Simplifying Life - Mark II

stitching_witch

At 40 you're definately young. I'm 54 and not old yet!

I am employed as an accounts & payroll administrator in a small firm (just 3 partners and 3 admin) and I love the work, but hate the firm and the bosses. Every day is a struggle and I suffer from stress constantly.

My own business however is calming and interesting - I make bespoke corsets. I sit in the sewing room with a view of fields and the rolling Wiltshire countryside, listening to the radio and producing beautiful creations for my customers to love (and they take an instant two inches off a waistline too ).

There is a link to my FB page if you click on my name. I'm not touting for business just want to show what can be done by an 'old' lady with a couple of spare days a week.

I'd rather be doing that full-time :dance:

Chickenopolis

Dreaming - how exciting . A whole new chapter awaits you .

Cottage_Economy

They are beautiful Stitching Witch!How did you get into it? Did you have to take any courses or did you develop your sewing skills on your own over time?

When I said I feel old, I guess I mean I feel life weary. That interview made me realise that I crave a quiet life when i'm supposed to be climbing the ladder. Up until a couple of years ago I had such drive and enthusiasm, but somehow that has gone. I don't seem to be able to play the corporate game anymore.

I'm the biggest income earner in the house so I'm stuffing away the surplus cash so hubby can retire early. I'd love to work a day less a week, but the faster we get the cash laid down the faster the mortgage can be paid off, he can retire and the pressure is off.

I might look at rejigging the bills again and see if i can reduce our outgoings a bit more and get us there faster.

stitching_witch

I have been fascinated by the Victorian era all my life and especially the fashions. From that spark, I have worn corsets for many years to reduce my waist and get the hourglass figure they used to strive for (although not to the extremes they used to go to!) As a seamstress I knew I could save so much money and get a better quality garment by making my own. A few thousand pounds spent on courses later, I now run a little cottage industry and get to meet some amazing people.

I know how difficult it is playing the corporate game. I used to work full-time doing the payroll for a large company. It was difficult seeing how much other people earned when I was one of the lowest paid in the company. When they were making a quarter of the workforce redundant we didn't need so many payroll clerks to pay the remaining workforce so I volunteered to go and got a few thousand pounds redundancy, plus a similar amount from my pension. It was the best thing that happened to me. It paid off some bills, setting up the allotment, and my corsetry training as well as capital towards equipment.

Perhaps you haven't lost your drive and enthusiasm. It's still there but not for working for the big guys. How much drive and enthusiasm would you have working somewhere where you 'make a difference'? The only difference I make at my paid job is to line my bosses' pockets even more.

niftythrifty33

I've just been reading through this thread and I love it! So, just want to say hello and will be trying to keep up with reading it.

The last few posts about work are exactly where I'm at right now. I'm going to be 40 this year. I've got 3 teenagers at home still so need to be switched on. I've spent the last 7 years studying and finally getting a well paid job (for where I live). All the studying and stress from the job made me very ill last year and I'm still trying to recover. I'm still in the same job 3 days per week. I deal with the most vulnerable and difficult people in society (don't want to give too much away). So, right now it feels like I've climbed to the top of my ladder, wobbled a bit (lot) climbed back down a few rungs and now I just want to get off and work in a library or anywhere calm and nice. I really want to get well and have a simple life but not sure how to do this as we really can't afford less money.

Well, I didn't mean to go on so much! I'm hoping that this thread will be a real help, thanks everyone

dreaming

Cottage_Economy wrote: »

That's a massive life-changing step :T:T - are you excited? Hubby and i are planning for him to go at 60 (he's 52) but if he gets the right voluntary redundancy package he'll go before then

Chickenopolis wrote: »

Dreaming - how exciting . A whole new chapter awaits you .

I am excited now but when we were first told they were considering relocating (about 18months ago now) I was terrified. I had to start over again when I was 44 (in 1999) following divorce and had only had part-time jobs since having family in 1979 till then. Initially moved into small terraced house with daughter and did that up. Then 3 years ago moved to my lovely bungalow (I love bungalows) but stretched to buy it so when we were told what was happening it was :eek:. But when I calmed down and saw the severance package I realised it could work in my favour so I set to and made sure I got work done on house and tried to cut all outgoings as much as possible, and overpaid on mortgage. I have just had solar panels fitted to reduce bills in future and have thoroughly overhauled all my insurances etc. (yesterday I reduced my Virgin TV package). Fortunately I have very simple pleasures - cooking for family and friends/gardening/reading/walking/studying (I got an OU degree 5 years ago) - and now I can see that I am finally going to have time to enjoy those things instead of cramming everything into weekends, and to shop around to save more money.
It's bitter-sweet though as some of my colleagues who I have worked with for some years have young families and I feel desperately sorry for them.

Rowan9

Niftythrifty - maybe you could read some books on Mindfulness - one being in the present moment and learning to accept that you are not responsible for the lives of other people. This might help you to take a step back in your present work and to guide and aid without giving too much of yourself. I also work with people, in a different field to you, and need to remind myself when to step back or when to wear an invisible cloak to shield me from toxic personalities etc. Sounds a bit airy fairy to some perhaps but it is helpful. I'm at the stage at the moment where I need to heed my own advice though but I have a few days' holiday and have slowed right down and am nurturing myself.

Cottage Economy- I reread Gift from the Sea at least once a year and have done for years. I bought it when I was lucky enough to have a wonderful holiday in Canada, complete with an experience of riding through woods with a Western saddle - just like sitting in an armchair! Another one I reread is The Summer Book by Tove Jannson.
I'm off out to buy a chicken & some root veg to braise and to make nice easy meals for a few days.
Enjoy simplifying folks. It makes life so much simpler

Cottage_Economy

stitching_witch wrote: »

I have been fascinated by the Victorian era all my life and especially the fashions. From that spark, I have worn corsets for many years to reduce my waist and get the hourglass figure they used to strive for (although not to the extremes they used to go to!) As a seamstress I knew I could save so much money and get a better quality garment by making my own. A few thousand pounds spent on courses later, I now run a little cottage industry and get to meet some amazing people.

I love hearing people's stories of how they move along the path to simple living. It's so inspiring:D

I've spent a long time trying to decide if there are any interests or skills I have that could help me develop a cottage industry so i could go part time, but i haven't yet come to any firm conclusions about anything i would like to do in real depth that could generate part of the income i'd need to pay bills.

I did freelance copywriting for many years, but went back to work because of the recession. I was losing a lot of money because clients were going under, but also the work was not regular enough and i began to burn out and had a lot of writing blocks that would stretch into a whole week or more at a time. My brain telling me it was time for a change whether i like it or not

stitching_witch wrote: »

Perhaps you haven't lost your drive and enthusiasm. It's still there but not for working for the big guys. How much drive and enthusiasm would you have working somewhere where you 'make a difference'? The only difference I make at my paid job is to line my bosses' pockets even more.

I think i would probably be more driven under those circumstances. In my mind's eye I see myself making a difference of a practical nature, not desk work. I like solving problems and taking action, getting things done but on the other hand i'm quite introverted and independent. It makes for a weird combination where i don't seem to fit anyway anymore.

Cottage_Economy

dreaming wrote: »

Fortunately I have very simple pleasures - cooking for family and friends/gardening/reading/walking/studying (I got an OU degree 5 years ago) - and now I can see that I am finally going to have time to enjoy those things instead of cramming everything into weekends, and to shop around to save more money.

I've noticed i've been doing that cramming thing more and more, especially as we're working on the house at the moment and my bit is decorating. The house needs a full overhaul, a lick of paint won't do as it's not ben touched since the 70s/80s. It's all new wallpaper, plastering, skirting boards, door stripping etc etc. it's been going on years.

The trouble is I'm begrudging spending much time with people anymore. For example, hubby is going to see MIL on Sunday and I don't want to go and sit there all afternoon and watch the GP with them. I want to be in the garden. She's a nice lady and she does lunch, but that whole family live in each other's pockets and it's suffocating. I find i just want my weekend's to myself to recover from the week and try and advance the progress in the house. That way one day we can move somewhere smaller, but it won't happen until the house is done.

Cottage_Economy

wmf wrote: »

Another one I reread is The Summer Book by Tove Jannson.

I've never come across that author before. Will now beetle across to amazon to have a look. Thank you!