Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

LadyWithAPlan

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter break - I saw family but I also was far too busy - catching up on things that all had deadlines 31/3, 1/4 etc and I had pushed the work back and back, or hit snags that were waiting on others. who took forever to get info to me  so pushed me to  even more last minute  crazy  ... made more intense  by last weekends European jolly.. as I pushed some tasks ahead... I do like last minute but this was silly levels given my work project deadlines  as well. 

I was sorting out a side hustle Easter Friday morning, then tackled the corp tax filing which was fine til their tech played up! I did check today by calling and it was all received in time  but the govt gateway site definitely did not show me that ... Plus I had to get a neighbour who had my keys to find my payment letter as the corp tax payment reference was on the letter and also supposedly on the online site - except it wasnt.. So all was done in time but stressful ... I will not be pushing it that far next year though  now my filing date is NYE so that will be a pre xmas job... including paying the tax!
I also was helping a friend with a creative project Fri morning - spent hours helping her organise then she pulled out by text 2 days later  - what is it with me and people texting me bad news! call me - I dont bite.. (though I may start) . Lesson  is I will not be helping them again in that vein as it took hours extra on Friday I did not have... 

Good news is Sat day and Sun day I also tested that sports  trading software as had a short trial for the weekend -  not hard to figure out ... - and earnt more than enough to cover the annual cost of it so I will be buying that as an extra side hustle income.. was some degree of luck but all stats based so I will venture forward  - I am keeping a tight excel spreadsheet on p+l just for that so I am clear. 
I used to track every sports/casino trade but I no longer do as I trust now after years my process but with new ventures I do like to track...

Then Sunday/Monday I was editing video etc  and images etc all for deadlines Monday eve..... was up at 8am Easter Monday as software was refusing to read my HD's etc etc.. So ended up staying an extra day to chill and rest... Now back in London this afternoon and on couch!

So I did spend some quality time with family  and ate some lovely food   (over ate ....) ... but it was also a lot of work.. and at points not fun working til 11.30pm,  up at 8am ....
I do need to find a way to balance MWAP nto my schedule ... this weekend was silly busy partly cos I agreed to go away last weekend - I had tried to make it week after Easter but he had pushed for last weekend in March instead .... Luckily he had his kids this weekend - though did keep asking me to lunch  but he already signalling he  is free for  10 days this coming week and I need to have a conversation about time and my deadlines.. I do want to see him but I  also need to get some serious work done...

savingholmes

Sounds like a lot of juggling but the essentials and some family time were achieved.

LadyWithAPlan

savingholmes said:

Sounds like a lot of juggling but the essentials and some family time were achieved.

Indeed! Hope you are feeling better each day SH 

MARCH  EOM ROUNDUP 

I was due more invoices being paid last week - should  be this  week instead so that has interfered with my figures.
I however did pay my corp tax without any issues   and indeed managed to file myself as well - my 23/24 income  are not as good as 22/23  I can see  - I am planning to get my company accts clear in the next week for 23/24 so then I know how much I need to put aside for tax. 

SIPPS  £55,579 - best ever!! Up £3,426 mom ....
I did hope to hit £50k this year in my Van one which I did - currently £50060 -   My goal was £50k across both but the market rally has helped there-
I added March £1304  and also the 2 SIPPS together went up in the markets by  £2k this month ...
I do want to add some more by April 5th as only added £5.5k this  23/24 so far  but waiting to get that invoice paid or I will be pulling money from everywhere.. plus the hse deposit v pension debate is back again ... in years past I have just dumped more into my sipp but the flat buying is near..

FIRE  exc hse deposit  and DB pension 
V  Lean fire   at 60   18.53  %   up  over 1.15%
Decent fire (exc DB etc)   9.2%   up  0.51% will i ever hit 10% of this ...  Aim is to add more contrib this week to do so..

Hse deposit -  £118,703   - up £2829  excluding March To be paid  invoices  and extra in EF  to add plus some MB money to move still
ISA  S&S  is now £25k    - all due to mkt movement  isa is up again  £519.40 in Feb and £947 in March 
Also I moved some PB I had set aside  for tax into hse savings and used cash instead hence the jump ..

Plus added £483 into actual locked savings for hse last month  (£200 h2b, £250 reg saver, £33 to balance )
plus interest of £51.75   - inc £19.73 from my Mnz instant access 4.1% saver ..

MSE
Comp wins  cash £10 plus (not counted £150 restaurant gift card)
PB £25
Cashback £10 airtime rewards
Amazon refun £13.59 - for coffee beans sent but not ordered so they said keep - think the sent instead of some vitamins I had ordered
£25 ransom goodwil from Barc as they said some statements had not been sent 5 years ago
MB joy over £1200 this month but will use half of it for this new software 

SPENDING - the MWAP dating has meant my spends have gone up - need to watch this for April  -  as my spending has doubled from Feb - 
Grocery - super low at £76.49 but had away trips £77 on food ... and MWAP dinners out 

Total Volun spend -  £894.87 in March   vs Feb   £492.80   !!!!!! ouch 
Fun spending   £366.80  (inc  nearly £200 flight)      (vs £215.70   in Feb) 
£8.95 junk - still no haribo ..
Social spending  £498.07  inc abroad food, drinks ....  (vs £277 in Feb) 

Non voluntary spend - v high   - I had a lot of  work software and other spends eg web domains etc on projects, and flights `(work) to pay for in March so I need to look at this as it will slow down house buying

EDIT March win and April to improve list 
March wins
organised,  sorted and filed Co tax myself
Paid corp tax and the excess went to hse deposit
June abroad side hustle - hit all required deadline
June - UK side hustle - emerged and got to where it needed to be
1st trip away with MWAP success
Saw loads flats - nearly bought
Realised how much I love this flat
Loads work for client 1 and got various projects done to next stage
Client 2 going well and all done -
Organised May trip - with the form failure
Started sewing class and loving it
Music classes going well
Got new software at student discount price and working well
New software for trading tested and made enough to cover annual costs
Saw family
Saved loads - over £118k deposit 
SIPPs over £55k now


March fails
My nutrition - especially on vacation and over easter
Put on a bit of weight
NEARLY bought a flat
EA nightmare
Rushed a form so got rejected so need to redo
not push other side hustles much
My invoice payment plan was not followed through
Easter I just worked so not enough family time
GYM did not happen - maybe 1-2 swims max 

April to dos
Healthy living and lose 4 lbs
GYM/exercise daily - not happen in March
plus work, life, creative stuff of which I have my to do list  

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:

....he  is free for  10 days this coming week....

You should ask him for some tips, he is clearly a Time Lord 😀🤣

TallGirl

Well done on the pension savings and getting your tax in on time. Lots of good work and YNAB is clearly working for you. There is always going to be personal spends and as long as you get the best value for money that is fine. Glad to see things are working out with MWAP it is hard when you want different things. DG and I are on the same page most of the time but we have a friend who sends us stuff to do as soon as we have spent a day together. It is nice to book in advance but I do not need expensive days out with her every month. They are expensive due to the amount we end up drinking. It is hard to find a balance but if he is keeper then you will. Will nights in at yours or his be an alternative. Like games night, movie night, walks in the countryside etc. be low cost alternatives. 

Good luck with the flat hunting look forward to seeing your continued journey. 

PennysIntoPounds

Well done on getting through the daft busy phase, enjoy your couch time!
Have you had a look at your shortlist areas on rightmove lately? Maybe MWAP could meet you after viewings for a drink or meal to make the most of your time and you'll have at least been paying for travel anyway and good way to check out area vibes whilst having date time

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

....he  is free for  10 days this coming week....

You should ask him for some tips, he is clearly a Time Lord 😀🤣

And the comedy genius of SC strikes again      Indeed he seems to be.. though does not swagger as much as David Tennant sadly.. 
He  was was a contractor in IT for years so ... now has reached a point of frugal but comfortable ... although hanging round with me may change that  

TallGirl said:

Well done on the pension savings and getting your tax in on time. Lots of good work and YNAB is clearly working for you. There is always going to be personal spends and as long as you get the best value for money that is fine. Glad to see things are working out with MWAP it is hard when you want different things. DG and I are on the same page most of the time but we have a friend who sends us stuff to do as soon as we have spent a day together. It is nice to book in advance but I do not need expensive days out with her every month. They are expensive due to the amount we end up drinking. It is hard to find a balance but if he is keeper then you will. Will nights in at yours or his be an alternative. Like games night, movie night, walks in the countryside etc. be low cost alternatives. 

Good luck with the flat hunting look forward to seeing your continued journey. 

I was very impressed with myself that I managed to do my own co tax filing despite the best efforts of the gov website to confuse and misdirect me!  Trust me their system tried hard!

Yes I definitely dial down as much dining out as possible  and some friends I will no longer see apart from drinks - too expensive in London... I have been caught a few times on some wildly expensive dinners out  even with just one glass of wine .... or gig tix ...

 A friend today who rang me for advice  today on tax/isa/sipp stuff said ' I know you dont like to spend much' as if it were a bad thing!!!  but then she is always wanting dinners and with my allergies it just gets boring talking to the waiters - I would much rather eat at home - i eat much healthier and   I  cook myself much  better  than a lot of restaurant chefs unless its very high end or a particular ethnic cuisine - I did years of cookery evening classes so.. I just calmly stated I am saving for my home - she has bought  outside of London  and moved away  leaving her entire social life behind  so different  decisions ..

Bit soon to declare  keeper  status  on MWAP (though he quite understandably thinks I am ) but he is lovely, smart, nice, attractive, I enjoy chatting and hanging  etc  and we are being exclusive ... I have suggested I will cook this weekend - he picks up most tabs but I dont want it to feel too one sided so I always get the drinks etc before so ££££ add up.

PennysIntoPounds said:

Well done on getting through the daft busy phase, enjoy your couch time!
Have you had a look at your shortlist areas on rightmove lately? Maybe MWAP could meet you after viewings for a drink or meal to make the most of your time and you'll have at least been paying for travel anyway and good way to check out area vibes whilst having date time

Good reminder on RM  - I did suggest he come house hunting and got zero response which I think means no thanks
I do need to check out more NE and E London 

Cheery_Daff

Sounds like a good plan to offer to cook! And maybe he thought you were suggesting he look at flats with you - perhaps a bit early however enthusiastic he is!! Meeting him afterwards might work though 😊

You are sounding very organised and on it!

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

Sounds like a good plan to offer to cook! And maybe he thought you were suggesting he look at flats with you - perhaps a bit early however enthusiastic he is!! Meeting him afterwards might work though 😊

You are sounding very organised and on it!

Ha! No he knows I am buying on my own, I would never again get financially involved with someone (unless I am married and even then ... ) 

Anyone know if PB have announced their prizes? As if so I have not won this month

themadvix

Perhaps he doesn't want you to be influenced by him - after all, it's entirely your decision and if he says something that influences you one way or another and this later proves to be the wrong decision, he won't have been involved - better for both of you!