My Old Style 'Full Circle' - Sorry, bit long

apinnyon

Exactly! our first house was home. Second house, just a mess really. This house really feels like a home again.

xxx

Pink_Fairy_2

Thank you for sharing your story. It's an inspiration to a Newbie like me.

apinnyon

I forgot to say that I have lived and breathed flylady for the last 6 months. I WAS Franny in the pink sweats!! My shiny sink has been my saviour.

furrypig

Maybe I should try flylady again!!

I tried to do the month long introduction thingy to all the habis but I couldn't even manage that but I think I should re look at it all and try! I have the book now so it might be worth studying then trying it!!

Merlot

thriftlady wrote: »

An excellent example of how so often a second income is not worth it. I realise that for some every penny of income is vital, but if you are thinking about giving up work to stay at home with kids (or even without them) then figures like these are worth considering. Add to those the additional work-related costs of; smart work clothes, travel to and from work, incidentals like collections for colleagues, sponsoring colleagues for various things, buying cakes for everyone when it's your birthday etc.....

Thriftlady, you took the words out of my mouth, I gave up a well paid job 2 years ago, and I have never regretted it to stay at home to cook, clean and look after my children, I was earning £1,000 per month, but I didn't see any of that money, it was spent on childcare, takeaways, microwave foods etc. Infact, we are better off now than we have ever been and I am not talking money here, I am talking quality time with my OH and my children, money cannot buy your time back with them and they grow so quickly.

Got rid of the second car, got rid of the microwave, got on the OS site, read Martins tips and here I am 2 years later, we may not get holidays aboard, sky tv, a flat screen tv, but who cares, I am living a debt free happy life, and I'm watching the pennies, you have too if you are on one income, but I wouldn't go back to how it was...ever, I'll downsize first to a shoebox if money really becomes an issue, and I can't put food on the table without the use of a credit card or overdraft, its not easy at times when you have bills dropping on the doormat and the gas and electricity are constantly on the up, but its certainly worth it.

Merlot

Fozz

Thanks for this thread! Have loved reading it, and agree so much that it's not worth flogging yourself to death for a second income. I have only worked part time since our 2 DDs were born (now 16 and 14 ). Our youngest has had problems going to school due to anxiety over the past year ( now hopefully sorted!) and there is no way I could have helped her through this while working full time.
We can't afford holidays and live in a tiny house but we aren't in too bad a state financially, apart from a mortgage shortfall and a bit of an overdraft which we are working hard to clear.
I think I am going to have to leave my current job though, as I took a step up and am finding it hard to cope with the new job, and feel stressed and unhappy at the moment.
It's good to hear from others who feel that being home for your children matters. Even though mine are teenagers, I still like to be there when they come home, teenage years can be tough and although they don't need physical care so much, they do need reassurance and time to talk things over. School nowadays seems a much tougher place than when I was there!

purpleivy

Money spent on a better property is also investment for retirement!

apinnyon wrote: »

Hurrah scotrae - That's exactly how I feel!

Bogof- babe and churchmouse - I'm afraid the moving thing is just typical of the DH and me! Although our mortgage is a bit bigger, we have so much more space and a bigger garden with space for veggies. Our quality of life has improved as a result and we are so happy in our home that we don't yearn to get away on breaks and holidays anymore. We also have space to entertain more and for people to stay over. Also our entire time in our last house was blighted by depression and anxiety. I still can't drive past it yet without getting stressed. I yearned for our first house where we were so happy, so a clean break from our old life seemed like the best way to move forward. I am happy to economise in other areas in order to cover the extra couple of hundred on the mortgage. We have truly not regretted it.

Sola

An inspiring thread. When I was single I earned £11k, had a small one-bedroom flat with a tiny mortgage, no debts and lived the OS way. Fast forward 15 years and I'm married, joint income nearly £90k, working LONG hours in the City, huge debts because we fell into the must-have-it-now mindset with actually little to show for it, counting my spare time in 15 minute slots and little energy. I've started the process of clawing it all back now and returning to sanity; no idea where we'll end up, but I intend to have my life back and am enjoying the small steps.

Rowan9

This has been inspirational and enjoyable to read. I gave up work when DD was born 23 years ago (eeek). I was earning more than EX OH and as soon as we found out i was pregnant we banked my complete salary each month. Prior to that we spent quite a lot though had no debt. I went back to PT work (5 hours a week!!) when kids were 5 and 3. It worked well as I could take my son to a creche at the community centre where i worked. Fast forward and I work fulltime now, have done for 4 years. I'm off work at the moment though. I know it's hard to 'do it all'. Good luck to those who are still working long shifts and struggling to find their own time. It's a real tough one. I know i was lucky to be able to give up paid work when the kids were little. We certainly had to change our habits though!
Have never bought precooked mash but do admit to good old Aunt Bessie's (yum - has anyone tried her honey glazed parsnips???)
W

shopndrop

Bought some of Aunt Bessie's honey glazed parsnips last month. Used 1 portion and put the rest in the bin. They were awful, too sweet and the parsnips were really soggy. Much better to buy fresh and if required glaze them yourself. Don't waste your money.