FtbDreaming wants to clear £69,700 before Im 40 (2027)

MovingForwards

Unless the ISA is paying a decent amount, don't bother with it, you're much better off having a couple of regular savers as they pay about 1% also consider the virgin current account as that pays 2% on balances upto £1k and has a linked savings account paying 0.50% (it also allows different savings pots to be set up). On a basic income, not higher rate payer, we can earn £1k in interest a year without worrying about paying tax on it, so chase better interest rates!

You've done really well, it's a hard slog clearing old debts while eyeballing a home and the costs to secure it. Starting the new year always gives a clean slate financially, lets you move on from the year before and it works. I'm now approaching my 4th as it works so well; new year = new financial me who has learned a lot from previous ones.

Chrystal

Just read through your diary and want to wish you the best of luck.  You've done fantastically well during all this turmoil, and I hope that work today goes well for you. (Did you manage to find out what had been going on?  Sounds like a right rigmarole! )  Hopefully 2021 will be a better year for all of us. ((hugs)) 

FtbDreaming

Aww thankyou @Chrystal it was a testing time but I got here in the end. Wednesday and Thursday were great and I was happy to be back then today it came back all the stress and pressure that we’re under never mind the physical effort I have to put in. My body is exhausted. I am gonna get myself on the straight and narrow financially then go for something new next year. 

I’m getting off the overpaying/ saving / mse wagon for the rest of the year I think. I just wanna relax and stop pressuring  myself in every direction. I think self care and weight loss need to be added as goals for 2021 x

MovingForwards

Something has to give as that was a lot of money pressure you were putting yourself under. Nothing wrong with doing O/Ps and saving, but it's not worth breaking your back to do it.
Perhaps rounded up or just a fixed O/P, some into savings and enough to feel like your not just earning to clear things. Find that happy medium.

It takes an 'event' to realise there's more to life and to work out what you do want.

bellevie

Look after yourself ftbdreaming, overpayments are voluntary after all, as long as your bills are paid and there's food on the table everything else can wait

FtbDreaming

Aww thanks both of you! Yesterday’s shift was nice-ish so I felt better again after waking up at 5am worrying about Thursday shift.

 I am off today and tomorrow so I’m taking the kids to town today to see the xmas lights and have some dinner. In a normal year we would have gone the panto then done this but this year the regular panto I go to has cancelled and the other is £140 for the tickets. I don’t really wanna pay that as its not essential and there’s other luxuries the kids would rather have over xmas. 

I’m having a very slow start to the day and gonna catch up reading all the diaries before I lift a finger 🙂 xxx

MovingForwards

There's bound to be a panto on TV or YT you can sit and watch.
Keep easing yourself into work and it will continue to get easier.

Bargainhunter30

Cbeebies are showing loads of panto at the minute - not sure how old your kids are!

FtbDreaming

Thanks we went to town. Didn’t spend loads of money tbh. I had bought a load of stuff from primark and of course none of it fit so what I exchanged only worked out at an extra £5 I had to put to it and the kids thought I was being super generous 😂

I’ve been working quite a bit to make up for all my time off but as my ssp run out I've had 2 weeks with no pay until xmas eve so I’m finally in my overdraft albeit temporarily until Thursday! I’ve also had to use a bit of credit card and catalog but both are 0% and will be cleared way before the interest free periods end. 

I am feeling 1000% positive for 2021 and am confident that all my 2020 troubles are behind me. I got back to the job application I had put on hold and she’ll be In touch for the next phase on 4th January so a new year new start! I’ll still keep my current job ticking over but probably just the odd Sunday a month to keep my clinical skills up and have ‘treat myself’ money. 

Thanks for everyone who kept up with my diary as I went through a ‘grey’ period! The support is much appreciated xxx

MovingForwards

It's in the past and you sound so much better now 🤗

Do keep your hand in with skills and CPD, the extra money could pay for OH's training first, then treats after.