Moving forward and upwards

Skint_yet_Again

It’s very difficult to leave a secure job for the unknown isn’t it. I can understand your reluctance when wanting to remortgage too. Even counting down the months / years doesn’t make it any easier. I would love to have a job I enjoy and tried to change career a few years ago with some training courses but jobs in the animal care industry are few and far between here in the south with hundreds of applications. I got to final interview with PD sa but they wanted 12 hour contract with me being available to cover at short notice for sick / holiday and I wanted to do both jobs so I stayed where I was and increased my hours. Was too scared of being left only paid for 12 hours, too risky 

MovingForwards

Thanks Skinty

I've also considered animal work, but would end up bringing the unwanted ones home!

20 hours is a nice amount, the money is good and there's enough free time to do other things.

It's not so much the unknown as I am looking, just in case something perfect pops up. More like I've got my plans, everything is worked out and I want to try and achieve each step with minimal interruption. 

At the moment my basic outgoings are just under £1470pm, the remainder of my income is into savings. I have to stay earning my current income.
- Obviously when the car is paid off that money will go back into the mortgage and pension.

With the car and mortgage paid off my basic outgoings will be under £600pm; based on today's money. 
- Meaning I can work for a lot less as anything over £600pm would go into savings.

Remortgaging I've the option of:
- sticking with the full term and saving,
- throwing 10% per year at it until 2027, while saving during the fixed term, then paying the remaining balance in 2028.
- clearing it in 2030 as originally planned,

To me it seems like a no-brainer to get the mortgage paid off then:
- work PT,
- temp for about 6 months a year,

- keep working FT for 2 years and retire in 2030.

It's going to be interesting seeing how things progress this decade and what route I take 😃

One thing is for sure, I'm enjoying only working 4 days and wish I had the holiday allowance to do it each year 🤭

savingholmes

Perhaps see if you can find a job on 4 days a week that pays the same or more. I know you didn't want a high stress job but it sounds like you have one anyway... may as well get paid more for it

MovingForwards

SH I think you're right. Most of my jobs have developed into something so far removed from what they started as.

If I'm honest I do like the responsibility, prefer being busy, like moving from one thing to another instead of doing the same thing day in day out, enjoy learning new things, find it thrilling when I bring my own processes together to plough through my workload and then get to take on other things. 

I'm also at my happiest when sorting out other people's mess, drawing on my professional career training and experience to deal with things, accept long hours are required and know I'm partly to blame for the current situation. Over a year ago I used the opportunity to show how things should be run under the right person.

Obviously, it sets me apart from others and I don't really know any different. The downside is I never get paid enough for it all!

In the right company I will be a great asset and go far. Under the wrong one I'm held back, underutilised and waiting for someone to fail before swooping in and beginning the cleanup.

I should be looking at consultancy work, as you or someone else previously suggested, however I don't feel like I've enough knowledge to do it and feel the closest I can get is normal office work temping.

savingholmes

I wouldn't recommend temping... I think particularly in this climate and with Tombo not having a job - you need the security of regular income. This job will get you to your goals - I just wondered whether it was worth another look to see what else is out there 

MovingForwards

I wouldn't temp while I've still got a mortgage, but potentially when it's paid off I could. Just have to keep getting experience for now.

Skint_yet_Again

I’m sure everything will slot into place and if it doesn’t you will make it work with your determination and drive. 

20 hours over 4 days would be nice. I was full time until I was pregnant, I went back for 15 hours over 3 days when I first had my son, increasing to 20 hours over 4 days, then 30 hours over 5 days once he left education at 18. I can’t reduce my hours now due to the effect on my pension 

MovingForwards

Thanks Skinty, same with my pension as it's a career average one too.

I would prefer to do full days, rather than drag the hours out over more days. I'm not sure a job share would work for me as I'd end up doing both of our workloads! 

There must be the perfect role for me somewhere.

MovingForwards

Haven't really done anything this weekend. Think of it as a forced rest. I'm dreading later this week when I have to go in; mind is active, body isn't.

I have picked a couple of tomatoes and grilled them with my bacon, had it on bran rolls for lunches. 

Had a bit of a harvest, peas, runners, beets, kale. Did I say we had 6lb of spuds from one section? 

I've been trying to work out winter food stores and growing. So far I'm:
- drying: beans, peas, herbs

- growing: kale, root veg

Just have to work out where I can safely store things like spuds, squashes etc.

Soon I get to put onion sets and garlic in. TomBo wants me to grow a lot more this time!

Our tea yesterday was steak with various homegrown veg.

Next year I want to bring together what I've learned, try for near all year round growing, make better use of my space and have produce in storage 😊

We are going out in a bit and I'm finally going near Ochil Hills. I get to see them from a distance driving home and have waited patiently to see them since moving.

Skint_yet_Again

Do you still have the outdoor brick shed ? Maybe you could store produce there over winter if it’s dry for Spuds & squash ?

Have a lovely day out. Bet you will get some great photos ☺️