Balancing not just the budget

MuffinTops

Hello Rosa,

Such a lovely catch up, other than the phone, but even that hasn't slowed you down in any way.

Regarding cutting your hours, I initially didn't think I could afford to do that, but have you checked what your pro rata salary would be in your ideal world?
http://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/
Also, I created a "part time" spreadsheet and took off the cost of working certain days. So less commute money, less money on lunches that I inevitably buy when I'm at work, things like that. Even down to how much longer your work shoes last when they're being used less. I was shocked at how much it costs me to come to work and I genuinely hardly noticed my drop in money.

I'm the same as you regarding getting rid of things that I do still like and want, but can't use right now. So they're in the boot sale pile ready to go and I'll replace them as and when the time comes that I need them.

You sound like you're really on top of things.

MTx

RosaBernicia

Hello all

Well I have a phone sorted again, but the decluttering has been minimal as I ended up out of the office a lot this week. Still, I've managed to fill another carrier bag for the charity shop, ditch some out of date storecupboard food, and sort out some more clothes. Two more things listed on 3bay, two back in the winter box, and one back in the wardrobe. I've lost a bit of weight recently so am back to the size I was when I bought them and so they look rather better than last time I tried them on.

I've decided I will need to get a new laptop pretty quickly as I've been offered a bit of work in the new field and it seems this will involve using an online system. Still just wondering about the longer term plans - the difficulty with cutting my hours in the current job is not for me, it's because it would cause issues for the department. No hurry though, things will come together I do like the plan of working out equivalent days though and spotting related costs - will have a look at the link MT, thank you :A

Moneywise I think things are still OK - haven't got my apps sorted again yet, so will catch up later in the week. I've decided to return something and think I will also have some money coming back from switching electric suppliers, so that should be about £50 coming in, and I have already claimed my expenses which is something of a record :rotfl:

I've also decided to get myself an Ama5on TV stick - since I have Pr1me, but don't really watch it at present because of the laptop situation, and that could be used with the TV as well as a new laptop. I hardly watch TV so could drop the licence and save £12 a month . Just waiting to see if they reduce them on Tuesday for Pr1me Day.


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I hardly watch TV so could drop the licence and save £12 a month .

If you do that, then also invest in a shredder to get rid of the "We notice you don't have a TV license, and you're therefore a criminal who barbecues orphaned babies and eats them. We're going to come round your house and hammer on your door until you confess your crimes" letters...

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

If you do that, then also invest in a shredder to get rid of the "We notice you don't have a TV license, and you're therefore a criminal who barbecues orphaned babies and eats them. We're going to come round your house and hammer on your door until you confess your crimes" letters...

I remember those from last time I didn't have a licence... because I didn't have a TV. Which didn't make any difference except that the call centre guy who said they can't actually stop the letters was very apologetic :rotfl:

RosaBernicia

Isn't it amazing how a decent night's sleep and a little organisation can make everything seem so doable?

Today I woke up feeling so much better than after all the rushing around last week. I managed to get to work on time for once :rotfl: and have also...

Posted an 4mazon sale
Bought envelopes for more 3bay and 4mazon sales
Wrapped a 3bay sale
Bought cat food before running out
Paid an invoice and put in another order for
Put all those transactions in YNAB
Done the ironing (both whites and colour - since remembering I have a second folding rack, I am now doing both washes on a Sunday and can also get all the ironing done at the same time)
Looked at laptops online
Ordered printer cartridges (this has been waiting for ever... I hate spending that amount of money on something I don't use very often)
Filled the car with petrol
Cleaned the bath and swiped the bathroom
Cooked from scratch
Washed up
Identified stuff to take to work for lunch tomorrow
Sent myself a reminder to claim expenses tomorrow
Noticed that my Ovo app has conveniently ignored the top up payment of over £160 that I made to clear the account, and is saying I still owe them money. Odd, as it shows up as cleared on my bank statement. Emailed them. Then finally got into statement on full website and it looks like I do owe them :mad: - must keep better track of this with new supplier.

The flat is still a state and I'm still not doing anything in logical order, but I'm beginning to remember that it can all be done and think how it will be when things are all sorted again

And I can still get to bed by midnight!


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

And in other news, it looks like there will be some money coming in relating to the new work, which should hopefully cover the cost of the laptop and possibly even my first year's professional registration so am pleased about that.


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

And in other news, it looks like there will be some money coming in relating to the new work, which should hopefully cover the cost of the laptop and possibly even my first year's professional registration so am pleased about that.

It's good to see it coming together for you so quickly. :T

doingitanyway

Sounds like you are getting organised and motivated. Good news about money to cover the laptop and registration fees. When you are on the right path the universe supports you (for the important stuff anyway)

RosaBernicia

Thanks lovely people I am delighted things are working out, and easily too - going the way the universe suggests

Today has not been as efficient, in fact it's involved a lot of swearing while trying to get my banking apps sorted on the new phone. I've managed to get into two and almost finishing reconciling YNAB, but the last one has locked me out and wants me to phone them in office hours so it will have to wait til Thursday. However, now that I checked the other two accounts I know that there's plenty in the remaining one. My budget is £200 over but I already have that coming back in expenses within a week. And going through things reminded me of another £30 I forgot to claim!

I posted another 3bay parcel and already have a bid on one of the items I listed on the weekend. Feeling slightly guilty as I already used this month's PayP4l profits to buy another dress from 3bay - but it was fab, and now that I'm decluttering I can always let go of something that brings less joy. I am enjoying the sense that things can come and go, that there will be a way of finding what I need, instead of hanging onto things in case of disaster.


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

Oh the joys of moving banking apps from one device to another!!!! I had that recently after my phone had died and I was given a temporary replacement. It wasn't any fun at all.

I also spent my ebay selling profits that were sitting in eBay! That's not like me either!

Really pleased to hear that things are on the financial increase for you! It's so funny how that happens!

MTxx