Escape to the country & living off savings

badmemory

They don't seem to realise that every time they put up bus fares or parking the more shopping gets done online.  I used to go into town twice a week and now about every 3 months & then only for hearing aid batteries.

SuzeQStan

Good budget breakdown there @Tresinia511 - I liked the bit when Reeves had a go at her predecessors over private jets and trips to California 🤣.  But it went downhill from there for me and went on a bit too much.  

I think it’s a real shame about the bus fares rising too SYA.  

Hope your neighbours finish the remodelling sooner rather than later - you have my sympathies for the noise and your poorly head 😤😤

Tresinia511

Sqs, I think no matter who is the government  they make ridiculous choices . People who use buses can travel a long way on £6 worth of petrol, so will probs use car instead, as sya says, and yet they want us to save the planet!  Too annoying to think about, so off to bed😄

badmemory

There are though a lot of places where the parking charges still make the increased bus charge a much cheaper alternative to the car.

Skint_yet_Again

Can’t believe it’s already the end of October 

Have done the money shuffle this morning and “paid” myself. November budget as follows 

Phone sim-only £10

Tv licence 15.00    

Water 13

Council tax £102

Union £2.24

Gas & Electric £77

Annual bills £100

Birthdays / Xmas £50

Car pot £50

Petrol £40

Entertainment £100

Food £160.  (£40 x 4 weeks)

Aquafit £32.50

Holiday pot £50

Income £833

Outgoing £711.74*  

Remaining £31.26

*edit

income £833
outgoings £801.74
remaining £31.26

SuzeQStan

Promise I’m not being a Nellie nay sayer but your final figures just aren’t adding up in my head 😉

Skint_yet_Again

Oops you are right SuzeQ. That’s what happens when I wake up too early 😆 

income £833
outgoings £801.74
remaining £31.26

I am going to a family party next month with DF so I need to get something to wear. Should be enough remaining to cover a pair of smart black trousers. Will probably go to mat Alan next week. 

Skint_yet_Again

Not had a very good night’s sleep. No trick or treaters called but my anxiety was fairly high waiting for a knock at the door. When we were kids I remember mischievous night up north but I don’t think anyone round here does that anymore. (I seem to remember other kids throwing flour and eggs and knocking on doors then running away. Kids can’t afford flour and eggs these days 😆).

Direct debits have come out of my account today. The reduced standing order has moved the final balance of savings into my 6% regular saver. I now need to log into online banking and cancel the standing order. Max invested £5000. If this continues to pay 6% I will leave it there. 
Remaining in 2.5% instant access account = £3438.21 to live off until end of March 2025.  (£833 x 4 = £3332)

Dark & grey again today. Hoping to go for a walk later. I have booked to go back to aquafit next week. I need to check the air in my tyres and I could write my name in the brick dust on my car from neighbours over the road having block paving. Might see if I can drive round to DF and get him to run his garden hose over it 😆 

Out for dinner at local pub on Saturday night with my friend and her sisters. This will be paid from my entertainment fund. 

~FlowerPot~

morning! I find your budgeting inspiring SYA, you are incredibily orgnaised and very wise with each months spends. Do you often think, oh I would like one of those? or the temptation to just splash out on something? It doesnt sound like you do, but it think I would find the tightness a restriction that I might well want to fight against (even for my own good!!)

I think you do amazing!

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks flowers 😊 I think mine is a lifestyle choice to give up a highly stressful job and retire early. I often see things I like but only buy things I need unless I can fund it from my pots. Otherwise it could become a choice of not being able to afford to eat or see my family & friends. 

My next lot of annual interest is due in February and then I will reinvest the capital. I am waiting to use that interest to decorate my spare room, recarpet upstairs, buy a new hoover, buy a rug for the living room. In the meantime I enjoy looking until the money is available, but if something broke and needed replacing immediately then I would use instant access 6% savings until the annual interest came in and then replace the capital. It’s taken so long to get to 5k in the 6% account I wouldn’t be tempted to fritter it away.