How much to live on

Bravepants

[Deleted User] said:

My financial plans for 2025 are very simple!

1) continue to pay £500 a month to replenish savings. 

2) continue to allocate £600 to £800 per month to various virtual pots in my second savings account for annual bills and things like Christmas, House and Garden, Clothes, Car etc…..

Although there is a travel pot I am not expecting to use it much this year owing to family responsibilities. I have managed to arrange for a short 3 day break in January and at the moment that’s it for 2025.

I am also fortunate to be in a position not to have to worry about having enough money. Something I have only really recently fully realised. My pension income is index linked and is more than adequate for my fairly uncomplicated lifestyle. I have no need to chase a little bit extra here and there. I can just let things tick along with little interference.

Mainly hoping for a year when family members stay healthy and hospitals figure a lot less in our lives.

I will continue with my daily exercises and swimming to try and keep a reasonably ok looking body lol.

Hopefully, responsibilities permitting, I will have some time to continue with and further develop some interests. 

Apart from contributions to 4 online forums and occasional online shopping I will only use the internet for information gathering. I have closed all social media accounts apart from one messaging service  the family use. I am also going ration my access to the news.

I am also avoiding setting targets for anything, but rather will step back and instead observe how things develop over time. 

Overall, I am going  to be happy in my own world and keep out the toxic influences of the bigger world. 

Your way of thinking sounds very much in tune with mine. I struggle to avoid the News even though the negativity bias is ever present. It literally is all doom and gloom that’s presented to us. When told that I should ‘stay informed’, I reply that I prefer to stay informed about things that interest me and bring me pleasure and useful knowledge. 

helensbiggestfan

Some interesting posts.  Lots of plans.  

Well 2024 is ending on a bit of a low note....

My fridge/freezer died.  Of course is was full to bursting and I had to throw away a lot of food.  Plus I think I need a new tyre for my car.  Hey ho.  Luckily I have the funds, it's just that I would rather spend them on something rather more joyful. 

Have received draft contracts from the solicitor re my house purchase so it's looking good. 🤞.  Still aiming for Feb/March. Have started packing up the house, a few boxes each day, decluttering as I go.  

A New Year, New House, New Life.  

Anyway wishing you all health and wealth for 2025.  😁.  

Albermarle

My fridge/freezer died.  Of course is was full to bursting and I had to throw away a lot of food.

You may well be covered for this by your Home contents insurance.
Although you would have to look if there was any excess, and probably your premiums would go up next year.

LL_USS

helensbiggestfan said:

...

Have received draft contracts from the solicitor re my house purchase so it's looking good. 🤞.  Still aiming for Feb/March. Have started packing up the house, a few boxes each day, decluttering as I go.  

A New Year, New House, New Life.  

Anyway wishing you all health and wealth for 2025.  😁.  

I hope all will go smooth for you this year, helensbiggestfan.

Happy New Year to everyone

Organgrinder

Well, my new year has started with the realisation that I no longer bounce. I've never been particularly good at snowboarding, but this year my rather poor technique has been exposed and I'm bruised and ache all over.

That said a really enjoyable trip. And in true MSE style, I've come in under budget. Flights were £200 in total, transfers £75, liftpasses and equipment £300, hotel £360, airport parking £75. 4 days on the slopes. Spends will be £350 on lunch and evening meals etc. So everything has cost less than £1400 for two people. For school holidays I'm happy with that. I quite often organise everything myself. I've no need for a fancy hotel when snowboarding and this one is definitely soviet-esque. That said it has a pool, sauna, bowling alley, shooting range etc.

On the subject of bouncing, one of my investments seems to be doing just that.

When I get back, the car is due a service (all paid for on a plan) and then I intend redoing my budgeting spreadsheet.

I've no need to do a pot for this and a pot for that though I do have on my spreadsheet any known spends.  Basically I have my incomings and fixed outgoings. Then I budget monthly spends on food and "other". I do add in three holiday lump sums, Christmas and other one offs like water, insurance etc, but the thought of putting X in for clothes, y in for haircuts etc doesn't work for me. I then set my "budget" and use this as the basis for planning, tracking where I am against where I thought I would be. If I'm ahead I may treat myself. If behind I try and get it back.

Of course any extra gained through stoozing, bank switching etc is unplanned and hence a bonus to be used for treats eg weekends away, maybe a visit to a Michelin Star restaurant etc.

It works for me. I hope as we enter a new year, any suggestions have worked for others too.

louby40

Sounds like a great well planned out snowy break!

Organgrinder

louby40 said:

Sounds like a great well planned out snowy break!

It worked out well to be fair. I've arranged my own every year bar one. The savings add up though of course you don't get the same level of "protection" in the event of problems 

But to give you an example of money savings this time around against typical prices. 

Hotel booked direct £90/night. On all the booking websites £105-£114 a night.

Lift passes £228 on hotel website v £260 elsewhere 

Equipment hire £61 v £120 elsewhere.

Taxi £75 on booking dot com v £50 each way elsewhere.

If I actually priced the package v crystal or Balkan I've saved much more. Now I know we were only here for 4 days on the slopes and not 6, but equally we got bed and breakfast, transfers and flights for £635. The same with the package companies was I believe £1700 albeit for a week and their rental and lift pass prices were much more per day than we paid. From memory over £100 a day for two versus £72.

It also means I avoid the "package tour" ski bus from the airport and the reps trying to sell you stuff you don't need!

I have no issue paying a little bit more, but if I'd done the extra nights my trip would have cost £905 for b&b plus transport against £1700 elsewhere. Same hotel. Different airline. Different transfer.

Bonkers.

uralmaid

Hope you are feeling a little less battered and bruised @Organgrinder

Organgrinder

uralmaid said:

Hope you are feeling a little less battered and bruised @Organgrinder

Well I've either badly bruised or have cracked a rib!

Good fun though. Honest!

uralmaid

@Organgrinder - ouch.  Get ell soon.