Wow, things are a bit different

LondonLiz

A long time lurker, I’ve been both moved and impressed over the years at the kindness, determination & resilience of people on the debt free boards. So time to join them all. So technically I am not in debt at the moment (other than an alarming mortgage). However I left my job recently and don’t have a new one sorted out yet so I have no income at all! I have a decent savings cushion to fall back on for some time to come but obviously I’d rather not eat into those too much.

To manage this change in circumstances I need to find a new approach to spending and start budgeting, which I’ve not really had to do for a long time (somehow I have always been able to live within my means without a rigid budget, though I am not very MSE in some areas). Even when I do start working again I will then need to top the savings back up. It’s also quite possible the next job won’t be at the same salary level so I could be earning less and if I only get temp roles I’ll need to continue to have a buffer for those period of unemployment between contracts as well.

About me - I am single, no kids, early 50’s, live alone, scary mortgage has 16 years to go and I have little in the way of financial commitments outside of supporting myself (all my family are abroad). I don’t own a car and am not extravagant in my lifestyle on a day to day basis. However I do like adventurous holidays which can get expensive and I spend more on food than is probably reasonable for one person. I also have a tendency to ‘upsell’ myself when buying stuff like appliances, furniture or technology in order to get better quality or to feel ’safe’ in the purchase. My flat needs some significant spending on it this year; various things are now falling apart/stopped working/dying/look awful. I’m terrible at DIY, fearful of getting quotes & finding tradespeople (after previous bad experiences) and even worse at procrastinating so that’s not a great combination!

I’m hoping a diary will help me monitor my spending and think through some of the choices I make and stop the mindless frittering away of money with little to show for it. Plus it will give me something to do whilst unemployed. Please feel free to comment!

doingitanyway

So many of the things you have written could have been written by me.
I hope you find keeping a diary as helpful as I have.
Good luck and I look forward to following your progress.

Chrystal

Hi LL and welcome!
I'm sure you'll fit in and soon feel very much at home here, as everyone is so supportive and encouraging.

brizzlegirl

Good to ‘see’ you..welcome to the diaries

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

Homegrown0

Just stopping by to say hello! I hope you find the diary useful to keep you on the straight and narrow. Do you have a plan in place for the job front?

katsu

Looking for a job here too. I recommend using cheaper supermarkets and/or the local fruit and veg market stalls. The advantage of not working is being able to visit the market and having time on your hands, for example, to walk to the town centre and back instead of spending money travelling.

For trades - I personally have had great outcomes from using checkatrade. Found some great people there. Also, maybe ask the neighbours about their experiences?

LondonLiz

I'm wearing shorts. At Easter. In the UK. Just don't mention climate change! (At least the Extinction Rebellion protestors had nice weather......oops).

Went to the gym today, partly just to get out out of the flat as by mid afternoon it's boiling hot from the sun pouring in. Sat in the local park afterwards and read my book while eating a Solero. I'm hoping the calorie balance is therefore about neutral.

Everyone - thanks for stopping by (and good luck with the job hunting Katsu).

I am not doing enough job hunting really, need to crack on but tbh have not been very keen on going back to work. I left my last job as was very burnt out after 7+ years in a very full on role that started to really get me down, and it's taking some time to get back my enthusiasm and energy. I sort of have a job hunting plan in that I know what I DON'T want to do. This does help narrow it down a bit as actually in my industry there are lots of options and it can be as hard to decide what NOT to apply for as what I should. No point being miserable again even if it pays loads. On the other hand I cannot get TOO fussy, obviously. I'm doing all the usual things - agencies, linked in, job boards & networks. It is certainly easier now I am are not working and don't have to keep it all secret.

Household spending wise, I do shop at Aldi mostly and Poundland for my cleaning stuff so am no shopping snob but just need to watch what I actually buy. Not great at actually eating the food I buy or planning ahead a lot. That's one of the things that needs to change.

Anyway happy easter everyone. I have not yet eaten a Hot Cross bun or Easter eggs but tomorrow that will change (yellow sticker day, yee ha)

LondonLiz

Didn't leave the flat today, not even when it got really hot again this afternoon. So at least nothing spent, but also meant wasted a lovely day and didn't make it to the gym. Can't always explain why I have these write off days but I do,more often than I like to admit. Just cannot get the enthusiasm to get up & out. On the upside read several Debt busting diaries on here and most of my book!



Anyway I have to go out tomorrow as have run out of basics including milk so will try to go via the gym. I only have about a month left of half price membership (via ex-employer) then will have to decide whether to pay for full membership or let it lapse. Resent paying full price as the gym is not great, quite basic and some of the users are quite selfish & irritating and the staff do nothing about it. But I need the exercise for both physical and mental health benefits. Can't go back to running due to injury and am realistic that I won't work out at home. Anyway will park that decision for a while longer.



Hope other people reading this have had a nice Easter.

beanielou

I have days like that.
Like you far more often than I want to admit.

doingitanyway

LondonLiz wrote: »

Can't always explain why I have these write off days but I do,more often than I like to admit. Just cannot get the enthusiasm to get up & out.

beanielou wrote: »

I have days like that.
Like you far more often than I want to admit.

Me too As you say you will go out tomorrow so no worries.