What have I done....

LauraJo

So today my little bro has lost his job (and the house he was going to buy)
Makes you realise that this plan is security and if something like this did happen we would be ok.
Other news - OH has been offered to go to a war zone for a month. He gets an allowance which we could use to OP but tbh, not sure if its a risk worth taking...

MallyGirl

Big decision on the war zone - I was offered the chance to go out as part of the 'rebuild Kuwait' exercise after the first gulf war, with a big bonus. I chose not to and was glad I didn't go in the end as everyone that did got respiratory problems from the massive pollution with all the burning oil.

LauraJo

MallyGirl wrote: »

Big decision on the war zone - I was offered the chance to go out as part of the 'rebuild Kuwait' exercise after the first gulf war, with a big bonus. I chose not to and was glad I didn't go in the end as everyone that did got respiratory problems from the massive pollution with all the burning oil.

Blimey - sounds like you made the right decision! I can't encourage him to go for the money as it just feels wrong - what if something happened??!! However if he wants to go then he wants to go and that'll be his choice I guess. I personally couldn't think if anything worse :eek:

Gillybean

Hi LJ,

Wow, just discovered your diary, you've paid off so much so quickly, well done!

Not an easy decision your OH has to make, don't envy that at all. but then again I guess that's part of what he signed up for, the possibility of being sent abroad. At least he has a choice. Does he have much time to decide?

LauraJo

Aw thanks - just about hanging in there and sticking to the plan!
Very true - and at least its not 6 months like many services so can't complain really! I think he will want to decide by next week. Tbh if he hadn't said I could have the cash as an OP and he just decided to go, it would be less of a stress!!

LauraJo

Morning all - happy Monday!
After a not very MSE weekend (out for a couple of lunches, bought a dress etc etc!!) I'm back on it this week! Good start as wfh today so petrol saved going into work.
Going to have a week of being healthy, decluttering and working hard!

LauraJo

Another day WFH so all good in the petrol saving front. The healthy decluttering thing is going ok although there is nothing left in my house to eb@y!!
House warming party to go to this weekend so should be a cheapy one. Bought a fab pressie too - a beatle shaped boot remover (its another horsey person!) £6.99 including delivery and it looks really nice too - bargain!

LauraJo

Morning!
Another day of wfh and then 2 days in Scotland so no work travel costs this week
No final decision on whether OH going away yet although I think it will be made today

abouttimetoo

Hi LauraJo

I just wanted to stop by and say well done on your fabulous progress in such a short time. In the last few days I've read you diary from the start and was a bit cross eyed at some of the early responses you had questioning your figures, everything you said all made sense to me so not sure what they were looking at.

How's your lodger doing with having the heating on in the lovely weather. That reminds me of an old neighbour of mine whose house was always like a sauna (just the way I like it too) but would have their heating on all the time but with all the windows open too. As painfully reported on my thread at the time it turned out I was paying for his gas bill as we had crossed meters :eek:

Your diary is also giving me cause to rethink my plans, I used to chuck everything at the mortgage but then started to build savings too and I think I may have inadvertently got too focussed on the latter rather than the aim of clearing the mortgage. The other thing I've been pondering is shares. I have rather a lot of them and would certainly never sell all but again I'm thinking is it false economy to have so many when I could sell some to take of the mortgage. I've never included my shares in my MFW venture as in my mind they were for the future but maybe I'm not thinking clearly enough on this

Aside from the shares I have I also have a share option but that three years away from completion so will be interesting to see what my decision is at that time as I know I will be tempted to keep them for the divis!

Oops, post getting rather long now, had just mean to stop by to say congratulations and thank you for prompting me to maybe think my own approach

Regards
ATT

LauraJo

Morning Abouttimetoo!
Thanks for reading - can't bel you read it all! Looking back I also have a little giggle at some of the mood hoovers at the beginning! I know I massively optimstic about stuff but it seems to be working lol!

I have probably only seen my lodger for 3 days in the last month... she's been on hols, at her BF's and now is house sitting - its like I haven't got one at the mo which is weird I'm hoping the heating has stayed off!!

I guess its each to their own with their plans and many people would think I'm crazy for not having any savings / cashing in my shares but I would rather have the security of having my house. I know its probably not the most efficient way of doing things but I truely know if I wasn't doing this I still wouldn't have any savings, I'd be overdrawn with money on the CC and spending my shares on a holiday:o
I stress a lot about losing my job (I'm overpaid for what I do and don't really have any 'skills') and worry about paying the mortgage but the stress has reduced so much over the last year that I think this is good for my health too
Thanks for reading x