...but did they stay true to last year’s promises?

THIS time last year, the team were also full of resolutions, but did any of them pay off?

JEFF PRESTRIDGE

A YEAR ago, I vowed to keep dripping money into my cash and investment Isas. It’s a pledge I adhered to, although I had to change tactics a bit.

My promise to put some money into my cash Isa every time I walked past my bank branch in London proved impossible when lockdown kept me housebound miles away f rom t he capital. Instead, I made a bank transfer every month as soon as I was paid.

Just as effective, of course, but I did miss the friendly bank staff who treated me like royalty.

TOBY WALNE

A VIRTUE-SIGNALLING boast to go carbon neutral went up in smoke the minute that the lockdown was announced. My high-minded plan to plant trees, use my bike more and cut down on plastics was thrown out of the window when it became a struggle just to get out the front door.

Yet, by accident rather than design, my carbon footprint is smaller. Less gas-guzzling in the car and no chance of helping to destroy the ozone layer as holidays abroad were knocked on the head.

The only conscious ‘good’ I did for the planet was installing a wind turbine on the hen house to generate electricity. It produces just enough juice to stop foxes breaching an electric fence.

LAURA SHANNON

TWELVE months ago I pledged to remortgage to get a decent interest rate – and I was true to my word.

Back in May I took stock of my options. There was little difference between the best mortgage deal overall and the best deal offered by my existing bank, so I stuck with the lender that knows me best.

I usually encourage people to switch – but only if the gain is significant. If the difference is minimal, reduced paperwork and a speedy resolution can be worth more. The result is that I bagged a bett er- t han- average f i ve- year fixed-rate at 1.49 per cent – saving £77 a month. A sum much needed now there is another mouth to feed in the household.

SARAH BRIDGE

THIS time last year I vowed to sort out my numerous pension pots, maybe merging some.

Twelve months on, I’m looking at a job half done. I managed to contact all the pension providers and get up-to-date paperwork, correcting my address where necessary.

But when Covid struck and stock markets went into meltdown, I took a step back. Making long- term financial decisions in such a rollercoaster market didn’t seem right.

When things stabilise, I will return to the task. Hopefully that’ll be before my retirement date.