The Road to Financial Security

Alchemilla

God bless and keep your doggle. X

Watty1

Sending love for doggie

amycool

I hope you get some better news today at the vet.

Pushkin

Amy Cool, Watty & Alchemilla - thank you so much for the supportive words. Our dog really is one of the family, I think we have all been upset and shocked by this.

Positive news though, she was back at the vets this morning and her red blood cell count was up from 24 to 28 - it should be 55 so still a long way to go but the vet said it has increased more than she expected in 2 days.

We are still awaiting the blood test results from the lab so not out of the woods yet as this will tell us if there is a secondary cause for the red blood cell destruction.

We are going to take her for a little walk when we finish work - she hasn't been on one since Friday morning so that will test how much energy she has got back. Normally our dog lives for 3 things - food, walks and cuddles - in that order and has not been keen on any of them last few days...

Pushkin

Monthly Finance update - all but forgotten due to the 1st of the month falling at the weekend and the health concerns we've had with the pooch.:(

No major financial changes either for the better or the worse.

Mortgage is now down to £104,020 so still on track to get below £100k at end of 2015.

Money making account is up £10.36 to £336 - that has all stalled a bit and I haven't sold anything for a while although there is stuff here I should list - must do better.

I've put the usual amount into savings this month but some financial juggling is needed;
Big credit card bill coming up - DH's car brake pads & the Euros
Other bits for our August holiday (hotel on night 1, toiletries etc)
House insurance paid
DHS's car insurance due early Sept
DS drama group payment also due early Sept

Vet bills have been paid so far from my current account, I know I have money set aside in the dog fund but I am ever loathed to take money out of savings once its gone in - so I will try and manage this without any withdrawals although it does mean a bigger credit card bill (again :eek:)

All makes me a bit jittery as the job situation is still hanging over me like a black cloud. Tried to reason if that is positive or negative and have reached the conclusion its neither and it actually down to incompetence - 12 weeks since redundancies were announced and still no information specific to our business group - its not exactly brilliant communication is it!

katiegizmo

awww sorry about your dog Pushkin I am crossing all my fingers for good results xx

Pushkin

Dog is holding her own, still subdued and lacking energy but might be partially caused by the fact that she is off her arthritis medicine due to the steroids, antibiotics and antacids she's on for the red blood cell issue.

Bizarrely she won't eat her usual food (dry mix bought in huge sacks) so we've had to buy some tins instead.

Still no news on the dreaded R at work (redundancy) - I only have 2 weeks until finishing for my holiday so I figure even if they do get rid of me it will take until October.

DH is away from this afternoon for a couple of nights - to be honest he has been working at home that often lately I'm looking forward to it - that's really mean huh - or is it just 14 years of marriage!

Seanymph

Best wishes for the doggie recovery. Couldn't read and run.

And it's not mean about the OH being way - mine has just been for two weeks, and I loved it

CathT

Hope your dog continues to improve. Not too long until a break from work now, the countdown can begin.

Pushkin

Thanks guys - feels like a virtual support group re the dog! We have having to wrap up her tablets in salami slices! She used to eat around them when they went in her food!

New plan I'm mulling right now so may come to nothing but....

Another stressful horrid day at work and I've been thinking if our family unit would be happier on reduced income if I quit and worked part time. This is on the basis that I would be happier, less irritable with DS and DH, have more time for cooking and housework etc. Life might be easier for all of us.

Trouble is quitting work and losing that income is irreversible as I honestly don't think I would find another job on a similar salary - I don't earn masses but have been there a long time, have a car allowance and other good perks.

I'll do some sums but I think I'll estimate a reduced amount (say 50% current income) and I'll then put the other 50% in a savings account and try a month or 2 living on the reduced amount.

Thinking of doing this from September and see how it goes. First thought was I can't do it then as I'll be starting to do Christmas shopping but thats not justification is it? There will always be something and the decision to leave my current job may well be forced upon me at some point.

The other major concern I have is that if I left I wouldn't be paying into my pension at the existing rate, DH as I may have mentioned doesn't have a great pension and it bothers me if I reduce contributions to mine.


Not sure I can go through with this plan but I think I need to try ...