Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

October financial round up:

Saved £301 (now £7430)
Car pot £160 (now £407)

PB £25 (now £475)
SIPP £10

Mortgage O/P £250 (now £58,137)
CC paid £121.50 (now £0)

Surveys £22

£46 to last 9 days, all bills have gone out for November aside from bank fee.

Plans for November are throw everything spare into mortgage O/Ps and savings!

MovingForwards

My toes have been cold all day, think it's time I'm permanently in my winter slipper socks and slippers. Just put them on and it's a lot warmer.

Wind has just started to pick up, it's howling down the chimney and through the stairwell, it's also been raining all day. 

Had an agency contact me this evening, got a chat arranged, but I'm not up to commuting via public transport for a position and am enjoying being PT too much! 

I ordered more survey vouchers last night, will print them tomorrow and request more. TomBo wants me to spend them on me, cat and decent biscuits; he's got the taste for choc coated ones after the ones I came back with last week.

I must get my pension forms filled in and posted this week. Hopefully I'll have my revision notes condensed and can start revising the weekend.

I've got my feet up as today was tiring, I'm cleaning up after a not-so-good 'experienced' colleague and finding so many errors and issues.

We're having soup for tea and watching sci fi.

savingholmes

I am glad part time work is helping. Definitely sort pension could be a real win for you.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH

I've done the final tweaks to my notes, just need to do the cross-referencing and condense it all.

Worked out what my salary will be for the next few years and noticed there's already talk of a 2% cap, which is fine as I'm no where near the top of my banding and still get spinal point increases. Had a look to see what jobs are about in work, nothing jumped out as being any better than I have.  I'm only really looking for permanent PT now I've got the taste for it!

Recalculated mortgage O/Ps and hopefully I'll get the mortgage down to about £40k by the time this job ends.

I've printed off £40 survey vouchers and added them to the pile. I did do some surveys this morning but hit a slump and am now contemplating a doze on my chair, see if I can regain some energy for this afternoon / evening.

MovingForwards

Did have a doze on the chair and felt a lot better afterwards, woke up in time for TomBo's lunch break and I had roast with a naff cup soup. 

The agency called me, hadn't bothered to change my address and thought I was still in the city, even though my CVs have my address on them. Was supposed to send me details of one firm and their vacancies, but hasn't done so far. Was also on about submitting me for FT roles way below my capabilities and for nearly £10k less than if I was doing my current job FT. Again suggested I side step into a role and go for promotion into what I want, until I explained I've had knockbacks trying that and get rejected after interviews for being too experienced for roles similar to what I've done. 

Looks like that's pushed me to staying where I am and attempting to move into the career department as and when roles pop up. 

I've done some surveys throughout the day. Sibling is starting to get somewhere with clearing the house, but still taking a lot of direct / blunt encouragement from me. 

Also did the washing up, peeled and chopped spuds.

TomBo has tomorrow off. We'll be harvesting more spuds and he'll be clearing an area in the borrowed garden so I can get the rest of my onions in. I'll also be studying and condensing my notes. Possibly do the shopping first thing as that frees up the weekend.

We're having sausage, mash and onion gravy for tea.

savingholmes

Glad you have been able to adjust your plans and still tackle reducing the mortgage 

MovingForwards

Thanks SH

I'd be using most of TomBo's money to make the O/Ps, as there's just not enough of my wages to make any dent in it. 

I think speaking with the agency helped unjumble my thoughts. Since going PT I've had doubts about wanting to return to FT as I've struggled working 5 days a week, even WaH. Add in a commute and I have serious doubts I'd last. However, I've mentioned before the longer I work FT the shorter my working life will be and the higher the risk of not even being able to work PT.

In a way working PT is releasing my dreams of self-sufficiency, which was my priority over career. If I was allocated an allotment place today, I'd accept it.

The downside to these hours is they're just not enough for me to get a mortgage and buy a house or bungalow, another 5 hours a week would be, with the inheritance. Which would still allow more than enough time to be self-sufficient. Still have the dilemma of liking this flat / view, but not sure 60 year old me would cope with the stairs as I do struggle and stay in when not that mobile.

For the next 2 years I'll continue my studies as they'll help secure the right role, embrace self-sufficiency, O/P the mortgage allowing me to remain PT and see what happens in the future.

I do feel like I'm where I want to be in life, just 12 years earlier than I planned!

MovingForwards

Been chatting with studying people, been given some hints and tips to condense my notes. Over the next few weeks I've got several events lined up, connected to studying, qualification and CPD; must remember to log what I've done so far!

Planted the onions as TomBo prepared a space for me in the borrowed garden. Got all 200 in the same plot ☺️

I've harvested another batch of potatoes, including some nice big ones for baking and some great boilers, they'll keep us going a while. I'll have to get the last lot out later this month. 

Totally overdid it, loads of smiles in-between grunts! There's still fruit ripening.

Went to the chemist, Drs missed doing my script, said I'd collect it from them this evening, TomBo went to get it but it had been sent to the chemist. They're taking 7 working days to fill them, but TomBo said I'll be in tomorrow to get them! I've got an apt with the Dr who prescribed them next month to ask about increasing the amount as I only get 14 days worth 😐 

While out I popped to my butcher, got sirloin, pork chops, stewing steak and several bits from his 'corner shop' section, spent £50. 

This weekend I'll be condensing my notes, going to PaH, filling in the pension forms and posting them when I get my meds. 

Got my feet up, about to eat and watch a film. I'm feeling rather content 😃

MovingForwards

Made it to the chemist and popped into sc0t m1d (c0 0p family). Got shrooms, snack pots, cup soup and YS green beans, spent £4.99.

I've dried herbs for winter use, harvested some greens for tea and filled my belly with strawbs and rasps while outside.

Aside from that I've been firmly planted in my chair and dragging myself around the flat as needed. I should start my SDP diary as it will help when I speak to the Dr next month!

We had sirloin, shrooms, green beans, spinach, fried spuds, I had a kale 'slaw with it too, for tea.

I'll be doing the pension forms and condensing my notes tomorrow. 

MovingForwards

Had a relaxing day. Went to the local shop for butter, shrooms and sorted another Xmas gift out. Spent £10.61.

Baked gf cakes when I got back, home has that winter spice smell; think I'm getting into the spirit of things. I'll have some with a glass of milk in a bit.

Did the washing up too. Trying to keep mobile as I'm still stiffening when I sit down.

I'll try and find a better balance this week with work, studies and fun as I'm overdoing everything.

£5 in the bank.