£7k in 7 months...I hope!

jtr2803

Final Installment!

Wednesday 20th

Well it was our last day! The flight home wasn't until 4.30pm but when I booked the hire car I said I would return it at 2pm and I didn't want to be too late in case they charged, you know what these companies are like . After our last full Irish brekkie we decided to walk around Killarney as we hadn't really spent much time there apart from to eat. Across the main road from the B&B was Killarney House, unfortunately it's a bit dilapidated but it looks like they are trying to restore that too (lots of restoration going on in Ireland!). There was a lovely Cherry Tree lined drive that took us further up onto Knockreer House and Gardens so we just carried on walking! The walk up to Knockreer was a nasty hill but I had been reliably informed that there was a good lookout point so I forced myself up there .

Knockreer House itself is an education centre which was closed for the winter so we walked round it and then up to the gardens which were H U G E! The weather was so bright and sunny and we found the viewing spot, the pictures I took here are lovely! We saw lots of people out walking, mind you, I would walk loads there too if I got to look at that stunning view :cool:. On the way back we were walking past a bit of the garden when I spotted something out of the corner of my eye...it was a small herd of deer grazing on the lawns! Most people don't appear to have even noticed them but we carefully walked over and got close enough to get some half decent pictures (one had massive antlers so I wasn't going to risk getting too close, not even for you lovely lot!). On the way back to the main road we stopped for a cup of tea and cake at the tea shop which is staffed by young people with Downs Syndrome and I thought we should show some support . Took a few more pics of the Cathedral as the sun was shining then off I went in search of fridge magnets (I collect them!).

We left Killarney about 1.30pm, stopped for fuel just before the airport and then dropped the car back off. Kerry airport is tiny with not an awful lot there so we just had a drink, we were about to get some grub when they started calling for all Stansted passengers to go to departures...seemed a bit early but that's because the plane landed, people got off, we got on and then took off for the UK a whole 20 minutes early! We were back in Kent within 3 hours - not bad going at all :rotfl:.


That's pretty much my trip in a nutshell! The things I loved the most were the fact that there are no speed cameras, no queues of traffic, no unnecessary road signs, we never paid to park once and everything is just so chilled out . We will definately be going back, maybe when I am a bit fitter so we can walk down to the Gap of Dunloe! I also didn't get to do my boat trip or jaunting car ride so me and Ireland have 'unfinished business'!. OH really enjoyed it too and having a few days together without the stresses of daily life was really good for us.

I am just going to upload pics to FB, I will put a few choice ones on here for those who haven't added me on ze book of face yet!

jtr2803

Photos now on FB!

I made the album public so hopefully anyone else should be able to see it on the following link

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=559778&id=571240493

jtr2803

patman99 wrote: »

I didn't think Ireland was that expensive. I am planning to drive across england to Wales for a week, then off to Ireland for a week next year.

Will have to save a bit harder.
If I use my van, I can at least fuel it with waste veggie oil, so the fuel costs would be zero.
Glad you had a nice time. I bet the pictures will be amazing.

Hi Patman! Perhaps I am just too MSE now? :rotfl:. In all seriousness, Killarney is the 2nd biggest town for tourism (Dublin is 1st) so I think that and the poor exchange rate is the biggest problem. It certainly wasn't cheap in my books, even something like Sausage and Mash was around £12 so for 2 mains and maybe one pudding and 2 or 3 drinks it was well over £40, I am just very glad we got breakfast included

Whereabouts are you heading in Ireland?

jtr2803

Morning All!

I posted some figures on Beccie's diary yesterday as the countdown has begun! I think it's 113 days today! These figures are based on 114 days and I will update them at the end of the month when I have my new savings balance and then once my DMP payment has cleared.

In case anyone hasn't seen them, here they are:

Ok so I have done some calculation based on the number of days left to Borneo! I have 3 different versions all assuming my current debt of £6,162.58 and savings of £657.11 (this is incorrect as I have money to go in but the spreadsheet will adjust when the balance changes). In scenario 3 I have included a bonus of £3,500 but it could be less than this!

• Daily savings needed without DMP payment - £48.29 :eek:

• Daily savings needed with DMP payment - £39.70

• Daily savings needed with DMP/Bonus - £16.67

Now with my figures there are obviously a lot of if's & buts because I am hoping to get a reduced figure on my old HSBC loan from Cabot and my bonus could be more/less. I might also lose my pub job .

So....my few plans to help me meet the deadline:

1. Suspend my pention contribution. I hoped to do this from this month but payroll had been done by the time I got back. I only currently pay £41.67 into my pension but after tax it's another £30. Not ideal but it's only for a few months.
2. Cancel Direct Debit for Endowment Policy. I called them and they have recieved my surrender form so I've cancelled the DD, that's another £15 per month.
3. Hit Ebay - I have a box of Vinyl which might/might not sell but I wont know till's I put it on there! I also have some clothes and some bits from OH, I see it's free listing this weekend so have to get organised!

I am due a payrise from the 1st November but although I think it is pretty much agreed at management level, I'm not privy to how much it is yet! It might not even end up going through until Dec but will be back paid. Hopefully this will cover some of the loss of pub wages (if I lose that job) or will be extra to my fund!

I am on a mission this morning... I have a big black sack full of Finding Nemo teddies stored at my mums, I have about 8 of the big ones and lots of little ones as well, various people bought them for me after the film came out. Well, I don't have room for them at home and as mum is moving next year, I need to do something with them! Rather than Ebay them or throw them away (they must have cost about £250!) I am going to try and find a local childrens charity and see if they would like them. Hopefully other people will get to enjoy them then and I will feel happy with myself. If anyone has any ideas on this then do let me know!

x

Kepp

You're trip sounds great Jody, glad you and OH enjoyed the time away together.

And gald to see I'm not the only one who collects fridge magnets! :rotfl:

Is it looking likely that you will lose the pub job?

Kepp

Oh and I can confirm that it is 113 days till Borneo!

Woowoo

I too temporarily suspended my pension, freeing up about £30 after tax. This will be the first thing to reinstate when I'm debt free as I know it makes my Mum worry about me.

I think thats a really lovely thing to do with the Nemo teddies, I would still be tempted to Ebay them though!

jtr2803

Well I haven't heard from the pub landlady that she doesn't want me this weekend so unless I get a phonecall today or tomorrow then I will be going in on Sunday. I don't want to call her in case it jogs her memory that I'm not needed!

I might still do Ebay Woo but give a percentage to Charity of the winning bid or similar. Whilst they are worth quite a bit I can't really post them as there are so many!

Woowoo

No you don't want to remind her Jody! That way it's her fault for not telling you your not needed, just don't volunteer to go home again!

Kepp

That's so rubbish!

I would say if she's trying to get rid of you make her do the decent thing and actually tell you, don't make it easy for her by asking or volunteering to go home.

Every extra shift that you can drag this out by will be an extra shift you get the pennies for!