The Matrix - Re-Evolution!!

claudiac_2

I want to be wealthy too!! I look around me and I can see a hundred ways in which life could be improved for the ordinary man/woman in the street if only they had a bit of back up. I am trying to see with different eyes, and I am working on opening my mind thanks to you and the others on here whose opinions I value. The wisdom, encouragement and the laughs all help each of us to get through what it is we get through, and in time I am sure at least some will fly. I like to think so anyway!
Hope all goes well and you are back home recovering soon. x

Bitsy_Beans

thriftyscotslass wrote: »

Good luck for your interview Sunflower.

Did not have a good night's sleep last night - was fretting over money or lack of it. So decided to get back to reality and look at progress over the past year. Combining dh's wage and my carer's allowance we bring in the grand total of 18k or 1.5k per month after deductions. From this we managed to reduce our housedebt and mortgage by 10k :j. This leaves us with an outstanding mortgage of 21k.

There is no doubt, this level of debt-busting takes it toll and I for one am kn*ckered with being a debt-busting carer . Next year we are going to ease off slightly to try to include some short-breaks.

Bitsy I don't know how you can motivate your oh, I can only share our situation. We are strongly motivated to get this mortgage cleared asap and I guess fear is the strongest motivator. Dh's company is hanging on by it's finger-nails and it feels as if we are in a death-race - will we get the mortgage paid before the company goes t*ts-up - who knows. The other main motivator is the fact that there is just us - we have no family to help us out (they keep coming to us for !!!!!!) and certainly no future inheritances waiting in the wings, unfortunately.

So deep breath, elbows out and keep fighting-the-good-fight.

Can I just say well done to you Thrifty on managing to overpay with what is quite a modest income :T As for my H, he's comfortable so he's not terribly motivated whereas I am quite keen as I see it as a hobby/challenge with benefits

cherisong wrote: »

I love reading the posts on this thread. So diverse. Bitsy (and everybody else that posted re riots). I do agree with all of you. I am just not always adept at vocalising my thoughts like FW. But I will not rant and rave anymore. Bitsy I particularly liked your post because it proves to me that you are not a lefty or a righty but a very intelligent person who is able and willing to see the bigger picture and draw your own conclusions.
I have a very high opinion of single mothers and people who survive on benefits as I have spent a big part of my working life working with these people and 75% of them are decent, law abiding people who but for the Grace of (whoever/whatever you believe in) go I. What I dislike is the way in which different groups are targeted by the media to become scapegoats and if you look closely those groups are usually highlighted around a time when the Government are looking to bring in a policy to reduce spending. So lately I noticed that there was lots of news items about people being off sick with depression and how much it was costing the tax payer (at no point did I see mentioned that this group are 10th out of the top 10 incapacity reasons). Just something that worries me.

Cheri been a pleasure talking this with you, no petty remarks, no personal vendettas.....breath of fresh air compared to DT :eek:

sunflower - hope interview went well x

willow - keep posting lovey xx

FW - Hope your op goes well xx

Have some very tired kiddies after our train trip but they all seemed to enjoy it and the weather was kind to us :T Looking forward to a more relaxing day tomorrow

Have a great evening all

Triciaxx

I'm slowly catching up as we have had some rain today and so a nice quiet day on the laptops.

FW : Positive vibes for the op.

Cheri : I fear you are right in saying that the 'safety net' of the welfare state is not a secure thing to rely on. I do think the balance between becoming MF and having a safety net of savings is a very personal one - as is the amount of savings needed to make anyone feel more secure. The pros and cons are very difficult to decide and even more difficult to advise anyone else on.

I can see that there is more flexibility in having a 'cushion', though the idea of a £25k amount proposed by FW did cause me to blink and I am not sure how the exact amount was calculated?

Hypno : I've found your series of posts on the subject of extreme debt busting and the toll it takes very interesting. Particularly :

"It all adds up - it may not feel as though the hourly rate is worth it.....but I wonder how much I would still owe if I hadn't done it."

How true! I also felt you were showing a balanced approach in allowing some leeway now and it looks as if you are looking to save your 'cushion'. Good on you, girl. You've earned a life. :j:T:j:T

GQ : covered that really well - thanks, GQ. I also related strongly to :

"I do agree it's easier for singletons to make decisions re frugal limits - and it's a real bonus for couples if they share an equal commitment to financial goals and how they're achieved. For example, I'll start wearing my thermals much earlier this year and keep the heating off as long as possible, but my ex would probably have had an issue with that!"

My ex would have had rather more than an issue with it. :eek: My current DH gets some of the MSE and agrees in theory but he cannot see that saving pence here and there will add up to substantial amounts.:( I blame the Y chromosome (with sincere apologise to any bearers of that chromosome who have seen the light - there are plenty of XX folk who haven't got it either :eek:)

There are lots of you I've missed out I'm afraid.

Crickett, :T:T:T on the weight loss.

MG, (it is supposed to be your thread, after all :rotfl:) How excitingly scary to go for MFi3. Do we get to help you pay it off in £1 coins again?

Greenbee, I hope the meds don't give you too much hassle and was so pleased to hear that the diagnosis was not what you feared. Take it easy.

We're approaching the end of our 5 weeks in East Anglia now. It's been great and we've been very :money:. Housekeeping has been within the home budget and still cooking from scratch - though simply and I don't make bread in the caravan. We have eaten out once a week but that is all.

I've crossed 2 things off my bucket list - Up close and personal with a Vulcan bomber in Norwich - I got sneaked into one when they were operational but that's another story. :rotfl: and yesterday we went to Sutton Hoo.

It's so peaceful on this site. A young deer wandered across in front of the 'van yesterday morning and at silly o'clock this morning, I spent about 40 minutes watching a young great spotted woodpecker on a tree about 6 feet from me. S/he didn't seem in the least bothered about the camera shutter - incidentally, the shutter noise can be switched off as it doesn't actually do anything except reassure old fogies like me that a picture has been taken.

That would depend on me remembering how to switch it off, off course.

Hugs, vibes, congratulations to all who need/want them.

MrsMoo2U

Bitsy, thank you.
FW - I will be thinking of you in the morning. Sweet dreams tonight.
Tricia - I agree that everybody has their own limitations and values and only they can work out what is right for them. I do think that FW provokes us all to think about it though. How lucky that you have been able to stay in East Anglia ( I only ever hear that in my head as Jade in big brother said - is that in spain?) That is a part of the world that I aim to visit one day. It is on my bucket list just to go there. NOW sneaking into Vulcan bombers when they were operational hey........... Hmmm I would love to hear that tale - were any yanks involved?
MG. See we are queuing for that day with the coins :

Memory_Girl

cherisong wrote: »

MG. See we are queuing for that day with the coins :

No pressure :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Its on its way :j

MG

clairewop

Evening

Sorry I have been awol, had a few rotten days

tenmah

Memory_Girl wrote: »

I sold 22 aprons in the end - one order was for 12 as a "party Bag" for a little girls party. Her mum put a BERO book and wooden spoon in a bag with an apron for all the party-goers. Brilliant idea.

MG

That is great going, well done. And what a brilliant idea for a party bag (although what happened to a hat, sweet and a party blower!)

tenmah

clairewop wrote: »

Evening

Sorry I have been awol, had a few rotten days

What is up Claire?

Dustykitten

Evening all

Still struggling to get the full grasp of the Matrix. I may have pm'd the wrong person - I went for MrF but now see there is a MrFW and there was a Mrf aswell - very confusing!

My brain is flitting from inspiration to desperation at the moment, affected by PMT I think but I do feel I've made some in roads, I may start writing some bits down to clarify my thoughts.

Thanks to everyone for the inspiring posts.

clairewop

tenmah wrote: »

What is up Claire?

Just loads of things, will say over the other side