June 2010, 80 payments to go............

tootallulah

Thank-you all for your kind words I feel such an idiot for finding it all so difficult. I spent a lot of yesterday with the spreadsheets and a calculator. I need some realistic targets for next year as I really am going to try and not take my pension early and I definitely have work for the next eighteen months, albeit with comparatively low pay- it is about equal to my eventual pension but obviously I still have the mortgages.

Every month I can hold off taking my pension adds about 0.5% to the totals so it is really significant over 18 months. I am going to apply for 0% deal on my current credit card which allows purchases at 0% for the 90 days. This will give some much needed flexibility if I really have a cash flow problem. I worked my butt off to get rid of my overdraft and credit cards so it feels very odd to be considering going back into debt but needs must. I have decided to try and keep my two rental properties as within three years they will make up a considerable retirement income.

I just need to weather six months of lower income until I get on an even keel, and I need to make the budget work! It will just have to be Tilly tidies to the mortgage until further notice.

tootallulah

OK well I have the good news that at some point next week my October invoice will be paid, and now I know the system my November one will be in sharpish on 1 December and will be paid before Christmas. I think that I will just squeak in by using the last of my emergency fund and being careful.

So I need to build up a bigger emergency fund as a proper buffer. As I have an off set mortgage this should work in my favour. Starting as soon as my pay cheque arrives my new aim is to put £2k per month into the offset, to build an emergency fund and to be covered for income tax.

The £10.00 a day envelope system and religiously taking in my lunch has worked brilliantly for me. My daily fares are between £7.80 -£9.80 depending when I travel and that £10 just means I only use cash rather than the dreaded swiping which never feels like real money. If I swipe I do spend the £10 in trickling spends because I am a terrible spender!

Off to declutter huge amounts of stuff to the charity shop now and get some washing out whilst the sun shines.

tootallulah

Failed on the washing it is hurling it down now. I have never had a tumble dryer but dried everything in my hot box flat, that isn't an option in a slightly damp Victorian house. Tumble dryer folks?

gallygirl

tootallulah wrote: »

Failed on the washing it is hurling it down now. I have never had a tumble dryer but dried everything in my hot box flat, that isn't an option in a slightly damp Victorian house. Tumble dryer folks?

That'd be a yes from me - love my :smileyhea tumble drier with the internal light :smileyhea

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

gallygirl wrote: »

That'd be a yes from me - love my :smileyhea tumble drier with the internal light :smileyhea

My lovely :smileyhea TD is now just a TD, the bulb has gone :eek::eek:

gallygirl

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

My lovely :smileyhea TD is now just a TD, the bulb has gone :eek::eek:

:eek::eek::eek:Noooooooooooooooooooo:eek::eek::eek:

tootallulah

I must say that discotastic tumble dryers had passed me by but having seen one now it is clearly the way forward. As soon as I have been paid tumble drying here I come.

gallygirl

tootallulah wrote: »

I must say that discotastic :smileyheatumble dryers :smileyheahad passed me by but having seen one now it is clearly the way forward. As soon as I have been paid :smileyheatumble drying :smileyheahere I come.

Just corrected it for you .

tootallulah

Thanks GG the thought is appreciated. I have just realised I am working in Edinburgh on Monday oops need to get a hotel and sort out the trains. Later start in work today, I am spending tomorrow helping a friend make curtains (second day) she is going to give me two days back to make blinds in January, one of the blinds is for my bathroom which will be treat for the neighbours.

I have to change some £2 coins at the bank this morning to pay the upholsterer who is re-upholstering two chairs for me. He wasn't at all keen on bags of coins, odd really it's all money, though I do realise that sometimes MFWs do have ideas about cash that are not held in the wider population.

And most importantly I got paid, £2000 has gone into the offset, I am solvent and my next invoice is primed for a week today.

tootallulah

I am feeling much more positive for some reason, it might be as simple as being paid. Seizing the moment I am off to do tidying. Tomorrow morning it is EBay listing day.