My 5 Year Plan to a better life!

Thelaughingcat

I hope the mantra’s helpful - just remember not to kick yourself if you do find a chocolate wafer in hand.  You’re going through a super stressful time, right now and that’s normal.  

But congrats on day one!  It’s the hardest day, hands down 😊

MuffinTops

Hello AC. I remember your move out of London.  Didn't you also have some "stuff" going on with your brother at the time too?  Adding to the emotional side of it all?  It is tough doing these things on our own, but what a great way of showing our resilience.  You're actually a bit of an inspiration for me as I also want to get into training again and making a space to do the things I love doing once I move.  I've often thought of how much better you seem since your move away and although I can't afford to leave my London job, with this new way of working I can now afford to move to a calmer enviroment.

MuffinTops

Thank you Thelaughingcat. There's a real balance to try to maintain, isn't there? Going through a stressful time with our big girl pants on, but also realising we're not made to be perfect so therefore being kinder to ourselves when we fall flat on our faces into the nearest chocolate wafer biscuit.

MuffinTops

I've checked YNAB and all good.  I did have to pop to the shop and do a few little top ups but nothing scary spent.  YNAB has been great for showing me my areas of improvement.  

I've made plans this weekend and next weekend to spend the day with people I love spending time with, so will make sure I charge up my "personal interaction" gauge both days which should help prevent me wanting to pop to the shops.  I'm also getting my hair done tomorrow so that will be 2 hours of general chit-chat too.  On Sunday and Monday I need to finish sorting out the rubbish I need for the clearance company.

I found an old ISA account I'd not forgotten about but gone a bit blind to.   I add £10 a month into it and just let it do its thing, which is very little.  I realised that if I cash it in I can use it to pay off all my credit card debts by early May. So I've closed the account and will distribute the money around when it arrives.  Next I need a savings plan in place because when this £50k hits my account I want to be ready for the payments to it and be able to replenish my savings as well as they've taken a hit over the past year.

I hope everyone's feeling good on the home straight of the week.

MTxx

another_casualty

MuffinTops said:

Hello AC. I remember your move out of London.  Didn't you also have some "stuff" going on with your brother at the time too?  Adding to the emotional side of it all?  It is tough doing these things on our own, but what a great way of showing our resilience.  You're actually a bit of an inspiration for me as I also want to get into training again and making a space to do the things I love doing once I move.  I've often thought of how much better you seem since your move away and although I can't afford to leave my London job, with this new way of working I can now afford to move to a calmer enviroment.

I had lots of stuff going on MT 😹. The death of my mother less than a year before, absolutely no money to improve my last home as "affordability calculator " said no on various occasions , myasthenia gravis and Brexit . Back then before mayor khant was elected , London was a building site and cycle lanes 🚲🚲were being built so it was too much to just get to short distances let alone the commute 🚞🚐. I was pretty much like a juggler in Covent Garden about to drop everything in front of a large crowd . 🤡
Thankfully, I was able to do something of a last resort gamble  I guess and have no regrets🤞

I think having a routine that you want to make happen is the way to go imho . You have a great job which suits you on your terms . You are moving into a wonderful home that suits ( eventually)
You have vision and are in a position to plan what is right for you . For me , I used to have a nice job and went to a gym 🏋️‍♀️every lunchtime seeing an instructor once a week . That was before I became my user name after the company relocated in 2006. I could never get into a routine like that ever again due to temping and the 2007 crash etc.
Anyhow, it's not about me , but if you have the chance to make life more on your terns ( which you seem to be doing ) then do so once you have settled into your new home . You won't regret it 
If you have the odd chocolate here and there , it's allowed 🍫 especially green and blacks
Hope the week is going well 😼..

doingitanyway

The stage you are at was the one I struggled with most because I hate being in limbo. You have to act as if you will be moving in 2 weeks at all times.

Your decision to use the clearance people you know and trust is very wise.

I agree with AC. A bit of chocolate won't harm. As the much missed Parsnphead once said to me 'it is chocolate not cocaine. Have it!'

Thelaughingcat

Yay for old ISA accounts!  That’s always a bonus 😊. Really pleased you’re filling the interaction gauge as well - that’s so needed, especially right now when these interactions are so constrained. You’ve prodded me into making some plans as well.

Happy Hair Day, MT, and have a fabulous weekend!

MuffinTops

You're so right DIA on acting as if I'll be moving in 2 weeks.  I kind of picked that up from your diary when you were moving, but you've put it nicely into words too.

I face planted the chocolate, which I don't think is what AC meant, but hey ho!

MuffinTops

The old ISA account has created a real relief Thelaughingcat.  I'm glad you've been thinking more of upping your interaction gauge too.  I'll catch up with your diary shortly to see if you've managed to make any plans.

MuffinTops

Since I last posted, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster.  I was getting anxious as I hadn't heard from my buyers since early March and wondered if they were still interested.  My solicitor agreed I should contact them directly and now that's opened the flood gates of pressure!  They were waiting for the official letter from the bank for their mortgage which coincidentally arrived the day after I contacted them.  So now they're pushing for a completion date to be as soon as next Wednesday! 🙄 It has made me decide now though that as they're so keen I'll push my side of things along so that we can get this done asap.

The clearance people were booked and did a great job.  I'd been quoted a price to collect it all (that made my eyes water, but needed it all gone).  After I'd put my stuff out on the driveway one of my neighbours saw it all and asked if he could have some.  He literally took almost half of what was there 😂 which saved me a huge amount of money.  The clearance company could have stuck to their price they'd initially quoted me, and I expected them to do that, but they only charged me for the space I'd taken in their van.  Very happy with them. 

The guy that collected the stuff was amazing, even going into my garden to get the heavy awkward items I hadn't been able to get onto the driveway.

So this morning I contacted the removal company.  They can also store my large belongings until I move and they even offer a discount based on the company I work for. I'm now waiting for them to get back to me.  Ideally I'd like a quote next week and then a removal/storage date a week later.  I'll then get the grass cut and the house deep cleaned and I'll be out pre-completion.  

I found some great large sturdy boxes in the loft, and I've also ordered a few smaller lighter ones.  I'm off next week and am planning on just packing up as much as I can. 

The radio has reopened at the hospital and I've been asked to go back from Friday.  As I was in limbo I said I would, and now I'm thinking it's the wrong thing for me to do now.  I can't let them down at short notice, so I think I'll do this Friday, but I'm going to call the lady who runs it and tell her what's going on tomorrow evening.  I didn't want to tell them earlier because we haven't been in the studio for months and it didn't look like we would for a while longer, and I also wanted to ensure my move was definite.  I'm wondering if I should do some recordings each month or if I should just cut my losses and leave.  I think this Friday will be a good way to make a decision based on how excited I am to be back in the studio.  In my new home I'll have all the right recording equipment so I won't even need to get into the studio, but the amount of time needed to prepare a show and record it takes a huge amount of time.  Hmm!  What to do!

I hope everyone's having a good week and an especially good hump day!

Bring on the dancing ladies - wherever they're hiding right now!

MTxx