In need of encouragement...

IrishSean

Hey Sarah! TY for dropping by 😊
I talked that point over with DW last night; we need to look at 'moving windows' as we'll have 2 doing gcse in next 3 years, then pos. A-levels. My thinking is move sooner (in next 6 months) as opposed to 3 years later.

I'm really not sure about p/t post ive applied for its about 45 min commute, in opposite direction to schools, and either has components of my last 3 roles or is my last 3 roles rolled into 1, which could either be unrealistic on employers part or depending on client numbers, some nice diversity of role. 

Since this last lockdown here in n.I. my mind's been bursting with self employment ideas.  My fear is I take a hum-drum post I cant get out of for 15 / 16 years then im retired, having never known if I could have made it on my own 😕. Me and dw on very different pages there, she's just not adventurous re: jobs or career, altho as breadwinner & a quarter century in the civil service with decent pension, I can understand. 

I digress😂 at least our debts are low; if we did move we'd have to factor not much more than 10-12 years mortgage commitment, if any, plus each year we leave moving  from family home the window on getting a pension house for me (cheapish BTL) shrinks.  

I still have personal goal of building savings I spent over the years back up as well, as so much or it (about £30k in gifts & savings) was used to pay debt. This balance of family commitment, work responsibilities, savings and dfw is a tough one, mentally & emotionally. 

Feel like a lie down again😂

Sarahwithlove

Sounds like that it does need to be sooner rather than later then by sounds of it. Career wise it might not be best time to go self employed. If you're roll is part time could you do a mix of both? And then if self employed work grows then leave other job? 

IrishSean

Yeah, whole house thing is up in the air; covid clouds so much for goodness sake.
I have a softer work route back in the new year with census work; my self employment stuff would be very low up front cost but entirely scalable from home. My hearts not in the roles I've applied for plus a good friend is now c19 positive in a super strict employer role having worked @ home 95%. I'm not being a germaphobe but do think if I can be cautious until end of winter I can emerge building best of all worlds in a post covid environment. 

Weirdly my 10yo is citing homestudy stuff in class & getting praised, so I must have done something right as a home-schooler😅

Will service small debt remaining. My head scratcher now is suggest dw borrow a bit towards car change or buy older again & pay off up front myself. Debt would only be £199 pm, £300 max interest to borrow, but I'd overpay on loan then clear early anyway, so much less, in reality. 

It is an essential purchase & I hate that dw doesnt like my car but we could 'half way house', spending 4k instead of 12k. Downside is not knowing how reliable another 10 y.o.  car with half as many more miles again than what we have, will be (& that's a casual car dealer talking!!!). 

CreditCardJunkie

Hi Sean...coming out of lurkdom to find out how you got the census work in NI...I've applied and recently been sent aptitude tests so just wondering if these posts actually exist 😂
Also on the car front...I bought a run around for my maternity leave (having had a lease car previously) it cost me an absolute bomb in buying it & repairs and was worth so little after the year I ended up giving it away... I went back to leasing as I had all my personal debt paid off and I could afford it.
Personally I find that it near enough pays for itself. I had initially taken a 5k loan and when I viewed a few used cars in that price range I cancelled the loan and got a lease as I couldn't afford loan repayments AND fix the car if anything went wrong.

IrishSean

Hey @CreditCardJunkie, ty for post.

Yeah, ive online assessment to do too, by the 20th.. will wait until kids are at school Mon then getting stuck in. Wasnt eligible to apply for supervisor; as it turns out there are 1800 posts, something ive always wanted to do as well. Only pays a grand but will be good for my CV. 

Weirdly DW now saying we'll keep current ppl carrier until new year. March would be good, I can put a fresh mot on it then the post-covid masses will be hungry for a bargain😂 ive a good mechanic so buying suits me, especially if its reliable. My Audi turns an amazing 14 next year & 145k miles, but with the modernizing ive done to it it looks about 3 years old, lol. I reckon some1 wud give me retail money of £3k for it but ive no desire to sell, after not caring about it for years, haha.

Got a few small bits & bobs sold on ebay, current account not yet empty, will nurse it til month end to say off the OD. Have no regrets about other interview; I feel happier doing the work thing the right way for me; more importantly is getting my nat ins sorted, promised to do it in Oct and havent yet. Still , will sort it before Dec. 

Ive the last of my pre-reformed gambler punts running this weekend so am hoping for a few quid as a treat from old me to new me. Worked out im 3 months gamble free on 30/11/20 & its definitely making a big difference to the finances💷👛💰

GL with dfw all💪💪💪

CreditCardJunkie

That's brilliant about the car...oh to have a mechanic that won't rob you lol.
I got a test for both supervisor and regular posts... Is there 1800 posts in total incl supervisors? Do you know what the next stages are? Sorry I've never been for any civil service posts as I'm not good at aptitude tests (I'm a common sense is not so common type lol). I've done the supervisor test which was based on management decisions, haven't attempted the regular one as it's a normal aptitude test and don't know if I will as I'm not sure I'll pass 😭

IrishSean

Yeah, I'm lucky with mechanic. Test drove a car today, it was great but dw still on fence, lol. 

Something like 1786 regular census posts over here; online aptitude should be straightforward enough. I've seen a few other casual posts too which is good. 

Anything that feeds a few more ££ pre-Christmas is useful.

brross

IrishSean said:

TYVM for your replies👌
I'm hoping its like weight loss or new year resolutions; if I post it up i'm more likely to stick to it.
I was soo close to being debt free 2 years ago after a sizeable gambling win online, however the temptation to leave the 0% card with a balance on it and 'play with winnings' meant I gave it all back and didn't clear my card: worst mistake ever. I've realised the graft that becoming debt free is; in many ways I've been lucky not to rack up bigger or more unmanageable debts. That aside, i've been on the cusp of financial freedom and blew it so roll on the end of the summer: I hope i'm not the only one using these crazy times to stocktake and make positive choices for the future. One last thing; please don't be tempted by the insidious gambling industry to 'bet your way out' of any current hardship as a result of C19. I learnt the hard way its not possible. Gambling firms are still advertising, IMO attempting to snare the next 'cash cows' to be milked. As Alvin Hall used to say "you can't spend your way to happiness: but you can save your way to (some form of financial) security"👌 No matter how tough your road to becoming debt free is; its totally doable. GL

You definitely sound motivated. I believe you will do it. Good luck.

IrishSean

Many thanks @brross 👍😀

Ive come a long way even since I posted that; my mind set to debt & restoring savings which for me is equivalent to about £35k of debt is my whole focus.

Having dw on board even for a better handle on finances has been a weight off my shoulders.
Weirdly trimming our outgoings to cope with debt of £6k - £11k at different times has been soo important. In real terms i've dropped dds and debt payments from about £1300 p/m 5 years ago to £325, if we dont add car finance in coming weeks thats down to £225 next year.

If I can get my own £990 worth of debt wiped i'll be all clear by year end which will be amazing, but pressure is off there as its 0% til next summer. I've a good bit of Christmas shopping done heading into Nov & Dec, meaning we shouldnt have to put any of Christmas on credit (tho we usually dont by shopping from Aug). 

The advice and encouragement here has been amazing; anyone just starting on a dfw journey, do a diary, make a plan no matter how long and stick to it. ML is an inspiring person; I only wish there was similar for others areas like work, learning etc.

Almost all debt is repayable, in full.

💪💪💪

CreditCardJunkie

Couldn't agree more Sean with starting a diary. I would say to others don't be disheartened if you don't crack it first time around...think it was 3rd time lucky for me!