YNAB...ing my way to freedom!

SuperFrank88

Hi all,
So it is the start of my week off. Had such a lazy weekend because the weather was awful. Saying that we did go for a 10 mile walk around the local woods on Saturday afternoon which was nice but wiped me out 

So this week I am planning on starting a assignment that is due in at the end of the month. 
We are having the boiler serviced today, so that pot will now be empty in Monzo ready to restart for next year. It is the first pot that I have emptied and it is a strange feeling having the money sat there for a annual expense. Normally it would've gone straight onto a credit card. 
I am going to do some jiggling about with YNAB this week to take into account my new pay rise which will take effect from the 20th of this month. It is an extra £200 take home so I need to figure out where to put it. I am tempted to open up a LISA for my retirement pot and get the 25% interest. Or do I up my work place contributions from 4% to 6-7% and get the increased tax relief.  Hmmm decisions. I am leaning towards the LISA option. Does anyone have any advice?

greensalad

It's so nice spending out of a pot and feeling all justified in spending it, my favourite feeling. The first time it happened for me was when I went on a Christmas shopping weekend to Liverpool with the girls in my family last year (shame we won't be doing that again!) It was great pulling out of my £200 I'd been diligently setting aside for the previous 6 months. Not feeling guilty getting a cocktail or a nice lunch because everything had been accounted for. 

IRT the LISA I have read that it is not very efficient in comparison to SIPP or increasing workplace contributions. Personally I'd go over to the Pensions board but I think they will tell you not to bother with the LISA.

SuperFrank88

Morning All,

Well we are 12 days into November and I have stuck to my 'No spend month' challenge. Have not spent a penny! Been making a big batch of soup on a Sunday evening and having that for my work lunches. OH has been making homely meals for us in the evening as she is working/studying from home. I have my brothers birthday on 21st but I already have a gifts category in YNAB so I am no counting this as 'spending'. 

I should get my payslip next week which will show my new salary taking into account my recent pay rise. I am waiting to know this so that I can re-jig my budget. I am currently looking into critical illness insurance/income protection etc....it is a mine field! I need to choose wisely but it is hard to come up with the magic number that I would want paid out if needed. Obviously this monthly figure will need to be paid for the duration of the policy so I do not want to set the bar too high and end up struggling to make the payment if I lost my job etc. 

Had some devastating news this week that my Grandpa has developed cancer in the bones  he is 85 and has dementia which has been getting worse over the last year, now this on top! Feel so sorry for him. This is one of the reasons why I want to get insurance because we just do not know what is around the corner!

In more positive news, I am playing golf with a friend tomorrow morning before uni. When Wales went into the firebreak lockdown, they shut all the courses so I have not been able to play. Will be nice to get out in the fresh air for a couple of hours with a friend.

Hope the lockdown is going OK for you all the other side of the bridge 

SuperFrank88

Happy Monday

The weekend goes so fast! It was a good one for me though. Played golf on Friday morning, got absolutely soaked in the rain half way through but had full waterproofs on so it was fine. Nice to get out in the fresh air. Saturday was a chilled one, FINALLY got my sorry a$$ back in my home gym. I was feeling pretty low mood wise so thought I would workout to see if it would help pick my mood up and it did starting is the hardest part, hopefully I can get into a routine now as I am a creature of habit. 

So my goal for 2021 is to try and make some extra income. I would love to know of any ideas you have for me just to make a bit of extra cash that doesn't involve a second job. I have heard a lot about surveys but do they actually pay out? Also heard about scanning receipts, but as I am living REALLY frugally then I do not buy anything to actually scan... 

Hope you all have a great start to the week  

Sarahwithlove

SuperFrank88 said:

Happy Monday

The weekend goes so fast! It was a good one for me though. Played golf on Friday morning, got absolutely soaked in the rain half way through but had full waterproofs on so it was fine. Nice to get out in the fresh air. Saturday was a chilled one, FINALLY got my sorry a$$ back in my home gym. I was feeling pretty low mood wise so thought I would workout to see if it would help pick my mood up and it did starting is the hardest part, hopefully I can get into a routine now as I am a creature of habit. 

So my goal for 2021 is to try and make some extra income. I would love to know of any ideas you have for me just to make a bit of extra cash that doesn't involve a second job. I have heard a lot about surveys but do they actually pay out? Also heard about scanning receipts, but as I am living REALLY frugally then I do not buy anything to actually scan... 

Hope you all have a great start to the week  

Mines only my food shop that I scan really but I get £10 every few months. Shoppix and storewards are the best two. If you go with storewards let me know and I'll give you a referral code then we both get bonus coins. Proflic is the survey one that you can make most from if you have the time and access to a computer to do them as although some can be done on phone the ones that pay out more tend to be computer only and need a webcam. Also look at focus groups and mystery shopping 

SuperFrank88

Sarahwithlove said:

SuperFrank88 said:

Happy Monday

The weekend goes so fast! It was a good one for me though. Played golf on Friday morning, got absolutely soaked in the rain half way through but had full waterproofs on so it was fine. Nice to get out in the fresh air. Saturday was a chilled one, FINALLY got my sorry a$$ back in my home gym. I was feeling pretty low mood wise so thought I would workout to see if it would help pick my mood up and it did starting is the hardest part, hopefully I can get into a routine now as I am a creature of habit. 

So my goal for 2021 is to try and make some extra income. I would love to know of any ideas you have for me just to make a bit of extra cash that doesn't involve a second job. I have heard a lot about surveys but do they actually pay out? Also heard about scanning receipts, but as I am living REALLY frugally then I do not buy anything to actually scan... 

Hope you all have a great start to the week  

Mines only my food shop that I scan really but I get £10 every few months. Shoppix and storewards are the best two. If you go with storewards let me know and I'll give you a referral code then we both get bonus coins. Proflic is the survey one that you can make most from if you have the time and access to a computer to do them as although some can be done on phone the ones that pay out more tend to be computer only and need a webcam. Also look at focus groups and mystery shopping 

Thank you Sarah, Yes send over the referral code, like I said, probably won't use it much myself but if I can help you out with extra coins then i'm all for that Yes I work on a desktop during the day and have a laptop at home so have signed up to prolific. 
It shows how much my mindset has changed as I was excited to see a 65p survey to complete 

Sarahwithlove

SuperFrank88 said:

Sarahwithlove said:

SuperFrank88 said:

Happy Monday

The weekend goes so fast! It was a good one for me though. Played golf on Friday morning, got absolutely soaked in the rain half way through but had full waterproofs on so it was fine. Nice to get out in the fresh air. Saturday was a chilled one, FINALLY got my sorry a$$ back in my home gym. I was feeling pretty low mood wise so thought I would workout to see if it would help pick my mood up and it did starting is the hardest part, hopefully I can get into a routine now as I am a creature of habit. 

So my goal for 2021 is to try and make some extra income. I would love to know of any ideas you have for me just to make a bit of extra cash that doesn't involve a second job. I have heard a lot about surveys but do they actually pay out? Also heard about scanning receipts, but as I am living REALLY frugally then I do not buy anything to actually scan... 

Hope you all have a great start to the week  

Mines only my food shop that I scan really but I get £10 every few months. Shoppix and storewards are the best two. If you go with storewards let me know and I'll give you a referral code then we both get bonus coins. Proflic is the survey one that you can make most from if you have the time and access to a computer to do them as although some can be done on phone the ones that pay out more tend to be computer only and need a webcam. Also look at focus groups and mystery shopping 

Thank you Sarah, Yes send over the referral code, like I said, probably won't use it much myself but if I can help you out with extra coins then i'm all for that Yes I work on a desktop during the day and have a laptop at home so have signed up to prolific. 
It shows how much my mindset has changed as I was excited to see a 65p survey to complete 

Storewards easiest one atm to get money built up on. You get 600 coins per receipt plus coins for everyday you open the app, more if you get a run going. You also get rewards for going up levels. Can do multiple receipts from same store as well. Referral code is  jmabv and can be used by multiple people if anyone else wants to join 😜 I've been using it since start Sept and almost up to £10 which is quicker than most and like I said mostly just my food shopping receipts and occasional McDs

SuperFrank88

Hi all,
So my 'No spend month' was a success in November. I spent next to nothing and didn't really feel like I was missing out. Will definitely try and do a couple/few more of those in 2021!
So a new month and nothing exciting to report. Debt going down while ISA/EF going up so it's win win at the moment. Started my Xmas shopping and it feels so good that I have been paying for the gifts straight from my Monzo pot, so it doesn't feel like I am using my own money. Every year until now I would be waiting to get paid on 20th December and then spending the next 4 days frantically running around the shops panic buying. What a difference a year makes!
I break up on the 17th for 2.5 weeks off which I am looking forward to. Spoke to boss this morning and there is a chance we could go back on furlough in the new year while we wait for new projects to come through. 
Before I would have panicked about dropping to 80%, but now that I have my house in order financially, I think I would quite welcome the extra time off as it has been a manic year since coming back after lockdown 1.0.

So awful to hear about Topshop & Debenhams though. Makes me very grateful for what I have and more mindful of the fact that lives can be turned on their head in a split! 

Hope you are all well.

Frank.

Mx_Emmin

Dont want to try for a no spend December then? I'm just teasing hahaha
 
Having saved money up beforehand has definitely transformed my Christmas stress levels! I still have some work to do on staying within the amount saved, but I got pretty close to it! 
 
Fingers crossed about the furlough though 

SuperFrank88

Mx_Emmin said:

Dont want to try for a no spend December then? I'm just teasing hahaha
 
Having saved money up beforehand has definitely transformed my Christmas stress levels! I still have some work to do on staying within the amount saved, but I got pretty close to it! 
 
Fingers crossed about the furlough though 

If I could get my family to buy into the secret Santa idea I definitely would try for a no spend December That is the only part of Xmas that I don't like, when people outstretch themselves. My parents are a nightmare for it! They are low earners yet come Xmas time they go overboard. Annoys me because I know they are paying for Xmas well into the next year.