Walking into another chapter ...

benbenandme

It's the perfect time of year as I'm about to set my new budgets / pots for the year ahead, so a new pet pot will be added to Monzo

Four_Seasons

I have an 8kg cockerpoo she is just wonderful, loving, funny, playful, amazing company, she is almost 9 and still thinks she is a puppy x

benbenandme

And here she is … I collect her in two weeks, I’m besotted already 🥰

pixiechick99

Ohhhh she is utterly beautiful!🥰🥰🥰🥰 
How very very exciting!

benbenandme

Thanks Pixie, I am so in love

Sun_Addict

She’s gorgeous 😍

beanielou

Such a wee cutie. 

in_need_of_direction

Beautiful pup. Enjoy

benbenandme

Thank all, I am so very, very excited. I'm going to use it to motivate me to blitz the house and get it puppy-proofed before she arrives.

Today being the last day  of the year means it is budget checking day, money moving day and target setting day for the year ahead. Once that is all sorted it will be house cleaning time, it needs to be sparkly for the new year. I will probably be fast asleep long before midnight, I'm not a fan of new year itself, I'd much rather get some sleep, be woken up by fireworks, then go back to sleep again, that's the plan anyway.

Off to start looking at spreadsheets

benbenandme

Money has been moved to appropriate pots, budgets looked at for the coming year and here is a recap for anyone who may be interested:

Income: £2600

Outgoings:

Mortgage £312
Council tax £203 (likely to rise to £230ish in April)
Life Insurance £28
Water £51
Gas/Electric: £133
EE £80 (ds mobile and home broadband)
Tesco mobile £12
Sky £63
TV Licence £15
Union £13
Spotify £17
Car tax £14
Contact lenses £50
Boo insurance £7
Puppy insurance £20
Gym £45
ISA £100

Savings Pots:

Birthdays/ Christmas £50
Household £100
Haircuts £40
Contents Insurance £10
Car Insurance £15
Car maintenance £50
Holiday £100
World Cruise (retirement) £50
Mortgage overpayments £100
Pets / Vets £100

Food £300
Petrol £100
Spends £400


It doesn't quite add up perfectly, that's because my income can change up to £100 either way, so I adjust each month,  usually knocking off the spends category if needed. 

My savings goal is carrying on from last year, I have one year left on my fixed mortgage rate (1.29%) so am trying to save £250 a month to overpay the mortgage when the deal runs out. I saved £2000 last year and this year should save another £3000 if all goes to plan. £100 of the £250 each month will come from my wages but the other £150 has to be found/made. Bring it on!

I do still have £377 in a pot which was additional savings once I'd reached my £2000 goal. I wasn't sure what to do with it, I'm going to buy my new fitbit (decided on a basic fitbit before they run out, £54), a new hairdryer (I have to say a prayer every time I use mine, it cost me £20 from Tesco about 15 years ago), and the rest will go on getting things that I need for puppy. I have so far got a crate and a car harness, puppy pads, poo bags, I have borrowed a friends stairgate, she is going to need food, toys, collar and lead, bowls, and who knows what else