10 years later yikes

1stTimer

So my tracking is fine which is a relief, it’s all tallied up.
After saying in a previous post about unexpected spends it’s actually been a month of just that….nothing extra to pay lol
I've also had a better month with surveys and payouts which I didn’t account for and did fund one of the savers
Then there’s my broadband payment that I switched and have saved on and finally my CC still needs to be paid (just monthly spends and waiting for statement) so this is what a ‘normal’ month should look like 😀

NeverendingDMP

Normal month is looking good. Hopefully you have many more x

Sarahwithlove

That's good about a normal month, do any of the previous extras need to be included in your normal budget or have you already done that? 

1stTimer

Another payday done! Will spend this morning resetting my budgets but very happy with last months spending.

I really am impressed with how just seeing all spends on paper/spreadsheet makes a difference to my life. It’s almost like the money is real when I see it going up and down lol. I am so much more conscious now.

savings are looking good, I’m now at 46% towards my minimum target and seeing that is just motivating me more and more.

I still can’t shake the frustration at myself for not doing this sooner, I kick my younger self for being an idiot and can’t believe I’m in my 40’s trying to save for a mortgage, so much wasted over the years.

Ordinary_Yet_Unique

There is no point to keep looking back with regret. The past cannot be changed. Much healthier to look forward with confidence, knowing you are now making positive moves to achieve your lifestyle goals. 

SpaceCadet12

Been reading with interest....Ive just started Step Change.... did it really have an impact on balances?  I just can not see that yet, only very early doors.    Ive looked into doing surverys etc, who do you use?  Big thing it to try and get some savings.  I use MoneyBox and have a little in there.   I would really love to go to Australia in 2027 not even sure if it is realistic.   

1stTimer

Hey @SpaceCadet12 for me Step change made a huge difference at the start. At the time I was getting bombarded with letters and calls and it really affected me mentally, once I signed up to them it was like they shielded me from all of that and I was able to sleep better and it helped no end. 

I’m not sure If I got “lucky” in the sense that this all happened only a month or 2 before Covid, so alongside lockdown a lot of choices I would have normally made spending and lifestyle wise was forced from me.

i started putting a little away each month into a savings account for an emergency fund and time just ran away with me. 2 years later I had decent savings and decided to go self managed.

in short I don’t think I’d be where I am financially or mentally now without them. If I could have done anything different knowing what I know now it would have been to stop paying all my debts, save what I was paying them into emergency fund straight away and get the defaults registered before I signed up to SC.