all sounded rank so I don't feel I'm missing out on any way :p

    I topped up my bus card earlier. Bus fares are going up from Sunday so I thought if I paid before then I would get 4 weeks at the old price. Plan worked :) Just need to transfer the borrowed funds back to the yearly payments account tomorrow.
    I had to laugh at this - shredding is boring but well done - but letting the boyfriend keep the freebies as a favour when you found them rank - priceless (pun intended).

    Well done on topping up in advance. You sound like you are really organised - and looking after you.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/25
  • girlatplay wrote: »
    Thank you. I am really trying hard.


    Shredding update: I managed about 50% of the pile. It may have been slightly more but I'm going with 50%. It took about 50 minutes, I stopped twice to empty the shredding bin and it smelled a bit of burning plastic by the time I finished but I feel good for having done it. Boring as heck though, can't do anything else at the same time. LMG was in and we managed a shouted conversation so at least I wasn't completely alone. Still got the rest to do but I can't see myself doing that tomorrow. It's payday which means moving cash around and updating my spreadsheet, that is far more important than boring old shredding. See how I get into this shredding pile trouble?! :o

    Boyfriend paid for the coffees. I actually had a hot chocolate. When he brought it over it was only half a cup so I made him take it back to complain. I got to keep the half cup and also got a fresh, full cup. They were starting to clear up and one of the guys who was clearing the food shelves gave us a sandwich and two protein pots (all sealed) for free as they were going in the bin. Think he felt bad about the half cup. I let boyfriend have it all under the pretence that he paid for the drinks so he should get the goodies. I would have suggested sharing but they all sounded rank so I don't feel I'm missing out on any way :p

    I topped up my bus card earlier. Bus fares are going up from Sunday so I thought if I paid before then I would get 4 weeks at the old price. Plan worked :) Just need to transfer the borrowed funds back to the yearly payments account tomorrow.

    Could you put headphones on and listen to something whilst shredding? Just an idea!
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I had to laugh at this - shredding is boring but well done - but letting the boyfriend keep the freebies as a favour when you found them rank - priceless (pun intended).

    Well done on topping up in advance. You sound like you are really organised - and looking after you.

    Ha! :rotfl: He likes free food, he was delighted. He actually gave me a tub of homemade soup that he made with his DD at the weekend so I really didn't miss out :D Ate it when I got home last night.
    feeldaburn wrote: »
    Could you put headphones on and listen to something whilst shredding? Just an idea!

    Yes, I probably could. Didn't think of it. I might try that next time if LMG is out. Thank you for the suggestion :)



    Payday :j

    I have moved money to various different accounts and updated my spreadsheet. I'll wait until the dd's leave my account before doing a loan and mortgage update, even though I know what they will be.

    Financially:
    - I've updated the spreadsheet and moved the money around.
    - nothing happening with the surveys that I've seen today.

    Up next: January's month end report...
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    January Month End Update

    Of my daily goals:

    - I missed one day getting outside, it was a Sunday. I went out but only when it was dark so that doesn't count.
    - the tidying in the flat has not been every day but it has been most days which is fine and needs to continue.
    - I've had to stop planking after a PE scare (PE as in Pulmonary Embolism, not Physical Education, although I was pretty scared of that at school).
    - my water intake is now excellent.
    - I have done something financial every day.
    - apart from missing one meal (one Sunday was just brunch and dinner - think it was the same day as the outside fail) I've managed the three meals a day with occasional snacks.

    Of my weekly goals:

    Meal plan and grocery shop - failed miserably on both counts.

    I will not let this beat me though. Planning a Frugal February so started working on them a couple of days ago and I already have some meal ideas and a list. I need LMG to let me know her shifts each week so I'll keep on at her for those. I have some leftovers that I froze this month so they will be used on days I'm in myself.

    Of my monthly goals:

    £50 Challenge
    Challenge completed! Total net amount "found" = £92.50
    I paid £76.82 to the council to cover the balance of council tax owed so this is not included.
    I used £21.14 towards groceries so that's not included.
    I sold the table for £50 and used £14 of that towards groceries so the £36 is included in the total and £14 is not.

    This means of £92.50:

    Payment to loan: £30

    Payment to Xmas 2020 account: £50 (includes £30 regular monthly payment which comes from salary and £20 from "found" funds).

    Payment to savings account: £12.50

    Cash in drawer: £30

    :)
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • That’s an awesome month! You’ve made so much progress, well done :T
    Debt at LBM (Dec 2018): £23,167
    Debt free Feb 2021
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 21,840 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You've done great. Scary about the PE though. x
    "If you can dream it, you can do it". Walt Disney
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    That’s an awesome month! You’ve made so much progress, well done :T

    I'm quite pleased :) Need to work on the meal planning but I'm doing that now.
    jwil wrote: »
    You've done great. Scary about the PE though. x

    Thank you. I had a PE in September (was in my last diary) and the pain was the same but the hospital were certain it wasn't this time. I had a follow up CT scan last week so just waiting for the results. Nothing for it but to get on with things for now :)


    I was passing Savers today so popped in for the things on my list. I got exactly what was on my list, nothing more, nothing less, and it came to just under £8. I purposely didn't look around the shop as I would have spent more. This is Frugal February and I'm determined to make it work this month.

    I was going to pay for the coffees out with the family today but my sis insisted that it was her turn which was lovely. Off to boyfriend's for tea which he is making. I'll take dessert but I have something in the fridge I bought a while ago and didn't use so I'll take that which means no other spends today :)

    I'll have to go to the supermarket tomorrow and get the first of the food for the month. I've not quite completed the list yet but I'll do it before I go.

    Financially:
    - a survey was approved this morning for 70p so that is now in the survey account. I'm still waiting for approval of one for 86p.
    - nothing happened in the bank today (sometimes does on a Saturday) so I'll need to wait until Monday for the dd's to come off.
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • GAP I am halfway through my shredding!!! The shredder has shut off due to overheating so just waiting for that to sort itself out before I continue. Would never have done it today if it wasn’t for our pact as I’m feeling pretty drained, but I’m SO GLAD I started. Will be amazing to get that ticked off my list!

    Cat is worryingly interested in the shredder, though. Confused about how an animal that runs out of the room if I clatter a spoon in a bowl can be so interested in a noisy shredder but I wish he wasn’t...
    Debt at LBM (Dec 2018): £23,167
    Debt free Feb 2021
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    GAP I am halfway through my shredding!!! The shredder has shut off due to overheating so just waiting for that to sort itself out before I continue. Would never have done it today if it wasn’t for our pact as I’m feeling pretty drained, but I’m SO GLAD I started. Will be amazing to get that ticked off my list!

    Cat is worryingly interested in the shredder, though. Confused about how an animal that runs out of the room if I clatter a spoon in a bowl can be so interested in a noisy shredder but I wish he wasn’t...

    Well done! :T I'm extremely proud of us! :) Admittedly, I haven't looked at mine again since but I will.


    I bought bread yesterday (55p) to keep us going until I do a proper shop. Was going to do that this afternoon but I just couldn't. I've got a workshop at work tomorrow so will be finished late but I'll ask LMG to meet me at the supermarket on the way home and get it done. Gives me time to finalise the meal plan for this week. We're 3 days in already so that's 3 less days in February to worry about.

    Yesterday I renewed my home insurance. It was more expensive than last year and more than my renewal quote but it's got everything so I'm quite pleased. Did it through TCB so hopefully I'll get £30 cashback. If I do get the cashback it will have cost less than my renewal. The cashback just goes straight back into the yearly payments account but that's not a bad thing.

    Just me for tea tonight so I've taken a portion of mince out of the freezer that I cooked last week (mince & tatties) and I've got potatoes which are starting to grow but if I cut all that off they'll be fine.

    Financially:
    - tried a survey but couldn't do it on my phone so had to cancel it.
    - renewed home insurance.
    Transferred to holding account:
    - £100 from council tax free month.
    - £5.57 left over from salary.
    - £6.39 balance (from £20) after mortgage overpayment made.
    - £0.12 interest on holding account.
    Current total in holding account: £112.08

    I've already achieved the £50 target for Feb due to the council tax money. I can't get past the cheaty feel of this so I'm aiming for £150 this month instead.
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,937 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Some great targets and great achievements in your list. You seem to have a good balance between money saving and social.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/25
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