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

redofromstart

Merry christmas to you humdinger.

beanielou

Have a happy Christmas. 

savingholmes

Well done on the contract. 

Happy new year. 

I love your encouragement and way with words. We value you.

Humdinger1

Thank you everyone! So, a few random thoughts as this time next week I should be hard at it; it will be my first employee contract for 25 years! There are big changes coming in local government; however the need for campaigning will not go away in my opinion.   So what I think I'm going to do during the fixed term contract is:

Boost emergency fund as much as possible. 

Check what pension contributions I can make from 3 months in. I am in proud possession of a lovely new tax code to take me up to April.  Depending on what contributions my employee will match, I can imagine paying quite a high percentage.  Will have to wait and see what the details are.

Make myself indispensable, I hope! That way the contract could be extended...that's my cunning plan. 

I have some expenses coming up including:

Dd's 21st birthday at the end of Jan
Contribution (£2k ish) to my mum and stepdad's wet room.

Pay off ccs: this isn't backsliding.   I had to have my ears syringed and dental work done in the week before Christmas. 

The council-tax free months in Feb and Mar are often used to stock up on toiletries for the year.

Thank you to everyone to reads and comments.   It's a wonderful community we have here and I'm proud to be part of it.  Love Humdinger xx 

Humdinger1

Happy new year to us all! In other news, I have changed the type of current account I have with S*nt*nd*r so that I qualify for a savings account paying 6% on balances of £4k.  The current account also pays 1% on most everyday transactions.  I plan to get the savings balance up to £4k ASAP (currently £2,200) ideally by the end of Feb and then put further savings (inc interest on the 6% account as it pays nothing above £4k) into an existing account paying 3.75%. I managed to move all but £30 from here before the interest dropped from 4.75%. I appreciate that higher rates may be available but am happy with these as money is available short term.  I managed to round up to £2,200 and got rid of an annoying 18p; few outside this forum would even know, still less care.

I have also been walking and/or swimming every day.  Exercise will be before 9am and at lunchtime when I start next week.  Even 2 walking sessions of 30 mins each is worthwhile. Swimming will be evenings and weekends. 

Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

KajiKita

Good luck with the new job 😊 I have no doubt you will become indispensable very quickly! 🤩

Well done on the plans and the San-tan-dare account - that looks like a good one. Also, well done on all the exercise - I need to find a lunchtime walking route 😊

KK

jwil

Well done on the exercise!  Sounds like a good plan with the banking too.

savingholmes

Well done on the exercise and account shifting. Pension contribution plans sound great too.

Humdinger1

Hello everyone! So the latest news here is:

Started job.  Loving it but the current role will not be extended beyond 31st May though I'm coming in for a lot of praise.  I am discussing what else I can apply for; I may not have enough relevant experience to get the job I'd ideally like but perhaps something else.

The 4k S*nt*nd*r account was maxed out a few weeks ago.  I've just transferred £600 to another savings account and hope to get this one to £4k too by the end of May.

So what I'm trying to balance is time vs money.  I'm going through all outgoings again so that I can manage if I don't get another job for a while or possibly ever.  What I don't want to do is build up savings and then whittle them down via frivolous spending.  Even £100 per month taken from savings soon adds up.

I may have an events project heading my way.

I checked my pension and the small amount I'm withdrawing isn't exceeding growth. It really is all about mindset isn't it. 

Exercise going well.

Thanks to everyone reading and commenting.   I truly appreciate it.

Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

jwil

Glad the job is going well, shame it can't be extended.