Countdown from £28k...

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

@ryanm8655 End must be in sight now mate?

Feel your pain on the Amex lol that’s why I kept two credit cards in my wallet. Not used my current account for spending since uni unless cash only purchases.

I think you need to work out if you could hack being an Economist long term - if it’s in a different role I’m sure you can make some moves strategically to bridge into the field of it you’re interested in. You spend a long time working mate. Tbf there are aspects to any job that’s tedious imo. Thing I’d find hardest about your career is being stuck at a desk for the whole of the working day, everyday; Law no different in that respect I imagine but more client facing. 

I may do the MBA in a few years if it’s still being offered but not that bothered if I’ll have to fully fund it myself lol. Apprenticeship funding works a lot different for SMEs than for the government I imagine mate but for my business I only have to pay 5% of the cost of training. It’s funded through the apprenticeship levy which larger businesses have to pay into: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/key-facts-you-should-know-about-the-apprenticeship-levy You do have to give time for study but not necessarily a whole day every week lol.

Considered asking you about the fragrances but really could do without buying!

Yeah, you're right. Feeling like the job isn't right again today haha. It's like a weird form of bipolar. Nothing especially bad happened. Had a senior management team meeting and we were discussing what the team needs going forward. I found it hard to contribute as I didn't feel I've done the role long enough (though it seemed like insight was still needed), plus it won't be my team going forward as I'm covering maternity until May and will be reallocated then. The person replacing me isn't an economist and while what I'm doing now is bread and butter government economics (policy appraisal), the discussion opened my eyes to the stuff I don't know how to do (not economics). A lot of the roles at my level are multi-disciplinary so you're expected to be an all rounder (have the social research/operational research/statistician skills too) and I'm just not that interested in that stuff and it feels like a real mountain to climb. Another reason I'd like to just start again with a career that is right ha. In a much better position than I was though, earning 50% more than I was at the start of this journey near enough and no longer stagnant and have that drive to work hard back at least.

Being office based is less of an issue for me, I just want to enjoy the work , find it mentally stimulating and feel I am good at the job. Will still look into the masters but I think I need to hedge my bets and get on the law wagon at the weekend so that that ship doesn't sail and I regret it as you say.

Haha, yeah I've banned myself from fragrance purchases tbh. Seen some bargains but hard to make money on them outside of the FB groups (which are supposed to be non-profit) and not as much of a market as the creeds...

BlytheDoll said:

WOW, fantastic amount that you have now cleared, I bet you cannot wait for that to be lower than 3k as it will seem like pennies in comparison to where you started, and in only over slightly more than 12 months! I don’t know how you felt at the beginning of your debt busting and how long you thought it would take to clear, but amazing result.

Regarding your work, I started out as a 17 year old straight from dropping out of sixth form (due to parent death) straight into a CS job and stayed there for almost 15 years different department to yourself, but as a 17 year old there were people who had been working there at the time for the whole of their lives, I was always the youngest from the moment I started to the moment I left (maternity, and then didn’t go back). I am sure it’s the same in your dept, long standing employees, hard to climb the ladder and very few roles for promotion. I was always very surprised when system changes or new rules came into effect, the *older* knew would hate it, they wanted everything to stay as it was. I always felt that some of these people were so comfy in their jobs they did not not put in that extra effort or time, and I felt that sometimes the hard work and effort I put in was not seen, or the efforts are not rewarded like they would be in a private company. Can’t remember what the MJ fox movie is called (the one where he works his way up the company) however the CS is totally opposite of that. For me a couple of years in I started out doing a number of college courses. I would be at work all day and then straight to college for hours and then sometimes would not get back until 9.30pm, I did 3 college courses at the same time and over 2 years worked and studied really hard. Fast forward now, I am a director of my own company (started when I was on maternity leave from CS), employing staff etc. in a totally different area from what I was doing in the CS and even on my college courses, however... had I not worked for the CS, or started my own company I would not be where I am today, the skills, the rollercoaster of life, the listening and learning along the way, have all brought me here. One huge benefit of being employed early in the CS was at the age of 18 I got a mortgage, so maybe before you change ship a CS job on a mortgage application will look great! Not sure of your age, I am only early 40s so I do look back over the last 20 odd years and I know if I had not made that change I would still be there in the CS, like most of the others who I worked with still are or are (or now retired!)
Blythe x

Yeah, tbh like @alt80 it felt an insurmountable and painful task at the start but it's amazing now the end is so close. I had small wins along the way that helped me feel good about progress (getting all the debt to 0% was a big one). But there have been ups and downs, a bit like with the job haha.

That's cool about how your career has worked out. I'd love to work for myself but not into my job enough to pursue that as a self-employed consultant. I don't really feel good enough to charge people for my time haha. But maybe there is a niche out there...so it's having an idea and one that will make me enough money for it to be worth the risk...Not sure of the movie but I think the CS structure makes it difficult to get that senior. Of course someone has to do it but the number of jobs really diminishes after my grade.

Will see how things go with the mortgage, still torn between getting my own place to rent and sharing so I can save more. Leaning towards the former, even if for a little while (a year). As morbid as it is, I am due to inherit a small sum when an elderly relative passes. It isn't enough for a deposit but would be a good chunk towards one so if I could build up a decent pot then I can top it up with that in the future.

MidsHollie said:

Hey Ryan, 
Wow, look at how well you are doing. Almost finished, and it’s only taken just over a year. I bet you are really proud. Are you looking forward to what you’ll be able to do in the new year with all that new cash you’ll have when you don’t have debt to pay? 

Haha, not going to lie I have been looking at cooler cars, flats for rent etc. Will enjoy myself for a little while (corona dependent) but will not be getting into debt again...

Update:

Have sold another fragrance for £125 so will stick £100 of that towards the cards, was tempted by buying some other bargains but resisted. Finding them trickier to sell on now (I guess everyone is tightening the purse strings for christmas).

Have started contributing more at home, a few shopping trips, so anticipating those spends going up a bit again as in the first lockdown (though not to the same extent).

Also had to top up fuel in the car so that's another big spend by my current standards...then of course christmast to think about next month.

Not sure I'll manage to clear the full c.£3.5k by the end of the month, would take some sales to come in, which isn't looking likely. But will see how it goes.

Tensions are high at home again. Feeling like it's time to step up and help more around the house (did do housework etc. over the weekend) as another adult member of the family has had some bad health news (recently found out they'd had a couple of strokes and now it turns out it's due to some kind of blood disorder that is a form of cancer, which leads to high risk of strokes and heart attacks). It's all treatable (will have to take chemo pills for the rest of their life) but obviously they're a bit down (didn't want to get out of bed today) and one of the symptoms of treatment is longterm chronic fatigue. Was a lot easier to step up before as my job wasn't consuming so much of my time/energy but once this busy period is out of the way I might take some time off. I'm feeling quite sensitive myself today, combination of being tired, questioning the job and my existence () plus probably a bit of the family stress rubbing off. Kids were driving me mental answering back and being nasty to each other. I've been better at stepping back of late and just ignoring it and leaving the parents to parent but found it a lot harder today not to involve myself. A few months ago I'd probably have had a bottle of wine or a few beers and it's probaly the first time I've been tempted to stress drink in a while, haven't though so I guess that's a positive. But sort of feel like I don't care about my job again, though am holding it together and working hard. Popped over to my Grandma's for a bit of escape though she's ill herself ha.

Sure I'll wake up feeling better tomorrow, ha. The yoyo/rollercoaster of life...

alt80

Mate I do wonder sometimes if you're searching for something that doesn't exist re work so get the 'career bipolar'. I think there's elements to almost all jobs that are a bit rubbish tbh. From what you say money wise you're taking around £4.5k/m after tax and presumably with some gold plated pension that means you can retire at 50 earning same amount of money, that's not bad at all. Outside of London you could have a very good life on that money if you're not too stupid with it as a single bloke. 

I know plenty of solicitors yeah they earn well but not amazingly well - tbf this is Nottingham though. Anyhow, I'm not 100 convinced Law is as amazing as you've sold it to yourself but if nothing else will do, you'll always regret not going for it.  Also don't forget your income is practically guaranteed - a lot of us in the private sector don't have that luxury. Not gonna lie I'm probably questioning my life choices somewhat right now staring down the barrel of earning f**k all for the next few months if this FA doesn't come off ha. I might run my own business but I'm not in that rarefied atmosphere where I've forgotten what !!!!!! even looks like. Most people in business aren't, know a few guys who've gone through both company insolvency and personal bankruptcy in the property game. One of them wife left him as soon as she found out, only kept his home because he was in negative equity (last recession), no business, cars nothing. Told me last year or year before he's got no idea how he'll clear the capital on his res home (i/o).

You've got me looking at fragrances FML not an enthusiast in the same way as you but not gonna lie I've been looking. If I'm buying something new I like to buy from shop though so not too tempted. Big thanks on noseparis still not ordered yet - they don't take amex and statement comes for m/c any day wife snooping still.

100 can't blame you for planning to enjoy yourself once out of debt. Home life doesn't sound too good - place of your own very much needed for you imo. Literally feels like my debt will never end, suppose I've faced up to it being cards then RR then working on PGs too. All more than a bit depressing really. Probably sounds weird but I'm glad I've got my family and home for first time in my life.

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

Mate I do wonder sometimes if you're searching for something that doesn't exist re work so get the 'career bipolar'. I think there's elements to almost all jobs that are a bit rubbish tbh. From what you say money wise you're taking around £4.5k/m after tax and presumably with some gold plated pension that means you can retire at 50 earning same amount of money, that's not bad at all. Outside of London you could have a very good life on that money if you're not too stupid with it as a single bloke. 

I know plenty of solicitors yeah they earn well but not amazingly well - tbf this is Nottingham though. Anyhow, I'm not 100 convinced Law is as amazing as you've sold it to yourself but if nothing else will do, you'll always regret not going for it.  Also don't forget your income is practically guaranteed - a lot of us in the private sector don't have that luxury. Not gonna lie I'm probably questioning my life choices somewhat right now staring down the barrel of earning f**k all for the next few months if this FA doesn't come off ha. I might run my own business but I'm not in that rarefied atmosphere where I've forgotten what !!!!!! even looks like. Most people in business aren't, know a few guys who've gone through both company insolvency and personal bankruptcy in the property game. One of them wife left him as soon as she found out, only kept his home because he was in negative equity (last recession), no business, cars nothing. Told me last year or year before he's got no idea how he'll clear the capital on his res home (i/o).

You've got me looking at fragrances FML not an enthusiast in the same way as you but not gonna lie I've been looking. If I'm buying something new I like to buy from shop though so not too tempted. Big thanks on noseparis still not ordered yet - they don't take amex and statement comes for m/c any day wife snooping still.

100 can't blame you for planning to enjoy yourself once out of debt. Home life doesn't sound too good - place of your own very much needed for you imo. Literally feels like my debt will never end, suppose I've faced up to it being cards then RR then working on PGs too. All more than a bit depressing really. Probably sounds weird but I'm glad I've got my family and home for first time in my life.

Yeah, quite possibly...not quite that much ha! More like £3700 after pension and student loan are deducted (still paying student loan so I guess that’s a small payrise to look forward to in god knows how long). And the pension isn’t what it was before I joined, I have to work until 68 to get it at the moment ha and it keeps going up...Can take a lesser pension and retire earlier though. It’s average salary, which is decent but not the final salary of old.

It’s not so much dealing with crap at work though, I just don’t fancy spending my spare time learning about statistical methods and learning how to write code ha. Which is basically what I need to do to excel. Part of the reason a masters would be good as it would be refreshing some of that stuff, while being paid and getting a formal qualification for it. I enjoy the thinking through costs and benefits and how to monetise them, even the excel modelling can be quite fun and logical. Law will have it’s boring bits too but I do think I’d enjoy working with words more, the logical thinking to solve problems, applying it in a commercial way. Of course it has its downsides, e.g. less job security in downturns, longer hours on the whole (my current job isn’t typical of civil service) and I’m sure elements of private sector bureaucracy will be annoying e.g. billable hours targets, filling in timesheets allocated to client accounts etc. (Didn’t enjoy that in my accountancy days) but do feel I know what I’m letting myself in for. If it was guaranteed then I’d do the conversion course tomorrow. It’s just putting everything into it for a year and then not getting a training contract would really suck and it’d feel like a year wasted where I could’ve just focussed on what I’m doing. I feel like I wouldn’t mind a job like that becoming my life, at least I’d be well compensated for that as well. Plus it’s the possibilities of working abroad, can do the job anywhere, can see paths into areas of interest (e.g. sports or property law).

Civil service (in central government at least) expect it to become your life (in terms of reading up on latest theories and learning latest techniques etc. in your spare time), which is tricky when you don’t love it. I think you have to love the analysis to not think about the political/ideological element of the stuff you’re working on as well.

I must admit though, being public sector in a downturn is nice. None of my mates have lost their jobs so far but law firms are making a lot of cuts and a few have been furloughed/must have some anxiety about future redundancy. My uncle seems very stressed at the moment, basically firing people on a weekly basis and must be a bit squeaky bum about him being next...

I know what you mean re: family and home. A part of me wonders if once I have that it’ll settle me down and put things into perspective. And perhaps I’ll be a bit happier about where I am and appreciate it...if I met someone who earns the same then life would be pretty comfortable until children

The mates I have that are married/have families (that are in the same sort of job) are far more content to just sit at this level and take the easy money. The thought of being a civil service lifer genuinely fills me with dread though, ha. At the very least I’d need to move into a better role that aligns with my interests.

IrishSean

Hey Ryan😀👋

Just wanted to post wd on your paydown fella, you'd just dipped under the 10k last time I was on. 

If I miss it here's a covid-friendly virtual slice of cake to celebrate!

🍰

Sarahwithlove

In the current climate there's a lot to be positive about when it comes to working for government. I know it's hard when there's parts of your job that you don't enjoy but you will get that with every job. In terms of stuff you don't know that will also come with time. If you did the masters at work would that give you the chance to move into a role more suited to what you want?
Whilst it sounds like law is what you have set your heart on doing I can't help but wonder how big of a risk it is to take in current climate. 
I agree with Alt that if things improve at home you'd probably find the frustrations of work easier to deal with. 

vixx_123

I've been following your diary with interest as you've paid off so much so quickly! Your job sounds fairly similar to mine (I'm a research/analysis/statistics geek) but I get paid a lot less in the public sector! I'm more about numbers than words though 🙂 but I get the career bipolar. I was going down the academic route just over a year ago and couldn't make up my mind what career I wanted (explored loads of different options). I even applied to be a statistician years ago in the civil service!

ryanm8655

IrishSean said:

Hey Ryan😀👋

Just wanted to post wd on your paydown fella, you'd just dipped under the 10k last time I was on. 

If I miss it here's a covid-friendly virtual slice of cake to celebrate!

🍰

Haha, thanks for checking in, had noted you hadn’t been on in a while. Hope you’re well!

Sarahwithlove said:

In the current climate there's a lot to be positive about when it comes to working for government. I know it's hard when there's parts of your job that you don't enjoy but you will get that with every job. In terms of stuff you don't know that will also come with time. If you did the masters at work would that give you the chance to move into a role more suited to what you want?
Whilst it sounds like law is what you have set your heart on doing I can't help but wonder how big of a risk it is to take in current climate. 
I agree with Alt that if things improve at home you'd probably find the frustrations of work easier to deal with. 

Thanks for the reply. Sensible advice. Yeah, I agree it’s a big risk...will see what happens with the masters. If I can do it then it will open up more interesting roles and ones with private sector exit opportunities potentially, though would have to play the career to perfection.

Also true re: learning stuff with time. The thing that is tricky at the moment is that I’ve been out of central government doing very niche stuff, so haven’t had the breadth of experience/exposure to all of the analytical techniques. I’ve got back into the groove of impact assessments quickly though, which I also hadn’t done in a long time. I’m probably overthinking it to some extent...once this busy period is over I hope to sign up to some internal learning on coding etc. 

In the last couple of days I’ve stopped working to help with dinner for a couple of hours and then gone back to it afterwards. That seems to help a bit both in terms of giving me a mental refresh and appeasing family. Also ensures I don’t let things get too much and have a timeout. 

Think my own space will help for sure. It is tough working around people/kids/dog when I don’t have an office/private area to work.

vixx_123 said:

I've been following your diary with interest as you've paid off so much so quickly! Your job sounds fairly similar to mine (I'm a research/analysis/statistics geek) but I get paid a lot less in the public sector! I'm more about numbers than words though 🙂 but I get the career bipolar. I was going down the academic route just over a year ago and couldn't make up my mind what career I wanted (explored loads of different options). I even applied to be a statistician years ago in the civil service!

Ahh interesting, I assume you’re in local government or similar? I do find that you get some very qualified and underpaid people (basically working a couple of grades below where they would be) outside of central government (I was at a regulator previously).

Interesting that you get the career bipolar too. I think that’s part of my problem, I was naturally good at most subjects at school and really struggled to decide what I wanted to do. Law was the only one I really wanted to do but I chose not to due to my circumstances at the time and picked economics on a whim as I thought it’d be a combo of maths and words. I’ve always regretted that and while I’m not bad at what I do, I’m not passionate. I really want to do something I’m passionate about but at the same time, it’s a big risk. Nice to know it isn’t just me with the bipolar haha. If you need any help with apps or anything in the future then feel free to give me a shout. 

A small update: another £46 down as my DD for the last card came out today. Have about £750 in my account to last until payday. The main expense to come is the AMEX bill which currently stands at about £290 - but my bill closes at the weekend so any further spending would be in next months bill...only just checked that so that means I’ve done really well in spends. Shows what happens when I ban myself from
buying fragrances haha. So actually, clearing by the end of the month could be on the cards...but I’m paid on the last working day of the month usually so would depend on my December payday being brought forward to before my Amex bill being due. December payday is usually earlier so hoping it should work out...

alt80

@ryanm8655 hadn't realised that was the case with pensions etc. Yeah £3.7k/m not a massive amount first thought is I don't think I could live on it but can't live on my income don't read too much into that. It shouldn't really be too bad for a single bloke outside London, tbh only a couple of my staff see that or more as take home so it should be more than liveable. Think you might struggle in London though imo?

Iswym re career / civil service. Seems to be as much about the job for you as the money? Tbh I do get that, I couldn't do your job I don't think money aside just wouldn't be right for me.

The job security definitely an upside. If my company isn't profit making I see next to nothing paying myself in the current way. Got the BTLs which I could take more sit back not worry about growth or PGs etc but not enough to offset income from main business. Iirc your uncle sees a bit more than I do - in an employed position I'd say that's a very precarious position to be in depending on the company / role etc. Can see why he lives in a new build and drives a 5 series to an extent especially if been stung before. I probably still wouldn't be able to control myself tbf but most people probably are a bit more reserved with their money lol.

Family hasn't made me sit back re business other stuff made me coast a bit over the last few years. I probably spent too long almost denying I even had a kid tbf though so hardly a glowing example but definitely trying to appreciate him and the Mrs a bit more she's not finding this easy either but doesn't have the addictive personality so can take or leave stuff a lot more readily than me. Grateful she's propping me up tbh I wouldn't prop me up if I were her I'd probably run a !!!!!! mile haha.

Can't imagine you're going to meet a girl who doesn't want to work in London, mine is bit of a 'special case' in that regard ha and son wouldn't have been too expensive at all without the school but suppose if Mrs had a job there'd be a similar amount in childcare.

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

@ryanm8655 hadn't realised that was the case with pensions etc. Yeah £3.7k/m not a massive amount first thought is I don't think I could live on it but can't live on my income don't read too much into that. It shouldn't really be too bad for a single bloke outside London, tbh only a couple of my staff see that or more as take home so it should be more than liveable. Think you might struggle in London though imo?

Iswym re career / civil service. Seems to be as much about the job for you as the money? Tbh I do get that, I couldn't do your job I don't think money aside just wouldn't be right for me.

The job security definitely an upside. If my company isn't profit making I see next to nothing paying myself in the current way. Got the BTLs which I could take more sit back not worry about growth or PGs etc but not enough to offset income from main business. Iirc your uncle sees a bit more than I do - in an employed position I'd say that's a very precarious position to be in depending on the company / role etc. Can see why he lives in a new build and drives a 5 series to an extent especially if been stung before. I probably still wouldn't be able to control myself tbf but most people probably are a bit more reserved with their money lol.

Family hasn't made me sit back re business other stuff made me coast a bit over the last few years. I probably spent too long almost denying I even had a kid tbf though so hardly a glowing example but definitely trying to appreciate him and the Mrs a bit more she's not finding this easy either but doesn't have the addictive personality so can take or leave stuff a lot more readily than me. Grateful she's propping me up tbh I wouldn't prop me up if I were her I'd probably run a !!!!!! mile haha.

Can't imagine you're going to meet a girl who doesn't want to work in London, mine is bit of a 'special case' in that regard ha and son wouldn't have been too expensive at all without the school but suppose if Mrs had a job there'd be a similar amount in childcare.

To be honest I think £3.7k is fine to sustain the lifestyle of a single guy, I won't be able to buy a 911 willy nilly but to be honest, in London I don't even need a car. While I got myself in a lot of debt previously, I do think I could afford that lifestyle comfortably now, without the debt repayments and with the extra income. A lot of the debt accumulated when I was earning considerably less and I came to London with about £10k debt hanging over me. So from there it was a bit of a vicious cycle, although my tastes became more expensive I've always been paying a big chunk of my disposable income to debt. I probably spent about 3 years bouncing between £27-30k debt as I cleared cards down and spent on them again.

As a single bloke or even if I did meet someone I'd be quite happy with a nice 2 bed flat relatively central/in a decent spot of London. Even my well off friends live in flats (even if some of them are penthouse duplexes...). As I say, while I like cars and would love a 911 or something fun at some point, I accept I won't be able to afford a brand new one and also don't especially need a car in London. If I want a cool car I'll have to make sacrifices for it or earn more. I'd be able to afford a decent holiday and a few city breaks each year, particularly if I don't bother with a car. My main expense will probably be eating and drinking out and that's what makes me happiest to be honest, socialising. I'll be able to afford that. Things would be easier and more comfortable if I earned more, e.g. could save for a deposit, get a fun car and have the fun lifestyle but I'm kind of over that now. Being down about not being able to have it all would just drive me to overspending and debt again and it's not like I'd be living on rice and looking out of my window longingly. I'll be out most weekends no doubt. If I met someone to split the housing costs with and who earned similar to me (most girls I dated probably earned more ha) then I think I'd be pretty comfortable. I like my nice watches but if I didn't go out for a month then that's an Omega paid for cash (would never buy new anyway), not having a rolex isn't exactly a hardship and if one day I have cleared my mortgage/have more money/have a windfall then I can buy one then. My only concern money wise is if I met someone and wanted to have kids, my salary wouldn't be enough to sustain a family in London. But that may never happen anyway, ha.

To be honest I was never really terrible for purchases, I would buy clothes etc. without even thinking about the impact on my bank balance/debt at times but usually only when I needed something. Other than the odd ralph lauren shirt I'm quite happy with stuff from M&S and Charles Thyrwhitt, not fussed about the really high end stuff. Like nice shoes but again I usually go for VFM brands, like Loakes rather than Church's and won't need anything for a while. My big vice has always been the eating and the drinking. I would go on a few expensive holidays but it wasn't really about being flash, wasn't staying in high end resorts or anything, that's never been my bag. So I'm not too worried about lifestyle. I can't see myself being the party animal I used to be, going out 4/5 times a week as I wouldn't get away with it anymore and I have a bit more direction now.

I can understand the kid situation to be honest. And I guess that's my fear financially, it'd be nice to be comfortable enough to maintain the nice lifestyle with a child.

TBH the only time I feel crap about what I earn is when I think about people who earn more ha. I think half my problem with debt has been down to this aspiration to one day earn enough that I just automatically save, moving to a job where I get a bonus that's the size of a house deposit. All the while doing nothing to get to that, just having an assumption that I will at some point ha. But I'm beginning to appreciate that I can have a very nice life even if I do stick with the current career. It's difficult, that kick in the gut you feel when you hear someone earning X% more and getting huge bonuses (I'm guessing you get a similar feeling when you see people in your line of work with more property/the 7 figure house etc.). It does make me wish I'd made different career choices but then they'd have been riskier. I'm beginning to come around to this idea that there is no point in bemoaning the choices I made in the past, if I want to earn more money then I need to do something about my situation rather than just feel crap about it. If I want to be a home owner then I need to sacrifice and save. If I want a cool car then again I need to sacrifice and save. If I want to invest in property or whatever else then again I need to sacrifice and save to do that. Then reap the rewards later. If I choose to spend my money on material things or don't choose to apply myself in my career because I'm down about the fact I'll never have a ferrari no matter how hard I work, then I can't moan about people earning more than me, or having a bigger house than me, or having a bigger property portfolio...I need to sacrifice one way or another to get there.

I'm sure I'll have those feeling !!!!!! moments again but this journey has definitely changed my mindset in a lot of ways.

Can't believe how quickly the weeks are going. Payday feels like yesterday and I'm only a couple of weeks off of another.

On the debt front, I've cleared another £46 from Virgin (DD) and I've closed the Natwest altogether (have Barclaycard still open just for the credit utilisation score to be lower). Today is credit card statement day and it is sub £300, the lowest ever. Payment doesn't come out until the end of the month but means I should be able to clear all my debt on pay day. I've also sold another fragrance (though they haven't paid yet - ebay).

vixx_123

I get you on the family front. I'm early thirties and I can't imagine supporting a family on my income (and working to pay childcare for someone else to look after my kid). I'm also a woman, and I know it's 2020 etc etc, but I do feel like the practical and emotional load falls unevenly on women. (Let's not get in to the fact that my relationship is on the rocks and he doesn't want kids).
I also compare my earnings against other people, although this is only fleeting for me as big house, nice car blah blah isn't for me. It's more that I value myself and my qualifications highly and I feel like I should be rewarded for such...however it's really a case of being over-degreed (PhD etc) rather than over-experienced.