Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes · 29 December 2022 at 2:20PM

Thanks Beanie.

DD has gone out for the day so I have some peace. This holiday seems to be whistling by. I have a physio appointment soon but want to shower before then. I got up quickly today due to the engineer coming so didn't have time then. Smart meter now fitted for electric with gas to follow next week. I want to do some tidying and decluttering over the next few days - everything seems to have mushroomed again. I also need to apply double sided tape where the draught proofing tape is still peeling off! I also need to carry on and do my bedroom window with extra tape I bought before Xmas.

I've been invited to my sister's for NYE but don't know whether or not I want to go. Would probably do me good. Or I could invite people here. Not sure what I want.

I cooked a turkey on Xmas Eve - so need to carve up the remains of that and preferably make it into other meals and freeze some. I may buy some mixed peppers as I fancy something with cajun spice. I also want to improve my diet and fitness. I heard recently that "change is a decision I allow myself to make." I like that a lot.

Money News

I was tempted by Am**** trade in offer on the F1re tablet. But decided to find and start using my existing one instead. It has a crack in the screen and some water marks but generally is ok. I therefore feel I am £70 up!

I've split my savings into EF £3,544 and money for DD's first car £1,600 so intend to stick with the £6K EF target for a while yet. DS received uni £ so want to do something for DD - but I am wanting to reserve any further £ in case she needs educational funding later in life. Increasing her independence (once she passes her test) should help me too - and teach her the cost of fuel. I reckon I will save lots of fuel £ - although some of the times she wants a lift - she's likely to still want them like going to the train station, clubbing etc but at least I won't need to take her to the gym or to see friends or for her to go to work. Ultimately I'm hoping it will boost her independence and help her be in a position to move out.

I've had a letter confirming my £450 monthly AVC (pensions) payment is in place from mid Jan. I don't know if I'll be able to sustain it but am getting a bonus in January which will help. I got a pay rise in December too - so not really sure what my normal new take home pay will be. My £ feels safer in the AVCs - because it is untouchable - as I am at risk of being too generous or over-spending when the £ is sat in savings.

I received over £6 in free money net from my San-dr account. B and L pay my interest on the 1st so looking forward to that. It all helps.

Hope you are all well wherever you are.

MovingForwards · 29 December 2022 at 2:24PM

All sounded good on the home and financial front. Hope physio went well.

Perhaps go to Sis as you can then escape back to home.

savingholmes · 29 December 2022 at 2:28PM

DS starts his new job the second week of Jan. He's secured a place to live and will start moving his stuff next week. I've suggested he sorts out a £1K EF first and then he'll be in a position to start repaying me what he owes which will refill my savings after I give DD car £.

jwil · 29 December 2022 at 6:04PM

Well done on resisting the trade in. All sounds good otherwise.

SandyShores · 29 December 2022 at 6:49PM

You've really made progress this year savingholmes, and still going strong. Just a thought re. lifts to the station etc. - if you're on the insurance (which usually makes it cheaper) you'll be able to give the lifts in DDs car

LeighofMar · 29 December 2022 at 7:57PM

Congrats for your son's progress. Mine has been out the house 5 years now and I am so proud of him. It's so heartwarming to see them be independent and self-sufficient. Looks like all the good budgeting and financial lessons we've taught them growing up have stuck.

skint_spice · 29 December 2022 at 11:14PM

Well done on the painting.

savingholmes · 30 December 2022 at 12:39PM

Thanks Jwil, Sandy, Leigh and Skint

Had a restful day yesterday overall but today I'm returning to my sister's house to help again with a painting. They have had illness and injury and everything is getting on top of them. I'm planning to eat first as they have limited cooking facilities.

Money is going okay. Lovely not to be carrying any CC debt into next year. Don't know when that last happened!