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smallholdingsister's strivings

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  • newgirly
    newgirly Posts: 9,354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Well in an ideal world thats what would happen, but its not always that simple. I am sure lots of people would like to work shorter hours, its the reason many of us are mfw's in the first place. But seriously what is the alternative? My dh is now working 6 1/2 days a week to try and stop the business going under, all the staff would lose their jobs too. He would rather be at home though.
    MFW 67 - Finally mortgage free! 💙😁
  • TIME and MOTION tuesday
    6.15-6.30 shower and dress
    6.30-6.45 breakfast
    6.45-7 washing hung up, more washing on, pack two lunches, clear table, chivvy DS to get dressed
    7-7.15 pack bag for kids, more chivvying
    7.15-7.25 mess about on phone
    7.25-7.45 load kids up and drop off
    7.45-8.15 drive to work
    Work until 8.30 pm.
    Ten minute morning ten minute lunch break.
    45 minutes for tea and sandwiches in there.
    Home at 9. One episode of house of cards. Bed at 10.20
    That was yesterday.

    Interesting ideas coming.
  • edinburgher
    edinburgher Posts: 13,933 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Dare I say stop chasing the £££s? At no point have I told anyone to 'give up work' but I do think work should be something that fits around your life. Smallholding has said she no longer has any time to play her clarinet and saxophone, if this is something she wants to do, she should have time to do it.

    Do you feel that this is an area where you have had much success Alex? Making work fit around your life?

    If so, do you think that the difference in circumstances between your life and SHS' life may be a factor? For example, you are effectively self-employed, with one child, whereas SHS is well established in a career where she is an employee and has several children.

    It can be quite easy to offer advice to fit work around you, but very difficult to achieve in practice. For example, it has taken me 4 years to negotiate a 4 day week at work so as to spend more time with DD. Many workplaces are quite inflexible.
  • greent
    greent Posts: 10,795 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    The time and motion studies on here sound commonplace for many working parents, Alex - I've been there, got the tshirt and still occasionally have times like that now - organising two adults and four children (at 3 different educational establishments and with a wide age range for a wide range of out of school activities) means there is often little spare time to just 'be'.


    C'est la vie..


    Hang on in there, shs - half term is on its way! ;)


    xx
    I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
    Repaid mtge early (orig 11/25) 01/09 £124616 01/11 £89873 01/13 £52546 01/15 £12133 07/15 £NIL
    Net sales 2024: £20
  • He he thanks!
  • earthgirl
    earthgirl Posts: 3,762 Forumite
    Mortgage-free Glee!
    I feel exactly the same, and try to focus on working smarter in the hours I am at work/doing jobs at home. Works for me to a point. Try to do as much of the morning stuff as I can the night before, batch cook etc.
    Only works to a point though!

    SHS I think you once gave me some excellent advice about multi tasking to get loads of jobs done. Still trying!!
    15/5/12 Paid off Mortgage 1 (£220k) Bought Dream House:www: Dec 13 - Mortage 2 -£116,508. 15/7/18 Mortgage Free Again :j

    Progress not Perfection
  • AlexLK
    AlexLK Posts: 6,125 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    newgirly wrote: »
    Well in an ideal world thats what would happen, but its not always that simple. I am sure lots of people would like to work shorter hours, its the reason many of us are mfw's in the first place. But seriously what is the alternative? My dh is now working 6 1/2 days a week to try and stop the business going under, all the staff would lose their jobs too. He would rather be at home though.

    My alternative is only getting involved in things I'm interested in. Cannot see the point in working many hours for nothing other than the money. Personally, money is very low on my list of priorities when I consider whether or not I'll participate in a particular job, task or business.
    Do you feel that this is an area where you have had much success Alex? Making work fit around your life?

    If so, do you think that the difference in circumstances between your life and SHS' life may be a factor? For example, you are effectively self-employed, with one child, whereas SHS is well established in a career where she is an employee and has several children.

    It can be quite easy to offer advice to fit work around you, but very difficult to achieve in practice. For example, it has taken me 4 years to negotiate a 4 day week at work so as to spend more time with DD. Many workplaces are quite inflexible.

    I don't often see what I do as 'work' because if I'm not interested in what is being asked of me, I won't do it. The work I do for my parents is a bit of an exception but that doesn't take up much time and is worth the effort. Therefore, there are times when money plays a role but I don't think that should be the primary motivator. As for it fitting around my life, I'd say I do well with that. Currently I have time for playing with cars, buying some nice old things to own for a bit before selling on, teaching / playing music and studying for my own interest. My son has benefitted from receiving a good start with all academic disciplines appropriate to his age and from me having the time to take him to all manner of local events and attractions.

    Surely whether one is employed or self employed is a choice that individual makes? From what Smallholding has posted, it seems she has little time to pursue her own interests, something I do not think is terribly healthy. My wife is well established in a career but unless she's working away she is not sat in the office until 8pm in the evening and has time to pursue her interests of an evening and weekend.

    Nobody must work for the same organisation or do the same thing for the rest of their working lives. Questioning whether somebody is making the right decision for them is not a bad thing. There are other jobs or business opportunities out there. Ultimately, what Smallholding chooses to do is up to her.
    greent wrote: »
    The time and motion studies on here sound commonplace for many working parents, Alex - I've been there, got the tshirt and still occasionally have times like that now - organising two adults and four children (at 3 different educational establishments and with a wide age range for a wide range of out of school activities) means there is often little spare time to just 'be'.


    C'est la vie..


    Hang on in there, shs - half term is on its way! ;)


    xx

    Personally, I couldn't cope with no free time, though I appreciate others can. I suppose I was voicing a concern for Smallholding and family.
    2018 totals:
    Savings £11,200
    Mortgage Overpayments £5,500
  • gallygirl
    gallygirl Posts: 17,240 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Alex it's easy to say you wouldn't work for money when all you have to do us ask your parents and they will oblige. Most people don't have that option. However, I do think you have a point - SHS you are trying to move and presumably take on a bigger mortgage (or commit a lot if extra money to renovations). That means no potential to step back and possibly cut down on hours - is it really worth the effort to get the 'dream house/lifestyle' if you are never there to enjoy it?
    A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort
    :) Mortgage Balance = £0 :)
    "Do what others won't early in life so you can do what others can't later in life"
  • Actually Gally our fave choice involves cutting mortgage repayment costs in half...and giving us back some of our travel time.
  • TIME and MOTION tuesday
    6.15-6.30 shower and dress
    6.30-6.45 breakfast
    6.45-7 washing hung up, more washing on, pack two lunches, clear table, chivvy DS to get dressed
    7-7.15 pack bag for kids, more chivvying
    7.15-7.25 mess about on phone
    7.25-7.45 load kids up and drop off
    7.45-8.15 drive to work
    1 10 min and one 25 min break am and lunch
    leave work 3.45
    Pick up kids 4.15. Drive to brownies trip for 5.
    5-6.30 lurk around with DS until brownies are done.
    Home 7.15. Dinner. Chat to DH
    Bed at 9

    BTW house with mortgage drop has a big down side...its a semi.
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