Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

Gah - I wrote a bit of an update on the iPad before having to get up this morning, and it has a stupid "Undo" button... guess what I hit!

Anyway - expenses of £1260 were approved by my manager (with my gently prodding him) for a preagreed course as a condition of my joining the company.
Not counting my various farmyard animals (chickens, virtual piggies) yet but if/when that gets paid - Vernon could have almost 4-5 times the predicted new monthly payment in him (as I funded it from some of my VR money)...

That would be just a CRACKING start to my MFW campaign...!

However - I have to negotiate the next stage of the expense claim process, which also involves liaising with the office-secretary-of-oddness...

Hurdler

Started Journo school yesterday. I am the oldest person on the course - next one down is 37 so I don't feel quite as bad!!!

Shorthand is ... Challenging!

I can see some opportunities for moneysaving as we have next to no time for lunch and will have to resort to sarnies (bleah) for dinner and lunch on Monday nights and Saturday days.
I actually have a Press card!!!

Today may be a bit spendy - need to hit Tesco for my fortnightly shop and then I want to hunt for a heated laundry rack at Lakeland ... But needs must, sigh!

ooh - I just got a note from National Lottery!!! I won a tenner!!!!

Edit: I *think* I have tracked down the last possible recurring payment on my Barclaycard (and actually logged on to Norton to stop it from automatically renewing)... so fingers crossed that there is now NOTHING coming through on that card evermore....

I was tying my brain in knots (too much Jack Daniels last night) as to whether I am better NOT to use my points credit cards as much and have more money left for overpaying (as treats are funded separately) and only put things like Petrol, Oyster Top Ups, and random larger purchases on there, and go back to living within the monthly cash allowance and treat accounts as before. That then means a lot less to snaffle back from Vernon at the beginning of a month, and more to overpay from my salary account.
My head hurts too much to try and follow this through to any logical conclusion!

poorbutrich

Hurdler wrote: »

Started Journo school yesterday. I am the oldest person on the course - next one down is 37 so I don't feel quite as bad!!!

Shorthand is ... Challenging!

Oooh! How exciting! I did this a few years ago and I too was among the older people on the course!

Shorthand is awful! However, the more you put in and the more practice you do, the easier it gets! Initially I was stuck at 80wpm but practised until my arm nearly fell off and passed the 100wpm third time when it was not the speed that was a problem, but reading it back!

Good luck and enjoy! The course is hard work but very rewarding!

Hurdler

Had a nightmare commute to Watford - an accident at 4am closed the South Circular and the rat run I ended up having to follow was... well I'd have been surprised if a RAT could have gotten through it!

Anyway - it's been a busy old week - and I feel as though I have neglected the diary a bit.
I can't believe we're only half way through the month - pay day (this time the official payday after my new company fluffed up my payroll for my first month) seems an awfully long way away.

Money saving has kinda taken a hit because of cabs home - I had to get a cab on Monday night as the evening session of Journo school didn't finish until 9:30 and it was something like a 30 minute wait for the bus when I got to the station, and to be honest I don't like getting the bus to where I live on my own late at night especially when it's dark. It's a 5-10 minute walk with very little light and to be honest - I put my own safety way above the £11 it normally costs to come home by taxi from the station.

I had to do the same on Sat night as we were taken to the pub by the teaching staff and last night as I went out with one of my bestest buds who is sadly facing her 2nd redundancy of her career.

However - I have planned ahead because:
I put aside £100 in an account for extra weekend money, and if I don't use it on a given weekend, then it just sits there... so I feel that so long as I limit my nights out (now I am established with a client up in the city) to once a week and Diploma - then that should cover those costs. It's money I put aside anyway so it is accounted for in my budget.

I have changed my strategy a bit with the cash back cards ... I am now putting all my "Lobster" card updates through my Amex Credit card - I am racking up about £30-50 a week on that, most of which is claimable from the company and goes straight back into my salary account. That also used to come out of the account above, but I found that I was ending up uber-short of cash if working on assignment in the city.

I am still using the Play.com visa where Amex isn't taken, and I know that Martin says buy EVERYTHING on these cards and pay them off in full, but I am trying to be sparing with my credit card usage in general while I am focussing on being a MFW - so it may take me longer to amass points for prizes where Play.com is concerned, but then I can live with that, because if I am mortgage free I can spend whatever the hell I want when I want!

Especially seeing as at the moment I have no repayment limits, next to no redemption fee... I may as well make the most of it before Woolwich change their minds!

I have my first assignment to write for a proper sports desk this week- 250 words on whoever is atop of the Premier League by 6pm Sunday. Guess I'd better start watching footy again... anyone wanna remind me what the offside rule is?

PS - my grammar in real life is a whole heap better than my posting style :cool:

gallygirl

Hurdler wrote: »

Guess I'd better start watching footy again... anyone wanna remind me what the offside rule is?

Watch The Fully Monty - it figures in one of the dance routines .

Hope it goes well

SlopingBird

Hurdler
I've really enjoyed reading your posts and as a former reporter (daily regional newspaper), I can tell how much you enjoy using language and words to inform and entertain other forum readers. I just wanted to wish you all the best with your long-term career plans and echo the words of others who have applauded your bravery. One thing these forums demonstrate time and time again is how financial discipline allows a person far more control over ever aspect of their life. Good luck and keep posting. SB

SlopingBird

And I didn't proof that! I meant 'every' aspect of their life!!

Hurdler

I am so giddy - first chance I've had a chance to post - I submitted the piece about an hour after the Man U/Chelsea match thinking that they'd then go through it with me either Monday or Saturday if I could get there early...
Imagine my total discombobulation when they said they'd publish it... and indeed by the time I got to class... it WAS!!!

If anyone's interested....
http://www.sharethematch.com/news/254

Hurdler

Thank you SO MUCH SB for your words ... OMG the feeling I had when I saw the piece up there - previously I'd written for a Tennis Player's site and my own self indulgent ramblings, so to have a proper sports desk pass it as good enough to publish and to give me the by-line was... the biggest thrill. It made me realise that this is 110% what I want to do.

Froggy-G

Hurdler wrote: »

I am so giddy - first chance I've had a chance to post - I submitted the piece about an hour after the Man U/Chelsea match thinking that they'd then go through it with me either Monday or Saturday if I could get there early...
Imagine my total discombobulation when they said they'd publish it... and indeed by the time I got to class... it WAS!!!

If anyone's interested....
http://www.sharethematch.com/news/254

Great report Hurdler, a good read and some interesting points raised..
Keep up the great work, you will be a fantastic journo!

Cheers
Froggy