Holey Moley!

killerpeaty

I don't know how much it costs, or how to find a good one.  But it's written now so I have to do it. That's how it works right?

I feel bad for woody, he's been through a lot this last year and now I'm kicking him out too. But it's better for him to go to a foster home than a kennel I think. I think he would struggle with such a big change, I plan on giving over all of his things so it'll smell familiar at least.

I have realised that I only have a year of my fix left. My monthly payments look like they will increase by £300 a month. This is huge. So I'm trying to formulate a plan. Should I start paying £300 extra a month now so the principal goes goes quicker and I'm used to the higher payment. Should I save and lock away the £300 a month to get used to the higher payment but have the flexibility to access it. Should I continue the way I am which means building up my emergency fund fairly quickly. I'm trying to think what is best for me. I think I need to look at my emergency fund and how close it is to my goal.

I'm only 2 months away from paying my mum for my car so that's £100. Just £200 to find. I do have a higher salary but for now the increase in salary mainly goes on travel. In about a month I will probably start working from home for 2 days a week. Which will save £30 a week (a week is £90, the daily is £20). This leaves me with £100 to find. I could try to do more surveys or get a second job. I could stall my savings/investing. None of these are pleasurable options for me. Surveys are okay but I go insane if I go at that a lot a lot. A second job would require permission from my current job and I honestly don't think I could physically cope. I will be upset if I don't keep saving. So I think looking at reducing costs is the must here.

Sadly, I've had to say no to a big Christmas event which would have been incredible but over £300 but it's 6pm-12am and bed time is 9pm. It was more the money than anything but wow. 

themadvix

I am a firm believer in therapy - it's great to have someone help you to sort throught your thoughts and feelings and help you see new perspectives. It will cost though, but it's not a forever thing.

Could you compromise on the last £100 and split it between reductions and extra earnings? It's not too difficult to get to £50 on Prolific in a month and that would ease the pressure on your budget. Or could you split it three ways with a £30 reduction in savings? I totally get why you wouldn't want to - just throwing it out there as an option.

killerpeaty

Thanks Vix. I think it'll be worth it, but first need to deal with the dog situation. Once I've done that, I'll see how my fatigue is for a few weeks as the allergy hopefully clears my system. Atm I'm struggling with the whole being awake thing.

I think I've decided to open a specific savings account for my increased mortgage payment practice, try to get as much interest without locking in for over 3 months. I'll be looking to open this in the next few days, just need to find the best account for me.

I think I've been in the waiting list for prolific for over a year. I'm not sure why they don't love me! I make the £50 pay out for y live about every 2 months. Honestly I'm not very dedicated. I've been allocating it to car boot spends. Sorta like guilt free spends.

So it looks like I can save £500 a month as long as I rein in my spending (ignoring the mortgage). So I shall allocate £300 to mortgage practice, £100 to holiday and £100 to general savings. The holiday is until Feb and then will be slashed to £25.

So it was my mum's birthday some point recently. We have gifted her a holiday to new Zealand (with me). It's once in a lifetime for a big birthday. She freaked out and wouldn't talk to me for a while lol. I guess I know where my inability to process big emotions comes from! I've been planning and saving for years for this so I'm ecstatic for our big trip.

Merlin's_Beard

New Zealand sounds like the holiday of a lifetime! Very jealous of that. Maybe one day. It's always a bit disturbing when you realise all the ways you are your own mother though! Re the dog - it is genuinely better sometimes to rehome to someone that has the resources (including time) to do right by them, and a nice dog will find a nice home. Sounds like a decent allocation of your savings funds as well.

killerpeaty

Yeah, I'm very excited. Is now a good time to say I've never been on a plane before?  I got flights for £1.5k each which honestly isn't as much as I thought. Didn't book anything else because it's a holiday that my mum has been dreaming about since she was a teen and thought it wouldn't be fair to not let her choose! We are going to come up with our top ten things and at least one must each and then work from there.

I have made a miscalculation.. did not include my pension deduction as work has deferred it for three months! I'm not 100% sure how much less my net will be at this point so errrrrrrr. It basically should only be calculated using the NI threshold or overall gross. But I'm not in payroll while I am happy to calculate it, I won't be confident until I see it.

I know he'll be better off with a loving home who can play with him and love him and let him do his doggy licky thing. But I will miss him. When I come home, he usually comes out of the flat and parades around me to welcome me home and I won't have any little friend to do that any more. At night he lays against my bed until he thinks I'm asleep and then will wonder to his bed in the hall. He then periodically will come into my room through the night to check on me. I only know because sometimes I'm awake when he does it. The only people he doesn't like are vets (sorry Merlin). I've been putting him into a harness to get him ready and now started on getting him comfortable with a muzzle. Only a few seconds at a time at the moment but want to make sure he knows it will come off. He doesn't struggle or anything, just want him to be okay.

Moneyfordreams

New Zealand will be a fantastic trip - well done for surprising your mum like that 

killerpeaty

Hi mfd! I think mum's are meant to be spoilt every once in a while (ditto to dads but I don't have the chance). 

Sorry if this comes across as woe is me... But woe is me. Today woody left for his foster home, he's so sweet and was very good. My neighbour wanted to say goodbye to him so that was sweet. Been giving him all of the treats, guilt treats. At the weekend I was quite poorly on Saturday but took him to a carboot on Sunday. He was so good! Although, he boops people on the leg when he wants a fuss. He did it to this one girl and she literally ran! Poor girl, I was doing my best to stop him but he had so many people to boop. He was so excited to be around people but did get tired towards the end. I bought myself a hot dog with onions but woody launched towards the seats aaaannnnnnnd I lost my onions. He met the volunteer driver and just hopped in the car and as they were driving away, I could see that he was in the middle looking where he's going. I got a phone call by the charity and apparently he has his first walk and already rolled in something stinky so he's happy. But I totally and completely feel like I've betrayed him and failed him. I know I shouldn't and hopefully after a sleep I won't but right now... 

themadvix

Oh KP! It sounds like you gave him a wonderful send off and his first happy home. You did what you had to do given your allergies. It sounds like he is coping ok. Be kind to yourself today and know that you did the right thing. X

beanielou

You did what you had to do.
Be kind to yourself.

Merlin's_Beard

You did what was right for him, and that's all anyone can ask you to.

Dogs that are even relatively well adjusted are gold dust in rescue at the minute and the ones I see go in and out again faster than you can blink.

It's completely fine to give yourself space to mourn though - same as any relationship where no one is in the wrong but it's not the right place, or the right time.