Building towards a complete life overhaul....might take a while but determined to do it

lucielle

Can you price up the models you like and see if you can get a good deal on Black Friday?
L

triple_choc_chip

Hello you! Long time, no see  I’m reading diaries when I should be leaf clearing!
Sorry to hear about the job; if you’re putting in those kind of hours you need to enjoy it and it would be so much more fulfilling if you were investing all that time and effort in your own venture. 
I remember your love of lists, could that extend to a business plan? When you can add figures into the vision, timescales will become apparent and you’ll know what’s doable. How much notice is needed to resign, a term or academic year?
TCC 

Sarahwithlove

If you plan to move within the next 5 years then don't both replacing it as you won't get enough back from sale to make it worth while. Depending upon what needs doing maybe consider replacing cupboard fronts and or tile stickers if they need updating. Cheaper ways to make it look better. But thing is when comes to doing kitchens and bathrooms unless you can fit it yourself you won't get the value back and you can't guarantee that whoever buys it next will like it. 

mumblingtaff

Hello! Sorry I've been AWOL since last weekend - work to blame as always!
Thank you all for your suggestions and kind comments - they are all very much appreciated. xx

Well, BIG NEWS!!
I have made a decision after having a really good chat with my family last weekend - I'm going to resign at February half term which means that I can leave on April 30th
I spent hours last weekend going through the finances, looking at house prices there and what I'd get for mine and its all totally doable.
Basically, if I got the average price for houses on my estate I could buy a decent two bed (or three but there's no need for that really) in my hometown outright after paying back the remaining amount on my mortgage and have approx £40-50K in the bank.
My outgoings would be significantly reduced with no mortgage, no debt (not that there's that much of that anyway but monthly payments would disappear) and no need for a dog walker (£200 a month!).
It means that I can do a bit of supply work to tick over with regards to general bills etc and have the luxury of a bit of time to really work out what and how I'm going to do with the business, and a bit of capital to get going. Savings would stay where they are as a cushion, apart from some used for legal fees and moving costs. There's no stamp duty on the price range I'm looking at so that's one less thing to worry about.
It will be a huge step but I really need to do it.
I've made spreadsheets, really forensically looked at the finances and realistically not over stretched myself. I won't be jetting to the Bahamas any time soon but will be 100% happier and there to support my family as they age and start to struggle more.
I just feel relieved......and like I have a can have a new start with some careful planning.
My parents are thrilled (they've always wanted me to go home eventually) and have offered to help financially but unless I'm desperate (which I shouldn't be) I'm not taking them up on it. It sounds totally morbid but I'm the sole beneficiary in their will and have promised to look after my sister (who has CP) and they're not short of money (mum has always been very careful and they're what you'd describe as completely financially secure) and have a large house that I would eventually have to sell. So our future will be fairly comfortable when the awful time comes, not that I want that to happen any time soon! I could then sell both houses and buy something that would suit just me and my sister (she currently has a granny flat ground floor style thing in their house that they built on for her). Anyway, that's hopefully well into the future but these things need to be considered too.

So that's the plan..... 
A bit scary but exciting.....

mumblingtaff

So - to more mundane things.....
We're back in lockdown but I'm still working harder than ever at school and teachers are dropping like flies making it even harder... Year groups are in then they're out, teachers isolating or testing positive and every day is like a new assault course to conquer, with a boss that is not taking any of the additional pressures into consideration and carrying on with all of the projects, appraisals, targets, assessments, meetings, collaborations etc
But, with an end point in sight I'm just plodding on - very wearily most days but carrying on all the same.
Anyway, I'm not working today so can think about some other things

Last weekend, I did end up buying a TV to replace my ancient one - it was half price and not a giant cinema style thing, just a sensible size telly for a medium sized room. Got it delivered for free the following day and my lovely dad sneakily posted me a cheque for the full amount of the car service and the TV - he's really generous sometimes and wouldn't take no for an answer when I told him I couldn't accept it. £500 that he said would be better off in my escape fund, bless him.
My mum then topped it up with another £500 for the fund! I thought they hadn't spoken to each other about it but it turns out they both wanted to "treat" me so I had a cheque from both of them from the same bank account! Daft old b*ggers - but lovely!

The Sky got upgraded for free last Sunday (needed a new dish and box) and I've paid the princely sum of £15 for TV, new broadband and phone line this month! That will increase to £30 in total after a couple of months but that's still really cheap!
Good things seem to be happening at the moment..... that doesn't happen to me very often

Been to Sainsburys this morning as I needed a few bits that they only sell there and its next to a big park so took the dog for a good run early on to wear him out a bit. Spent £50 but that did include stocking up on the dog bits I can only get there, hair dye now that the salons are shut and refilling the freezer a little bit. (Money put aside for the hair appointment which was today will be moved to savings).
I was quite good and stuck to my meal plan last week and even resisted a takeaway last night in favour of cheese on toast for tea  - I just was too knackered to do anything more and considered the Just Eat app but talked myself out of it and saved the £10-£15 instead.
I was surprised at how quiet the supermarket was - no queue and hardly anyone in there and the car park virtually empty. Thought people might be using it as somewhere to go but perhaps I was a bit early for that at 9am.

I have a few things to do round the house this weekend but have already cleaned from top to bottom, changed the bed, done the shopping, done 2 loads of washing and had a tidy round. I need to go to the tip later to get rid of some bits and pieces but will do that when I take the dog for a big walk in the sunshine later. I'm couped up all day in work and never really see daylight so I'm looking forward to some fresh air and exercise even if it is cold.

It's pay day on Friday, and there's nothing to do and nowhere to go apart from work (and a physio appointment on Tuesday), so this week should be a fairly frugal one and I'll hopefully make it comfortably to payday within the budgets that I set at the beginning of the month (a minor miracle).
Right, better crack on with a few jobs ......

Blackcats

What lovely news to read - so nice to know that your plan is possible so soon.  I'm sure that just knowing a timescale will keep your spirits up over the winter and the challenges of your job.  I've set myself a 13 month countdown to the time when I can hand in my notice and that's helped me stay focussed.  

mumblingtaff

Exciting times for us both Blackcats! What's your plan?

I weighed this morning after having a bath and somehow I've lost around 10lbs since September. I thought my clothes were looser, especially some of my work trousers. Didn't realise how much weight I'd lost - I've not tried at all so it just shows how bonkers work has been, especially as I haven't been able to run for around 6 weeks. In an ideal world another 7-10 lbs would see me at a really nice weight for me and a comfortable size 10ish. My trousers are a size 12 and are definitely a bit too big for me now. Not buying new ones though - I have some older "thinner" ones in the wardrobe that will do until I give up my current job. A lot of my work clothes are dresses or skirt suits so won't fall off!
Not wasting money on clothes for now - I have plenty of nice clothes and we can't go anywhere so there's no need!
Been struggling a bit with sleeping lately too - a combination of work stuff and night sweats from the bloody menopause - they're a killer! I've just had to completely change the bed including mattress protector after just a couple of nights on as they're constantly drenched in sweat - I'm so attractive!! Glad I'm single

On a more positive moneysaving note, Tesco clubcard vouchers have just arrived - just £6.50 but I'm surprised there's even that much as I barely go there any more. I also got a £7 off a £50 shop voucher in Sainsburys this morning so will use them over the next few weeks but mainly shop at Aldi - its so much cheaper and I tend to not buy things I don't need when I go there.
I'm trying to be as careful as possible with money now I know what I'm doing next year - the more in the bank for me brings an extra bit of security.
Just remembered that I'll get my backdated payrise this week too - no idea how much but anything is better than nothing. To be squirrelled away or used to pay a bit extra off the interest free credit card to get rid of it sooner.

The dog has woken up from his power nap (they never last long when you're an 18 month old puppy!) and so its walkies time before the fireworks that are the bane of our lives at the moment.

Ponylover

What fantastic news! 
Sounds like you and I came to the boards for a similar reason (I'm also stressed in a public sector job and looking for an early escape plan- I'm far behind you though in my plans 🤣). 

Sounds like your parents are chuffed with your decision. How exciting 😃

Blackcats

Ponylover, I'm another stressed public sector worker looking for an early escape.  (Although I realise that many people would like a secure job or any job at all at the moment,  so I'm careful not to moan too much in these difficult times - however tempting it is at the end of another tough week 😣).
well done on the weight loss mumblingtaff.  Will you be able to draw your pension when you finish work?  I'll be taking mine a bit early but I've worked out that it will take over 12 years until the financial detriment of the reduction kicks in.  The recent Macleod age discrimination pension ruling works in my favour too.  Does it help you?  

mumblingtaff

To be honest Blackcats, I can't take my pension for another 6 years but I have two pensions, one from teaching and one from my previous career. I don't want to factor them in to any calculations (for using I mean) as I'd like to think of them as bonuses rather than something to rely on if at all possible. I do need to do a review of how much and when and where though - thank you for reminding me. :0