Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

AlexLK

lostinrates wrote: »

He he he , My in laws are mainly academics.

I'd suggest, though its unpopular today, that the same issue exists in academia as in immature musicians and we have a problem with too many people with not enough wisdom behind their academic work. That said......success came earlier to many greats than we expect today. My guess is, Alex, you will be ready for your PhD in the future, should you still feel that is a goal.

But.....be clear, is it that or financial reward that is your gain.....the two are very often not found hand in hand. . There is NO RIGHT ANSWER, for anyone but you (and your wife) in that. . And would you be prepared to travel for tenure? No point in setting up security in the one lifestyle if your dream is academics tenure somewhere, and somewhere offered is not where you are now.

Yes, I would still like to complete a PhD. However, that will not be started for a few years, maybe when my son goes to school I'll do it part-time. However, I no longer wish to pursue a career in academia, as in all honesty I don't want to move out of the county.

theoretica wrote: »

Excellent!

Do remember that the person you need to impress and please with this birthday is the one turning 3 - not his grandparents.

We've already got some ideas which will certainly please and impress the one turning three.

Iwillsucceed_2

QUOTE=AlexLK;63545419]
Ha ha ha! That is why I said that our days fluctuates just like our lives and businesses :-) I guess it is just about being aware of that...if there are many more 'good days' great! but when we are faced with more 'bad days' we just have to stand up to the challenge! :-) so you are gluttonous ha ha ha who can resist to cheesecakes? ha ha ha

It appears that you had more than just a 'good day', I guess this is because finally your wife is recognising that you are truly serious about getting rid of the debt! what better than having our OH on board supporting us! Marriage, two people, a team! only then I think the business of marriage can work much better! Great she is on board!


Iwillsucceed: :rotfl: Yes, I do tend to have "good days" and "bad days" but doesn't everyone? However, currently I'm not feeling too well after a second helping of cheesecake ... Mrs. K. says it was my own fault for being gluttonous and to be honest I have to agree. [/QUOTE]

AlexLK

Wednesday 23rd October, 2013.
Day 53.

Dear Diary,

Just where are the days going? I swear the last time I logged on it was only September! On the positive side by the fact I am 53 days into this debt free journey, my wife now reckons that I am "serious" about this. Hmm, well I could have told you that 53 days ago, darling.

Today has been fruitful work wise, though this evening I feel incredibly tired which may have something with hardly sleeping for three nights and I wonder why I can't be bothered some days. Looking towards the debts, little has been achieved though a few unwanted items ending on eBay tomorrow have had bids. After taking tips from here, I decided that even if something I no longer wanted made £10.00, I'd see the positive side as it was £10.00 I did not have yesterday. Furthermore, should I manage to sell enough unwanted items, then maybe I will get away without selling something I really do want even if it is worth more.

Apologies for my incoherent writing this evening.

Summary:
+£25.00 Music Teaching.
No Spend Day.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed: My more cynical side says she's been on board before. However, she's been having a hard time at work these past couple of weeks so we shall wait and see.

Iwillsucceed_2

AlexLK wrote: »

Wednesday 23rd October, 2013.
Day 53.

I decided that even if something I no longer wanted made £10.00, I'd see the positive side as it was £10.00 I did not have yesterday. Furthermore, should I manage to sell enough unwanted items, then maybe I will get away without selling something I really do want even if it is worth more.

Bravo!!!

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed: Maybe your positivity is infectious. :rotfl:

Iwillsucceed_2

AlexLK wrote: »

Iwillsucceed: My more cynical side says she's been on board before. However, she's been having a hard time at work these past couple of weeks so we shall wait and see.

I think is very kind of you to look in this light.

mum2one

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

I think is very kind of you to look in this light.

Ditto from me too, Glad Mrs K, has got on board and wow, when you said she was doing spreadsheets and budgets.

Maybe if you have had "ventures before" and started with a rush, then after a short period it was another new product/venture, - where as this time your sticking to it.

Don't forget you had a brilliant run at the start whereas now maybe its the smaller items on eBay now which take longer to achieve in price, but on the other side of the coin, look it as a small item we have double up / got given - there non-sentimental but they add up in the long run.

Bet Little K exicted for his bday, my DD her nickname Miss Hoodie - her xmas list starting, although she doesn't know shes having a laptop, its curling wand - what is wrong with hair straightners, curling tongs, but apparently a wand does something different! Thou bless her shes asked for some art materials - she helped painting wine glasses ready for xmas prezzies - they were better than mine! xx

fc123

AlexLK wrote: »

Thank you, yes I can relate to this. However, your questions are far too difficult for me to answer at this moment in time.

Fortunately, I've had a rather good day and also tried to look forward a little instead of constantly looking back and regretting. Business is going well, that's got to be a positive.

Ha:), A Good Day is not something to be sniffed at . Sometimes they can be a bit rare too so enjoy them when they come along. Life is just a zig zag really.

lostinrates wrote: »

And would you be prepared to travel for tenure? No point in setting up security in the one lifestyle if your dream is academics tenure somewhere, and somewhere offered is not where you are now.

....good point. Could apply to other work as well too.....who knows what opportunities will crop up in the future.


OK, you have been in my head a bit today (..... and I was really busy too ) so I was trying to think of purely practical solutions to a few things that have cropped up in the thread.

The sort of practical solutions that could help solve or dampen those underlying niggly ones that seem to be lurking underneath.

I believe you and Mrs K have one jam jar for wages and spending?
I have known an equal amount of couples have their salaries go into individual accounts + then SO an equal amount into a joint account for household bills and those that don't, the 'all in one' pot couples.


I was just wondering...not judging or saying you should (:o)....just wondering if the former would work better for your household, make things a bit simpler and, therefore removing a potential point of conflict.

It was the £500 withdrawal that was floating about in my head and I think I know where it may have been spent if it was taken out in cash.....just things that I know a lot of women spend on secretly.

I can't totally recall your SOA totally but I am thinking you both do 1k each into the joint acct for mortgage, ins, utilities, nursery, maintenance and basic food. 2k should more than cover it. You should still get some CB so that can go in too.

You put your fuel, phone, 70% of home phone, an allowance for home working (acct will give you the figure) and any other 'allowables' through your business. Can't see why Mrs K's fuel can't go through as well (I will wait to be flamed for that suggestion ) anyways......
Mrs K puts her 1k in and keeps the balance of her wages in her account to do with as she see fits for the family.

That leaves your music lessons £ for debt busting or spending on pens/lunches/ink.

This then removes the potential for any arguments over extra spending and Mrs K can decide whether to save her surplus or spend it on whatevers.

Any good?

Also, I really understand where your parents are coming from and they just want what they believe is best for you all.
I also understand more as you explained about the manufacturing business that declined and that they managed to develop something else....and that is really hard to do. But I will save those musings for another day.

AlexLK

mum2one wrote: »

Ditto from me too, Glad Mrs K, has got on board and wow, when you said she was doing spreadsheets and budgets.

She's done one before and was modifying it. Something tells me it was a get away from work but at least we're not arguing.

mum2one wrote: »

Maybe if you have had "ventures before" and started with a rush, then after a short period it was another new product/venture, - where as this time your sticking to it.

To be honest, I do think I caused some animosity (OK I know I did) when we'd promised to stick to a budget and a couple of weeks in couldn't resist buying £165 worth of clothes. She was fully on board up until then and our relationship was better than it had been in years. I let her down.

mum2one wrote: »

Don't forget you had a brilliant run at the start whereas now maybe its the smaller items on eBay now which take longer to achieve in price, but on the other side of the coin, look it as a small item we have double up / got given - there non-sentimental but they add up in the long run.

Thank you. I had a long think if I wanted to simply clear the debt quickly but lose some things I really would like to keep or clear my house of my junk and take a little longer to clear the debts. Mrs. K. is just glad to see the house starting to be cleared! :rotfl:

mum2one wrote: »

Bet Little K exicted for his bday, my DD her nickname Miss Hoodie - her xmas list starting, although she doesn't know shes having a laptop, its curling wand - what is wrong with hair straightners, curling tongs, but apparently a wand does something different! Thou bless her shes asked for some art materials - she helped painting wine glasses ready for xmas prezzies - they were better than mine! xx

Not you as well - haven't heard the last of birthday talk :rotfl:. Mind, have any of you lot heard of "The Birthday Man"? According to my wife he is: "about 6' tall, dressed as a burglar complete with balaclava and delivers presents like Santa, although by climbing through an open upstairs window rather than coming down the chimney". I told her it was something her mother made up.

Of course a wand does something different, it'll curl her hair not by an electrical element but by magic.:eek: