Reeling from the Reality Check

Historybuff

I've definitely decided to go for the new job on a higher pay scale. I'm putting all reservations aside and having a crack at it. More money is not the only motivation, I'm up for a new challenge as well.
On another note. I'm pleased I've got £10.35 left in the bank. That's the first time for a very long time that there has been any money left at the end of a month.
Planning for the Christmas month starts now.

Brogden

Historybuff wrote: »

I've definitely decided to go for the new job on a higher pay scale. I'm putting all reservations aside and having a crack at it. More money is not the only motivation, I'm up for a new challenge as well.
On another note. I'm pleased I've got £10.35 left in the bank. That's the first time for a very long time that there has been any money left at the end of a month.
Planning for the Christmas month starts now.

Great decision HB - go for it !!

Its just as well that I have been using my envelopes as I near the end of the pay month.......having said that, I did cheat a bit earlier in the month and I'm paying the price in sadly depleated envelopes - it was still massive success compared to earlier this year though!

All the best on your application :T

Brogden x

in_need_of_direction

Def go for the job. If you get it, will it also boost your pension?

Historybuff

Well done on the envelope success, Brogden. Hopefully, you will improve on it next month. Glad it's working. INOD the pay rise will boost my pension nicely as I'm in a final salary scheme that hasn't been affected by average salary changes due to how long I have been in it. Also, a salary boost will help me manage my money better. I really want to save up a buffer fund. That's a priority for me, but I'm not having any success at the moment and don't think I'll get anywhere with it until the New Year when all the celebrations are out of the way. This month I am going to have to plan out where every single available penny is going to survive to 23rd December. First Christmas on a proper budget. There will be no panic or gratuitous spending!
Have a good day everyone!

Brogden

All the best HB! Defined benefit......yeah!!!!!!!!!!

By the way.....can I apply for you to be my boss ?

Brogden x

soperman

Steve Webb is set to begin a radio ''soapbox'' tour on the Jeremy Vine show today and it should be an interesting listen. Concerns are increasingly being raised about DIY retirement planning once the new pension flexibility kicks in next April, particularly those who are considering cashing in a pension fund to pay down debt.

In addition to promoting the advantages of the new pension rules, it will be interesting to see if Webb also mentions the potential pitfalls of stripping out a pension fund early, the potential tax consequences and indeed the daily fines for getting it wrong.

Unfortunately, I will miss the show live as for my sins I am in pension strategy meetings both today and tomorrow. However, I will download the podcast and post a blog on the RetireEasy website about the broadcast later today or tomorrow.

ailz95

Do you ever look at Approved Food?

This year we've decided that we are definitely Seniors and are buying all the young children ELC/Mothercare vouchers - and a selection box.

Instead of buying Xmas or birthday presents for my 3 stepchildren we buy their tv licences at £12.15 a month each. Something useful and stops them getting fined.

I've spent the morning sitting in bed reading your diary. I'm impressed with how well you're doing. My hubby panics over money - he's 63 and just doesn't do numbers. I told him we were going on a dmp in 2008 and that I was taking my pension as a lump sum to pay it off this year. That's all he wanted to know :rotfl:

Historybuff

Ha! Broggers! I'm a bit of a slavedriver! Didn't make the Jeremy Vine Show this pm. Will have to have a listen on catch up later. Thanks for reading the diary, Aliz. I've looked at approved food in the past, but never really found much that takes my fancy. OH and I are getting good at going to the supermarket late on and grabbing the YT items! I'm trying to avoid your situation, Aliz, of using my pension lump sum to pay off debt. I want to spend it on what I want! That's why I'm so focused on paying down debt mountain. I need it gone before I retire. As soon as possible! My debt situation has actually added four years to my working life! Time that I should be spending in active retirement is going to have to be spent working unless a miracle happens and I can pay it all off sooner than anticipated. Good job I'm happy in my work!

Historybuff

I don't like getting up in the dark, but I do like my quiet half hour on my own every morning. It's my thinking time and bit of sanctuary before heading off to the madness that is work every day. Maybe today will be a quiet day...I can live in hope!
Today I'm thankful for OH doing the decorating, it's not hair wash day, petrol gauge is on half.

sweetpea26

I love the time before everyone else gets up in the morning too HB

Hope you have a straight-forward day at work ..