Find the SecondStar and soar, and then straight on till the morning…

SecondStar

New season of life, new SOA required.

Note: ‘presents’ and ‘clothing’ are rough annual numbers divided by 12. All other figures are accurate, with no omissions.

From the amount left after all expenses, comes my personal spending allowance (increased from £50 to £100 with this new SOA), and the savings for my emergency fund.

Currently my 3 month emergency fund is still my priority for savings, as of today I am at £2,920.29 / £4,347 - 67% of the way there, with £1,426.71 to go.
I am confident that I’ll have saved the full amount within at least 6 months.

After that? Not too sure yet. Life can look very different in 6 months time! But this is where I’m at right now, today, and I’m pleased enough with it. 

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information

Number of adults in household........... 1

Number of children in household......... 

Number of cars owned.................... 1

Monthly Income Details

Monthly income after tax................ 1721.56

Partners monthly income after tax....... 0

Benefits................................ 0

Other income............................ 0

Total monthly income.................... 1721.56

Monthly Expense Details

Mortgage................................ 339

Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0

Rent.................................... 0

Management charge (leasehold property).. 0

Council tax............................. 46

Electricity............................. 30

Gas..................................... 30

Oil..................................... 0

Water rates............................. 0

Telephone (land line)................... 0

Mobile phone............................ 8

TV Licence.............................. 0

Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0

Internet Services....................... 29

Groceries etc. ......................... 120

Clothing................................ 10

Petrol/diesel........................... 120

Road tax................................ 0

Car Insurance........................... 40

Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10

Car parking............................. 0

Other travel............................ 72

Childcare/nursery....................... 0

Other child related expenses............ 0

Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0

Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0

Buildings insurance..................... 33

Contents insurance...................... 0

Life assurance ......................... 18

Other insurance......................... 0

Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 41

Haircuts................................ 0

Entertainment........................... 0

Holiday................................. 0

Emergency fund.......................... 0

Pet blood tests / prescription costs.... 15

Pet medications & jabs.................. 150

Pets (food, litter)..................... 100

Spotify ................................ 12

Google storage.......................... 2

Apple storage........................... 9

Total monthly expenses.................. 1234

Assets

Cash.................................... 3306.35

House value (Gross)..................... 75000

Shares and bonds........................ 49.39

Car(s).................................. 5000

Other assets............................ 0

Total Assets............................ 83355.74

Secured & HP Debts

Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR

Mortgage...................... 67475....(339)......4.84

Total secured & HP debts...... 67475.....-.........-   

Unsecured Debts

Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR

Total unsecured debts..........0.........0.........-  

Monthly Budget Summary

Total monthly income.................... 1,721.56

Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,234

Available for debt repayments........... 487.56

Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0

Amount left after debt repayments....... 487.56

Personal Balance Sheet Summary

Total assets (things you own)........... 83,355.74

Total HP & Secured debt................. -67,475

Total Unsecured debt.................... -0

Net Assets.............................. 15,880.74

SecondStar

Personal reminder time, again: take a deep breath in, and sloooowwwwww dooooowwwnnnnn. Sllllooooowwwwwwwww.



I’m doing what I often do, particularly after bereavement or traumatic events, in which I try to clutch a hold of everything I can reach in life in a vice-like death grip, in an attempt to exert (or to feel as though I am exerting) control. When unpleasant things happen in my life, my body and brain tense up and grab onto things like life rafts.

Thanks to a lot(!) of therapy, I can recognise this as it starts to happen now.

I don’t need to rush out and buy whatever immediately crosses my mind. I don’t need to scour eBay and Vinted and rack up huge watchlists, which will generate tons of reminder emails about offers! buy now! quick, hurry, don’t wait!, which make my heart pound and my mind race. I don’t need to be stressed and frantic about shaking my life up - moving my partner in, getting engaged, getting MARRIED, if I’ll get another dog, if I’ll rent out my house, if I’ll sell my house, if I’ll move closer to my partner, if my partner and I will buy something together…

I can get to just…be. To sit, to feel, (to feel sad, sometimes), to sink into rolling through my weekdays, and to look forward to my weekends off work, to plan for my winter and have those plans span months and not single days or hours. To know that I have time. There is time, there will be time. To look to my future with calmness, hope, and a bright eye; not with frenzy, anxiety, and grasping hands.

My sphere is made up of things which did not happen immediately. My relationships, my job, my home, my wardrobe, my furnishings, my hobbies, my collections, my interests; the things which are most important to me, and the ones which have taken time, have been born out of careful deliberation and mindful thought. The rushed, hasty, impulse-driven decisions are ones which have not lasted, and which did not bring me long term happiness.

I do not need to control the world in order to be safe. I just need to take care of myself, and trust that the world will continue to spin without the need for my hands pushing it.

Sarahwithlove

Its sad when you lose a beloved pet and whilst it's hard to spend the money the important thing to remember is that you went without to give them the best life. They won't begrudge you the chance to spend it on yourself now 

Purplelady65

I haven’t commented before but have been following your diary with interest for quite some time. I’ve been really interested to read about your hobbies and the work you’ve done in creating items to sell at the re enactments and what’s involved in creating the clothing and the various options e.g. machine or hand sewn, sourcing the materials and dying them e.t.c.  I’ve found it really informative as it’s not something I know anything about. The dedication and love for your pets has shone through in all your posts about them and I echo what @Sarahwithlove has said. You have definitely gone without so that they could always have the best of everything. Re the spare money there’s nothing to feel guilty about as you’ve always prioritised them and if it now helps you in adding to your savings or having a bit more money to enjoy life then that’s a positive thing. I also love your outlook on life and how much enjoyment you get from the simple things in life e.g. spending time with loved ones. 

SecondStar

Thank you so much for the sweet replies, it means a lot to me to know that there are people out there who understand, and who are reading along to my rambles and musings!

You’re just right that I went without, so that my pets can have all that they need. It was true prior to last month, and it continues to be true. If any of them are in need, and it is something which can be alleviated with money (and is also in their best interests, not just in mine), then they’ll have it. Even as far as choosing this place to live - my list of criteria was very short, because I didn’t have much time or choice; but on there was an outdoor space, and to have a ground level, so that my elderly dog wouldn’t have to climb stairs, and so that he and my rabbit would have a safe outdoor area.

Their needs and wants always come before my own, it’s just now those needs and wants don’t cost quite as much money anymore.

I’m still a bit uncomfortable with this though, it’ll take some getting used to. It’s hard to admit that I feel ‘pleased’, or ‘relieved’, to have more of a buffer in my income. It’s hard to hold both the gratitude I feel at being able to save more each month, whilst also really missing my boy and knowing I would’ve paid anything and more to keep him healthy, happy, and here.

But both of those feelings can be true, and they are. No amount of money could’ve made him well, and I gave any amount of money whilst he was here to maintain him in the best life possible. I am able to feel grateful, thankful, and lucky, that I was able to afford to keep him well maintained whilst I could; and I also feel grateful, thankful, and lucky, that I am able to afford to save each month. Both of these are not to be taken for granted, as they’re not luxuries available to everyone.



In other news, I am looking into joining a guild for spinners, weavers, and dyers!

My partner and I got chatting to them a few weeks ago at a fair, and I was talking about my forays into weaving and spinning, with a keen interest in dyeing too - all from a reenactment perspective. They were very keen, and so I’ve been invited to their first meeting of the season tomorrow. I’m aware that I’ll be coming in as a novice (my least favourite!) but I’m so excited to meet, chat to, and learn from, people with more experience in the same very niche(!) interests!



After thinking the reenactment season was wrapped up, there is 1 more event at the end of September which we’ll be attending.

My partner and I have shared a tent and traded side by side this season, but for next season we plan on making an official consortium, and to begin attending events, being insured, and trading under 1 name. This is more practical for 3rd party event paperwork, as we’re not registering 2 traders, and it also benefits us both to have the scope of our skills combined under 1 heading.

The list of winter projects is growing at a rate of knots! For now though, we spent a good few hours clearing out the barn which will be my partner’s new forge and workshop - about 13 black bin liners went to the dump, and we can see the floor again! He has been missing forging so much, it’ll do him so much good to have a forge on-site. It’ll be a good base for me to work out of too, and it’ll be invaluable for building stock for next season. Very exciting all round.

SecondStar

*Paging Captain Obvious*: guess who didn’t quite realise that reduced out-goings, means a reduced amount of out-goings.

eg. My 3-month emergency fund isn’t the same number anymore, and I forgot to recalculate it - see above re. reduced out-goings, for goodness sake!

As it would happen, based on current expenses, my 3-month emergency fund only needs to be £3,315.

I’ll bump that up to £3,500, for a cushion and because my brain likes round numbers, but that means I’m £2,932.45 / £3,500 - 83% of my target, and only £567.55 to go!

That will be fully funded in 2 months!



Back in June my savings totalled £4,500, and then I had big expenses - fixing my car, and installing the new boiler - which brought my savings down to £2,378.

I’ve been shooting to get back to that £4,500, so reducing that to £3,500 feels a bit scary - it doesn’t feel like ‘enough’, even though my expenses have reduced since then.



I’m getting ahead of myself again. £3,500 is *my* 3-month total, regardless of how the number feels. I’ll keep working towards it, and celebrate once it comes! Having 3 months of expenses saved is a big achievement, and something to be proud of. What happens next will come after that.

KajiKita

Good to hear the EF has got a boost, albeit by needing to be smaller! 😉😊 Once you’ve got the three months, perhaps aim for six months, in the new year? 

Exciting times about the new forge space and working together as a ‘blended’ trader. To me that suggests that you are feeling safe and secure with your partner in a way that you might not have anticipated a year ago? I’m finding myself quite envious that you have a list of winter projects … 🤔 you are prodding me into collating my own list … 😊

KK

SecondStar

Thank you @KajiKita !

Yes it was a bit of a shock to see the number reduce! £3,500 doesn’t feel like ‘enough’ to feel secure, so I will be looking to increase that to 6 months, albeit a bit slower than now when I’m pushing for those 3 months.

I’m already thinking about saving and planning for our trading next year - there are several events which will include longer travel, and potentially air fare / ferry costs, so it’ll be good to think ahead and budget for those trips.

I might also like a separate ‘vet emergency’ fund - yes, the standard EF would step up if need be, but I think a dedicated savings amount for the vet is a good idea.



I’ve been listening to The Financial Feminist podcast by Tori Dunlap for a while now, and have just started listening to her audio book as well. 10/10 would recommend for anyone who doesn’t know where to start with money, it has been so inclusive, accessible, and inspiring!

Sarahwithlove

Once you have 3 months maybe aim for a separate higher emergency fund so you don't need to dip into that 3.5k if anything goes wrong. My ultimate aim will be £5k that number to me feels safe.b

SecondStar

I was brave yesterday! I attended a first meeting with a textile group, who mostly do spinning, weaving, and dyeing.

I was much more nervous that I expected, but everyone was kind, pleasant, and welcoming, and I actually knew one of the other attendees from a few viking events - she’s not a regular member, but she’ll come and do demonstrations when she’s able - so that was lovely.

I brought along my drop spindle and felt rather novice and sheepish (no pun intended!), but overall it was a good time. It was interesting and curious to hear this group of people talking about things and using words which I’ve only read about - fleeces, sheep breeds, equipment, techniques. There is so much that I don’t know, or haven’t tried yet, and I’m eager to grow my experience.

I’ve 3 real long term goals for my textile journey.
The first is to spin a plausible yarn to match the sheep breed, gauge, and type of yarn, used to nalbind the York sock, and then create a replica.
The second is to weave an amount of cloth to make myself a dress - I’ll start with commercial yarn and a table loom, but it would be a real dream to spin the yarn myself, and to use an historic weighted loom!
The third is to recreate a full outfit and accessories based on a real grave find, with or without the textiles being hand spun / woven.