Live on £4,000 for a year - 2009, Part 4

bails

Hi everyone!

Stay at home tomorrow SFT, Dr Bails' orders

OOH, puppies, how exciting Natalie! I saw two today and they were SOOO cute

Frankie, congratulations on the course :T

Sorry I haven't been able to look around for the best place for us Nyk, will try and find some time tomorrow if I can.

Although I still don't know exact figures, I've found out that this job would pay me less than I usually earn, and I'm already overdue a pay rise, so could mean quite a loss in salary to what I was expecting over the next few years :rolleyes: With the wedding to pay for and saving for maternity leave (at some point), the cottage is slipping through my fingers fast; it's going to be hard enough to find the money to pay for those two things and then start on the mortgage we already have... We have no idea what OH will be earning for the forseeable, and certainly not lots, so it feels as if a lot is falling on my shoulders.

Anyhoo, it just means I'll need you guys even more to make the most of every penny and achieve the things I want in life; it's so great to know you're here :T

savingfortravel

bails wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Stay at home tomorrow SFT, Dr Bails' orders Thanks my lovely.

Although I still don't know exact figures, I've found out that this job would pay me less than I usually earn, and I'm already overdue a pay rise, so could mean quite a loss in salary to what I was expecting over the next few years :rolleyes: With the wedding to pay for and saving for maternity leave (at some point), the cottage is slipping through my fingers fast; it's going to be hard enough to find the money to pay for those two things and then start on the mortgage we already have... We have no idea what OH will be earning for the forseeable, and certainly not lots, so it feels as if a lot is falling on my shoulders.

Anyhoo, it just means I'll need you guys even more to make the most of every penny and achieve the things I want in life; it's so great to know you're here :T

Question: Are you exploring any other employment opportunities at the moment? How likely are you to secure a teaching post which will give you the money you need? What is more important to you: the fulfillment of this particular job or the cottage?
Of course we'll help..every step of the way...

Take care xx

Frugaldom

Yay, Bails! It's one of those horrid 'let's prioritise' moments that we all love to hear about but try to avoid ourselves. I think yours could maybe be split into 2 sections but, like our challenge, there are overlaps.

1) Marriage, family, cottage of your dreams
2) Marriage, career, family, cottage of your dreams

My instant reactions are:

A) At this precise moment, only the marriage part is a definite
Having a family is something that not everyone can guarantee
C) You're already living one dream, so you know you can make things happen
D) Your dream cottage is only bricks and mortar, it's making it a home that counts and
E) If you really want to go for higher salary with all the benefits afforded by a large employer, there's no shame in not pursuing the current job in favour of something better in the future.

Sorry I can't suggest anything else at the moment, these were just my instant, gut reactions. I'll add more unhelpful suggestions as they pop into my befuddled brain.

FrankieM

Evening
Endured Christingle. Had roast lamb for dinner and reduced cake and cream for pudding. Going to try to another meal out of the leftovers.

I'm also trying to get everyone to remember to turn lights out when they leave rooms!

savingfortravel

It's not that I don't believe Mr SFT, more the dodgy bout of frugalitis I have...
He throws away the smaller pieces of coal each day, rather than reusing them as 'they choke the fire'? Is this right?

I am very pleased that we only have to pay for coal for MF burner-paper bricks, wood, paper and pine cones are free.

sft

Frugaldom

SFT if you burn wood over the top of the small pieces of coal, they'll burn away to dust. If there does happen to be any left next morning here, I add them to the fire whilst kindling it. Waste not, want not. I just wish I could get my wood/logs for free, as it feels as though the temperature has plummeted and the winds are now hitting us from the north. It means the fire being lit every day plus the storage heaters on plus the electric heater in kitchen plus immersion switch for hot water in the mornings. Electricity going to be sky high again soon! I reckon I could easily spend £125 a month from now until next May and still have a cold house.

Brighton_belle

savingfortravel wrote: »

Thanks for the advice SM and Nyk aka the frugaldom twins

Given current trends... doesn't this make them 'Smyk'?

Many thanks BigmammaF for your kind words re my recent post: I really appreciated knowing what I said was well worth it. Glad to know it was helpful for you too thrifty lass and thanks Nyk.

Have read all posts but apologies for not responding individually: up to my eyes in house clearing and rehoming furniture and stuff all weekend and dog tired and more to come tomorrow.

Have never heard of 'how much have you saved' thread and seems wildly inappropriate for what we are about. I'm happy with dfw or OS and can't understand the problem, though I do appreciate the hard work of the board monitors.

Good to see BB in action again SM - I do like being up high myself

Good summing up of bails dilemma Nyk and thoughts.

savingfortravel

Thanks Nyk. We are very lucky living in the South East of England-very mild climate...our wood supply is from friends/relations so won't last forever..but we've got our wood store now so can start foraging, collecting wood on our walks which needs to be dried out for a season (that is right isn't it?). Will get some of that tarpulin you recommended as we are very open at the back of our property, the rain comes across the fields.

Another Quick Question: VAT will rise at the end of Jan? So it would be a good idea to start stockpiling non-perishable non-food items such as washing liquid, toilet roll, toothbrushes and other toiletries?

I suppose it would.

sft

cw18

from direct.gov

The standard rate of VAT has temporarily been reduced from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, from 1 December 2008 until 31 December 2009.

so back to 17.5% on 1st Jan 2010

Blairweech

The Cat - That is a great idea about a challenges board!! Then that way, when someone starts a *personal* challenge, it would not get merged into another challenge thread!

Can't stay, am working at 6am tomorrow. Will reply properly tomorrow