My 2020 Vision

Pearla*Merle

You're doing so well with all your savings & bargains, XSpender! I've just had a big old catch up, I've been somewhat awol over the last while but I'm glad to see you're doing so well.

What a shame about the job, but you were very right not to take something on that would only spiral you into too much pressure for none of the reward. I've been encountering the same thing in the working world at the moment and realised it's definitely time I looked out for myself!

I'm sure something will turn up before you know it. Everyone I talk to has been experiencing the same slightly-drawn-out-process of job hunting, it seems to be the way of it at the moment. Don't be disheartened, it's emotional stuff so make sure you take plenty of time to rest and recuperate (I found I ended up having to take naps here, there and everywhere!). The right thing will be come along for you soon.

Ooh, I'm also apple-crumbling it this week In fact, I may do that today, thanks for the reminder!

Enjoy your walk on Saturday xx

XSpender

Hello again
I haven’t been on here for ages. I had a break from MSE for a few weeks and when I came back I wasn’t sure if I should resurrect my old diary or start a new one as my goals have changed. I also wanted to start to record my achievements somewhere and think out loud.
I have made a decision not to go back in to FT work in my field. The stress I was under and the redundancy have knocked my confidence in my abilities even though the job I was doing was not actually in my field at the end. I have looked at some jobs but they all require a lot of travel and overnight stays which was OK when I did it years ago but now I don’t want to be away from DS and DH and the cost of childcare takes a chunk out of your take home pay.
I may decide to re enter the rat race in the future but for now I am looking for something part time and understandably lower paid. Funnily enough the job I went for ages ago has been re advertised twice, maybe they don’t know exactly what it is they want rather than no one being right for the job.
DH likes me being at home but does want me to get some kind of paid work as the plan is to save it all as his wage, without bonus, is enough for us to live on quite well. I decided to stop claiming JSA as I wasn’t really looking for a job but this may change in the New Year if I decide to ramp up the job hunting again.
I have decided to keep up this diary as 2020 is still the date of the main goal which is reducing the mortgage enough to enable us to move area/buy bigger house as we will need to select DS secondary school then and we want to be in the right location so I have new interim goals to achieve this.:)
2014

• Find a part time/Christmas/temp job – without this savings will be limited to DH bonuses and anything I can raise from cutting budget and selling a few bits
• £3000 in emergency fund (currently £2140)
• Keep up 52 week challenge to cover all Christmas costs. This has worked really well this year but I am struggling with big numbers now I have no income.
• Reduce food/grocery spending to under £60 week (£90 August, £72 Sept so far)

2015

• Increase savings by £2000 by Easter Sunday
• Clear balance on cc by June 30th (currently £1109.45 @ 10.9.14)
• Clear secured loan by July 30th (my 45th birthday). Calculated will need to use £5000 savings and find an extra £2000. £350 approx. coming off capital currently. Balance approx. £10.5k 9.14.
• £500/month OP to mortgage
• £500/month to ISA
• £3000 including spending money required for 2 week family holiday (looking at Eurocamp & flights & car hire) and half term Centr3Parks break ideally

I have just had an email to do an on-line assessment for one of the jobs I applied for yesterday so better crack on with that and get some chicken out to defrost or we won’t be having any tea! :eek:

yukkibear

Good to see you back posting, and good luck with your new goals.

XSpender

Thanks for popping in yukkibear, much appreciated:)


Achieved a NSD yesterday and aiming for another one today. :DThe next 2 weeks are about hanging on to as much of our money as possible. DH asked how much we had left this morning as I was checking the banking so I totted up the account, what was due in and the contents of my purse and said it's 2 weeks to payday. He said what do we need though and apart from a bit of food we don't need to spend anything.:D


If we are careful I can save enough to add the £100 I am behind on the 52 week challenge for August to the savings pot. September and October will be taken from DH bonus at the end of the month and November out of salary.


I am hoping, with savvy C shopping, and cutting the C budgets to be able to put the £202 for December straight to the ISA. We are not feeding anyone this year and DM has asked to reduce the value of presents we exchange so I am looking to make her something to go with the slippers she has requested:) As I am a novice sewer and the present is useful I am hoping she will appreciate it. I just need thread and Velcro and either a couple of cheap towels or some dye to colour a couple of old towels, the rest I have in.


Plans for today are:


1) Job hunting and apply for one I saw Monday and check progress on another
2) Clean bathroom and mop floor
3) Bit of ironing
4) Create a pasta bake for tea using up an aubergine and the last bit of smoky bacon
5) Make chocolate muffins and coffee muffins. I say muffins, they are just big buns really:o
6) Sort out space in freezer to freeze half of each or I will just eat them all:eek:


Will finish my tea and catch up with some diaries before I crack on;)

XSpender

Progress report for yesterday:




1) Job hunting and apply for one I saw Monday and check progress on another - interview for one, not applied for other yet but found a couple more
2) Clean bathroom and mop floor - still not done
3) Bit of ironing - 1 basket done, 1 to go
4) Create a pasta bake for tea using up an aubergine and the last bit of smoky bacon - it was yummy and extra spicy as I used last bit of chorizo too
5) Make chocolate muffins and coffee muffins. I say muffins, they are just big buns really:o err no see below
6) Sort out space in freezer to freeze half of each or I will just eat them all:eek: err not needed see below


I couldn't make the muffins as I didn't have enough butter or flour:doh:so I made peanut and chocolate chip cookies instead as they only need an egg and sugar. Also made a small crumble using 2 eating apples and a handful of frozen berries. DH didn't want any so fed me and DS last night and enough for tonight too.


Once I get my rear into gear I need to:


1) Apply for some jobs
2) SCRUB the bathroom
3) Fish out DS scooter from the garage for the walk home from school
4) Do a bit of ironing while listening to radio 4
5) Achieve another NSD, 3 in a row, that never happens:)
6) Make a start on cutting out DM Christmas gift


We are low on milk and I was going to do beans with tonight's omelette but we are out(except for a tin of value ones I use in cooking) so we will have to have peas and sweetcorn because I am not losing my NSD hat trick.


DH did spend a £10 last night but that's out of his pocket money so I am not counting it.;)


I have to attend an interview/registration event early next month for the temp Christmas job I have applied for. I am not sure I will get the 35 hours/week I was hoping for but will ask the question when I see them. I will keep looking for other permanent part time roles.


I did work out that if we saved all my wages as planned and stuck to our budgets I could achieve my first 2 goals by the end of Jan which would be fantastic.:j


I do have a weekend away and gift to cover for my BF big birthday though in November which I haven't worked into the budget yet.:o

XSpender

Please feel free to ignore this post, it's a bit of a brain dump and not 100% MFW related:) Normal service will resume on Monday.


From my list today I have finally managed to clean the bathroom and take DS scooter to school so he could scooter back. We get back home so quickly this way as it is all down hill so he mainly free wheels at great speed_pale_ Again, I have not done everything on my small list.


I have been thinking today that I am not achieving as much as I should during the day and have spent a good part of the evening trying to decide if I am just a lazy cow:o Every one is fed, we live in a clean and tidy house and have clean and ironed clothes to wear, it's not like I sit on my bum all day.


I have concluded that I am probably being a bit hard on myself, no-one else is complaining about what I have or haven't done, and that I have been ill for 6 weeks and just as I get into a routine, changes occur. In the last 4 months I have gone from working 60 hours a week, to being a stay at home Mum doing the school run. DS childcare has changed in this time too as he was still in FT childcare at first, then part time, none last week and 2 evenings going forward so the time I have available each day has changed.


Now things have settled down I need to find myself a routine, starting from Monday, to motivate myself to get stuff done that I want to do rather as well as take care of the house and family. I suppose I feel a bit guilty if I go for a swim or see a friend when DH is working so hard to support us. I also want to make my own cleaners and soap, reduce our food spends further by cooking even more from scratch and eliminating waste as well as learning some crafts.

XSpender

Chilly first thing this morning but the sun is shining and it has warned up a bit.

DH is away for a couple of nights so I am going to be living on leftovers and whatever needs using up starting with my first ever attempt at bubble and squeak tonight. I am going to pimp it with a little cheapie smoked bacon and grated cheese though:)

Sm1ths toy shop had a 20% off event on this weekend so we bought DS Christmas presents. He is getting a (not very expensive as he is only 4.5) bike too but apart from a few stocking fillers he is done:D. I am so pleased I started the 52 week challenge as this savings pot has allowed me to take advantage of savings like this without using credit.

I need a new winter coat and DH found me a gorgeous one on line, the same designer brand as my (9 year) old one. It is perfect, the right colour and a lovely classic shape, just what I want but I cannot bring myself to buy it. It is 5 times what I was expecting to spend!:eek: I know it would last easily as long as the last one, be worn daily and be an 'investment' but the thought of spending that much money on a wool coat makes me feel a bit sick.

So, on to more practical things here is this weeks to do list is:

1) 4 NSDs 3
2) Max £30 food spend for next week. DH forgot to remind me he was away so the gammon joint I bought will be used for next week so should keep costs low £35.39
3) Keep on top of housework as all up to date today Looking good
4) Tidy airing cupboard
5) Tidy pantry - it is getting emptier but more messy - done
6) Order prescriptions done
7) Make a template then cut out the 20 fabric pieces to make DM gift - template done and half cut out
8) Apply for 6 jobs and redraft CV - CV redone and 2 applied for, and 1 contacted about
9) Swim or yoga x 2 swim x 1
10) Pay in coins
11) Library books back and choose new ones done
12) Don't get my knickers in a knot about the to do list;) and take the time to consciously note the pleasures and achievements each day:)

I am off to tackle number 5;)

XSpender

No bubble and squeak as DS wanted mash for tea so he had it and there wasn't really enough for B&S so I had a naughty bacon and egg sandwich.


Pantry is now tidy and I found half a bag of rice flour at the back so I can bake something as my flour mixes wont arrive at the chemist until next Monday probably.


Simple pleasures today:


The beautiful autumn weather - cold and crisp this morning and warm enough to walk about in a t-shirt vest and dry washing this afternoon


Walking DS home from school - still new enough to be a novelty for me, and it was a lovely day


A rare night in on my own - watching trash TV and drinking gallons of tea

XSpender

Cold and damp here today. It's a good job DH is still away or he would be wanting to stick the fire on tonight:eek: I will probably go to bed early with a decaff tea and a book instead.


I had another NSD today and started work on creating my DM's Christmas gift. I had a look on Etsy today and to buy one the same size I am making DM's would cost £33:eek: Even half the size would be £18! So far I have spent £10 on towelling. I will need some thread and either Velcro or poppers. I think the poppers will wash better but I would need to buy one of those popper attatcher thingymebobs. One that can do plastic and metal poppers if they make such a thing as I need to replace the poppers on my favourite walking trousers where my massive (fat gut) exertion broke them.


Small pleasures today:


Making something with love for my Mum

H1enz cream of tomato soup when it is miserable outside

Watching DS complete a jigsaw without asking for any help

Savouring my last bag of liquorice all sorts earl grey tea

XSpender

Dull here today but warmer than the last few mornings. I hope it stays dry as DS has forest school today.


Woke up with DH head cold yesterday morning. I have had a cold, virus, chest infection and what have you since the first week of august. I've got a HUGE cold sore too.


No OP/Savings news yesterday or planned for today.


I did manage a half mile swim yesterday morning (it sounds longer than 30 lengths;)). Could have done a bit more but as it is the first proper exercise I have done since struck down by the lurgy in August I didn't want to push it. This was a good idea in hindsight as I was worn out after the afternoon school run walk.


Lost a NSD yesterday as decided to jiggle the rough meal plan around and have chicken for tea as DH has lived on mixed grill and cooked breakfasts while away so was a bit over sausages. I am loving the new aldee that has opened literally 5 mins drive from my house.


They are asking for volunteer fund raisers/committee people at DS school and I am keen to get involved in what happens at his school so will attend the meeting tomorrow to check it out.


Today I need to:


1) [STRIKE]Wash a load of dark washing[/STRIKE]
2) Iron yesterday's wash [STRIKE]and sort out the ironing backlog basket as some of it is summer stuff that could just be put away[/STRIKE]
3) [STRIKE]Good tidy up[/STRIKE]
4) [STRIKE]Meal plan and shopping list for tomorrow [/STRIKE]
5) Swish and swipe in bathroom
6) Mop floors
7) [STRIKE]Pick up prescription from Mr T [/STRIKE]
8) [STRIKE]Vacuum and dust living room[/STRIKE]
9) Cut out towelling for Mum's gift
10) [STRIKE]Bake cupcakes and practice icing [/STRIKE] Well, baked choc cake to make tiramisu and rest made a few (un-iced) cupcakes


Eee heck that's quite a list and I thought I was having a quiet day today and I have to leave the house at 2.45pm to pick DS up! I have already done the kitchen before school! A quick look round the threads while I finish my cuppa and then I must crack on.