Time to get my house in order!

MovingForwards

I also pick up the abandoned change, have a pot but class it as my cats pocket money tub. I don't care if someone sees me pick it up!

Even if you do a £5 O/P it all helps. The money will come from not paying the extra to the insurance company for monthly installments.

Well done on not dipping into savings and becoming self-sufficient with your pampering, if you start to falter when things settle, add up how much it would cost you a year.
When it goes from being £5 here, £10 there, £30 everywhere to £60, £120 and £390 a year and you realise you can do a year of self-pampering for £60 a year and saving the rest, your mindset stays focused 😊

Thick_n_Thin

I agree, the cash I used to spend on pampering makes me feel sick now when I think about it. Definitely going to make more of an effort to do it myself and then just go to the hairdressers maybe every 12 weeks for a cut.
Another NSD in the bag, all direct debits have now left my account and I definitely won’t need any diesel this week so I’ve just made a £10 overpayment to the Halifax card. I can’t wait for the day when my ad hoc payments are going to my mortgage, but I have to remind myself in a former life that discretionary £10 would of been frittered away on a pret lunch and a takeaway coffee so I’m proud of myself for that! 

MovingForwards

Don't beat yourself up over what's in the past, main thing is you now know what you can do yourself and make an afternoon or evening of it; some music, scented candles, face mask on while doing nails, glass of wine afterwards. 

Mortgage O/Ps will start to be made before you know it 😊

Thick_n_Thin

So I’ve just posted my first post over on the pension and retirement board, hoping some people with a lot more knowledge than me can point me in the right direction when it comes to planning my retirement as my current plan is a bit ‘ off the top of my head’ and hope for the best! 

Payslips are available tomorrow so can work on my new budget tomorrow. Have received email from TUI to say they have refunded my holiday but it hasn’t shown in my account yet! Hope this isn’t going to be something I have to chase as I can’t go through the rigmarole of ringing them again! 

MovingForwards

I saw your post. I'm building myself up to post too, it's hard knowing pension pots / savings are nowhere near what a lot have 🙈

Hopefully the refund shouldn't take more than a few weeks now. I've noticed refunds for things are taking a bit longer than normal.

Good luck with your budget.

Thick_n_Thin

Moving forwards, re the pension post, I was really scared posting as I really don’t know the lingo, have had some replies which has helped clarify a few things for me,  I know I am being ambitious wanting to retire at 55 but I really hate my job so I want to try and make this happen! 

Well the refund from TUI has arrived in my account, so no need for me stressing out about it, I have transferred it to savings so that little pot is looking a lot healthier, not for long as it’s earmarked for new stairway carpet. 

OH’s car insurance renewal has arrived and increased by £150 on last year so that will be getting cancelled tomorrow and I will start looking around, ideally want this under £500 so I can pay off in one go and reduce another direct debit.
Mortgage overpayment will only be £100 this month as OH needs a new tyre and his car needs it’s MOT next week so this Is going to cost £220. I haven’t got enough to pay my insurance in full and the tyre and MOT but I’m pleased I can make a small overpayment as we are £600 down this month because of furlough and me on salary reduction.

MovingForwards

I was worried they wouldn't comment or say there's no chance on mine 😂

You need some plan, a focus and something to work towards.

Yay, I'm pleased your refund arrived and it's being put to good use.

I'm sure you should be able to find a cheaper policy. Car related expenses are expensive, but it's good to have a car.

My stance is any O/P is better than no O/P 😁

Thick_n_Thin

Well pay day has finally arrived, have made my overpayment to the mortgage of £100, like you say it’s better than nothing, it didn’t quite have the same buzz to it though as overpaying £350 last month. Phoned car insurance provider and cancelled the renewal, I’m confident I can get it for around £450 so a good £300 less than the renewal. Have been to Aldi today armed with my list. This month I have had to decrease my food budget to £275 so it’s £68 per week, I came in at £1 over and managed to get a fair bit so I’m confident that this will be doable this month. 

Think that’s it for the money updates today! 

MovingForwards

Well done on the O/P, that is still a good one.

Don't get discouraged with the posts about your retirement plans. Keep taking on most of the advice, use it to alter your plans and you will achieve it, even if it's not as quick as you hope.

Thick_n_Thin

Thanks Movingforwards, I do feel very discouraged but I keep reminding myself that there are some people my age who have no provision whatsoever so at least I am ahead in that respect. I will take on board the comments but I will use them constructively, if I don’t aim for my goal then I will fail without trying, at least I will be saving a decent amount of money if nothing else....