DrCarrie's adventures in saving to be a mortgage-free wannabe

DrCarrie

Checking in a day early for the weekly round-up

December 19th-25th

• Tilly Tidy = £0.97
• Round-ups = £2.65
  
• NSD's = 3

Fun and Frolic in the cheap seats 

- Been to see my daughter, had fun times watching Die Hard films, and cooing together. 

DrCarrie

Checking in with the month-end figures (and an admission). 

December 2022 review 

• Tilly Tidy = £2.56
• Round-ups = £9.49
  
• Interest on my accounts = £9.49
• NSD's = 15/15

• I had a windfall from the power company of £67 (I am still dialing down the usage - but keeping this for a potential hike in my bills).
• I saved £296 from my commute budget and that is now in my house deposit pot

Overall I deposited £1722.87 in the house deposit pot. - However, I have a weekend away at the end of the month and am likely to need to dip into that pot.

Then I am digging in for the first quarter of 2023. I am signing up with a company tomorrow to get some extra work.

Fun and Frolics in the Cheap Seats 
- This week this has been walking, walking, and walking - but included a day trip to Chicester to look around the cathedral, in particular the art, and first thing this morning to see the day dawn on the new year. 

Successes from last year 

•  gave up smoking in April - £1500 saved 
• In July with going back to the office and clinic I was awarded £6,500 per annum for London Clinic allowance 
• Got a promotion in September - with a bit of a pay increase of £4, 223 per annum
• Final payment on the debt was made in November - started my debt free journey with over 21K in September 2020

Hopes for the Year ahead 

• Save for house deposit 
• Buy house 
• Sort pensions out
• enjoy the ride

MrsCatz

I think you may live in the same area as I 

DrCarrie

I am in Brighton. 

MrsCatz

I am in Bognor. Have had some excellent days out in Brighton last year.

Shrewbie

Just popping by to say you're doing great Dr Carrie!! and that I am a former Brighton resident myself.... I do miss it. Anyway, I'll be here cheering you on.

DrCarrie

 Many thanks @Shrewbie.  

So, so far this year have been shocked by the price of food in particular...it just seems to have jumped up considerably. Need to get my coffee delivery  - I have £25 Amazon voucher for being an employee of the month back in the summer. 

In addition to this, I am scraping around for funds for Fun and Frolics in the Cheap Seats, some that are not all that cheap too. 
I have a fair bit booked in now and had lovely drinks with my friend on the 2nd of Jan, but it was not cheap at all! I have been walking and booked a couple of meetups. Bought the flights for my weekend in Dublin and turned down a weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. Given my financial targets, I have to be really focussed on how long its been since I have seen someone and the relationship. The weekend in Dublin- I haven't seen 2 of the people since 2018 so they are a priority. We did our doctorate together, Also my 1st step mother (I have had 3!) My sisters, my daughter and my best friend. My dad is only an hour away. 

Last week I tracked and put in the pot £1.06 in TT / round-ups and £1.18 in interest, and 4 NSDs. No too shabby.

I have been very focussed on food and walking - food the target is to eat 30 plants a week, and walking is about consistency, not boom and bust. I am challenging myself to walk 2023 km this year, I love walking but I have lost stamina so for the time being I am focussed on an average of 2.5 miles a day - with walking everyday. 

Fun and Frolics 
-  Hot toddies in the uber-cool cocktail bar in Brighton 
- Fabulous walk exploring a wood that I had not been to before - looking forward to seeing the changes of the turning of the seasons. 

I have my performance review today at work and hopefully, a little pay rise bump will arrive as a result. 

Back to the commute after Christmas break and the strikes tomorrow.

DrCarrie

...I also need to think about trainers, when I currently don't have a clothing budget. They are nearly worn through and my mobile phone contract, that's at desperate measures! So expensive. 

DrCarrie

oooops...fell down for a couple of days, or so. Got caught up in a pipe dream of buying a house during, and tried to arrange a viewing but it was under offer. Just as well really. Also got plain exhausted with commuting 3 days and walking. Have had a 2-day holiday, in bed! 

Now that I am using the credit card (and feeding that payment pot) there is less opportunity for roundups, in fact none this week,  the TT was 90p this week. Had the windfall of the refund from the power company of £67. 5 NSD's - partly because I didn't go out the door all weekend. 

Fun and Frolics in the cheap seats 
- walking across London Bridge x 4 - I just love it, the view towards tower bridge and the lights ❤️
- My boss bought me a pint on Thursday 
- went to a cinema meetup in Lewes on Friday 

newgirly

I just wanted to say hi and good luck with the new diary 🙂