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New job = New focus = Still a good life
Pippilongstocking
Posts: 16,336 Forumite
Hey up chaps
So today I started my first venture into full time employment, having either studied/worked or being self-employed since, erm 1999.
So time for a new focus.
I was a single parent, study-rather-work-mum and now I've got two well adjusted (can I say that?) younglings whom have flown the nest and are post degree and mid final stages of university. Focus for me has now changed from supporting them wholeheartedly to supporting future me and any help they might need or not.
And somewhere a long the line we acquired a very caring and solvent DH of rock god status, (finances still very solid and very separate) a house (his mortgage, 16 years I think) and garden (mine), two hounds (neither of us willing to take ownership), a sprinkling of chickens and a thirst for cheese and tasty but reduced food.
So whilst self-employment and study has been flexible and suited the 'day job' of mum, now I need more regular income and flexibility of paid holidays and pensions.
Time a rethink and for some me time I think.
Me time as in time off but also me time as in providing for me in the future. However that shapes up.
I'll link into other diaries here and here and maybe here. [links to be added]
only thing really to know
we love a good list
and growing our own food
we hate food waste and paying too much for food
not a real fan of meal plans but we know they work
we have discovered we like holidays
but also lots of 'free living' as well
we do not approve of matching socks
but love a good natter and ideas to get the spends under control and the savings to promote
STILL A GOOD LIFE
I started a new job today, full time, employed - both children are out of the house mostly although we have DS home at the moment between adventures.
I have one p't job (7 hours) on top of this which might be ditched if the home/life balance can't be made.
I have a new website developing to sell plants and sundries to top up the income and reduce the mortgage.
House and mortgage are a priority at overpaying, with balance of adventures and good living
Overdrafts need slayed - savings need to be established
Pension needs to be established
Housekeeping budgets need defined and tweaked to be efficient
Having taken so much from you lovely MSE'rs for so long, I'm hoping that I can learn more than a few new tricks, reduce the mortgage down considerably and still have a good life with full time employment in a field I am super passionate about.
Yes I want it all, I want it all and I want it now.
{Happy to work for it}
So help me along angels.
:A
So today I started my first venture into full time employment, having either studied/worked or being self-employed since, erm 1999.
So time for a new focus.
I was a single parent, study-rather-work-mum and now I've got two well adjusted (can I say that?) younglings whom have flown the nest and are post degree and mid final stages of university. Focus for me has now changed from supporting them wholeheartedly to supporting future me and any help they might need or not.
And somewhere a long the line we acquired a very caring and solvent DH of rock god status, (finances still very solid and very separate) a house (his mortgage, 16 years I think) and garden (mine), two hounds (neither of us willing to take ownership), a sprinkling of chickens and a thirst for cheese and tasty but reduced food.
So whilst self-employment and study has been flexible and suited the 'day job' of mum, now I need more regular income and flexibility of paid holidays and pensions.
Time a rethink and for some me time I think.
Me time as in time off but also me time as in providing for me in the future. However that shapes up.
I'll link into other diaries here and here and maybe here. [links to be added]
only thing really to know
we love a good list
and growing our own food
we hate food waste and paying too much for food
not a real fan of meal plans but we know they work
we have discovered we like holidays
but also lots of 'free living' as well
we do not approve of matching socks
but love a good natter and ideas to get the spends under control and the savings to promote
STILL A GOOD LIFE
I started a new job today, full time, employed - both children are out of the house mostly although we have DS home at the moment between adventures.
I have one p't job (7 hours) on top of this which might be ditched if the home/life balance can't be made.
I have a new website developing to sell plants and sundries to top up the income and reduce the mortgage.
House and mortgage are a priority at overpaying, with balance of adventures and good living
Overdrafts need slayed - savings need to be established
Pension needs to be established
Housekeeping budgets need defined and tweaked to be efficient
Having taken so much from you lovely MSE'rs for so long, I'm hoping that I can learn more than a few new tricks, reduce the mortgage down considerably and still have a good life with full time employment in a field I am super passionate about.
Yes I want it all, I want it all and I want it now.
{Happy to work for it}
So help me along angels.
:A
Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:
0
Comments
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Meal plan.................you know you want to join me.
Brekkie
Porridge/cereal - me
DH nowt
DS forages for his own safety hm meals only
Lunch
DS see above
DH soup and fruit
Me - leftovers or salads all week, fridge fodder
Teas all week all three of us - freezer surfing/garden veg
Mon - out daytime no tea. DS b'day
tues - mince and tatties
Wed - something eggy + cheese+ garden veg
Thurs - fish + garden veg
Fri - takeaway (oos we can)
Sat - somethingorother ROMANTIK as DS is at work
Sun - roasty toasty dinner
All working all week, me F/t + p/t (big report due on Monday so some serious weekend working), DS p/t (working in a restaurant kitchen so fed some times) and DH full time plus study often at work so fed on freezer soups and HM leftovers with fruit/bits to take in too.Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Left for the money stuff.
Banks
O/D
CC
Mortgage
ETC
Terms and pay off ideas.Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
Happy shiny new diary
Happy new job I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.0 -
Thanks Beanie - still pretty shocked at the full time idea but today was OK.
Day one and all that.
I hope you are good.Total debt 26/4/18 <£1925 we were getting there. :beer:
Total debt as of 28/4/19 £7867.38:eek:
minus 112.06 = £7755.32:money:
:money:Sleeves up folks.:money:0 -
You Go Girl! The Greying Clan are with you all the way!
Greying XPounds for Panes £7,705/£10,000 - start date Dec 2023
Grocery Spend October 2025 £216.43/£200
Non-food spend October 2025 £46.41/£50
Bulk Fund October (month 10 of 12) £0/£35.200 -
Happy new diary Pips!
:T:T:T:T:T4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)(With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)New projection - 14 YEARS 7 MONTHS LEFT OF 20 YEARS (reduced by 17 mths)0 -
Pippilongstocking wrote: »Thanks Beanie - still pretty shocked at the full time idea but today was OK.
Day one and all that.
I hope you are good.
I am plodding on thanks I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.0 -
I'm HEEEEEERRRREEEE!!! Happy new diary lovely Stripes!! :T:T🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0 -
Hooray!! Happy new diary :j :j and happy new job!
(Also - must figure out how to subscribe - just dawned on me I've not aubscribed to Greying's new diary, thought she'd been quiet!
)
*goes off to figure out how to subscribe on phone with one hand while lying down*
(I may be some time...)0 -
Cheery_Daff wrote: »Hooray!! Happy new diary :j :j and happy new job!
(Also - must figure out how to subscribe - just dawned on me I've not aubscribed to Greying's new diary, thought she'd been quiet! )
*goes off to figure out how to subscribe on phone with one hand while lying down*
(I may be some time...)
:rotfl::rotfl: Button at the top of the thread? Same as on the PC?🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her0
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