Evasive action! Stop the trench becoming a hole.

Sarahwithlove

Well done for kicking him out. Definitely have to be more picky in the future. Its one of things that puts me off getting another one. Beside enjoying having the space to myself! 

KeepOnKnitting

Final collection of things went smoothly last night, so I got to enjoy last night relaxing without any stress or interruptions. 

I did have a little look at available jobs in my area and other areas I would one day like to move to. I do this quite frequently. I love my work and the company I work for, but I am aware that I am paid below market rate. There are a few reasons I make this deliberate choice, but I like to keep an eye on what else is happening. What I did see was a staffing bank job that I could maybe apply for, do the odd weekend day for a bit of extra. I used to work for the bank when I was a student, and quite enjoyed the work. I'll mull it over.

In my regular work we are hopefully finding out in the next week or so if my company will get awarded the contract for the work after August 2025. Our current contract runs out then, so they need to either contract us again or put it out for tender. I'm not worried about keeping a job, I'd be TUPE'd, but I might not be working for the organisation I'd choose to work for. Once we know about the contract, the organisation can talk about our pay rates. They are aware they are paying us below the going rate, and they want to be able to do something about it. 

New month in YNAB starts today. I'm not a month ahead, there are plenty of categories not fully funded for September. I guess that really means I am back in the credit card float at the moment, although I do have nearly £1k in an emergency fund category, so that's an improvement from when I started. I've got holiday coming up in less than a week, so some definite spends due out, but we can self-cater so it's usually really reasonable overall. Also a holiday is very much needed at the moment.

KeepOnKnitting

It is so frustrating when the 1st isn't a working day. I really want all my DDs to clear!

KeepOnKnitting

DDs have gone out, and now I'm skint!  I reckon I am about £950 short of my budget for September, so that needs to come from my September pay and the rest can budget forward for October. That would be to match my average monthly spending, which would be quite an achievement for a holiday month. I definitely need to take some food with me on holiday, such as coffee, to prevent having to buy things like that again.

I've actually had to transfer money from an instant access saver to cover my regular saver payment this month. It still makes sense to do, but it is pretty frustrating. I may need to do it again later this month as well, depending on when I get a new lodger. 

I've changed back my lock barrels again to the better ones. So quick and easy to do. 

Taking of lunch to work continues to be effective overall. Only 13 work days in September, so that's kind of nice. Just have to avoid eating out too much on holiday.

KeepOnKnitting

So lodger V3.0 is in progress. They have requested a weekly arrangement, rather than monthly. so that feels different. Slightly different budgeting, and it does mean that it will feel less secure for me, but I actually think that is an illusion as my last two monthly lodgers have left with 1 day notice and minus 3 weeks notice. The room rental market in this town is very different to my previous experience in a different city pre-covid. I previously mostly had long-stay early-career professionals. Here it seems to be either contractors or people at transitional moments in their life like relationship breakdowns combined with low-paid work.

Holiday at the weekend. Can't wait!

KeepOnKnitting

I'm at the boring part of the month with no exciting budgeting or money shuffles going on, no savings increasing, no spending. Just get up, make packed lunch, work, cook dinner, bed. I have to be sensible around the holiday plans for this month or I'll just make myself stressed. Hopefully this month I can get the income:outgoings balance back where I want it. 

I reckon £200 will comfortably cover the rest of my accommodation costs for the holiday next week, and I reckon it might cost around £110 in petrol there and back. Added to the rest of my regular bills and spending for the rest of the month, I think I can do it and still be in the black.

KeepOnKnitting

I can't get over how horrible the weather is today. Miserable! I did just go out and pick sweetpeas though, so hopefully they won't go to pods while I'm away. 

So glad to have packed up work for a week though. 😊

WinterWarrior

Happy holidays, I hope you have a lovely time. 

KeepOnKnitting

Plans for today:
- Drop off something with my colleague before she goes to work at 7.30
- Wash/dry my work clothes
- Pack for the week
- Maybe have some nice chill time
- Meet my friend in town after work

Sarahwithlove

Hope it works out OK with the new lodger.