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2025 Goals and January 2025 Monthly Update

Jan



It's been a busy start to 2025 which is part of the reason for not getting this out earlier (Sorry Joe!). A wet and gloomy start to the year has meant there hasn't been much going on in terms of football and other outdoor activities. However, it still hasn't been a cheap month with booked flights for a stag later and Brazil. Flights are spenny!

The Brazil trip is for a friends wedding I lived with in Australia and haven't seen for 7 years, so I'm very much looking forward to seeing some familiar faces after such a long time. With the possibility of heading back to Australia in the summer, it'll be nice to rebuild on these friendships and carry them on for when I get back out there. It's a shame it's been so long as when you live with people away from your family, it becomes a really strong bond and they become you're family away from family. It just can't be helped at times. I have also started trying to pick up a little Portuguese in preparation for my trip. Pimsleur is the app I'm using and from what little I have done so far I'm pretty impressed by it. 

2025 Financial Goals

The pot has been building nicely over the last 18 months and whilst it still needs my contributions to continue in the long term to create financial independence, this year I will looking to reduce my level of investment activity in the year and increase my cash allocation. With this, my goals for 2025 are as below:

Sell down my GIA investments within the capital gains allowance (£3K profit)

Increase my Easy Access Savings Amount to £11,500, roughly in line with tax-free interest allowance (£500 for the tax year) 

Continue to invest into my ISA where possible, without setting a target deposit value which I would unlikely hit. 

No rabbits being pulled out the hat with these goals, and they are more concerned with the new tax years in April as to the 2025 calendar year, but if I am able to do these I will be happy with the action taken on my side, even if the markets aren't favourable in 2025. 

2025 Non Financial Goals

Do 5 sessions of Portuguese a week in the lead up to my Brazil trip (will do this on the journey to and from work)

Score 6 more goals until the end of the football season to get 10 for the season (managed 1 of these in January)

Get 10 wickets in the few games I play in the summer

Get down to 12 Stone at some point in the year (preferably before Brazil)

Get back to Australia in some capacity (holiday/working holiday)

January Liquid Assets 

Another good month for my investments, with a gain of over £2000 excluding my contributions in the month, though there's been a few jitters in February already with everything that's going on. Cash was down due to paying out for the flights and will continue to take a hit going forward with booking hotels, activities, travel etc. 




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