Looking to have a simpler life .......

wildesavings

5 years! Sounds so good! 60 payments - that's all Go for it!

Downshifterella

Thanks everyone feeling much more in control of things having a diary and a plan in place!!

Michelle09
Thanks, good luck with the classes I made one at the gym this morning so on track with one goal at least!
And you're right can't spend money while at the gym or exercising! :rotfl:

Thanks Squirrel for subscribing!
Will have a look for your diary if you have one

Maia-evo
Thanks for your reply and talking through your experiences. Good question re what would make me take the leap. ....
I think a few things
1) would be having the remortgage done as wouldn't then need the "security" of permanent employment/ contracts etc..
2) Having some savings behind us so it wouldn't be crazy pressure to just do anything (say 3-6 months expenses )
3) part of it is probably having a real business plan and idea of what if wanted to do for my working week ....I'm just not sure I have much left in me for what I do now, but at the same time it's good money for what I do.... Like you through , I sense changes ahead and change of ownership or direction etc quite likely in the next year to 18 months. Perhaps too it's using that 18months to plan and try out ideas and get something more solid in place .

Few more things thrown up too by doing some of this thinking but that's been helpful to think and sort through my thoughts and the varying factors impacting on it! Definitely some planning ahead!

Money saving day today with dinner with friends, cooked from stores , done some decluttering too ( for anyone who recommended the 30 days to a clean and organized house thank you!:T)

Pack lunches for work tomorrow, made the mistake of turning on my work emails tonight :eek::eek: trying to distract myself now with some trashy TV and a quick dinner! :rotfl:

Happy Sunday everyone x

pinkypig

Great September goals. I'm determined to get back to full fitness because it boosts my energy and clears my head. We'll have to chivvy each other along:D

Betterthanever

Glad that you're feeling in control. It means that you'll smash September to smithereens?!

I love the gym. I'm grumpy and grouchy without it! For me, my monthly membership is well worth it!!

Downshifterella

Thanks pinkypig
Absolutely up for chivvying along. Managed a workout yesterday and planning a run for tmrw , so far.....so good!:j

Thanks Better than never
Me too ! I'm much happier and better to be around when I'm hitting the gym regularly but so easy to get out of the habits , am hoping if I get into too habits in September I can really keep it going as the nights draw in!

Money saving wise...
Pack lunches everyday so far this week ( all 2 of them!! :T:rotfl:)
Money claimed back from work and an extra bonus into the bank in the next couple of weeks!
£50 (ish) p/m payvrise (shall need to see what this translates to by the end of the month)
Done a supermarket shop with various vouchers saving £7 ..only bought the essentials and still running down the freezer/cupboards .
£12 sitting in TCB but won't be payable for a while.
Adding all up though that's around£200 extra this month into the remortgage pot! :T

Ella x

maia_evo

Downshifterella wrote: »

Maia-evo
Thanks for your reply and talking through your experiences. Good question re what would make me take the leap. ....
I think a few things
1) would be having the remortgage done as wouldn't then need the "security" of permanent employment/ contracts etc..
2) Having some savings behind us so it wouldn't be crazy pressure to just do anything (say 3-6 months expenses )
3) part of it is probably having a real business plan and idea of what if wanted to do for my working week ....I'm just not sure I have much left in me for what I do now, but at the same time it's good money for what I do.... Like you through , I sense changes ahead and change of ownership or direction etc quite likely in the next year to 18 months. Perhaps too it's using that 18months to plan and try out ideas and get something more solid in place .

Very good list.
1. May not be a problem depending on LTV (I'm about to approach bank for remortgage and hope they wont be too bothered about my drop in income recently as LTV 26% currently).
2. VERY IMPORTANT - I'd edge for the 6 month level.
3. Something will become obvious I'm sure

Downshifterella

Thank you Maia evo
Definitely really helpful to have input from someone whose "been there" so to speak. I think having the savings behind me as well as something resembling a business plan into something more solid will be a good goal to start towards.

On that note, work/life balance feeling slightly outta wack this week for various reasons. Plans underway to reverse that including some moneysaving trips out with the hubster and time to just "be".

Food spends to be tallied but not been mindlessly buying and am using things up/planning meals ( leftovers from tonight for lunch tmrw ) so hoping we come in lower spends than usual.

Cheaper phone contract negotiated this week, saves a few quid per month!

Other than that no grand master money plans now till payday!

FloppyDisk

I still can't help on the freelancing front, though my OH is making noises about being interested in going that way too now.

I'm definitely going to have a good think about cash reserves, how much and where best to store them. And also how to make the most of dividends and if OPing the mortgage is the best thing from a tax perspective. Your plans to get rid in 5 years will give you so much more flexibility in your planning!

Downshifterella

Thanks Floppy Disk
What kind of thing is OH interested in doing? I'm definitely going to spend some time researching and talking to friends who are self employed to look at the pros and cons!

Definitely need to look into savings options too!

Feeling a bit meh today , having a few ongoing health issues which probably aren't made better by work/life balance ...so some thinking and adjustments to do there I think! Have been doing too much saying people pleasing .and now overcommitted for next few weeks......need to shift that!

Looking at September goals...the lowdown for now is as follows:
1) £100 food budget ....gone away over this ,but have bought some essential household stuff in with that too! Haven't bought wine tho!
2) Amazon and eBay...not got far with this but have decluttered a lot to charity which I'm pleased with!
3) found a couple of remortgage possibilities , think Nov/Dec will be putting the wheels into motion there
4) actually have managed this which I'm pleased with!
5) Headspace definitely more regular tho not everyday , have it set up tonight then a cuppa and early night methinks!

Have sorted some savings in transport costs and been frugal with pack lunches this month...in fact if I just measure from 1st sept and we week out what we have in the house, may not be far off £150 for the month ( week and a half left!) That makes me feel a bit better on the MSE front!:money::money:

Downshifterella

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope all in MF land have had a restful weekend :j

Sitting here with proper back-to-school Sunday night feeling ....I don't dislike my job totally at the mo, just think I could do with a bit of a break/slower pace for a while! Still..... Hoping this will be good motivation for a frugal week to free up those opportunities for the future going forward.

Not spent a thing this weekend which I'm v impressed with...didn't lock ourselves in like hermits either !:rotfl: had various social gatherings which we bought food and drink to from what we already have in the house so feeling pleased with that little achievement!

Decluttering quite a bit at the mo but taking to charity as feeling a tidier house outweighs time and effort for eBay ( I'm really not convinced it would sell well either!)

Get paid this week with new pay adjustment , feel like a kid at Xmas seeing how much in pay packet that actually works outdated. All will be going into the OP/ remortgage pot! :j:j

Food spends slightly curtailed/under control with more meals planned so feeling positive can make some savings in this direction!

On a Sunday note, off to make a cuppa and catch up on Strictly from last night ....on the exciting life I lead!!