Prosperous & Creative Soul Year 4

savingholmes

Thanks KK, Lucielle and DebtFreeoneday

Having commented on someone else benefitting from doing an SOA. I did one for me to see why I am struggling to manage without using CCs. The answer is that the slippery slope of CCs - and then their monthly repayment has undermined the spare cash I'd otherwise have. Plus there's been quite a lot of lifestyle creep on top of my recent big home improvements. Plus to curtail the lifestyle creep I reduced my net income significantly to send more £ to AVCs from October onwards and bought extra annual leave over 6 months instead of the usual 12. My spending continued unabated... Sigh... 

Paying for the drive is adding about £325 a month (0% CC until August 2026) and my other card is at around £225 a month until August 2025 pay period). My Am CC 0% ends March 2025. I don't want to reduce my AVCs - so may need to use savings for some items to reduce the pressure - unless I manage to embrace frugality again. I have succeeded at that in the past - but feel I've been on a year long blow out - although there was justification and I have an improved, better maintained house to show for it plus memories... 

My pay went up in December but I'm not entirely sure what my new net pay will be come January as my recent pay also had backpay in it. The holiday year resets in April - and if I then buy extra annual leave over 12 months instead of 6 then I should bump up my take home pay some what. Or I could do the same as this year - and leave the A/L purchase to later in the year - so I potentially get past any restructure and can send more to the CC that ends in September.  

Over-buying is an ADHD & ASD issue - so please don't 'beat' me up about it. I know it's daft but at the time it is a compulsion - it's easier to buy more of what I fancy than make a decision on what I don't need in the moment (deferred decisions)... 

1. If I'm still in date on the receipt - I should return £22 of stuff to BnM otherwise I'll use them as gifts later in 2025. 
2. I could return £20 of lights to the Rnge. I could return some £9 lights to Mr A but that feels unlikely.
3. I have some window film and an outdoor socket cover I could return to Am - and get about £42-57 back (depending on whether I keep any)... 
4. I could return £50-100 of art supplies - but that would most likely delay their re-purchase rather than prevent it so that feels slightly pointless. I will audit my recent art purchases and see if any can go back. 
5. I could return some of my recent purchases to the Swedish shop... if you recall I spent about £160 there... - the priority to keep is £45 of that (pegboards). I could return £20 of kitchen cupboard shelves I didn't end up using.

That would then release some £ towards the skirting boards and changing the electrical fuse box which are higher priorities.

savingholmes

Looking at my SOA - I can't maintain my AVC level and leave my savings untouched and have the kind of holiday I'd like. I therefore expect to use savings for holidays as a minimum. I'm trying not to use savings too early - so that I feel the 'pain' of my recent over-spending and learn from it again. However, 

In the next 3 months I have some annual bills:

1. MS 365 is due in Jan. Will look for the best deal NYD. (£80 in budget)
2. Home ins due in Jan £312 is renewal price - need to see if I can get a better deal (was in budget but may put on CC as other items I have to pay cash for aren't in budget)
3. Boiler service due in Jan - est £80-120 (forgot to add to budget earlier) 
4. Anti-V, driver updater etc is due in Feb pay period (forgot to add to budget earlier) Likely to be £80+

I also have more home maintenance to resolve which I expect to use savings for:

1. I need to buy new skirting boards, then need a joiner ideally to fit that - and various existing supplies - architrave, a door, stair spindles, shave two doors. No idea on cost - the bigger issue appears to be availability...  
2. I want to change out my electrical fuse box hopefully without any extensive rewire - and put in some external sockets and new lights etc - plus electric into my garage and utility. This is a fire safety issue for me as well as night safety (an electrician) - I am hoping that is in the £200-500 range. I have already bought the lights I want and some of the sockets.
3. Once I have electric - I may buy an electric garage door - est £1-1.5K. My current one is manual and keeps coming off its runners. I also struggle to lock / shut it.
4. I may get a wired in security camera above my garage - est £150.
   

savingholmes

I've found a 365 deal at £50 including a virus protector - but not the same brand I use. So will see if I can buy that in store tomorrow as I have a £38 gift card valid at Arg. I've found some of the anti-v software I'm after on Am for £20 - so will potentially get that as it is cheaper than buying at that the developer's store. That's a weight off my mind... 

savingholmes

The benefit of time off is life admin is easier. I found a deal on my home ins at £262 including legal cover - that I could pay monthly so gone with that. There was one at £211 but it had bad reviews so avoided - and just have to hope this one is okay. So that £50 less than budgeted - so that can go towards my other costs.

As you can tell though sleep is still elusive.

debtfreeoneday

I’m at my most productive some times in the middle of the night. Hopefully writing it Al down and making some progress with help you sleep with a little less on your mind?

Honeysucklelou2

Happy New Year SH. Well done on all that you have achieved in 2024, especially after the move and being in hospital. Hope the amazing adventures continue for you in 2025.

CCW007

That's a great deal on O365 - mine is up in February and I haven't thought of buying from Agros!  So thank you for the tip.

jwil

That's a great summary of the year.  Good luck for 2025!

Happy new year!

beanielou

jwil said:

That's a great summary of the year.  Good luck for 2025!

Happy new year!

From me too. 

TallGirl

Glad you had a nice Christmas must have been lovely to host in your new place. I think you have done really well on all the things you have achieved this year. Yes it has cost money but it was needed and you love living there. As for sending stuff back I would send back all the stuff you have bought for the house like the lamps to be fitted the sockets etc and wait until you have a trades person to fit them. You might change your mind what you want after you speak to them and by then it is too late. Maybe also send the AmXXX back as it is so easy to return and reorder you can order when you need it unless it was a special cheap price. Just think of all the those ££ back in your account. 

Hope you have a lovely start to the new year.