Back and ready to crack on with life!

mumblingtaff

Hi,
I've been a member for donkey's years under two different guises. For those that may remember me, I've had a right year of it and disappeared for a while to sort things out but I'm back now and raring to go.

Just a very quick summary - I'm a 40 something fairly newly single teacher, living alone with a lovely puppy that's quickly growing up. I have a secure well paid job with a real prospect of promotion in the next year, no kids and own my own home (with a fairly small mortgage left to pay off).
I went through a messy split with a long term partner that dragged on for a long time and became quite difficult but have now finally emerged the other side in tact.

So, my new diary is all about rebuilding, being independent and finding happiness in whatever form that takes.

So a quick word about my finances (as this is a money forum!) - I have a loan with a balance of approx £3500 left to pay that I've been trying to make overpayments on when I can to reduce the term (2 years officially left to go) and an interest free credit card that's never used with a balance of £1800 that I make regular overpayments on to get rid of as soon as possible. Other than that, my only other debt is my mortgage that has approx £55,000 left to go, with manageable payments. My aim is to pay off the loan and card and then redirect the usual payments to these to the mortgage to pay it off sooner than the official term.
I have savings of approx £10k that I don't want to touch as they are my emergency fund (there's nobody else to support me so I need a comfort blanket) and regularly save into three accounts - holidays, house and garden and Xmas so I don't need to spend regular savings or use credit when I need a holiday or want/need to buy something.
I set myself budgets each month for spending, groceries and things like hair appointments, dog walker, petrol etc and generally manage them (but not always;) )

So money wise that's me. Not rolling in it but not struggling and with an aim for the future.

The real change to my life has been becoming single after a long time and being almost 48. I'm in the delightful position of being newly menopausal but otherwise am healthy (even if I have put on about a stone in the last year) and learning to be happy as a singleton.

The challenge is getting out and about and doing things not work related (my job is pretty full on as a senior leader in a big school), meeting new people and trying new things and getting used to being on my own.
To be honest, I'm not doing too badly but could do better.....

Since the break up I've joined a gym and have been going two or three times a week, joined a new weekend dog walking group and am enjoying getting out and about with them (all very nice likeminded people of different ages and backgrounds) and go to dog training classes weekly but need to meet more people to expand my social circle. I'm definitely not looking for another relationship just friends and things to do.

So that's me.
I'm happy to be back and am ready to get on with my new life.

Pink_Butterfly

Hey MT! I remember you & often wondered how you were getting on. Nice to ‘see’ you back here Happy shiny new diary!

mumblingtaff

Just a word on Xmas ....
I've already bought all the presents and an outfit for Xmas day so there's no big outlay left to come. I'm going home to my parents in Wales for the first time in about 20 years (they have always come to me) so there's no big grocery shop to do this year. I'll contribute to their shopping (if they'll let me but I doubt it) and we're off out for lunch on the big day so I needed something respectable to wear ( a new dress that I'd wear again).
I'll stay for a few days but not too long

Looking forward to the time off work though - it's been a very long hard term and am ready for the rest. Roll on Thursday.....

mumblingtaff

Pink_Butterfly wrote: »

Hey MT! I remember you & often wondered how you were getting on. Nice to ‘see’ you back here Happy shiny new diary!

Thank you - it's good to be back

Honeysucklelou2

Hi MT! Glad you are ok ...I enjoyed reading about your puppy on your previous diary. Hope you have had a good term workwise.

mumblingtaff

Hi Honeysuckle - thank you for dropping in!

Well it's Monday morning and I've had a slight set back - I noticed late last night that the car appears to have a pretty flat tyre
I've let my boss know (he's great - he's only been with us since September but I really like him and find him very easy to work with) and he's just told me to get it sorted and get in to work when I can,
I can't drive on the motorway with it like it is but I think it will be able to limp the mile or two to the tyre place that opens at 8.30. Not great but not the end of the world - will just have to get it sorted. Luckily, I got a pretty big unexpected tax rebate last week so there's some spare money that hasn't been allocated to anything in particular yet. Not an ideal use of it but I'll be doing a lot of driving over the holidays so it needs to be safe.

So, instead of rushing around I have a more leisurely start to the day as I can't leave until 8ish. Going to take the dog for a longer than normal morning dog walk and take my time getting ready rather than the usual frenzied whizz round the bathroom and bedroom.

Right, better get the winter woollies on - it looks very cold and dark out there.....

DancingInTheRain

Lovely to see you back, wishing you well.

mumblingtaff

Hi Dancing! Thank you for saying hello

Well, the tyre has a nail in it and they've had to order me a new one that's being fitted after work tomorrow - costs a fortune but needs must with the Xmas season travelling ahead. They pumped up the old one (it's a run flat tyre so ok for short distances today) and so at least I'm mobile for work.
I'm not letting it annoy me - worse things happen at sea.

Managed to get home fairly early from work and took the dog for a nice long walk and whilst waiting for my tea from the freezer to cook have gone mad and entered a 10k run on March 1st. I've done one before but it was a long time ago and I only run 5k in the gym on a treadmill these days so hopefully it will spur me on a bit. Talking of which, I'm going to force myself to go tonight for at least a run if not any more as I didn't go yesterday and feel like I should have, after the long group dog walk I just didn't feel like it.

Not much else to report about my day at school - just the usual busy day in work once I got there. 3 more days....

Almost forgot - I've also joined a local evening walking group that's just been set up - all ladies wanting company in the dark evenings to get out and about, organised through the local Facebook group. Will get me out meeting more new people and can take the dog - bonus.

Honeysucklelou2

What a brilliant idea, an evening walking group! Sounds fun!

mumblingtaff

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

What a brilliant idea, an evening walking group! Sounds fun!

I know - I thought it sounded good too

So, I forced myself to go to the gym and did a 5km run and a few other bits and bobs.
Wasn't the best run ever but I still did it after being up since 5am and 11000 steps in addition to the run (including dog walks). Feeling quite proud of myself in a silly way. I'm not great at exercising after work and dog walking so this was a bit of a triumph for me.

I'm trying to decide whether to go back to Slimming World - I'm really not happy with my weight, the split and menopause have taken their toll and I'm feeling quite self conscious (even though I know it's just a stone or so) and so really want to do something about it but am lacking motivation/confidence to do it alone. I know it's just before Xmas but don't have big plans for the holidays apart from the family for the Xmas period so feel like if I put it off even longer it will just get worse. It may help me keep things under control and not let it get even more out of hand. Limit the damage so to speak.
I really want to start afresh with everything and suppose now I'm feeling better about life there's no reason not to. I think I'm talking myself into it

Honeysucklelou2

I'm impressed you have the energy to go to the gym after a 5am start. My day starts at 5.15 and by the time I get home I'm too tired to even remember the gym! Well done .