Road To Financial Recovery

FootyFanDan

Happy Monday, hope everyone's start to the week has been decent. Today has seen a raft of direct debits leaving the account, sat down last night with partner just to discuss if there was anything that needed budgeting that I hadn't accounted for - so added to budget a new waistcoat for little one's drama show that she needs and a new t shirt for drama as she has grown out of the current one. We do have a couple of school events this month, along with some tickets to see a basketball game. We are hoping to also have one family meal out this month, ideally would love this to be a regular thing but we didn't eat out much last month.

Work today has thrown up some surprises but I have also spoken to manager to try address some of the workload issues, so we will see how that progress's over the next few months. As it is I am content to see how it plays out.

daisy_1571

I like to listen to a half hour show on BBC sounds, either on old comedy or panel game on radio4 extra (I like ancient old radio shows so this is the perfect station for me ) or something like hannah fry curious cases. I've also tried some of the sleep stations but they didn't work for me

Sounds very healthy to be planning your gun things over the month. Lovely family time

Dxx

Rhyddid2026

I use not too interesting books on audible, on a 15 minute timer, to get off to sleep when my brain wants to be busy.

FootyFanDan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81867515#Comment_81867515

I like this idea, I used to put stuff on Spotify but then could never put like a timer on it (or figure out how to 😂). The tv is generally on a timer, so once I am asleep it just goes off.

FootyFanDan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81867434#Comment_81867434

I definitely think having plans or at least something to look forward to helps. Little one does have a few after school clubs and her drama on a Saturday, so always seem like we don't have loads of time. I think our first house thing is going to be a dining table as I think eating at table together will be nice.

FootyFanDan

Morning. I managed to get to sleep at 9pm last night which is super early for me, this of course resulted in me been wide awake at 4am, but hopefully over time if I can be consistent my body will get into a routine. The positive of been up before the world wakes up is that I have had time to look at my day ahead and plan bit of stuff. I have also shifted some money into pots. We still have a surplus at the minute that I am not quite sure what to do with yet.

"Emergency Fund" - £150 / £1000.

We get our next income on Friday and then after that it's another two weeks. So, I plan to top up shopping and petrol budget on Friday with enough to cover us for that period. We were well under budget for our weekly shop this week, but will need to top up milk and bread Wednesday.

My first goal for that emergency fund is £1000, once we hit that I will maybe reduce the amount we fund it by and put that somewhere else.

I have also done some research on the new fridge freezer, the space we have means we need to be sensible, but then long term we plan to have a chest freezer in the back storage area. The kitchen is not the biggest and was a sacrifice we knew we were making, there is a few things I need to do DIY wise to give us a bit more space, so I need to start sorting that and a redecoration will make it seem a bit better

Today's personal task when home from work is to research hotel/parking for the airport. We aren't miles away from Manchester and flight is a reasonable time, but the fear of traffic or something going wrong on the morning just isn't worth it. We fly the Monday, so plan is to go out in Manchester on sunday and have a family day out, get to hotel and then settle. I can't believe that its only 237 days away…it doesn't seem two minutes since it was over 600 days away 🤣

Due to being up early, I might even have time for breakfast at home :). Hope everyone has a fab Tuesday

Dakota_Rose

Congratulations on starting the emergency fund - and a good chunk in already!

For what it’s worth, I’d recommend the family dining table. We’ve prioritised it over the years and it’s now my favourite time of the day, especially after a long day at work. Some nights can be a row with three kids but I reckon we’ll all look back on it fondly in years to come.

FootyFanDan

@Dakota_Rose when we lived in our old rental property we had the space for it and we absolutely loved it but then we had to move to a smaller place for 1 year and then never got back into the habit of it. Now our current place is a bit weirdly designed but has plenty of space for a dining table we do need to focus on getting one. We have seen a few we like, and over the next few months we are starting to try prioritise some of this stuff. There is space in the budget for it. I feel positive about the emergency fund, I could probably fund it a little more but for now I am comfortable at that amount.

FootyFanDan

I am as expected feeling a bit tired 😂 I guess long term that is probably a good thing. It was lovely to be able to be up and about and have porridge and a brew and also get my to do list sorted. I mean when I got to work most of that went out of the window, but we tried lol. Hopefully another early-ish night.

BlueJ94

Oh I feel you on being tired, I was 6am-3pm Monday yesterday I was 9am-6pm and im back 6am-3pm today and I think i could happily curl up on the works floor 🤣