My 5 Year Plan to a better life!

another_casualty

Great news about the removal/ clearance guys Mt 😼👍
Don't forget to leave positive feedback . 

It's a strange quandary about the hospital radio . 🎤🎧 maybe you may be able to keep it into your new lifestyle once you're settled into your new home?  I suppose it depends on if you still have that initial feeling of enjoyment when you're doing it . Plus of course the time etc⏰

It's good/ promising that you are hopefully all set for completion of your sale . 

You may remember in my 1st diary, I sold to first time buyers who were supposedly pushing for a quick sale. Tbh, it took about the standard time in all the madness at the time . Estate agents can over hype things when there's no need 
You're almost there..

MuffinTops

Thanks AC.  When my buyers initially put in the offer they stipulated that their offer was valid only if they could move in within 2 weeks!  My estate agent had to call them and let them know they weren't being realistic. I'm assuming they pay a high rent and just want to put their money towards their own home.  I'll accommodate as much as I can and have things moving forward already so we'll see.  

The more I'm thinking about the radio, the less viable it seems.  I think you're right that I should wait and see once I'm settled in my new home.  I know that even if they give my slot away that the station would be happy for a regular recorded show.  I'll speak to the woman in charge to see what her thoughts are.

Some points of my day I feel like I'm almost there and others I wonder how I'll get it all done.  Somehow these things come together though, don't they?  I've learned that from reading others experiences, including yours.

RosaBernicia

MuffinTops said:

You're so right DIA on acting as if I'll be moving in 2 weeks.  I kind of picked that up from your diary when you were moving, but you've put it nicely into words too.

Oh gods I would just have spent months in a state of panic

MuffinTops

I'm with you too then Rosa!  I'm in a constant state of panic at the moment. 

MuffinTops

This month my money seems to have been sat in a financial colander.  I'm not going to stress on it though as moving house is expensive and I'll eventually gain that back again.  I shouldn't have too much more to pay and my Mum has given me a bit of help too.

YNAB is up to date and just laughs whenever I try to update anything.  I may need to do a fresh start at the end of this month because I think I'm messing it up.  I took RosaBernica's recommendation and watched a few videos, but it seems they have different settings to what I have so I couldn't put it into practice.  But it's the mindset that I need more than the actual "push this button" knowledge and I think I'm getting my head around it.  

I had a call back from the removal company and they're doing a video survey tomorrow afternoon to go through what I have to be stored and next steps, prices etc.  Very happy with that being booked in so quickly.  That's one of the bonuses I've found from us all staying home is that now I don't need people in my house - I can just show them around using my phone.  Could you imagine hearing that sentence 15 years ago??? 🤯

When I filled in my fixtures and fittings form I asked my buyers if they wanted the furniture I have in the house, but didn't get a confirmation back.  I messaged them yesterday to let them know I'd booked the removal company and asked if they wanted the furniture (it's really good stuff, most of it was bought from M&S and is really strong heavy wood bedroom furniture) and they said they do.  I'm so pleased as it's still in good condition so should be good for them as they start out, and it also means I don't have to worry about getting it downstairs and out of the house.  Plus I won't have to pay to store it.  We all win.

This weekend I'll visit my Mum and take some "precious" items with me.  I've bought the dog some toys too, so I'm excited to let her have those.  She loves a squeaky toy and literally shakes with excitement as she tries to kill it! 😂. With some of them it doesn't take very long.  Luckily some supermarkets sell reasonably priced toys, because the toys online cost a fortune.

I've decided to do 2 or 3 shows before quitting to make sure that quitting is the right thing to do.  Due to us not being in the studio in so long I won't have any loyal listeners so won't feel I'm letting anyone down if I only do 3 and then leave.  To be honest, I may not even be here in 3 weeks, but we'll see!

Well I hope everyone is having a good wind down towards another nice weather weekend.  I'm meeting up with a few friends on Saturday for an outdoor lunch and a walk along the river.  I'm very excited to see them.  One I've not seen since December, but we do talk a lot on the phone, so I have all the tea! 🫖  Where did that saying even come from? 

Sunday is a visit to my Mum and Monday I've booked in a nervous breakdown!  I'm off next week so need to get some things packed and trips to the local tip etc.

MTxx

another_casualty

All sounding good MT . 
Great news about the furniture situation . After all it's not any furniture ..it's M&S furniture 😼
Keep going and all should be well . 
Sounds like you have a nice weekend coming too 🌞

MuffinTops

After deciding to take my precious items to my Mum, I also took my main computer!!! 🙃. So that's why I've been quiet as I've had to set my laptop up and it's taken a while.  I did have some time off last week to try and get some packing and organising done, but I felt under the weather and took it easy. I've also got some family stuff going on as my Uncle was rushed into hospital after a fall and is in and out of intensive care at the moment.  The fall seemed quite benign but there's been complications since then.  So that's been a lot of worry and has taken a lot of space in my head as I've been worried about my Aunt and Cousins as it's a lot for them to deal with.  They have to make appointments to visit due to Covid and how he is, so that must be hard for them too.

Onto financial things, I've decided to make a YNAB fresh start as I feel I understand it all a bit more now with the credit cards 💷 and how YNAB allocates spends and funds.  I was paid a few days ago so I've allocated the money around to fit my budget.  I'm hoping to get back on top this month.  My credit card is looking much healthier 🎉, although I have just put £1,100 back on it to pay for my removal and some storage fees! 😏 But that shouldn't need to be paid until my July salary if I've calculated the dates correctly.  By then I should be able to pay it off easily.

I did look over April spending and it all went on ridiculous items 🤪.  I went food shopping way too much 🍞🫒 🍩, and also had too many takeaways 🍕🍟 I could have easily done without.  New beginnings!😇  I've also allocated a bank account as my daily allowance account which includes things like groceries and diesel, so let's see how I get on with that.  It actually works out to a £10 a day budget and I'm hoping that will make me more mindful of how much I spend.  I have a full tank of diesel and lots of food in the house so a few NSD's should easily be possible.

No house move news yet 🏠, despite them saying they would be ready to complete last week.  I think this week will be the update, all being well, unless either solicitor has taken this week off.  We shall see.  

I hope everyone had a great Bank Holiday weekend. 😃

MTx

another_casualty

Sorry to hear about uncle MT . Hopefully things will improve for your family , very soon.
I'm one of those people who try to keep various tasks and problems  separate , but with an ongoing house move of course that is not really possible and you just tend to tackle everyting that comes at you the best way you can and that can be draining . 

Nothing wrong with the odd takeaway🍟🍗 , or treats etc 🍫☕️imho as life shouldn't always be led textbook style and is for living and the way things are going on at the moment just try not to worry too much about that . When settled , you'll not take too long to get back to the way you want . 

Hope the week goes well enough for you .
I'll leave it there 🌥

MuffinTops

Thanks AC.  It's not looking good for him, but my Aunt is allowed to visit tomorrow so we'll hopefully know more then.
I agree that once I'm settled in my new home, I'll be able to get into the routines I want to. That feels a long way off at the moment, but shouldn't be more than a few months.
I hope you're having a good week. 

MuffinTops

I managed to box up a lot of items yesterday and have put them away safely.  Phew.  It feels never ending but when I look around logically I can see what I need to do, and it's not that bad.  I just feel disorganised which makes me feel discombobulated.

Last night I realised I didn't have enough money sitting in my current account to pay my monthly bills, which has made me give YNAB a thorough look.  So I'd added what my balances were when I first started this spreadsheet, but hadn't allocated the odd amounts I have in various accounts, so have done that now.  Plus I've moved money around each account to ensure they cover all their bills, which they now do.  Gave myself a bit of a scare but it's made me really think about things.  Every day is a school day!

Another NSD today as I'm up, showered and back in clean and cosy pyjamas!!!  I'm such a slob on work days.  So I just need to avoid the online shops!  I do have some tape arriving today for my box packing, but that's already allocated to my Home Move fund.

We've made it to the half way point again!  Yay!  Well done us!!!  I hope you're all having a great week.