NTBY's sensible living and debt busting adventure

slowlyfading

I bet! what a treat for yourself at the end of all this

Nottoobadyet

Thank you, Slowly!!

Sent two job apps yesterday - one to a different organization for a job that would be a) very exciting and b) a huge paycut and an internal one that would be a) midly exciting (meh) and b) likely not a raise. A third option is to ask for a fellowship like arangement which will be a) exciting but a huge commitment and b) probubly a pay cut and the end of my life as I know it!

I'm so glad that the debt is almost over so I have the freedom to not be chasing money. Sure, my spreadsheets can be pushed forward so that they show me with a tidy house deposit in a few years, but who wants to wish their lives away? The truth is that my current job isnt that bad but I generally feel like my life is a slump and I need some changes.

Nottoobadyet

OK so question for you all - am I being a brat?:rotfl:

As you all know I borrowed of money from my mum for my MSc (exactly the course fees, I worked to cover my living costs) and have been religeously paying it back, as its hers and it was very kind of her to lend it to me. I put asside about 2/5ths of my income for it, have been living in cheap flats, working all hours, eating basics everything and not buying new clothes for two years to manage this. I'll have paid it all back this October. I paid for my BA almost entirely without parental help as I was able to work full time to pay it.

In the meantime, my (only slightly) younger sister has had everything paid for when she went to get her BA in New Zealand, including flights and housing. She's worked part time but really only for pocket money. She stayed an extra year as her results were poor, and has now moved back home to America where she is living rent / board free, working but again essentially to fund her hobbies and meals out with friends. My parents took out loans to finance her studies, on which they are now just finishing repayments.

Now, I really truly have no problem with them funding her as being financially independant early was important to me and its not at all strange for parents to pay for schooling for their kids and support them for a bit afterwards.

What has annoyed me is that my mum has now decided that she wants to buy my sister a small block of flats :eek:. The idea is that she would live in one flat rent free and they would get tennants in the others to cover the mortgage, and eventually the idea is that it would be hers.

I should mention that they live in America and property is vastly less expensive than in the UK. My grandfather did a similar scheme for my aunty in her younger years, and it has worked out well for her as she is very thrifty, did most of the repairs herself and that neighborhood rose hugely in value so she can now aford to live abroad while renting out her flat at home.

None of my side of the family have any experience in managing property, and my sister would probubly have to call out for any repairs. The part of the country they would buy in is unlikely, as far as I can tell, to go up in value. My sister is 21 and not very mature for her age. Despite a high income, my parents regularly have cash flow issues (I sometimes need to wire them money in a hurry) and I can imagine that they would be digging themselves into more debt if the place they bought had any expensive issues, or even if they were without tennants for a few months. I doubt my sister would be able to cover a mortgage herself on her current income.

So there you are - am I being silly? They are my parents of course and I have no right at all to tell them what to do with their money, but I really think this is a bad idea and I am a bit embittered that I have been working so hard over the last two years to pay my mum back, when she is likely to take the money and put it towards what seems like a poor investment that only my sister would benifit from. I havent said anything as Im not sure how to do so without just sounding like a wet rag, since of course I'm looking forward to years (and years!) of renting and scraping by before having enough to even buy a small place of my own.

Someone slap some sense into me please!

Nottoobadyet

Back, after long last!

Thinks are MAD, I tell you, MAD! In a few days OH's entire family are decending upon us, including his brother and girlfriend who I hardly know but are staying with us. The week after Im getting all my wisdom teeth out and will probubly be under the weather for that. I'm also quite skint this month as the quarterly bills have gone out and I've had a very social start to the month.

Next month, my mum is coming at the begining of the month for a weekend so will need to entertain her. A friend who drinks a lot so makes for very expensive nights out will be coming after she leaves. Halfway through the month I'll be going to Ethiopia for work (sqwee!) and I want to try to take a few extra days to see things if I can, so that will be cheap but will cost some money at least. Then at the end of the month, my sister is coming to visit so more expense there. OH also wants to go away for a weekend in the Lakes and there is lots on at work.

Oh MSEers, give me strength!

Nottoobadyet

Had all 4 of my wisdom teeth out yesterday (eek!), but I feel much better than I expected. I have a bit of pain and a wee bit of swelling, but I actually feel ok. So much for getting a week off work!

Nottoobadyet

Ok teeth better now, still taking loads of pills but at least its saving me a weeks worth of booze that I cant drink as it clashes with my pain killers :-) I did sleep for about 12 hours last night so hopefully I should be on the mend now.

Hope all is well out there. I'm loving the holiday chat over on Keebs's diary - cant wait for mine to start in only a few weeks!

Swinstie73

Hi NTBY, goodness didn't realise I posted on your diary for ages!

Glad the teeth are better, I DO NOT like the dentist, which is why I'm wondering why the heck I'm going to get my crowns re-done next year - at least you had to get yours done! Will go check out keeb's diary, although can hardly keep up with ones I read already. Have a nice day x

Nottoobadyet

Hey Swinstie, thanks for dropping in! What does it mean to get your crowns redone? Hope it isnt too painful (or expensive!).

So stuff has been moving on the work front. I had an internal application for a long shot job, which I had a 2nd interview for last week and would be very suprised to get. So looking into other options.

Main option is to take a paycut and move to one of the country programmes to work on a sort of fellowship basis for about 2 years. This is exciting and could be great if I get the right posting - its a bit hard to get moving though so there are no guarentees yet.

Another option is to find an overseas posting with another organization. I just filled out an application for a grant manager role in a humanitarian org, so we'll see where that goes. I'll keep my eyes out for more, but its hard to get those positions without previous overseas experience.

In other exciting news, I am mere days away from being debt free! Would it be weird if I invited people out for a back to zero party?

Nottoobadyet

Oh and the other pressing question - do I use the excuse to start a fresh diary?

Nottoobadyet

New diary it is!

Here you are, my readers (if there are any of you left!): https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2838280