No time like the present

missrlr

Well I have given it a lot of thought and felt a little uncomfortable posting just on other people's threads so feeling tender and hesitant went with my gut. Here is the new 2014 effort.

Context: a lot of debt has been shifted. Seriously look at the signature! However in bound matters fiscal have been changed by third party events beyond mortal control (mainly)

As a household we have a 35% cut in income plus the normal increase in outgoings the whole world is experiencing and has experienced. Despite a frankly (excuse the self congratulatory tone here please just for this sentence, bear with me it will make sense) MASSIVE outstanding debt reduction it leaves a bitter taste to realise we are worse off in actual real terms cash in accounts. :mad:
Add to this some shocking health news which had long term implications and needs to be guarded against we have been reeling.

To date in the past 6 months we have face death, terminal illness diagnoses, disfigurement, redundancy, flooding and flooding (yep twice!) house major works and a serious career dilemma. We are still standing.

So hence my "big up, look at me I achieved this" earlier.

Forgive me some details are far too personal for even voicing in RL. So I shall leave this topic well alone and focus on there reasons for this diary. These are:

There is still a debt. Long story but basically I ignore it. This is due to the reason and circumstances it exists. It is zero interest, does not show up on a credit report and every time I think of it I am reminded that "the law makes an !!! of you and me". Least said soonest mended.

Aside from this we have mortgages. I have just managed to get the right one on repayment but due to the 35% reduction in income the other one has now had to be changed to interest only.

One step forwards one backwards. (Or may be 10? No no let's keep positive). Onwards and upwards.

Also as we have been recently flooded and thus had some unexpected expenditure our slush fund is ZERO. Some things insurance will not and some things insurance cannot replace. I realise this makes us in a much better place than some on here. We have a house that needs some serious modifications and updates so we can remain here (reference the last 6 months) and have a life that is humane, is not going to shorten any expectations and won't make me tear my hair out! :cool:;)

Sooooooooooo ...... THE PLAN

Heads down, hold every penny right up close and personal, some how fight the commercial needs to relieve me of money,
get the required fixes done
Get the mods done
Get some slush fund money

BREATHE

*Robin*

Hello Missrlr, :hello:

Happy shiny new diary!

Am glad you've taken the plunge and started No time like the present; the support and wisdom of our eclectic MSE community is an invaluable resource. Can't be bettered when encouragement is needed to keep life moving ahead with positivity.. :T

(((Hugs)))
Rx

missrlr

Gosh that sounds cryptic and odd having read it back. Sorry. Nearly had it deleted if I am honest. But no, I need support and sometimes the lack of background helps, nothing to compare it to, no preconceptions, no expectations.

Flesh on the bones:
Over the next 5 years there are likely to be significant material and thus costly changes needed but the timeline is hazy. What I know for now is
In 2014 Q1 I need to create £536
By end Q3 I need £2750
By end Q4 I need £2100

Plus I need a slush fund. For things like a big car repair bill. Or the what ifs of life,

We are as I have said relatively lucky in so far as others have debts as big as ours was if not more. That has its own set of worries and issues. These are not to be taken lightly. Whereas before just being debt free (well ok save mortgage) meant we could have had a nice lifestyle now it means being able to pay for life stuff. It is a readjustment of perspective. We will survive

It is a lifestyle, just not as we (currently) know it Jim!

How are we going to do this? Well, by a careful budgetary control and hopefully with the lack of debt we can snaffle £200 PCM minimum. The efforts will be to maximise this ..... 400fold! This is going to take some imagination. Hard work and determination.

No thoughts on the inspiration now so back later!

missrlr

Oh dear Robin. Thank you!

So lovely to see you

I am sorry I have been snaffling your own diary for so many months with bits of my own news. Won't happen again whilst this one is in swing!

*Robin*

Ah Missrlr, your presence - and ever sage advice - has been of great benefit in Flying Solo, so please don't think of apologising for your posts - or stopping your visits to the Nest!

Can I claim the honour of being your first subscriber, please? :cool2:

missrlr

Claimed, noted and honoured for it to be so!

Robin subscriber one!!!

I shall visit The Nest still especially for cake!

*Robin*

missrlr wrote: »

Claimed, noted and honoured for it to be so!

Robin subscriber one!!!

missrlr wrote: »

I shall visit The Nest still especially for cake!

How did you know (signed off earlier to bake another cake - Victoria sandwich this time )?

missrlr

Oooooooooo

Cream and jam please not this butter cream makes me think of winter stuff please!

Piquant_2

I have a really nice cake stand! Piq stands at the door of the shiny new diary looking longingly at the cake....

Happy new diary missrir

*subscribed*

*Robin*

missrlr wrote: »

Oooooooooo

Cream and jam please not this butter cream makes me think of winter stuff please!

It's a store-cupboard cake; filled with raspberry jam and whipped cream 'coz that's what I found (admittedly it's carton cream - can't get fresh tubs here - but eggs are free-range ). Think a dusting of icing sugar through a doily will be sufficient topping, so as soon as it's been transferred on to Piq's most attractive cake stand, we'll be ready to munch..

..Is the kettle on?

missrlr

Welcome Piq

Nom nom nom. Cake stand,cake best put the kettle on!

Right as I have been up since daft o'clock I have had a long hard look at my budget and revisited the excellent basic advice always provided here for those beginning their journey. Always best to make sure the basics are covered!

Have only before Christmas changed energy supplier, and mobiles were done before that, insurances were renewed using the proper methodology, although cars come later in the year! Mortgages just done too! The only item I had not critique recently was phone line and broadband! Have just spent a merry half hour assessing this and come to the conclusion that the deal we have for the needs we have is the best one! I could get the inbound calls only version but due to the necessity to have to speak with outside world and for serious conversations with multiple people across continents we need a good quality line. Have noted it as being one to keep an eye on.

Also done a stock take of the store cupboards, freezers and done a menu plan for February. Bearing in mind the advice we have received there are some items we will not be replacing and some new items making an appearance. Again revisited the advice given on so many threads about shopping, thrifty cooking, making things stretch. Have a few ideas, trouble is some of them I think may take a while to embed in this house! Whilst I realise some changes are necessary I refuse to have unhappy meals just because some advice was given, better to enjoy eating and giving small pleasures in life I think!

As a consequence I have also done a shopping list. And because In recent times bl0ckbust3r has been replaced with ic3land near us, (next door to L1dl as it happens!) I shall be investigating frozen veg there today when I toddle off to buy the fresh veg we need.

Q1 amount has been created by virtue of the fact we will have 2 months of council tax money not being paid in Feb and March plus some scrimping. A stunningly simple detail made clear to me upon reading the great advice on these forums!

I think with a little jiggery pokery I can get the Q2 amount too as I have a bonus (not sure of size) due in May but that means I need to replenish stock cupboard in July so delaying the next amount needed for the end of the year!

Am currently weighing pros and cons of using a 0% card for this which means I can get the work done sooner which will give me peace of mind, and also will make life easier all round. I am more than slightly hesitant to do this but i know I can pay it off, and it is really a cash flow matter however the current mindset it to run for hills rather than do debt

Trouble with today is I may have been up for hours but the shops are still not open! Considering breakfast before I do much more. Then am going to clean the fish tank instead, and hope the shops open soon after I finish!

I think that also I need to check sooner not late the amount I am paying in tax so will be prioritising that one for Q3 this year as if I can get a bit more money out of that it will be better.

So happy Sunday to you all. Breakfast, as my stomach has reminded me is needed. Am going to use the oldish fruit into a smoothie with some slightly past it bread toasted and some deelishious homemade jam. Clears out the cupboards a bit too then!