Progress is...

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - somehow I've never been into decluttering, but then again - I try to do the one in & one out thing - so clothes & shoes, for instance, get purged regularly and strange grocery ingredients get used up and not replaced!  Both of us hate shops with a passion & tend to browse & purchase online when something is needed in the house so not a lot makes it way through the front door in the first place unless it is absolutely needed. 

I watched a really interesting video on utoob this morning where the lady talks about 10 things she will consciously not purchase in 2025.  It was food for thought, everyday things such as candles, herbal teas and flavoured waters were on her list.  I felt It was really about using up things already in her house and making do with cheaper options but also she highlighted several areas where we can all do with scaling back and not consuming thoughtlessly!

rtandon27

^^^ on the subject of using up ingredients...

...I've brought home several tins of tuna which were at the office and not getting used up - our work tin opener went for a walk and did not find it's way back so these particular tins could not be opened!  I've not remembered to purchase a metal one for the office (as the cheapest one is at MrAs - a store we very rarely frequent!) & our second one at home is the top cutting type which I just can't use!  Being a lefty, OH can't use the old-fashioned metal one so we have to have both types in the utensil drawer!  One of rehomed tuna tins got used today to make a tuna melt and ring pull tuna tins have been sourced for my quick meal protein hit at work.

rtandon27

Progress is...
...saving on buying lunch because the sharing table is laden with goodies!

Quids in & I've had both fruit and veg today!

OH is currently under the weather, so not able to cook, and I'm swamped at work so meal planning & cooking is the last thing on my mind!  As a result, meals have been a bit unbalanced this week & partially comprised of take-away.  I've very thankful that because it's the festive season, all kinds of bits and pieces have made their way to our sharing table at the office.  Posh cheese, carr's biscuits, fruit and veg to nibble on alongside dates & nuts so at the very least nutrient dense!  It's harder to resist all the lovely xmas cakes & cookies, many of which have been home-made, but sugar will make me crash!

rtandon27

Ouch!

OH just sent me the receipt for a HUGE legal bill he paid yesterday - I had to add 150pounds to the pot as the bill had gone over my estimations.  Have just adjusted the forward projections as there will still be a couple more bills while his financial settlement is being worked out.  That is a hefty chunk to budget out of the monthly expenditures and means other more meaningful pots (house improvements) will take a hit.  I keep telling myself it will all come out in the wash, but I still hate to see that kind of hit on the finances!

So atm we are NOT mortgage neutral, in fact we are a good 500GBP in the red!

Progress is...
...having only a momentary emotional blip when faced with a large bill, knowing that we've set aside enough to pay for it & can raid other savings pots when the bill goes over what is budgeted.  It's a good place to be in, knowing that credit cards are used solely for the points and no interest will be doled out!

themadvix

How frustrating RT, but you’re totally right about it only needing to be a momentary blip 😊

Cherryfudge

That is indeed an ouch - but look how well you're handling it. After the initial shock, you moved things around and you've got your heads above water. Not currently mortgage neutral, but headed back that way. And having money set aside towards a big bill is great, even if the bill unexpectedly inflates.

You'll get there. 

EssexHebridean

Yes - that is definitely progress that the blip is emotional rather than in any real sense financial isn't it - although I'm with you, I too dislike seeing funds depleted! 

rtandon27

@themadvix & @Cherryfudge & @EssexHebridean - awwww aren't you lot lovely!  I really did need some heartening after that large bill!  Your cheerleading means so much!  The legal bill was almost twice the monthly mortgage payment which is normally the biggest expense of every month (insert blue shrieky smiley here)

I'm very much conscious that my mortgage outlives my projected retirement date, so I'd like to throw extra at it when possible, but in the 2+ years we've been paying it, for various reasons, there has not been a lot of extra to throw at it!  OH is very conscious of this as well, and very much wants some of his legal settlement to go towards shortening that date.  While I appreciate the gesture, I do think his contribution may be better spent on the various things that need doing - maintenance & repair of the house.  So all in all, very much a six of this and half a dozen of that situation - We will have to decide which course of action is best!

Progress is...
...knowing we need a plan...
...even if we do not yet know what the plan will be!

rtandon27

So, as a result of my energy supplier annoyance, I've been fiddling with various things on the Electric/Gas account and somehow have managed to get a refund & also return my direct debit back to what it is before they rudely insisted on a monthly increase.  (...and all without talking to a live person!)  So the payment was marginally higher this month but will return to normal next month.  There is less than one month's excess in the account which is acceptable enough, given that I do our reading at the beginning of the month and our payment is mid-month.  So the reality is they have slightly under 1/2 month's money in credit.  It would be nice however if there was also interest credited on the amount they hold, as 4% is 4%, no matter how small the amount!

I'm not sure it is progress, but the small changes are in my favour rather than theirs so that is good enough for the moment!

rtandon27

Third week of the month when all bills are paid for the month & credit card payments are made!  All medical and work related claims have been submitted and paid!  It's always the week I feel most calm about the state of our finances as nothing major will be coming in or out for a few days.

***warning - next paragraph is a rant - feel free to skip the whole thing!***

This month, I also organized and cash managed a festive lunch for 15 work colleagues - and I correctly predicted that the same person as last year would not pay the balance on time and leave me out of pocket! I'm fuming (and then some) even though it was expected - I've chased 4 times and even had a promise that it would be paid this morning - NOT.  At least this year, everyone else who attended is aware as I was quite vocal on a Teams chat about when installments were due!  I really do not appreciated funding anyone's festive drinking habit!  I shall have to walk up to them in the New Year and ask for cash immediately as they seem incapable of transferring it electronically, meanwhile I have pinched some funds out of next month's grocery pot to pay the credit card as I am not a fan of interest.  Given that said person makes a good 10,000 a year more than I do, there really is no excuse!  Next year, they shall not be invited/included unless they agree to pay me over and above upfront, with the refund going to them after the meal.  I am not a bank!

Progress is...
...being 720GBP over the mortgage neutral mark, in December of all months, even after bills are paid and errant colleagues are catered for!