Jumping aboard!

downsizer3

Getting excited as I approach my last credit card payment and half way to paying off tax credit OPs whoop whoop! :j
Did my sums for next month and its pretty grim with extra childcare courtesy of my going back to 5 days and holiday cover. Urgh. Ex is already pleading poverty in advance of my asking for a contribution this month. This is why I've never asked before - I'd like to keep his ridiculous poverty-at-the-hands-of-gamling nonsense as far away as possible. I've had enough to last a lifetime.
That said he should still honour is responsibilites and letting him off for the past 2 and a half years seems to make him think its for life. No way Jose!!

downsizer3

Payday imminent and the last payment to the card. Whoop whoop. :jAfter that - I can start saving. That'll feel better.
Life plan is coming together. I've seen a course I fancy which could move me towards a career change which I fancy. I recon I'll need 6 months of funds to do the course (one week) and work for buttons to get some experience.
So. I may try and hang on here for another year.
Get through this financial year and try one more after that. That'll see out my current commitments and I'll have my savings pot (and a mortgage down to £18k!!) Looks better than trying to manage in one year.
Thats todays thinking anyway - moving target of course.
Childcare costs are bonkers this month with extra cover for Fridays and illness. Ouch.

downsizer3

Still confused about my mortgage rate. I'm on a Fleforterm thing with Coventry BS and get 2.99%. I've had it for a year.
Their new rate for that product is 3.4% - so why hasn't mine gone up? Does it happen once a year or is it an oversight? Just hoping they don't realise and clobber me later!
Obviously happy to have the lower rate obviously.....:D

Going to take great pride in paying the last installment on my card on Friday :j

downsizer3

Ahem! Stands up to make an announcement.
I'VE PAID OFF MY CARD!!!! :j:j:j:j

Caw - that was hard work - pesky tax credit OP to bin now and my halo will shine brightly!!

Nothing else to report except work still thin on the ground and despite my wanting a career change I'd like that to be on my terms - not as a result of us having to close the doors if you don't mind. More work please!

SomersetSaver

downsizer3 wrote: »

Feeling old today. 45 and looking to change career soon. Is that too old I wonder? No pension or savings ( going to start addressing that soon) but I'm not exactly set up for life.

This career change needs to involve a decent salary! I either go part time so I don't need the childcare or a full time better paid job.
In something I'd enjoy but am probably not qualified for.

Hi Downsizer3

I thought I would come out of lurking to offer some encouragement! I am in my early 40s and have embarked on a career change which is going to take at least 4 years and use up most of my life savings (putting paid to my MFW aspirations for a good few years) so I would say 45 definitely isn't too old - or else I'm a bit stuffed myself! I'm moving into a completely different field so will be starting right at the bottom.

I am in a bit of a different situation in that I don't have any children and live with my OH and know he would help me out if I need him to, so accept it perhaps isn't as hard a decision as for you, perhaps - though it is giving me enough sleepless nights all the same. [Funny when you're used to saving money how against the grain it feels to be using up your money, and how I am still trying to "save" money from my more or less cut-to-the bone budget!]

However, I thought about doing the same thing about 10 years ago but was too "scared" to make that step. My one regret, having made the change (in effect being "forced" into it via redundancy) and loving it so much, is that I didn't bite the bullet years ago and do it then; particularly as the job market was so much better than it is now and I may well struggle when I've finished my 2 years of training.

Anyway, thought I'd put in my tuppence worth in case it helps; sorry for rambling on a bit!

Well done on clearing your credit card :T and am sure I can see that halo shining through already

SS

downsizer3

Aw thanks for the encouragement somerset! I have a feeling that when I do move, I'll wonder why I didn't do it sooner ( then worry that I might really regret leaving what I know and am pretty established at.....)
Current thinking is still yes to the move and re-evaluate at the end of this financial year - if we get that far without my having to hang up my boots! One glimmer of hope is that I might come out with something. Still got some money in the business and might get a wee bit out to give me a wee bit of bunce.
Not relying on it though and aiming to save like its not there!

Looking like another skint month after everything comes off. Not dire but no fun money for sure. Nothing new there then!

thriftylynny

:hello:Hiya DS , how u doin'? Catching up with all your news now, havn't posted for what seems like ages have i ?...sorry!! Seriously tho, full time hours & attempting 52 hours overtime in one month:eek:whilst running a family home at 53 yrs of age was sooo not a good idea plus flamin' shower broke,cost of new one £135, rogue plumber £150,proper plumber £100 so overtime earned all gone on that fiasco!!! So that was March, spent April feelin run down & poorly & still working hard, then catching up with a loada housework since ! back now tho A huge pat on back from me to you for finally waving goodye to that ol' card i know how hard you've worked at it :j Onwards & upwards now gal!! You've done great in one year,you should feel proud of yourself,i really know how hard all this feels at times.

downsizer3

Good to hear from you thrifty - you've been working hard lass! Well done for all that OT and getting some funds in. You'd have had to pay for the shower somehow so at least it came out of money you had rather than a card - so well done!! :beer:

Yes - a year has passed and progress made although it feels slow. Goodness knows where I'll be a year from now job-wise but I do want to know that at least I've no debts ( and saved as much as poss but thats really hard just now).

Having finalised my year end accounts I called tax credits yesterday and I've made £5k more than I forecast which will mean my OPs will be more I expect- so I'm now waiting to find out how much more I owe them. Bit nervous about that. I've paid back 47% since Christmas and I want shot of it all before this christmas one way or the other. This could be a bit of a shocker coming - oooohhh scaredy!! _pale_

downsizer3

This months morgage just about to come off.
Next month I'll get under the £30k mark - progress but sooooo slow.
Just wondering how I can speed it up a bit but I'd rather concentrate on the savings first. I'll feel better with a back up of sorts.

Some people seem to be coasting quite nicely through this recession - completely unaffected an earning a nice salary. It seems unfair that some people are destined to struggle and others are above it all. The great divide I guess. No doubt which side of the fence I fell on!!!
At least I can see whats important in life and my child and i are comfy enough despite it all.
Nevertheless I'm just going to check my lottery ticket haha! Promise not to gloat if I can hop over that fence.......:rotfl:

downsizer3

Fed up today. I knew this was going to be a tough month but its already hurting. Ex has refused (said he's skint but manages to run a car and buy himself new shoes I notice) to give any maintenance - and 'he'll see what he can do' in the future - big of him.
Next month we're on hol and my holiday budget looks like it'd be spent on the flights alone - bairn and I have been invited away so it'd be cheap(ish) when we got there but I can't see how I can even afford that.
I look at other people - many of my daughters chum's mums don't work - or its part time and sometimes, just sometimes I get really fed up being the sole provider and only one responsible for my daughter. Some days I feel I'm just not giving her the best ( rubbish I know and I need to get a grip) but still - it all feels like a hard slog. Not even my spreadsheets are helping today!
Winge over.