Jumping aboard!

LauraJo

Good luck for tomo

gallygirl

Good luck - here's to an exciting new chapter :beer:.

downsizer3

Thanks for that!
All seems well in the new job - keeping my head down and trying to take it all in.
Filling out tax return for last year - recon they must owe me after that year! Now that would be great.
Nothing much to report - self funding month so I'm being good!
Countdown to my first salary ( and new pension starting!)
:beer:

downsizer3

Not much to report. New job going well and it does look like I can transfer my pension over and buy extra years which is great. My new IFA tells me I'll be on track when I retire if I stick in this organisation. Missed their final salary pension by two years but they make a great contribution for me which is amazing and all new to me.
Been good money-wise as I'm not paid till 28th but it's nice not to have to count EVERY penny as I go round the supermarket. That said - old habits die hard. Usually go to Asda but went to Sainsbury's last week as its nearer. Never again - so expensive!! Must have MSE ingrained in me now!

downsizer3

Not very MSE (or maybe it is?) but my new double glazing is going in! Hugely expensive but I'm hoping for a warmer winter this year and reduced bills. Is not going in every window but there are two very cold bits in my house. If I win the lottery I'll do the other 4 windows.
All's good - a bit dull really and limping towards my first pay cheque. Not really sure how much I'll get after tax and pension etc and by the time childcare has finished with me I've still not got much left.
I have reduced my childcare from £800 to £500 a month which ought to leave me with lots of cash but I now have to pay for my own car (a cushioned life before, I know!) so that makes a dent. I'm going to put £150 away each month until I have a 'car pot' for tyres and repairs. Once that pot is where I want it, I can ease off a bit. I hope.
I also have a new 'activities' pot for my childs various activities - I recon my child benefit can cover that over the year so its going solely towards that.
Trying my new debt free life with pots of money for things - next will be a holiday pot. Our first proper holiday in about 4 years. One week in the sun - I promised my daughter that if I got this job. :j

downsizer3

New job is great and having had my first payday, I can see what I get in hand each month. Great. Even better - its more than I thought and I'm on emergency tax so it could get better :j
Pension is all started and I've asked to transfer my old rubbish one across too - just waiting for a quote. All being well, and I keep my job....... I'll be back on track with my pension by retirement. Yay - thats great from being woefully behind which is where I am now!
So - since I started on here I've paid off my debts, got my pension back on track and built up my savings. Only one thing to go - mortgage!!
I feel another spread sheet coming on.....maybe another £100 per month??

downsizer3

Ah - some good news. I am getting some money out of my business afterall. Not mega bucks but I can pay for my double glazing and bump up my savings pot. I may even pay off more of the mortgage. I'd like to get it down to under £20K this year.
Happy days!
Then I'll look at upping my OPs - I think I can manage another £100pm now - need to see what that does to the term.
By 2015 I should have my planning and approvals ready to build my extension so it'd be nice to be at a minimal amount - before I increase it again obviously!!..............then I'll start all over again! :eek:

downsizer3

Been a while since I popped by.
All good news since then, and I singed off my accounts today for my former business so can pay off my card, boost my savings and pay of another £3k minimum of my mortgage. I ought to be at about £16k by the year end.
I'm not going to fully pay it off as its a low rate of 2.99% and I will be looking for a mortgage for the extension in 2015 so I'll keep OPing till then - aim to get below £10K for a challenge of course..........;)
Having plans drawn up this year for the extension so I'll take my time and enjoy my low mortgage for a while yet.
Awaiting a tax repayment too - wonder how long they take - months I bet - if ever. Hmm - they claim it quickly enough and yet.........

thriftylynny

Hello DS ! Just wondered how you're doin' ,you seem to have disappeared off the radar , is everything ok with you??

downsizer3

Hi Thrifty!
All is great thanks.
Working hard (nearly 6 months now) and am still OPing - just a wee bit but am now under £20k which is a boost. :money:
Its lovely to have a steady salary again after years of uncertainty. I've had quite a few overdue things done around the house and a sunshine holiday which was the first in about 5 years!! Lovely.
How are you? Finished your mammoth chucking out sesh??
How's the job - any signs of anything else?
I'm still tripping over clutter in my tiny flat but can't quite bring myself to take on a new mortgage quite yet to expand it- I'm enjoying some money to myself for a wee while!
Christmas is looming too..................gulp.:eek: