2022 - Moving forward

jwil

I've decided it's time for a new diary for the New Year.  Lots has changed over the last few years, and I'm finally at a stage where I'm on a bit more of an even keel with my finances.  This means it's time to build up the savings, get the work on the house done, tackle the mortgage and clear the last couple of debts.

There's me, DH, Little jwil (8) and Little miss (6).  We also have a cat and a dog.

I have gone from 7 debts at a total of c.£35k to having two remaining.  These are interest free and so I shall leave them ticking over.  My highest interest debt is now my mortgage, so that is my focus for overpaying.  It's on a tracker rate which is low at the moment, but clearly interest rates are heading in the opposite direction now.  I will remain on my tracker until interest rates reach a certain level and then consider fixing.  I can make unlimited overpayments now, so don't want to limit myself.

I now for the first time have some small savings.  It is my ambition to grow these, so that I have a £1000 emergency fund, and £1000 cash buffer.  I want to keep growing my premium bonds and my LISA as I can't/don't dip into these.

The house needs a lot of work doing to it, as it's been barely touched since the 60s.  We did replace one window last year, but the priority for this year is the electrics.  They need to be upgraded and I want more than a single socket in most rooms!  That is the focus of my house improvement savings.

For many years, finances have stopped the work being done, but the other barrier is the clutter.  At one point we had two houses worth of stuff in our house, and DH and I have both been guilty of collecting stuff.  I have cleared most of mine now, we have also cleared most of the 'other house' stuff.  DH has done a lot, but still has a long way to go.  The kids too come with their own levels of clutter so that needs to be kept on top of as they grow out of things and don't want to play with certain toys any more.

The final thing to tackle is my weight.  I am very overweight, and it appears it is catching up with me, as I have recently been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.  Time to start taking it seriously and so I need to sort that out in the new year.

Happy New Year everyone

jwil

In 2021 I cleared £11,255 of debt (largely assisted by a write-off!) and £7,121.87 off the mortgage 😁.

My financials are now:

Debts:
1. £3,580
2. £4,654

Total: £8,234

Mortgage - £100,977.96

Savings:
LISA: £781.25
Premium bonds £525
Emergency fund: £19.42 
Cash Buffer: £147
House improvement fund: £10

My declutter totals for 2021 (I like to keep track) are:

Magazines/papers: 741

Ebay parcels: 340

Other: 704

Total: 1785

Ebay listings: 300

Survey/other earnings:

Amazon: £149

Paypal/cash: £501.62

Other vouchers:£0

WinterWarrior

Hi @jwil…I am following your new thread. Good luck x

Tiredbutdetermined

I love the declutter total idea 💡 

You seem like the queen of surveys. I am still trying to get my head around them

doingitanyway

When you list your achievements that way it makes it clear how far you have come. You have done fantastically well.
I like your savings goals. They are all goals I plan on stealing

I look forward to seeing how you make progress with your pre diabetes diagnosis too.

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary  xx

jwil

WinterWarrior said:

Hi @jwil…I am following your new thread. Good luck x

Thank you, lovely to see you  

Tiredbutdetermined said:

I love the declutter total idea 💡 

You seem like the queen of surveys. I am still trying to get my head around them

Thank you   I like to keep track of what I get rid of, otherwise I get to the end of the year and feel like I haven't achieved anything.

I used to do loads of survey sites, but have whittled it down to a handful of the ones I am most successful with now.  It means I can check more frequently which helps with certain sites!

doingitanyway said:

When you list your achievements that way it makes it clear how far you have come. You have done fantastically well.
I like your savings goals. They are all goals I plan on stealing

I look forward to seeing how you make progress with your pre diabetes diagnosis too.

Thank you DIA.   Good luck with your goals too, I've just found your new diary.

beanielou said:

Happy shiny new diary  xx

Thank you Beanielou xx

jwil

Today has been a nice day.  I took the kids to visit relatives today and came back with a cake and a large joint of beef which is now in the freezer.

I chilled out again this afternoon, and watched the old version of the Amazing Mr Blunden.   My colouring pencils have arrived for my Keanu colouring book, so I may have a go at that later.

I decided that I can't cope without Christmas leftovers so am defrosting my 'emergency' turkey breast joint from the freezer.  I'll cook that tomorrow, and then we'll be able to have some with cheese and biscuits and nibbles  

No news on DH's job yet *sigh*.

beanielou

Hope you hear soon about DH's job    xx

jwil

beanielou said:

Hope you hear soon about DH's job    xx

Thank you, I hope so too.

NeverendingDMP

Hello. Just thought I'd pop in in the new diary x well done on the debt totals. It's a lot lower now isn't it. And good luck on your targets for this year x