The Longshot route to a new life!

havecourageandbekind

Hi Itsa Longshot,

Just want to say you sound very organised and I like how you've categorised your goals into time lengths. Very disciplined, and I'll hang around in the hope of picking some tips up along the way

Also because I am rather nosey I was just wondering what you're studying with The Open University? I did several of their courses and was impressed with the quality of the material.

Itsa_Longshot

Thanks HFABK! :hello:

I'm studying maths with the OU - 240 credits done, 120 to go. I've got a 60 credit unit starting next month, then I'll finish the following year with two 30 credit units. It's been good so far, hard work at times, but I think it will be worth it in the end. The material has generally been good, the only iffy unit was a recent one which was new - quite a few errors slipped through, and we only received the material in several batches throughout. Quite pleased with how it went for me though.

Moving on to money matters - a good food shop this morning of £24.73, within my £28 target. As the trolley was looking reasonably empty, I'm treating myself to a bacon butty for lunch! I've also paid the full statement balance on my spending credit card, and made a rounded minimum payment to the 0% card. I've got a nice amount left over in my current account after these and my direct debits, which mostly go out on the 1st, so will look to pay a bit extra off the loan next month. Nice to have a bit of flexibility with my finances! :j

belleandthebudget

A bacon butty sounds so good right now! And yay for more off the credit card!

Itsa_Longshot

You probably won't need telling this, but the bacon butties were delicious!

As for the document sorting, well that went... ok. The problem was I massively underestimated just how much I've built up over the years! I more or less knew what sort of things I had, so there weren't really any surprises, but it was only once it was all brought together from various places when I realised just how much there is and how big a task it will be.

Amongst the stash is 19 years of bank statements going back to when I opened my first account! :rotfl: I've also got a folder with every delivery note from about 15 years of online ordering (umm.. why? :huh:). I'm sure I didn't really need to keep the instructions for a simple bookcase I built about 5 years ago either!

Anyway, some progress was made. I've gone through most of the box file and drawer, and filled one carrier bag with various booklets, pages of small print and the like, straight in the recycling with that. Anything sensitive is on a growing pile to be fed in to the shredder. Much more work to do!

Itsa_Longshot

A fairly quiet week been and gone, only spending has been my weekly food shop and petrol, so racking up the NSD's. Food shop just over £20 this morning which is good.

Did a few miles on my bike this morning too, not done enough of that lately! Will probably go out for a longer ride tomorrow, otherwise a relaxing weekend ahead. I've received the text books for my next OU unit, though the course doesn't officially start until next month I should try and make a head start. I must also catch up on some [STRIKE]snooping[/STRIKE] reading other DFW diaries, just to check how wonderfully you're all doing! Have a great weekend everyone!

Itsa_Longshot

I did something very dangerous today - thinking. :rotfl:

Well, sort of. I had a bit of a moment today, an epiphany you might say, where I realised just how many things in my life I'm unhappy about. It's down to me to change things, so that's what I'm going to do.

I feel I've made good progress sorting my finances out, and the big decluttering project is going well (much more still to do), so why can't I make other changes as well? I know why - nerves, anxiety, fear etc. What I've changed I've done so at home, by myself, without having to get others involved. But the other things I want to change aren't going to unless I break out of my shell. I'm a very anxious guy when I'm around other people in particular, even friends and family, and it's held me back for far too long.

The big one first of all - my job - time for a new one. I'm bored of the work I do, it takes too long to get there (1 hour), costs too much (approx. £120-140 per month in fuel), and I've never really felt like I'm making any progress. I do like the people I work with though, that's probably why I've stuck at this one so long (nearly 6 years). I've thought about moving nearer work before, but I like where I live now, and the rent is actually quite good for the area. I'm not getting paid as much as I like, but I understand why they don't want to pay me more as they know I'm not terribly enthusiastic about things there. I'm just going through the motions with it really. We've had quite frank discussions about this though, so it won't be a surprise to them if/when the time comes and I go. I want to get a job that's more interesting, is much nearer home, and pays more - simple, right?!

Health and fitness - I've mentioned this previously, but not really made any progress. I bought a new bike earlier in the summer, but not gone out often enough. I've also got a rowing machine at home which has sat unused for months. Food wise, I snack far too much, so I really, really need to stop doing that. I'm fine when I'm at work, but I'm always picking at food at home. Still need to cut down on meal sizes. I stay up too late, which doesn't do me any good at all.

Social life - I need to get out and about more! I'm quite happy to spend time alone at home, but I just don't see my friends often enough. Many of them are settling down and starting families now, so are less likely to instigate things. Them having kids also completely changes the dynamic of what we can do together, but no reason for me to stop seeing them.

Attitude - needs a general change, I need to be more of a 'just get on with it' kind of person. Far too much procrastinating.

So some goals for the week:

• Update CV
• Call an old friend
• Arrange a social event
• Exercise every evening
• Eat more sensibly
• In bed with the lights out by 11pm every night

Thanks for reading my ramblings! Being honest about them on here will hopefully encourage me to do more to sort myself out! :j

Itsa_Longshot

Well, I've had three utterly utterly butterly dull days at work. Two more to go. Sigh. Just reaffirms my plans to move on.

The above plan went well Monday night, but Tuesday was a complete bust, just couldn't bring myself to do anything once I got home. Was kind of feeling the same today, and got home to find a lovely letter from the old letting agents stating that I owed them two months rent! :eek: Quite funny really, as I haven't been renting through them for.... two months! :rotfl:

The letter was a 'notice of intended court action' stating I owed them £1,440.00, to be paid in 7 days. The letter was dated 5th Sept, only received today, so of course the 7 days is gone. It goes on to threaten court action, a CCJ, repossession, bailiffs, taking money straight from wages, the lot basically. :wall:

I've spoken with my landlord on this (handily next door), and they've received the same notice through, and seemed far more annoyed about it than I am. Basically they moved away from this agent when the latest renewal came round because they were so fed up with how they operate. Initially it was a small regional agency, which worked fine, but the problems began when they were bought out by a national agency who seems to just hoover up the smaller ones.

Anyway, the landlord has already spoken with them to clarify things, and they apologised for the mix up. The landlord has also given me copies of their statements proving the change over to a new agents, and that the new agents have been receiving the rent. Will contact them myself tomorrow and ask for written confirmation that the issue has been resolved. They won't be getting a single penny out of me, but I really could do without the hassle if this drags on though.

Itsa_Longshot

I was a bit naughty last night and bought myself a takeaway! Once I'm committed to it I tend not to hold back either, so spent £15! :eek: I'm calling it a treat for getting through a tedious week at work and to enjoy the start of the Rugby World Cup. It was delicious too!

Feeling a bit guilty and bloated this morning though so restricted myself quite well with the food shop, and well ahead of the monthly budget for that now.

Have a good weekend everyone!

belleandthebudget

How annoying about the letting agents - they're such chancers! At least your landlord had it sorted out!

Itsa_Longshot

Yeah, my landlord's pretty good, got on to them immediately. They'll still be receiving a nice letter from me this week though!

A few days ago I was ready to walk away from my job, but I'm having doubts again now! :wall: We've had some good news this week regarding a new partnership which has the potential to double our turnover. It will make things a bit more interesting and less repetitive on a day-to-day basis long term. Short term, my boss wants me to get involved in the initial organisation too, which I'm happy to do, as there are some more enjoyable tasks on the list. All being well it will hopefully eventually lead to some more £££ for me!