Aspirations of Frugality and Fun on the Road to Mortgage Freedom

DedicatedDFW

And i want chocolate - i never want chocolate - and a glass of vino - have both in the house but not eating either in the week - Must give myself a good talking to and pull myself together :rotfl:

gallygirl

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

house / money worries (worrying i'm not earning enough, worrying about interest rates )

You ARE earning enough. You have done fantastically in paying off debt and starting savings pots since you became debt free so you do already have spare cash coming in. Maybe not as much as you would like, but it is there.

OK, with my male brain on (:rotfl:) I assume you want this solved rather than just a 'there, there' response .

If you take on the extra hours, what will happen? Will you rush home all happy, ready to calculate how many hours the extra pay has knocked off your mortgage? Then cook a cheap and nutritious meal from your meal plan? Or will you come home miserable and stressed, having picked up a takeaway (costing more than you've earned!) because you're too tired to cook and consciously/subconsciously feel you 'deserve it'?

If you do the extra hours what would your extra take home pay be? Take a long, hard look at your budget. Could you shave a little off your food budget? Part with an extra dress to ebay :eek:?

Are you prepared to spend x years being miserable, instead of x+4 years being reasonably content (which is the worse case scenario as it's assuming you don't get a new job).

So, no easy answers but lots of questions which will hopefully lead you to your own answers .

PositiveBalance

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

Thanks PB But :eek: to more bargains - there are actually some things i wanted for myself from there - pie dishes but i won't be able to get there before work so i suspect empty shelves - not a bad thing considering wha i've spent lately :eek:

*Puts on devil horns* But it's -75%! If you really need/want the pie dish, now is the time to get it. I'm going. Post me a link on your thread and if it is there and I'm not trampled on by a herd of mad bargain hunters, I'll get it for you.

Alchemilla

Good decision to sell the stuff. It is very liberating.

jwil

Hey DDFW

Knowing what I do about your job, unless things have changed, then what Gallygirl posted will stand exactly. I wouldn't bother taking on the few extra hours there for all the additional stress it will give you. Especially just for £120 a month which you could earn by spending time on your shopping budget, ebaying, surveys, mystery shopping etc. Or finding an income stream that you enjoy.

DedicatedDFW

gallygirl wrote: »

You ARE earning enough. You have done fantastically in paying off debt and starting savings pots since you became debt free so you do already have spare cash coming in. Maybe not as much as you would like, but it is there.

OK, with my male brain on (:rotfl:) I assume you want this solved rather than just a 'there, there' response .

If you take on the extra hours, what will happen? Will you rush home all happy, ready to calculate how many hours the extra pay has knocked off your mortgage? Then cook a cheap and nutritious meal from your meal plan? Or will you come home miserable and stressed, having picked up a takeaway (costing more than you've earned!) because you're too tired to cook and consciously/subconsciously feel you 'deserve it'?

If you do the extra hours what would your extra take home pay be? Take a long, hard look at your budget. Could you shave a little off your food budget? Part with an extra dress to ebay :eek:?

Are you prepared to spend x years being miserable, instead of x+4 years being reasonably content (which is the worse case scenario as it's assuming you don't get a new job).

So, no easy answers but lots of questions which will hopefully lead you to your own answers .

Thanks GG - just what i needed You are right re. so many things. The few hours less do make me happier and it would be very difficult to stay upbeat being there all the time.

I was also worrying about the 'deserve it' spending - i have done this in the past sometimes just to cheer myself up at lunch after a particularly stressful morning

Making up the difference is what i need to aim to do. The food budget is already being targeted as a means of overpayment so the £120 was another aim on top of that. Ditto the pretty dresses :rotfl: i have a hopeful aim for revenue from sales so again £120 was extra to that - plus there are only so many dresses that i have and i *need* to wear something to hide my current shape :rotfl::rotfl:

I just want to put me and my mr in the best financial position that i can - i am still looking for a new job too

jwil wrote: »

Hey DDFW

Knowing what I do about your job, unless things have changed, then what Gallygirl posted will stand exactly. I wouldn't bother taking on the few extra hours there for all the additional stress it will give you. Especially just for £120 a month which you could earn by spending time on your shopping budget, ebaying, surveys, mystery shopping etc. Or finding an income stream that you enjoy.

Aw thanks jwil - i wanted to PM you but i know you've alot on especially this week back. You are right i need to push myself into something different and unaccounted for to get the extra money from there

I really appreciate the support and input guys - i think i was thinking as there is a slim chance of extra hours there then i wouldn't be doing all i can if i didn't ask for them if that makes sense. I will ponder extra income - even the survey sites i use seem to have dried up but they don't pay loads anyway :cool:

DedicatedDFW

Alchemilla wrote: »

Good decision to sell the stuff. It is very liberating.

Thanks Alchemilla - i am pretty much constantly decluttering and agree i love having less stuff :T

DedicatedDFW

PositiveBalance wrote: »

*Puts on devil horns* But it's -75%! If you really need/want the pie dish, now is the time to get it. I'm going. Post me a link on your thread and if it is there and I'm not trampled on by a herd of mad bargain hunters, I'll get it for you.

Swap the horns for a halo :A - you are right - at that level of discount it would be a false economy not to buy it now and then buty it dearer / lower quality later :cool:

How did you go on hon - i hope you're still not recovering from the stampede and the flailing of baskets and bargains - did you get lots of fab things ?

If you managed to nab me a dish or 2 then :j and let me know how to get the money to you but if not don't worry i really do appreciate you just looking for me

Slowdown

Hi DedicatedDFW
I have just been reading your thread and wanted to comment on the working more hours thing.
I work three days a week and was recently asked to go back full time. I knew it was coming and mulled it over with £££ signs in my eyes.
Then on my next day off I stood in the silence of my house and just breathed in the freedom. The following day I said no to my boss.
I have worked all my life with only maternity leaves. I savour my days off, whether I am alone or meeting up with people, and actually feel like I have a life.
I would rather have less materially and more time on my hands than the other way round.
The other day I looked up this poem and am sharing it with you to help you remember that time is a precious commodity not to be given up lightly.

By William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they dance.
No time to wait til her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

I read it often.

Kind regards
Slowdown:)

DedicatedDFW

Hello all

With paying my little bit of money into the bank and also a couple of sales on the bay of e i have managed to pay extra to the mortgage and various savings pots :j:j

Thats the good news.

I think the next news is good news too - but on the other hand i also think i shouldn't be allowed out sometimes

I was having bleurgh day - to be honest i think i am just completely run down at the moment as it just seems to be one thing after another - what with sickness, migraines and then today problems with my balance. I've not had this for a while but it happened just after xmas then again today and it leaves me feeling really drained and also not able to do much - or i might fall over :eek: So i struggled on til the end of the day :(_pale_ And feeling sorry for myself decided i'd pop into the delicious supermarket for - well something delicious and easy - but only if it was reduced I left the shop with a heavy bag and £14.10 lighter and for that i got 17 meals - either complete or will just need potatoes or rice to go with them and 2 side dishes - om nom tastic :drool: And i really wanted cake today - and that was reduced too but i resisted :T But - not 1 of these meals was on my shopping list :eek: and adding up the full price cost i saved over £50 :T But its still £14 i've spent that i'd not budgeted for :eek::D:rotfl:

We'll just agree that these were bargains not to be passed up :whistle:

And in more good news after sorting out gifts and some clothes i returned items and got a decent refund back on my card :T The bag was so awkward i didn't want to take it home again and this is what took me near the tasty food place too

balance is playing up again but i really wanted to post Hope everyone is good and had a good day