Time to Face The Music

enthusiasticsaver

I doubt anyone says at the end of their life I wish I had spent more time at work. Depends on how you measure your life at the end of it. Is successful measured in material possessions or a happy fulfilled life surrounded by people who love you? I think your sister has the right idea in wanting a better work/life balance but I don’t suppose you want the same things.

 

RelievedSheff

alt80 said:

@RelievedSheff it wasn't a criticism mate, I think you're in a brilliant position - if you're happy that's all that matters doesn't matter if me or anyone else understands your reasoning.

I'll only move for the right place, love my current home tbf could stay and I wouldn't be sad to stay but there's another one left definitely though next one probably will be last home unless I can level up again which after next one I think is a real stretch. Wouldn't matter to me how much I had to pay others to maintain my property so long as I don't wind up in some little box and can enjoy my property after all its where we all end up spending our later years.

You are similar to my sister and her husband re work and cutting down your working hours etc. As of last week they both work 4 days a week, both not that much older than me log off end of working day etc. She's bright but not much drive when she got into her career idk why. I just hope they don't wind up 60 and wondering what could have been.

I think you will find that at 60 your sister will be happy that she chose family life over work.

RelievedSheff

It will be a no spends day today.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be from stores. Breakfast was cereals, we have both taken our packed lunches to work and dinner tonight is turkey and mushroom stroganoff with rice and vegetables.

Today's jobs include:

• vacuuming the house
• dusting the house
• walking the dog

Another hot day forecast. Last night we ended up sat in the garden after dinner where it was cooler. Didn't take long before it had gone dark though. Will probably do the same again tonight.

warby68

Great summary of the year - well over £8k and on track for clearing in only a few years.

All your own work too - no windfalls etc - so def different mindset. I very much doubt you will ever go backwards now.

alt80

Turkey and mushroom stroganoff sounds nice, definitely like the sound of that. Really enjoy turkey should have it more often I think. 

The weather is nice as predicted today like your garden plan, I’m doing the same still think you should fit a/c to your house though. Would be 100% worth it if staying.

@enthusiasticsaver Depends where your goals are as you say. I don’t make any secret of the fact I do value the accumulation of material possessions no better feeling than the day you pick the keys up.

My sister is or certainly was very bright and creative got onto a very competitive degree course, worked her way to gaining her professional qual which is a !!!!!! long road and a lot of work in her field and all went downhill from there. Never seen proper money from it, no awards or been involved in the kind of builds she and I would talk about as kids so yeah I think she might look back and be a bit disappointed when she’s older tbf whether about the material goals not gained or potential to have worked on prestigious projects. 

RelievedSheff

I do think we will fit air con at some point to the house. Summers are not going to be getting any cooler!!

alt80

It will really improve it mate probably be about £5-6k for a domestic system so not really that expensive for years of enjoyment. 👍

enthusiasticsaver

alt80 said:

@enthusiasticsaver Depends where your goals are as you say. I don’t make any secret of the fact I do value the accumulation of material possessions no better feeling than the day you pick the keys up.

My sister is or certainly was very bright and creative got onto a very competitive degree course, worked her way to gaining her professional qual which is a !!!!!! long road and a lot of work in her field and all went downhill from there. Never seen proper money from it, no awards or been involved in the kind of builds she and I would talk about as kids so yeah I think she might look back and be a bit disappointed when she’s older tbf whether about the material goals not gained or potential to have worked on prestigious projects. 

Certainly I can understand the joy of material possessions.  I like nice things or at least nice holidays and clothes/tech/cars etc as much as the next person and we take a great deal of pride in our house so not knocking you for that.  

I think I can relate to your sister as many of us over the years have our priorities changed particularly as we have children etc.  We have helped our daughters financially in buying houses, university etc but we also prioritised time with them when they were younger just as we now do with our grandchildren and you do with your son.  I believe the more effort you put into relationships when children are young will reap rewards as they grow up into hopefully kind and hard working adults. We were lucky enough for me to be able to work part time from when they were very young until their mid teens and then I went part time again for a few years to help with childcare for my grandchildren before retirement. Moving out of the cut throat London area to Cornwall probably had an impact on our career progression and  in terms of job opportunities and certainly working less hours affected my career  but it is something both DH and I thought was worth it for the better quality of life.  So I can see where your sister is coming from in wanting to work less hours presumably to spend with her family and develop hobbies etc.  However I don't think there is anything wrong with ambition and both my daughters and son in law are progressing up the career ladders in their own fields and are very enthusiastic about their jobs so maybe it is a young person thing and we lose sight of that as we get older and more content. No regrets here though. 

RelievedSheff

It won't be a no spends day today. I had to pick up a few bits from the shop this morning. We had somehow run out of bananas!

We are seeing family again after work in Sheffield so will take the dog for a walk in what was one of his favourite parks afterwards and then as a treat we will pick up a KFC for dinner on the way home.

Breakfast and lunch are from stores though. Toast for breakfast and we both have our packed lunches for lunch.

The window cleaner is coming today as well. Must remember to pay him later.

No time for any jobs around the house today so we will have to catch up tomorrow evening when it is hopefully going to be a bit cooler.

RelievedSheff

Not a no spends day again. I am going to Sainsbury's tonight after work to pick a few bits up for the weekend. Shouldn't be very spendy though, £30 tops.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are from stores today. Breakfast was crumpets, we have both taken our packed lunches to work and dinner tonight is smoked haddock fishcake with chips and vegetables.

Todays jobs include:

• load of washing
• shopping
• walking the dog

We are hoping that it will cool down in our house today. It was still stupidly hot this morning but we are promised some rain today to cool things down again. We need it, the garden is very dry.