Watty's Awakening

SandyShores

With the out of date cheque, just send it in with the rest.  From memory it is out of date but frequently they will pay them in and only stop it if the cheque writer tells them to.

edit - just found this on the comp@re the market site, so it might be worth sending it in - says 'usually' so not always rejected:

How long are cheques valid for?

Technically speaking, cheques don’t have an expiry date. But, in practice, banks will usually reject a cheque if you try to pay it in or cash it more than six months from the date of issue – that’s the date written on the cheque. If you’ve forgotten about a cheque and it’s more than six months old, the best thing to do is ask the person who gave it to you to write another.

LadyWithAPlan

Glad you on the case with the power peeps, hopefully bank transfer will get sorted soon

Watty1

End of January review, a week late but still worth doing.

Goal Progress

House:   I didn't get the kitchen decluttered so that moves to next month, but I did get the muck heap removed and I have started making a plan of works for the next 11 months.  More fencing was repaired and a barn decluttered.
Financial:  worked out how much I can move into my pension pot before the end of the tax year. 
Business: Year plan done, first promotional event done this week, which went well.  New person in place (very slow but trying hard)
Health:  This one I am particularly pleased with - I have done enough physio that I can walk down a flight of stairs properly and without pain.  For February I will keep that up but also see someone about the shoulder pain and get exercises for that.
Fun: with friends means I planned and did things   Fun: with horses, I now know that CC has problems and MH is learning to step up.  I have bought a fabulous neck strap so I have something to grab in his silly moments.  I will try to get CC sound enough to ride at weekends for a potter, MH will stretch my riding skills for sure. I'm not sure what we will do this year - not everything I had planned for CC will be suitable for MH.
Relationship Goals: I have been very supportive over the last few weeks whilst maintaining boundaries. The VNM has been contributing towards the bills this month as he has been here all month.  This will now become a thing. We are happy living together so he will now contribute each month.  

So overall I'm pleased with progress.

The financial review was scary!  
Utilities: £417.81 (council tax, water, electricity and gas).  Always higher in a month where gas is purchased.
Fun:  £51.59 - I had a lot more fun stuff than this, but mostly fun was paid for from cash selling decluttered bits
Food:  £261.46 - really pleased with this for two of us - I probably wont get that low again LOL
House:  £1361 - included a new system for the radio on the yard, removal of muck heap and small bits 
Dog and Cat: £113.38 (insurance and cat food. WattyDog is 8 and so will remain insured  He is the only animal here to be insured)
Accountant bill £270 which I expected and £717.10 for vet and CC prescription

Essential spends there £844.25, a vet bill, the accountant and work on the house pushed it up higher to £3192

And there was the horses, and I so wished I had not tracked that spend, lets just say the three of them added another £1000+ and I am going to ignore the + bit because, well I just am LOL   There were a lot of odd spends in January though, I bought a couple of new bits for the yard like a fork for mucking out, a leather piece of kit, a broom and I paid for a photo shoot and organised the working equitation stuff - and - tbh - the list was long.  I also bought food, bedding and hay that will see us through the next couple of months so it is not as bad as it seems.    (Watty reassuring herself there) 

The reason for doing this was that I wanted to know what I realistically need if I am to retire.  The eagle eyed will spot how precise my figures are for the food for example but how imprecise my equine spend was in January - that is simply because I wonder if retirement will ever be affordable with the three of them, but my aim is 'financially fabulous' with the three horses as well as getting the house done.

Lets see what the next 12 months bring -  I'm ok with the equine spend as it is food, bedding and hay that will take us through the next few weeks so Feb and March will be a lot lower (I write that very optimistically!) 

The one thing this really brings home to me though, is I actually paid all this. Yes, I did get a contribution for food and bills from the VNM but the rest is purely down to me and I paid it.   There was a time when PPH told me I could not manage without him financially.   I am so pleased, my business is at a point where it genuinely can support me and support me well. 

beanielou

Lovely to know that you can support yourself & support yourself well. 

Lovely news too on VNM. 

PennysIntoPounds

I am so pleased for you!
Budgets are always going to have their spendier needs and their more chill times, that's just the nature of being alive, and having a full and fulfilling life, which you have battled to brilliantly achieve after being in a very not good place, so I'm raising a glass of red to you and I hope you're raising a glass of something lovely to you too 

Brewerspride

Watty1 said:

The one thing this really brings home to me though, is I actually paid all this. Yes, I did get a contribution for food and bills from the VNM but the rest is purely down to me and I paid it.   There was a time when PPH told me I could not manage without him financially.   I am so pleased, my business is at a point where it genuinely can support me and support me well. 

This is so fabulous to read.  Well done you.

ajmoney

This is so lovely to read Watty, you deserve to be pleased x

Cherryfudge

You're doing an amazing and inspiring job. And how nice you'll get more of Mr VNM  

daisy_1571

Lovely roundup

Dxx

Suffolk_lass

This has made me happy, reading your update. x