Evasive action! Stop the trench becoming a hole.

KeepOnKnitting

Well starting the bank job has gone well. I need to remember to not let myself get swallowed up in working extra days. No more than two days per month feels like a good compromise. I love my work, but I don't want it to be the focus of my life. Somehow the work ethic I was taught as a child is too strong in me.

I've had a lovely time off work. I sometimes wish I didn't have to go back, but I do like the life that working gives me, so I guess there isn't much chance of me taking the alternative option. Just need to work towards that early retirement.

Tried to make the most of the weather today, but the washing machine turned out grubby laundry, so I have had to go and get washing machine cleaner to see if I can have white whites. Gah. 

KeepOnKnitting

New main job is going OK so far. All the normal hoops of e-learning and chasing IT to get access to systems here, there and everywhere. Learning new things and getting all sorts of gossip because it's one of those trades where people move about from service to service and rarely change trade.

I've got all my lunches made for the week already, so I'm a step ahead there. Have an overtime day booked on Saturday, but then a housework and relaxing day planned on Sunday. 

Other than the holiday spends this month, I don't think I have done too bad with the budget this month. Income is down, but there is at least 11 days of work I have done this month that will be paid next month. Food budget will be under £136 once I get some yoghurt and fruit for breakfasts. Travel slightly up as I bought a train ticket for February. Otherwise my spending and doing things budgets have been pretty good. 

Feb and March each have a birthday gift to buy, plus Mother's Day in late March, but no other big events to pay for. Feb and March are the council tax free months for me. As I say, I am due 11 days extra pay in Feb, plus I plan to do two days overtime. I have started the better paid job, so that will be a nice payslip in mid-Feb. I'm planning to dodge pension payment for 3 months just to get back ahead of myself, and then join the scheme in May. 

Oh yeah, and the car needs the brakes looking at. I had them done less than a year ago, which seems like they shouldn't need doing yet, unless it's that I had the front ones done and now the rear ones need doing maybe. I love this car, but it really does feel like a money pit. Maybe I should have picked the newer, smaller engine (+turbo) version.

backinbusiness

Re the pension contributions - you won't normally be enrolled for the first 3 months anyway - (unless it was an internal promotion; sorry if I've missed that).

Congrats on it all - you have a solid plan! BiB x 

KeepOnKnitting

Thanks BiB. I think I have the option to request joining the pension scheme straight away, but I get enrolled automatically in 3 months so I am letting the break happen. It won't make much difference to my pension, but will ease my mind now significantly. 

Today I wasn't feeling well on my way to work and knew I was going to be ill, so I bought some biscuits and a drink at the corner shop so that I would at least have eaten something. I hate being nauseous. Desperate times, but much better than the alternative of an empty stomach.

Still early days, but I feel like I am settling in already. 

KeepOnKnitting

Stopped at Lidl for basics, including some spread so I could have on-toast for dinner.

In other news, the car. <sigh> That is all. 

redofromstart

Sounds like an 'oh dear' on the car. Much sympathy. 

KeepOnKnitting

It is always an "oh dear" on the car I feel. I think I have just got a smidge unlucky. The previous owner obviously didn't drive it much, and while it was maintained, it just didn't reach the point of needing things replaced. I've bought it and I do comparatively high mileage, so many of the original parts have worn out over the last 18 months. I've just had a look at YNAB though, and the cost of maintenance has still been significantly less than finance for a newer car would have been, so I guess really I am quids in. Hopefully by the summer I will have done all the brakes, suspension, exhaust, bearings etc that one would expect to replace, and then it will just be maintenance until it hits nearer 100k miles. 

I've done a bank shift on Saturday, and had a good first week at work. Today is rest, reset for the week ahead, and buy a birthday gift for my friend. 

KeepOnKnitting

I failed on taking lunch today. Bought a slice of quiche from the bakery at £1.90. Shame! Shame!

redofromstart

Was it nice though? 

KeepOnKnitting

It would have been nicer warmed gently in the oven rather than microwaved, but it was definitely better than a pasty from greggs.

It is payday in the new job tomorrow, and I am so glad. Sitting in the new specially arranged overdraft has felt awful.

HMRC have sent me a letter about next tax year with some really frustrating decision making they have done. My entire tax free allowance is applied to my part time job. I'll have to sort that out.