Learn to control money but do not allow it to control you

Aesop

Well done Firewalker :j

relocating to Europe sounds good too. You have worked so hard and done so well for yourself.

I keep reading about the Universe, but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I spread Karma wherever I can, and I think I get it back in the friendships I have formed, but as for the Universe providing me, it isn't listening to what I ask. But maybe it is providing me with what it thinks I need, rather than what I need? One to ponder another day.

Karmacat

Well done on the presentation, and *fantastic* news on the sabbatical, how wonderful! Hope your journey home (to your current home, anyway ) is going well.

Firewalker

Aesop wrote: »

I keep reading about the Universe, but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I spread Karma wherever I can, and I think I get it back in the friendships I have formed, but as for the Universe providing me, it isn't listening to what I ask. But maybe it is providing me with what it thinks I need, rather than what I need? One to ponder another day.

Are you sure it is not? If it doesn't look around and check whether you have made space for the things you wish for. Also, the Universe provides but it provides opportunities - learning to recognised these and mobilise them is something we all have to learn. I personally am not very good at using opportunities.

How does the universe work? Just an example! In January I decided, as an experiment, to wish that my royalties this year are £800 - completely off the cuff here since the best I have done is half this much. My royalties were the grand total of £186. It en't working, I thought. Next day I opened my e-mail and found a message telling me that a job I did and thought it is for free is paid - £800. Now this minus tax is approximately what I wished for.

But I wished and forgot - this time did not think about it all the time. Still rather spooky, though.

Firewalker

InaPickle

Things sound as thought they are going well for you on your side of town, Firewalker. Well done!

Firewalker

Have just realised two things: a) that this diary has become really large and only the text I have written is 95,000 words and 230 pages; and b) that I have not updated on financial stuff for a long time. In line with my new discipline I acted immediately on both by starting a new file and by writing a brief update. So here it is.

Last month, February we were 96 pence in the positive. Of course this does not include the 10 days holiday skiing but included all bills and standing orders, all food, spending on different sons, haircuts (I think I have mentioned that we still pay a bit on these), petrol (including driving to the Bristol), shoes for LB, dinners and other bills for LB, etc. In itself, this probably is not such an impressive feat – our income should be sufficient. But the reason I am impressed is that for the first month we did the split between ‘I am so worth it’, ‘do not touch’ and ‘living’ accounts – and it seems to be working for now. I thought that haircuts, for instance, will come out of the ‘worth it’ account but it was not necessary. Let see whether it works this month.

We have also paid 30% of the negative wealth.

How we shall pay for the holiday is a different matter. For the travel we have already paid. The spending there is about £700 (probably slightly over) and is covered by what has already accumulated in the ‘worth it’ account. So good...And the ‘do not touch’ fund has been building up...but will have to be touched this month about which I am not too happy. As you know we have had a technical melt down – washing machine, dishwasher and last night the TV thing through which the signal goes all broke. The dishwasher was mended, new washing machine was purchased (and incredible bargain at £180 for one that is usually £499) and today a new TV thing will have to be got. Also we are going to do the kitchen surfaces – this will be about £350. Makes my heart bleed but rationally this only means that we have to start earning more.

Now I will be getting on with the rest of the Saturday – but have a bad cough and not feeling very well.

Firewalker

Karmacat

That sounds good, FW - I don't allocate money to different funds, I must say, as I have so little discretionary spending, but it sounds like its starting to work really well for you.

Sorry you're feeling bad - do you use cough lozenges, medicine, paracetemol?

Firewalker

Have been thinking about money today; loads. But then:

1) I have a pair of new, funky reading glasses (with which I can see without my head beeing up all the time as with the verifocals) for the equivalent of £8 (Copenhagen Aiport).
2) We got a recording boxy thing for the TV (£200); and most amazingly of all
3) we managed to get very nice working top for the kitchen from B&Q (3x3 meters) and bits for £327.

Much spending but there is money to cover it - and the kitchen will look so much better that we will not be annoyed till the Universe delivers big time and we can rebuild the whole thing. This is the road to perdition - I was the one to never talk about new kitchens. It all started with getting rid of the holes in the ceiling, then decorating and now changing worktops. How is this going to end?

Firewalker

MrsMoo2U

Hi FW, just catching up (seems to be my catchphrase of late) and wanted to congratulate you on your news. Relocating to Europe sounds like a plan. I hope that the universe carries on listening to all you request and gives the opportunities that will allow you to move forward.
I do love reading your diary as it is always so uplifting.

Firewalker

Yesterday I was standing at Copenhagen Airport, waiting for my flight. We had passed all controls and were waiting at the gate – I was on an EasyJet flight and they have such short turnaround time that you can see the passengers getting off the plane. I was watching these people absent minded, when something caught my attention; a little girl, probably about six or seven years old. She was getting off the plane holding her mum’s hand. Her excitement was not only all over her face – bright round eyes, broad smile – but in her body. She was so excited that she was bouncing off the tarmac like a rubber ball.

I envied this little girl. She was not scared about the future, there was no trace of apprehension – there was optimism, excitement and the boundless energy that go with it. I could not remember the last time I felt like that, the last time I felt so alive without fear. In fact, I am not sure whether I did this as a child either or I was always worried and impatient.

This will change. I am going to become one of Tim Ferriss’ most ardent followers. And as a first step OH and I had a talk about next year and it is highly likely that we will spend at least some of it abroad. For now we are considering spending three months in Sofia (we have a home there after all and property to sort out) and couple of months in Greece. OH and Little Boy will learn Bulgarian, I will start jazz ballet lessons; after than we will all learn Greek. This will be a test – after that I would like to do mini-retirements regularly but this will take some doing (most I am concern about co-ordinating my dreams and OH dreams; flamenco and art history).

Firewalker

macgirl

That's a nice story. I've been to Copenhagen a few times and always notice the energy of the people there. They all look happy and full of vitality (plus the Danes are a good looking bunch which doesn't harm), I put it down to them cycling everywhere, but the city does have a nice vibe.

I love the plans FW and I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for