Reeling from the Reality Check

Historybuff

Thanks granny, I hope it's a good month too. Sold one item already...hope it gets bidded up. There are plenty of watchers, so it might. The other stuff is looking promising as well. Just psyching myself up for an early start. Got some energy thieves to deal with today...you know the type...glass is always half empty, doom and gloom blah, blah, blah. Sticking my smile on, preparing to be super positive. It WILL be a good day.

Historybuff

Survived the snow days. Two items on eb@y are getting bidded up nicely and watchers on my other four items. Hoping for £100 to go towards buffer fund. Regretting giving all those clothes away now, could have made loads. However, I needed the space and charity benefited. I'm looking around for what I can put up next now, though. I forgot how addictive selling on eb@y can be!

Historybuff

Well, sold four items and made £105! Woah! Have decided that all the money made from selling stuff is going to the buffer fund. After an exhausting week at work I'm back on the reducing hours bandwagon. The more I think about it, I really, really need to start reducing hours, so I can go on working longer. I'm going to give more thought to this again. I think I really do need more time to myself and forget about the reduction in pension...come April and the new pension regulations kick in I'm going to review my options. I've worked full time all my life. I need to think about my own well being. It's time I went part time.

Brogden

Historybuff wrote: »

Well, sold four items and made £105! Woah! Have decided that all the money made from selling stuff is going to the buffer fund. After an exhausting week at work I'm back on the reducing hours bandwagon. The more I think about it, I really, really need to start reducing hours, so I can go on working longer. I'm going to give more thought to this again. I think I really do need more time to myself and forget about the reduction in pension...come April and the new pension regulations kick in I'm going to review my options. I've worked full time all my life. I need to think about my own well being. It's time I went part time.

Good Morning HB!

I am thinking about pensions a lot too - I think I have had a 'sartori'

If you are in a defined benefit scheme HB, make sure that you do not end up halving (or whatever) your retirement income by reducing your earnings. All that work, all those contributions paid etc etc.

I am sorry I don't want to be a misery - you may well be able to follow the path you want to and have more free time and at the same time retain the sort of pension you are expecting and wanting . A couple of people I know actually opted out of the scheme when they were heading for reduced earnings but you would need to consult with the scheme, your employer, your contract and ideally take independent financial advice to be sure what is best - even if it costs a little bit

Have a lovely Sunday.

Brogden x

Historybuff

Thanks, Brogden, I won't do anything rash. Can't do anything till April anyway. I need to see what the pension changes actually mean first.
Sold another item. Up to £145 now. That's great. Along with not having to pay council tax this month, the buffer fund is coming along fine! Off to France for a week of r and r next week, so looking forward to that. Plenty of chilling out, walking, reading, eating and drinking the odd glass of wine. The amazing thing is I paid for it all within budget...my bit that is...and have paid all this month's bills. Just three more days of work to get through...

Historybuff

£165 added to buffer fund and the exercise bike that has been standing in the corner of the room for so long making me feel guilty for not exercising enough has gone! Finally. Just breakdown cover and home insurance to sort today then I can go off on Friday away from it all for a week. Just the packing to do, which I hate. Got my books organised. Looking forward to chilling out with my favs for a week. I am of course looking to spend as little as possible. Any euros I bring home are to be added to the buffer fund. Actually can't wait for payday this month...now that's a turn up for the books!

wantabetterlife

How are things going HB?

Historybuff

Hi there, I'm back. Had a lovely relaxing break in France, so now back to the moneysaving. Stayed in budget whilst away, so savings still on track too. Had a couple of letters from predators. All have now defaulted me apart from Bclyc@rd, who I don't think will going on what others have said on here. I'm now a full year into debt busting and the debt total has gone under £50000...I'm now in the 40s.Yay! Only just in, but that's good enough for me. I will be slogging away to chip at the debt as well as saving hard for my buffer fund over this next year.
Ebay sales going well. My total is now up to £190. Just from selling stuff I had hoarded.
Space in the home going well too. DS has moved into his new flat and taken most of his stuff with him. Just a few bits he is picking up when he comes over in a couple of weeks.
Decorating update. The new fireplace is almost in. I am reliably informed that it will be all finished and fully functioning by the end of Monday. Prep work has started in hall, stairs and landing too.
I hope I'm not overdoing things, but I have decided to eat more healthily in an effort to lose some excess weight. Made my mind up after puffing and panting and nearly passing out after climbing up and down all the stairs when visiting Mont St Michel. Not good.
So I feel a decent February has been had and look forward to staying on track for March.

NoOneAround

Hi HB,
Haven't dropped in for a while and just read last few post...sounds like you are doing really well with all the sorting and selling on ebay :T
Well done on debt being under 50K!!!!! and it's lovely to hear you have a break in France too, very envious ...I love France! It's been over 10 years since I last went and we used to go regularly.
NOA
xx

Historybuff

Thanks NOA. I love France too. Three of us went together this time and split all the costs, so we don't spend anymore here than we would have done here. We had a great price on the gite and ferry too this time of year. I think you have to be really creative with getting out and about whilst debt busting. It's going to take years to pay off, and you can't put your life on hold for that long. You have to find simpler and cheaper ways of doing what you want to do. It's the little treats that you look forward to that keep you going.
How is your debt busting going?