Positively Planning and Enjoying Life

Fortune_Smiles

Well done Stripey!  What a lot of progress you've made and all whilst being under the weather too.

I wonder if the book is surfacing something for you.

Fortune x

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

hello all - how lovely to pop on to messages.

I meant to pop back sooner but I was ill again - which means i've been pretty much ill for the whole of January with one thing and another. This has impacted on a few things - i was unable to meet my savings target as i only get statutory sick pay from work. I also wasn't well enough to carry on decluttering and selling. I aim to make up the shortfall as soon as i can. There is no scope to earn extra at work - no paid overtime, no bonuses etc. so it will be selling and thinking up other ways to increase my income.

I am feeling a little better today - i managed a shower and to use a cream after which is good for me and the decluttering - although i'm still on the same tub - there's just less in it now lol. I am not very ill - just suffer with a lot of low level illness which takes its toll - i have been well (for me) for a long time so it's like it has all been waiting and come at once.

Before popping on here i also moved a couple of things from the bag i was working on decluttering a few weeks ago. And i lifted out 2 new items (still with labels on) which i am going to put in the gift stash. I bought them for a very good price a while ago and could not decide whether to keep or gift - my urge now is to have less things so decision made and i at least feel i have done something.

I finished the book Fortune - it was a good read but yes, it must have been speaking to me on some level - which I confess I decided to not fully address.

What else - i did mostly very well sticking to my shopping lists and limiting the amount of food etc bought. This week though it was almost visibly payday as i spent quite a bit more. The cat food is always a lot. And i went to another food shop- this is what bumped the bill up. i had planned to buy most of what i bought there - but i did spend a few extra pounds on items which i'd describe as being on my 'long list' As in, if they are ever at the right price then i'd buy them. I then rounded it off by filling the car up with petrol. i only go to this other shop once a month or so to avoid any extra spends - even though they weren't treats but things we will use and would have spent more on in other shops. 

Self-care needs to be top of my list now - i haven't had the energy though. But i hope to start changes, which, if i write them here i can report back.

I want to get up earlier in the morning - it is too dark to walk before work at the moment so i want to get up and have enough time to spend an hour or more studying. This is for my MH as i will have peace of mind that i am becoming more knowledgeable about the work i do. It will help with my CV and any future job prospects too. Even though i am not sleeping well i need to get up early and try and get a better sleep pattern.

I want to get out for a walk every lunchtime - so i get fresh air and away from the office.

I want to drink more water - i'm usually good at this but struggled whilst ill. 

3 things is enough to start with.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Phew! again a longer break before posting than i planned - i wasn't quite as well as i thought i was when i last posted. 

I am feeling a little anxious about all of the increases in costs. We were due to go out today but were unsure if the event would be cancelled because of the weather. It was a bit of a trek and usually we'd just go and find something else to do in the area and make the most of the day out. What I budget for fuel no longer fills the tank (which usually covers a month travel) so this is something i need to look at, but in the short term it meant i decided we wouldn't go today (unsure if event happened or not - trying not to check) The fuel cost just would not have been worth it to me given the price increase. I think I am paying about 20% more now to fill up 

I am always mindful with the gas and electric - but even more so now. Unfortunately, i'm not here all the time and Mr Socks is a law unto himself (he likes leaving lights on when he leaves the room because... they look pretty  to who? we have been together years and there is no getting through to him that he is burning money - half of which i have to contribute - hence my frustration).

Food - i am still working on reducing our surplus of food - not from stocking up but from being so busy working 3 temporary jobs that i just did a 'usual' shop - despite the fact we weren't eating our 'usual' meals. Also instead of buying say 2 tins for 70p i would buy 4 for £1 when on offer (things we use a lot of). I wonder how i will feel when i have reduced this amount so the tins sit in the very small cupboard. I am wondering how we will manage with the increase in costs.

Mortgage - i did a 2 year fix when i remortgaged - partly / mainly due to the fact i'd been out of work and could be again so i wanted to keep bills manageably low. I also wasn't sure how my temporary jobs (no longer have any) would have been viewed. I am a little sorry not to be posting about making great strides in the mortgage balance reducing. Although mortgage neutral is getting nearer. I am unsure what to do at the end of this 2 years. Right now i need to get better and start increasing my income so i will have funds available for the mortgage balance at the end of the term - as i have been stuck on a very high interest rate for many years and cannot go back to that.

I just wanted to note these things down here. they are at the back of my mind and i thought writing them down may give them a space here instead of in my head.

I spent all yesterday doing a course - i am glad it is done but i am not sure it delivered what i expected it to and it took way longer than the time it said (it was a free course i have to do for work - i'm not even sure the big bosses realise the content). I had to keep stopping and rewinding to make notes - luckily i did because i don't think i could have passed the exam otherwise. It was delivered at a pace and, i think if it was something you do every day, then you could go at that pace and not take notes. Still, like i say, very glad to tick that off my list. I will be owed the time back from work now. Another course to do this week.

Having spent all that time i have not done any more decluttering but it's really important i start to catch up on this - for home, mental health and income.

I also thought i'd do a roundup of January

• looking after my money better - less frittering away, less waste overall be that food   - it's not wasted but i'd rather we benefited than gifting to others; small purchases which feel cheerful at the time etc i have bought a small cheerful item for me - but was vastly reduced and i didn't buy it before Christmas when it was more expensive. I haven't bought any new clothes / shoes / accessories. All this has meant less stuff coming in, less things to find a space for and less money frittered. I had a shortfall in january so less frittering helped to absorb some of that
• aim to be mortgage free by the time my current deal ends in 2023 on track for this BUT i really want to achieve the stretch target so i don't wipe out savings altogether. Hence my need to declutter, sell things and then start to be able to see the 'bigger picture'
• start to plan for retirement must do more on this - very little done except gaining an understanding of monies needed for a second property
• look after our home better - this will involve a ruthless decluttering so that we are at least tidy, a deep clean, keeping on top of the cleaning; listing the maintenance jobs which need doing in the rooms and to the house I have made a very good start on this - 3 rooms are almost finished - 1 would be completely finished in terms of inside all cupboards having been done as well. Although of course this can be revisited later - everywhere needs to be done once first. Other 2 rooms still have bags of things to go through and cupboards not gone through (when i say cupboards i mean storage so wardrobes, drawer, cupboards etc) But once the surface / floor has been cleared i can then start targeting areas such as a cupboard, lift everything out, sort, clean and put back what keeping). Let's see how i do in February   
• looking after me better - increased fitness by regular walking, then regular running, using the pampering toiletries products i have which will also help with decluttering; eating healthily and increasing my intake of water illness has emphasized my need for this - no exercise achieved January but i have started in Feb - i was becoming very stiff and inflexible so made myself do it.
• planning in regular fun experiences i have been to the theatre and also to crazy golf in January - fun things definitely achieved.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

This week i want to list some items for sale - i keep putting them off as i know they'll be awkward to list / take pics of and i don't know if they'll sell - but i am definitely starting this this week.

I also want to go for a walk every day - no where near fitness levels for running yet.

I want to clear a couple more bags of things and move them to their home.

i also want to clear the couch,

Read more of my book

Complete work course

Look into retirement plans more.

Got to dash now - machine beeping with washing,

Have a good Sunday all

try_harder

It sounds as if you still had a pretty good January in spite of being poorly .Heres to a good February

badmemory

I wouldn't worry too much now about a financial thing in 2 years.  I suspect that the whole financial climate will look quite different by then.

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Thank you tryharder and badmemory.

I expect you're right badmemory - i guess i'm concerned about the increase in the cost of things right now - fuel, food, gas and electric etc and where this will leave us in 2 years time when the mortgage deal is due to end. Still i am on here to control what i can of my finances which can only be a good thing. Although there may have been some uncontrolled spending on Monday 

sabsob

@StripeyTightsSpottySocks I totally get the concern about what will happen in two years, and to try and be in the best situation possible. Our mortgage will also end in two years, and I'm twitchy already

It looks like you got lots done - I also get the "ugh" feeling about getting stuff listed, I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped. When I realise I don't have time, I try to list at least a couple of more expensive items, so it feels like it's "worth it". Uncontrolled spending now and then....who doesn't? Hang in there

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

I have been deliberating over what to do work wise for the past few days.

My boss had a sortof progress update meeting with me - so i was so pleased i completed the course over the weekend  I expressed interest in completing more courses that are a bit more specific (as well as widely recognised). It turns out these courses aren't funded through work 

I also discovered working late (as i have been to get things finished and, i guess, i feel new and am not sure i'm at the right pace yet) is an expectation. (i have done quite a lot extra  )

I now don't know what to do.

I don't love my job. However, to do what i truly love - which would be writing (a lot of honest thought went into this), i need an income to pay the bills and free up my creative mind from the worry of finances. So, do i pay for a recognised qualification myself? I have not budgeted for this. I would have to complete in my own time - which would take time away from anything creative.

Positives are - (just my thoughts) - i'll have a recognised qualification, i would be more employable because of this (most similar roles require the qualifications and not just experience and i know they are over applied for with people who have both); i'll be more confident about my role and this will have an overall positive impact on my self esteem, worries would reduce and i'll gain general confidence; i'll be more skilled - either making me more efficient / effective or both - which can't be bad for potential pay rises in the future. Once qualified i could set up my own business. I could do the course online saving money and time - ideally i'd be qualified this year.

Negatives - depending if i can skip a course or two because of the experience i have then the price is between £1,000 - £2,000  I will be studying in my own time leaving me less time for anything else.

If anybody has any input i'd really appreciate it.

badmemory

I guess a lot of your decisions will depend on whether you are prepared to work for a cheapskate in the longer term.  Sorry didn't realise until I read that back how harsh it sounded.  They are using you & your willingness to work extra hours, so use them to get done what you need to do.