The Travelling Fund; £10,000 in 10 months!!!

NinjaSavingKat

Just looking at the vaccinations.... good thing I did as well.

Japanese Encephalitis needs 2-3 doses @ £100 each.
Cholera might not be needed at all @ £50..
Rabies needs 3 shots @ £165 for all of them ..
And thankfully Yellow Fever @ £75 and paid for gives me a certificate as well.

Phew..

Thats another £520 minimum.....

Listerbelle

Remember to use a site like topcashback. Some of us MSE-ers have a referral link if you need it You get some cash back by going through the TCB website before spending dosh on the net

NinjaSavingKat

Oh Listerbelle I am all over TCB. They don't offer cash back for the company I paid through though! Which is a massive shame. I will be looking elsewhere for possible cashback with this company but am literally about to leave work to talk to them about what I need to get etc..

More soon!

EDIT. Rabies shots paid for! £165 and first one done today. I got a lolly pop from her as well cause I didn't cry. back next week for second shot, week after that for Yellow Fever ( not technically needed as much as I thought it was but in case I travel to South America which is possible I am going to proceed - or lose my £75 to be honest) and then a two week break to then get the last rabies shot. Phew!

Japanese Enceph and Cholera are to be done close to the time of leaving.

SO - will be looking at visa's next and booking a flight..

NinjaSavingKat

So.. in keeping with my desire to improve myself, learn new things and develop skills that might lead to a more fulfilling career and progress mentally as well as financially (:p) I would like to share the below paragraph with you ; -

"I am pleased to confirm that I have been able to allocate you a place on the NSA Money Mentoring course.The course leads to a Level 2 qualification in Peers Mentoring Skills from the Open College Network. The tutor and all materials that we’ll get on the day are being provided by The National Skills Academy for Financial Services (NSAFS), who in turn have been sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group."

Having watched Panorama last night I posted a little rant on my Challenge blog ( really gotta learn to keep them to this thread only ) and sat pondering on what I could do to help the nation rid themselves of personal debt and start living their lives ( Please see the thread here and look for post #151) as I don't want to bore you with a re-hash of what was typed....

However in writing that post I sat there pondering why no nationwide project is in place? I know I have not been paying enough attention to the News and only dipping in when Jack is involved or there is something crazy happening with a payday loan company but I had not heard of anything that is being set about to actually TEACH people how to change their OWN existance into one that is more managable and would you believe enjoyable.

Well now. The Credit Union who has organised this course for me for FREE also tasked us attendees with an online 30 hour mini-course as prep for what we will learn more of next week. Than I printed the 56 page (naughty) document entitled Adult Financial Capability FrameWork and I read this...

Both the financial Services Authority and the basic Skills Agency are committed to supporting those individuals and organisations working to improce the financial capability of themselves and others... The development of the national Strategy For Financial Capability and the commissioninf of a baseline survey into the ginancial capability of the UK will both contribute strongly in shaping future progress in this area.
Following the recommendations of the Adult Financial Literacy Advisory Group and the Skills For LIfe, the national strategy to improve adult literacy and numeracy, we were keep to develop a framework that outlined the skills and competances that were deemed neccessary for financial capabilty.....

Okay the long and short of it is SOMETHING is happening to improve the dire situation of the personal debt crisis in the UK. And would you believe I am getting involved... I cannot wait. :T:T:T

Now then......wheres my whip..............

liltdiddylilt

Wow thats fab news on the course Kat! I am so very jealous! My colleague, (sad face, ex colleague as of Monday when work decided to terminate his contract after 6 months probation - HATE my job right now...) went on a 6 week course 1 night per week to learn budgeting and bookkeeping skills. They set homework like opening piggybank bank accounts, creating a budget spreadsheet etc. He really came outof it feeling far more financially prepared and knows his bills inside out etc. Just told me after I said I was worried about his wife and 2 kids under 4 that they have it all mapped out and 3 months money so he can relax a bit. Mainly due to the course. So it does work!

Personally working in first, a credit card company selling PPI and card protection to unsuspecting people phoning to activate their card, then debt management in the same firm with access to the government guideline amounts for living costs .... and then working for a utilities company should have set me up better than it did. Still my debt peaked at 2.5k and was swiftly rid of so maybe I should still thank them!

I read the eye popping amounts people are paying to keep healthy on their travels and it seriously curbs my little enthusiasm for actually getting out there and doing it myself! Lots to think about, glad to see you are still on track!

Lots of love, going to miss you when you do disappear *sniff*

Lilt & jellytot xx

NinjaSavingKat

Morning All!


Lilt please don't dispair. I shall be revealing myself in a blog (with picture) just before I leave so I implore you and everyone else to join me on my travels. I am hoping to have a more discreet one to continue pushing people to debt-freedom. I don't think I could leave you all "just like" that - or at least the ones that are still on the road so to speak. So I am just not sure how things will manifest but I need to get some ideas down I guess...

So yesterday wasn't a fun day for me... the Archer boy and I decided to call it a day. We had been hanging out for 3-4 weeks and really managed to forge a lovely friendship, enjoy each other's company, learn from one another and solidify what we both believe will be a pretty good friendship.

However I need to work weekends, I don't have spare cash to "date", there is no future passed my leave date ( I intend to leave single and travel single thank you very much ) and he was a little distracting to my over-all goal of personal development, learning and working for more money. With his work getting heavier as well it seems the best option expecially as we are completely different religions (and yes in some respects this can work for people, but not for me. He is an atheist after all) so it would never have manifested into anything serious.

So the general consensus from both our parts was why bother continuing knowing full well someone will get hurt.

Job done.

But I did get flashed by a speed camera last night on the way home. Makes me hate biking into London even more. I am calling a halt to it and getting a train ticket for tomorrow. I realised the buses start early enough to get me to work for around 0730 which is when I start. I can deal with that.

• I miss reading on the tube.
• I miss relaxing and closing my eyes.
• I miss not having squished hair (never done so much backcombing than in the last few days),
• I can't pick up shopping without carrying another bag strapped to the bike which is awkward and squashes food on a longer trip.
• I would have to buy new tyres (£175) and brake pads (£80) soon.
• I risk more camera flashes due to tiredness.
• There are a LOT of trucks on the roads in the morning.
• It's freezing which makes me miserable.
• When it rained on Monday, and was cold enough to steam up the inside of my helmet, it was incredible dangerous and somewhat terrifying. It was lashing down so heavy I needed to wipe my visor more often, which means taking one hand off the bike momentarily, with cars pushing in and whizzing passed it was a miracle I stayed in my lane. Bike lights are notoriously rubbish so I can barely see more than a 2 metres infront of me on full beam and opening the visor meant getting my glasses dripped on which can't be wiped without being smeared - but then my water-proof gloves leaked and wiping my visor was pointless as the water didnt go anywhere... do i really want to buy more £100 gloves...? I am still amazed I made it home without some sort of accident.
• The last "accident" with a pedestrian cost me £470. I cannot afford this again.

So with that all in mind. I am off to buy a rail card and figure out how I can minimise my payment of buses as this is in total an extra £72.20 more than what I was paying at my last house. This means although my rent has reduced by £120 I am only £47.80 better off. Which is pointless going by the time I am losing by living there.

There is always the option of moving again I just don't know whether I should..... I certainly don't feel settled either.

I am going to have a rummage through all my things today and see what can be sold to raise money for this. It's been noted that I am just tired. Tired with no energy living in this house.

Thats my moan over for the day....

shyspender

Saw this and thought of you and Dorothy Kat!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2572856/Puss-BAG-Tiny-kitten-unlikely-Highland-adventurer-hitching-ride-owners-backpack.html

NinjaSavingKat

Okay travelcard bought @ £238.and pennies.... Will work out logistics of paying this from my current accpount a little later in order to tally things up.

My office "stores" were open today. Scored me some highlighters and a rule. Ever schemers dream really..... FREE HIGHLIGHTERS!!!! Although for the benefit of anyone reading from work I shan't take them home - promise!!!

I bought a bottle of pepsi to cheer me up. Will confess next door when I drum up the nerve...:p

£32.20 will see me through to the end of the month on buses to and from home. Nothing online lets me reserach a ticket book if such things even exist any more... which might save "some" pennies... but will check out at the major bus station tonight if I could be bothered..... ...

Can you believe my extortionate travelcard covers buses in London but since I am "just outside" I have to buy seperate tickets for a seperate bus route. :mad::mad::mad:

Anyway... that's my exciting morning!

NinjaSavingKat

Hello Diary hunters....:j

I have been balancing the pennies this morning. CC has £50 on it which is £20 Oyster Card payment over last weekend because I was thinking I would last an entire month using the motorbike for work purposes. Boy was I wrong.

The other £30 is unfortunately possible bus fares for the rest of the month ( I had to leave this cash in my current account and not pay onto the card - boo hiss) although I might be a stubborn cow and walk everyday like I did this morning. We shall see. Maybe a bus in the morning and walkies in the evenings dependant on time and weather.... considering I would have to leave the house at 0530 for "the walk" on an early shift and possible only get home at 2100 after a night shift I will have to be carefully selective...


GOOD NEWS..:p:p:p... I did the bike/ride to work scheme thingy with my work place many moons ago and have barely used the bike. My company still own it but I can buy it back for £82.72 to be exact. It's worth £600. Which means, with much less wear than I would have expected after three years, I will be selling it before I go for a nice profit even if it goes for £250 I would be happy. :T:T:T...although I get the feeling I should do this before the summer hits - suggestions?

GOOD NEWS..:p:p:p.. I have 3 confirmed OT shifts over the next two weekends. This Saturday night and two next weekend which will ultimately kill me but I don't care:). Time to step things up a gear and get more cash.... The guy that gives the go ahead for these shifts emailed me a warning that he was about to publish more (It's a manic and slight anxiety ridden first-come-first-served system) and I have put in a bid for three more shifts which might see me earn a staggering £750 (otherwise just a rough £400) extra after tax.... although there is a chance I won't get these extra shifts but it would certainly make up for what I missed in January...

Depletion of travel funds as noted below to cover the rabies shots I put on the CC (£166.50 for 3 ) and £60 to cover petrol that had already been put into the bike for my "trial run" into London and clearly something else I have lost track of.... eeeek! Will be looking into this although I am sure it's something legit as I have bought nowt in ages of any significance...

So that is where I am. How is everyone else?

NinjaSavingKat

Oh... and it looks like I might have to drive home in October with puddy tat! London To Home in 10 hours(£100 petrol)..? With a Ferry ride inbetween (£100)... Might have to bribe a girlfriend to join me...

Otherwise BA flight with one bag is £93 / moggy is an extra £125 but it's all the waiting with her in a cage the whole time I am worried about. And although I will be getting rid of a LOT I don't want to chuck everything away and will need to bring some things home... which would make a flight even more expensive!

Driving might make things a little more interesting - seeing the country before leaving it?..

I wonder if the vet would sedate her...? Or is that super cruel? Or freight my minimal belongings over, train to Holyhead, Ferry then have my Dad waiting on the other side.... that sounds better actually... .although puddy-tat will be in the cage for way too long for my liking...

EDIT ; AVIS want £495..???? LIBERTIES!!!