Debt free and staying that way while I re-evaluate life and keep blood sugar levels down

jwil

Oh, that's frustrating

Humdinger1

Will see if I can get a cheaper repair quote

KajiKita

Humph … that explains a lot! 🙄

Good luck with the repair quote … 🤞

KK

Humdinger1

Morning money-watchers! Quite a bit to report here, both practically and philosophically.

In practical news:

DH has kindly bought me new walking shoes.  We were en route to our hols in Suffolk when we saw a 30% off sign so pulled over.

The first pension drawdown has hit my account.   Not only has no tax been deducted but a rebate has been added.  I've asked the pension co what I should expect monthly from November. If I need to pay tax, I need to set funds aside each month rather than panic on the day, no?

A couple of purchases have been made from a vintage shop.  I love them both and the cost is covered by the tax rebate. One is a chintz print mac which is wearable year-round.

I have bought a multipack of bras for £20 from MS; a £10 voucher covered half the cost.  I have also spent £16 on 6 new pairs of tights but that's an annual cost I've set money aside for.

On the philosophical front, I'm thinking that periodic  projects will be better than a full or part time job perhaps. Am in touch with old client and it looks possible that some work will be coming my way.

I've worked out my finances.  Even including some spending money, I could manage on £700 per month.  My allowance for council work and pension give me £300 to £400 more than that.  I'm inclined to put the extra into my emergency fund where it can earn interest and if DD needs help I can send it.

I am 60 and while I don't want to stop working, I do want to move away from feeling that I have to work round the clock just to keep my head above water.  That's no longer the case; health, campaigning for a better world and spending time with loved ones is the goal.  We walked for 3 hours on the beach yesterday and it was glorious. 

Thanks as ever to everyone reading and commenting.   Love to all Humdinger xx 

KajiKita

I’m glad to hear about the new walking shoes - comfortable feet are critical! 😊
The work plans sound good - enough to keep your hand / mind in but leave you with a better life - work balance 😊

KK

jwil

Great news on the financials, and that's a great amount to be living on!

Watty1

Caught up.   The financials sound really good. And nice plans too!

Humdinger1

Thanks @KajiKita @jwil and @Watty1.  I've been thinking about what is the best emotional state to be in for making sensible, sustainable financial decisions.   A lot of my life pre-lightbulb was lived in ecstatic magical thinking mode.  Then when debt hit and it was so colossal I had nowhere to hide, conscious stress and panic took over (I had debts of £140k, so understandable, no?!) till I at least could see light at the end of the tunnel though I did somehow manage to function well enough to pay it all off.  Now I feel that I'm living in conscious mode.  There's always a slight feeling of nerves when I check credit card balances though I never spend what I can't pay off before interest accrues. My goal is to live well on a small budget and always add something to the emergency fund each month.  I received my councillor allowance this morning.   It's a few hundred pounds but added to the small (monthly for now) pension withdrawal which landed a few days ago and I have 1k in my current account having paid off my credit card.   That seems so much money.  I feel lucky and hope this isn't coming across as smug; it is the result of a long and arduous journey.   All of us on here are seekers of the grail in one sense perhaps: the grail isn't money but a sense of perspective and contentment; lives well lived where we can see the destructive power of consumption that's based on other people's ideas of what makes humans valuable.   We all decline to be treated as commodities. We refuse to be sucked into negative patterns that make delinquent companies even richer at the expense of consumers, financially and in terms of mental and physical health.  Not wanting to sound like a conspiracy theorist, of course! Love to all Humdinger xx 

KajiKita

Your post doesn’t come across as remotely smug. It comes across as hard won security and wisdom. The wisdom especially to understand that endless consumption only traps us. 

KK

PennysIntoPounds

Hear hear Humdinger. Very pleased indeed that you're feeling content in your life and energised to fight the good fight on behalf of those that can't 💪