The march to financial freedom

liltdiddylilt

Hello poppet.

We all understand the reason you (and I) were affronted by that attack. Wonder who else has dared speak of council tax this month :rotfl:

I am loving the sound of clothes and you treating yourself. You work blooming hard and you put a lot into your future... sometimes we have to figure out what is right for right now. I could have squirrelled away every last penny of that bonus, knowing as I do that my company have moved away from them and it was an exception that will most likely not be repeated unless they throw me under another bus in the coming year and I deal with it in the same fashion I did this one. Not likely But I didn't and I feel better today because I am wearing an outfit that all told cost the grand sum of £17! :rotfl: - it looks amazing and it feels amazing and it fits properly and is... it just IS!
So I hope you feel like that about each of your new purchases. You deserve that feeling.

I am very jealous of your holiday! I haven't been out of this country in 7+ years :rotfl: and also jealous of the fact that you have bikinis you fit into after 8-10 years and still would wear! I'd be afraid they would call the sealife centre if I attempted something similar! still.. I am being good! Hopefully it will pay off.

Much and much love xxx

Ali-OK

I love you guys :smileyhea

Broggers - Carry on with that vision of me and you've a friend for life :A

I think being ruthless with my clothes back in the autumn of 2013 (maybe that was a form of kondo-ing :rotfl:) and having lots of space inbetween items, I can see exactly what I have much more easily and rather than less choice, feels like I have more.

There's the natural bonus that new fashion often doesn't suit the more mature lady (and I remember certain fashions first time around :eek:) and little catches my eye in the shops...unlike my teens and 20s. So that helps the pennies stay in my purse and a scarf or a different jacket (from the many suits of my 30s) come in handy to change the look. It maybe I've not found the shops for my generation, in which case please don't share any that you know of :rotfl:

Lilty - Nail on head with excitement and feeling great in the new stuff :j and how many new outfits I can make from 4 new items of clothing .

Two of my bikinis I bought in Tenereife - DS was 2 yrs 1 mth old and he is now 14 and a half :eek: The third was a Boots half price one, the fourth a La Senze half price one. Amazed I can still get in them this year as my hips have spread since this ill health stuff I will probably wear a wrap alot more if not sunbathing or swimming :rotfl:

Temps for the hols are forecast at 22-23C and sunshine at the moment :j - this coming week is rain so hopefully we'll be going at just the right time.

DS has finally tried on his t-shirts and shorts and it's just shorts, trunks, casual trousers and trainers that he needs. Slightly better than I expected as he'd had rock group official t-shirts for birthday and Christmas that he can wear. Will go with his long mop of hair wonderfully as he won't agree to a hair cut :rotfl:

We are the CT support network now :rotfl: Peeps will know where to come

Going to do 15 mins on the exercise bike, see if I can cycle these hips inwards a bit

Ali-OK

16 mins and 10kms/6 miles of cycling done. I can still pinch more than an inch :rotfl:

Time to hit bed and wake up to another manic Monday.

Night all xx

in_need_of_direction

I'm fed up with manic. I'm thinking about applying for a new job in The Public Sector! Try not to shot me.

AlexLK

Well, well, it appears I have missed an awful lot, including a potential rant about the public sector and council tax.

This month we also got our council tax bill for the year which hasn't gone up by much and will be paid in full by the end of the month. It seems you have something of a Southern tax, or I've not worked out the amounts properly.

As for the public sector, I can't say I really believe it is an employer's or the state's responsibility to look after a worker into retirement.

Ali-OK

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You naughty peeps, I was trying to put *that subject* to bed..as well as hit my own bed

I am not biting the bait...save your pennies, popcorn not needed

Over and out

Ali-OK

Evening Diary

So that's Monday dealt with - work delivered, lots ticked off lists and DS has his holiday clothes courtesy of the retail park tonight. And it was pretty MSE too

£41, but paid £26 in M@talan - trainers, flip flops, swim shorts and casual shorts. I had a £5 off birthday voucher to use and DS had a LoveToShop £10 one from Christmas, so we used those to bring the total paid down.

£23.99, but paid £3.99 in Sp0rts D!rect - pair of jeans and a hoodie. His first item with sleeves in years :rotfl: as he just doesn't like clothing on his arms (or legs or anywhere else if he can get away with it - it's his Aspie side). But readily agreed he ought to have something for cooler eves and travelling in. He was given a £20 gift card for Christmas and he decided to use that, so cost me just £3.99.

As I don't think it's fair he buys needed clothes/shoes out of £20 a month pocket money or gifts, we've agreed I give him extra Euros as holiday spends or if he doesn't spend that (quite normal :rotfl:) I'll give him £30 either cash or put into his savings.

No point in buying expensive clothing for him either at the moment, as he's growing fast again - now has a 38" chest :eek:

So I can get onto the next stage of pulling everything together on the spare bed and a first attempt at packing :j

Work is ticking over as I've mostly delivered the billable stuff, but as is often the way, phone calls today to see if I could do some other stuff before year end - erm, nope not enough time now First week back after hols is looking busy but too far away to tell if timelines will move. I already know I will need another holiday to get over first few days back :rotfl:

One lens in my reading/computer glasses keeps falling out as the screw has disappeared, so I am hoping to get into town tomorrow for a replacement screw. The cheaper +1.50 pair are too strong, these are my old +1.00 pair that came from the opticians a few years back.

Healthwise I've been pretty good today, aside from this constant heavy head and my eyelids looking and feeling semi-closed :eek:. Mustered up enough energy though to put old garden stuff in the car to drop off at the Tidy Tip tomorrow. Route planned out for the various places I need to go saving fuel and time.

Financials:
- bank account checked - mortgage interest went out today
- freepostcodelottery draws all checked
- Inbox Pounds - up a tad at £8.55
- Qmee - earnt another 11p there - 22p in the pot
- Nectar - not done anything with this and it's still at £31.23

Debating whether to take laptop on hols, as iPad doesn't have my spreadsheets on and I shall still want to check my bank account etc whilst away . I will NOT be doing anything remotely work related though and that includes checking emails

Only a zillion and one things still to do....

Verbatim

Fantastic MIT. You're really hitting your stride and it's all coming together for you. Really brilliantly well done. Go for it. I'm in awe at your energy. Watch out or THE dress will be too big for you in 4 weeks.

Ali-OK

Doing well for a Tuesday...

- £20 in £1 coins banked :j
- Old garden stuff deposited at Tidy Tip :j
- Reading glasses repaired free of charge by optician :j

- Phoned Spanish Bank - I can send the capital payment whilst we're away - they've made a note of the £900 to the larger part arriving on Monday 30th :T

- Phoned GPs surgery re: hospital requesting blood tests - expecting a call back to pick up a form as results can be back with them in time for my GP appointment on Friday afternoon :j

- TT'd my bank account - £32.39 sent to the ISA - total there £172.54
- Moved Qmee 22p as included in above TT

Not so good stuff:

- £1.10 on town parking for opticians

- Springy is poorly - in pain, crying a bit, not settling. He has eaten grass and made himself sick, so will keep a close eye see if he improves now Am luckily staying home for rest of today doing work and hols stuff, but will phone the vet and take him in if he doesn't by mid afternoon. . Suspect he's eaten something he shouldn't - trouble is he doesn't stay close by out on walks - he springs through everything at break-neck speed :rotfl: and checks in with me every few mins.

Certainly marching through today

Skinnylatte

Poor Springy, I hope he feel better soon. It's frustrating that they can't tell you what's wrong