The Road to Financial Security

Pushkin

Car insurance renewal time - usual hassle, renewal from current provider was £271- went to a comparison site and found one for £90 less -rang current company and they couldn't have been less interested in trying to match that so I told them I didn't want to renew.

Went through cash back site so got it for £90 less with £60 cash back (which has already tracked) so feeling pretty chuffed!

On the negative side tried a new soup recipe int the slow cooker - chirozo and chick pea - its so spicy none of us can eat it! May look up how to reduce the hotness in the flavours but it will more than likely end up in the bin :eek: I also cut my finger quite badly while dicing the chorizo :(

Pushkin

Weekly team call at work today and the boss announced that all services we provide would be done by off shore/low cost centres by start of new financial year.

So he will now set the ball rolling with the UK HR/Redundancy programme - all is official now.

I spoke to the recruitment agency yesterday - while she was very positive the market was good and I was a good candidate she did say if I left IT there would be a pay drop. When she mentioned the hourly figure I could expect to earn my heart sank.

i know I was on a pretty good salary but temping would bring less than a 3rd of that and thats without taking benefits (pension/death in service etc) into account not to mention holiday and sick pay.

I admit to feeling a little blue right now.

I know there are others on here who manage their budgets so well and that it is possible to manage solely on DH's salary should we need to and that there are areas I could target for tightening up. It's just hard to wrap my head round losing my monthly income and having to manage on less money.

Think I need to grow a pair and just get on with it really - worse things happen at sea right! :rotfl:

amycool

I think it's actually really tough to go from having lots of spare disposable income to very little. It was fine for us because I was brought up with nothing, then we had nothing for years whilst OH was training, and then we had a few months of being rich before I gave up work for DD!! Having said that, I am definitely used to being able to just buy things, knowing we have money in the savings account. It's really difficult having to get back in the mindframe of only buying things you really need, and even then having to wait.

It is doable though, and the obvious massive benefit of just living on your husband's wage is that you don't have to go to work.

Think of the temping as just getting used to working with different people in different environments and just see the money as a bonus. Eventually I'm sure you will find another role with better pay but that will hopefully be more enjoyable than your last job.

Basically, don't be disheartened! It will all be fine!

Jessy103

Hi Pushkin! Just delurking to say sorry about your job and good luck with the temping and finding your new perfect job! I completely agree with Amycool about you being able to do it! I left work nearly 2 years ago now due to some health issues and my mum having MS so I want to be available to her when she needs help so we live off OH's wage and some money I make from surveys. At first it was very scary and I didn't think we could do it but after two years we are overpaying our mortgage and saving more money than we ever did when I was working and there were two wages coming in! I honestly can't say what we were wasting our money on and it upsets me to think of how much further on we would be if only we had budgeted from the beginning. Once you get over the intial shock of it I think you'll find it was the best thing you ever did!

Wishing you all the best!
x

Pushkin

Amycool - thank you so much - you have put such a good perspective on it - and you are so right! We have managed on less money before (2 quite long periods of DH being out of work) and we survived. You are also right- sometimes when you are comfortable financially one can waste money and I am guilty of this on occasion even though I do think of myself as thrifty.

Hi Jessy- really appreciate your words too and sorry to hear about your health issues - hope you are doing ok and your mother is coping with her illness.

Pushkin

Starting to create a mental list of long overdue jobs to do in the house when I finish work - DH is very concerned :eek:

On a positive note just arranged for us both to get our wills done by a solicitor who comes to the house - groupon offer with 80% discount on normal price.

Not the most cheery of subjects but has been on my mind for a while - we're not loaded but with DH having a daughter by his first marriage I think that complicates it a little so want to get it done right so we are both comfortable. Being nearer 50 than 40 makes you think about such things!

Still I will be doing some boasting about our bargain wills :T:rotfl:

Pushkin

What miserable weather this weekend, very, very wet dog walk today so feel quite proud I didn't shorten it and managed to do 8,000 steps.

Haven't really done much as didn't want to spend money or eat and couldn't really think of many (weather avoiding) activities that didn't involve either - I obviously need to be more imaginative/creative!

Have dipped my toe back in the selling game a year from being scammed over the phone. I have 2 items on £b@y - both have bids and auction finishes this evening. All looking good so fingers crossed on that one.

We had a smart meter fitted yesterday and can now microscopically monitor both electric and gas usage - very alarming seeing it shoot up when the the washing machine and tumble dryer are on!

Domestic jobs all done this morning, parents coming over for lunch and DH is doing roast lamb - all smelling good and its just the weather for it. :T

Pushkin

Both items on £b@y sold = jacket for minimum price listed and salopettes for a little more. Did both with p&p included so I just hope that doesn't cost too much - biggest faff with all this is estimating the postal costs.

One buyer has already paid as well :j:j

Pushkin

We are going to the beach today to have a walk and get some air - beautiful weather, very cold but also very sunny so perfect for a coastal walk. I have also found a dog friendly restaurant - am very excited about that - love being able to take the dog out with us on day trips.

No money news - pay day is next week, had to get petrol yesterday and a small top up shop of £10 but no other spends. Today we will have lunch out.

We had the will consultation this week, couple of follow up charges, one to store it properly and one to stipulate a drip feeding of the capital to our son to avoid him getting a large pot of money at an early age.

Little bit morbid having to nominate a guardian and an executor but feel relived it's getting done now.

cookie9

Hope you enjoyed your walk and lunch. Bet the dog was happy to be included!