I have work until Christmas! The area that I’m working with in Defence, who have been saying for four months that there is no way they can extend my contract, turned around yesterday and asked if I would like to stay until Christmas. Yes please! I’ll still be working 22.5 hours a week, but spread over four days. So I should be home by about 3.00pm each afternoon to get some time in to work on my coaching business! We’re all really happy about it.

Actually, I can’t wait until it’s over and finished. Just to have it finished. I’m fed up with dealing with this, the uncertainty and waiting.

When I asked about it I was told that it’s because we are assumed to be replacing like with like meaning that we are expected to go and buy a four year old microwave. Not that I have a problem with buying second-hand, but a microwave is not something I want to buy used with no knowledge of how it’s been treated and used or abused.

I did our budget on Excel last night, and as long as we are very very careful with our money we can survive on Eddie’s wage. We won’t be putting away money for Christmas or clothes, but we will be able to pay bills. I am obviously planning on working, but it may take a month or so for me to find employment. I’m still coaching, however we really need a larger income to get rid of all this debt. We’re both so sick of paying $1000′s of dollars each year in interest!

We haven’t done so well following the budget up to now. In fact we didn’t have one at all for November! Then I was sick and we ate take-away a lot, we’ve both been really busy with working, school, Christmas coming, preparing to move etc. January is going to be a crazy month, so we’re using a fairly flexible budget there…. February we’ll need to get a lot more serious about following it.

I still need to draw up some charts that show our debt reduction visually. I don’t think it’s ‘real’ to Eddie or Dian what we’ve achieved so far. This is really me pushing the debt reduction and budgets so far, and trying to sell the idea to them. If I want them to buy into this and not blow the budget and to make it a truly teamwork effort then they need to be able to clearly see the benefits and the progress we’re making. Unfortunately I’ve misplaced my papers that have our net worth and balances on them, I’m assuming that they’ll turn up sometime after we move! I’ve probably filed them, if I have then it’s no wonder I can’t find them! LOL!

We’ve spent the money, now we’re paying the bills. A comment that I read today was really interesting. It was in one of Dave Ramsay’s books and said that if you invested $1850 per month in a good mutual fund, in 15 years you’ll be a cash millionaire. Another five years to make the second million and then three years to the third. Five million in 28 years. Most people spend thirty years paying off a mortgage at about the same monthly rate. There’s a big difference between $5,000,000 and a $300,000 house!

My blog is worth $3,387.24.
How much is your blog worth?

That’s US$ too… So, uh, how do I get paid what my blog is worth???? Interesting, but I’d like to know how it is supposedly worth this much!

I was absolutely exhausted by the time I was finished, it’s been about two years since I’ve worked away from home! It’s a good introduction though, as I’m looking for full time work next year when we’re back in Canberra.

And yet I’ve CHOSEN to put myself through this torture and denial! What was I thinking????? I must be just about ready to be committed to an insane asylum…

The point is, although it’s no comfort to me right now, that Compacting is about doing without, or finding a way other than buying new. So by denying myself, I’m actually following in the compact. It doesn’t feel good! I don’t feel any self-righteousness, doing good for the planet and my wallet feelings, right now I am feeling like such a drongo for actually choosing to do this!!!! Bah humbug!!!

Back to the embroidery thread this morning, I had to replace some that I left in Canberra a few weeks ago. I’m in the middle of a smocking project with it so I couldn’t substitute a similar shade from my other threads. So I went into my favourite shop, full of fabric, threads, wool, patterns, ribbons, it’s like a treasure trove! I normally go in for one small thing and come out $100 later…. and my fabric/thread/wool/pattern stash increases! Not today, I bought the thread, paid 90c and left. That was hard.

Reading what I’ve just written, I sound like a little kid stamping their feet and throwing a tantrum in frustration at not getting their own way! Well, that’s what I feel like!!!! Thankfully, I’m a wee bit more mature than that and can deal with this a bit better, but yeah, I wouldn’t mind stamping my feet! Anyone want to watch me throw a tanty???? LOLOL!!!

One debt down, four to go, plus the mortgage…