Small steps lead to big changes...

jwil

It's payday tomorrow so I'm updating all the financials.  Another good PAD month this month, largely fuelled by a series of high paying surveys on PA.

I'm waiting for my shopping to arrive then we are heading out bowling.  We also need to pick up a prescription for little miss while out.

My anxiety finally feels like it is receding a little now, long may it last.  Hopefully I can break it's back before going back to work next week.

I'm looking forward to the new year.  It always feels like a fresh start and a clean slate.  We don't celebrate NYE, and I'll long be in bed by midnight, but we head to the coast on NYD to start the year off.

I'm not making any resolutions, but there will be the usual plan to try and eat well and exercise more.  I've made good strides with that this year, though not perfect by a long shot. 

I do want to track my spending a lot more this year, and have got a spreadsheet set up to help that. I'm also going to do a new SOA to see how things are looking.  My plans for early retirement are still helping me focus, but I could do more.

This year I am focussing on 'resilience', as clearly my job is not guaranteed, though I'm hopeful that I'll survive this round of cuts.  DH is the same, and the next few months will be the big challenge for the industry that he's in as well.  So I want to try and focus on building savings now so that we've got a good cushion behind us.  If we both survive without needing to dip into it, then it can be used towards the work on the house, clearing the mortgage or early retirement. 

Sun_Addict

I don’t make NY resolutions either. I have things I want to work on but they are always ongoing. I find I stick to plans better if I come up with them at a random point in the year. Going to the coast on NYD sounds like a wonderful way to start the year. 

Fingers crossed both yours and DH’s jobs survive the coming year 🤞

Well done on all your PADs 👏

jwil

Sun_Addict said:

I don’t make NY resolutions either. I have things I want to work on but they are always ongoing. I find I stick to plans better if I come up with them at a random point in the year. Going to the coast on NYD sounds like a wonderful way to start the year. 

Fingers crossed both yours and DH’s jobs survive the coming year 🤞

Well done on all your PADs 👏

Thank you

Likewise, new years resolutions are just set to fail for me, so there's no point. I have the same goals constantly and flex on how well (or not!) I am achieving them throughout the year.

I much prefer getting to the end of the year and looking at what progress I have made rather than worrying about targets I haven't reached.

ladyholly

I don't set resolutions but I have made a list of things I want to achieve next year. Nothing too onerous but it might help to focus my mind. 

savingholmes

Well done on the PADs - you've had an excellent year.

Hope that your employment situation resolves in your favour - not nice to have that worry hanging over you. 

Good luck with your aspirations for the new year. 

Less_Talk_and_More_Action

Good luck with building resilience.  I agree it’s so important.  My job is pretty secure but it does cross my mind from time to time that we would be in a precarious position if anything happened to it.  This is part of my motivation for doing a diary - keep going with the consistent actions to deliver change.  Bit like your PADs - small amounts each day but look what the add up to - amazing.  

Agree with you on resolutions.  I just have a general focus on debt repayment and losing weight but happy to take small steps that I can achieve daily rather than setting unrealistic goals. 

L x 

jwil

ladyholly said:

I don't set resolutions but I have made a list of things I want to achieve next year. Nothing too onerous but it might help to focus my mind. 

It certainly helps to have a list of things to achieve.  I have a list as well, but no specific targets or anything like that.

savingholmes said:

Well done on the PADs - you've had an excellent year.

Hope that your employment situation resolves in your favour - not nice to have that worry hanging over you. 

Good luck with your aspirations for the new year. 

Thank you   I expect I'll have a better idea in the next month or two.  I'm hopeful though 🤞

Less_Talk_and_More_Action said:

Good luck with building resilience.  I agree it’s so important.  My job is pretty secure but it does cross my mind from time to time that we would be in a precarious position if anything happened to it.  This is part of my motivation for doing a diary - keep going with the consistent actions to deliver change.  Bit like your PADs - small amounts each day but look what the add up to - amazing.  

Agree with you on resolutions.  I just have a general focus on debt repayment and losing weight but happy to take small steps that I can achieve daily rather than setting unrealistic goals. 

L x 

Thank you     This is the first time I've ever had savings and now I want to see them grow   I really like the small steps approach though, once new habits are made, the payoff can be significant.  I wish I could manage the same for weight loss though.  I make the small changes, but nothing ever changes on the scales! 🤦‍♀️

jwil

Happy Payday!  I've done the money shuffle.  It's nice to know what my new monthly pay is.

I spoke too soon about my anxiety as it was back with a vengeance last night.  I didn't sleep well and feel grotty as a result.  Oh well, keep plodding.

I'm going to see if I can get a vet appointment for the cat in a minute.  They said she needs a check up before I get her repeat prescription.

DH moved the cube unit upstairs earlier so I can try and sort that out today.  There's another one which I want to go up in our room if I can make room for it.  That would help clear some space downstairs.

jwil

Today's PAD - £7

Jan - £141
Feb - £139
March - £89
April £149
May - £79
June - £270
July - £253
August - £173
September - £120
October - £151
November - £175
December - £192

jwil

Vet appointment done. £80 spent, but all is ok with the cat which is such a relief after the worry of a couple of weeks ago.

Not much else done today.   I'm struggling to find the motivation to get going!