Macgirl's "Stop Procrastinating and Get on with it" Diary

macgirl

I've just been reading what you wrote KM. I do really love my job, I thrive on it. Without too much trumpeteering, I'm good at it and work hard. I'm lucky that I do what I love in a company that is thriving and is a great place to work. I have good friends there too - which makes for a pleasant environment.

Occasionally, frustrations boil. I'm quite passionate (can you tell?!) and honest and it sticks in my craw when I have to deal with people who are good at BS and not much else. These people get on through being yes-men and a-lickers.
This has been one of those weeks. I need to get over it, as it's the way for the World. As Mr Mac keeps reminding me, I can't change it.
He also tries to temper my frustrations at my inability to be where I want, by pointing out that people we know who "have it all" don't. He reckons you have to step on heads and be a !!!!!! to get certain things and that's not me. I can be tough, but not a t*** (though some may disagree )

There are things I want in life - call it materialistic, but I would like a nice home. I like nice things, not to impress anyone or show-off - I guess it's just my artistic nature that I derive pleasure from them....

Even if I could afford to - I would never give up work and in all honesty it wouldn't bother me to go back full time. But I'm glad I have some balance for my kids and can't do anything to jeopardise that....

Ramble over

hypno06

No, it doesn't mean getting back in your box and waiting until DDs graduations......it just means thinking, properly thinking, about the "what ifs" that crop up in life.

If you do your research now, properly, and find that it is realistic to do it, then you can look at houses in confidence.

If you do your research now and find that it is not realistic, you can start working on a practical target date, giving yourself a goal and something positive to work towards.

If you do no research now, and think you can do it, jump in and then find that you can't.....well you will be dreaming up titles for diaries for ever more as you battle around those ever decreasing circles.

No one is saying "don't do it". We are just saying research properly and think really about more than just the numbers on the page. Dig deep and ask yourself lots of searching questions. It will pay off in the long run!

macgirl

Thanks Hypno. I am going to do that. I talk recklessly, but as I said, I soon talk myself down.

I know I am risk-averse but I am also not afraid of hard work to achieve things. IYSWIM. I am researching (and have been for a long time) and will get all my ducks in a row before we move anywhere. Thanks once again to everyone for the support - where would we be without the internet and this site especially? It's fantastic here

Keeping_Motivated

If you worked out how much your outgoings would be if you moved to your dream house and really stretched yourself then maybe you could have a 'practice' by literally paying that amount into a savings account and managing on what is left over and giving it a real test run? That way the savings could be paid off debt or towards a deposit.

You are probably 'laid back' about paying your debt now as its very easily managable and you still have enough surplus whereas if paying the debt was making you really worry about meeting the premiums without strict budgetting then you would probably be better than you are now at paying it off early, ie if the chips were down you'd be budgeting like a 'good en' as you would not let it take you down but as things are the monthly payments are 'easy'.

So maybe you need a 'large' direct debit sending to a not so easy to access account every month so that you have to be stricter with your budget?

Please remember that I'm not getting at you at all, I can totally understand why you want to move and progress x

macgirl

Thanks KM! You are TOTALLY right :T:T:T

Please don't ever worry about offending me. No one is harder on me than I am on myself. I appreciate straight talking and honesty above all else and can take it, so certainly don't feel got at - quite the reverse .

You are absolutely right. That is why I am so lax. I am going to do what you suggest and set up a standing order to put myself under pressure. Don't know why I didn't think of it before - if left without much to do I can be very lazy, but when the pressure's on, I can motor like no one's business!

Thanks again xx

Keeping_Motivated

Oh and you sound very creative so maybe while your working out your finances you should start yourself a 'life board' with all your dreams and hopes for you life, thats if you haven't already.

I like the sound of this vision board (link below) that is by a yoga teacher of Jennifer Anistons.

http://mandyingber.com/yogavision.php

I would love to be that disciplined and look at my dream like that daily while doing my yoga...if only...Km dreams and pretends she is bendy and artistic for once...:o

macgirl

Thanks for that KM - it's right up my street! Very LA but I can live with that.

It won't surprise you to know that I do have an inspiration board - but I can always make another!

This morning I got up early and went for a run at 6.30. It was nice and quiet and really cleared my head. I was thinking about all the wise words posted last night - and also had a run past the afore mentioned house.
Kissjenn is the voice of reality. I know I need to take off the rose-tinted glasses and have everything in order before making any bold decisions.

I also know that I/We would rather wait and buy the sort of house we want. To do that, I need to be debt free and we need savings. So, to give ourselves a clear picture and something to aim for, we are going to speak to an IFA for advice. Thanks Hypno for the highlighting that.

So to get there I'm going to do as KM suggests and save a large chunk each month - treating it as a DD. This will mean strict budgeting, but I can do anything when I put my mind to it.

Right off for a shower, then ballet. Have a good day all

gilligansyle

Morning mac

just reading what KM was saying and there's a lot in that. My debt was, and still is really, manageable. That meant that I didn't really put the effort in to reducing it that I knew I should, and it was only when the chips were down and I was out of work that I really started budgeting properly. It sounds very much like you are doing the same, and need to decide what you want. Do you really go for it, budget like crazy, especially once you've got the extra from child care fees, knowing that if you keep in budget it will get easier as the years go on, or do you focus your attention on the debt knowing that in a few years you will be in a better position to move.

Only you and OH know the figures and how they stack up.

kissjenn

Hi Mac,

I'm in the been there, seen it and done it camp with this scenario. I'll be completely honest and say I did it. Don't know why but I sleep fine at nights. OH sticks his fingers in his ears and sings "I can't hear you" over and over again until the nasty financial man leaves.

If you want to know what it's like to run around £1.3million in mortgages let me know and I'll share the good, the bad and the ugly. I bought the properties including our house, I organised the money, tenants, court cases etc and still do. OH signs where I point. It works for us. He knows the big number but he needs to keep it in a sealed pot, buried deep in his subconscious because it scares him to death. It's the only thing I can compartmentalise...I work on the premise there's another 13 houses before mine is touched and I'm out on the streets :rotfl:

You do what works for you and yours. You'll make good and bad decisions but as long as you learn from each then that's the price you pay for education.

As I said, if you want more info just shout.

KJ

macgirl

Yep, I think about, plan and organise everything too. The difference between us KJ is that you seem like you can generate lumps of cash, rather than regular steady income....

Gill - I hear you and want to start acting like it's more urgent to get my butt in gear.

We were discussing it this morning and I was quoting my online friends (DH said "it's great that you chat, but you are all there because you have handled your finances badly" Ouch!). Just then a large lump of something fell down the chimney and onto the dining room floor (proving kissjenn's point precisely). DH looked at me and raised his eyebrows in an annoying "told you so" way.

The upshot is, he agrees to putting away a large lump every month as a trial to see if I can do it. He can live within his means, but is very sceptical when I talk about affording things "on paper".

I met with my very wealthy friend today. She was asking when we are moving and have I seen anywhere? - have I ever, every bloomin' week!
I don't pretend I'm rich, she's knows my house, car etc, bit she is clueless that not everyone can spend what they want when they want.

She asked for me to look at some colours for her house, they are having it remodelled, with hand made kitchen and ridiculously expensive everything. She asked me because she said I have good colour sense and she likes our house. There must be some way I can use that skill to make money....

I'm prepared to work to get there, I'm prepared to budget (DH said "What buy own brand - not organic?!"), but can't ever rely on lump sums from work, so need to try and generate them myself. I'm so bl00dy good at the talking and am gung-ho initially - it's just maintaining that's the problem...

Back to the spreadsheets - catch you later.