Oct

29

working towards my dream life

Filed Under plonkee | 25 Comments

I’ve noticed that in my normal life, most of my stories start the same way, and it’s the way this story is going to begin.

I was in the pub the other day…

I was in the pub the other day with a friend, when he asked me what my realistic dream life would look like. I think he was looking for reassurance since his dream life is apparently nothing like his actual life. He didn’t get any. My dream life is pretty much the same as my life now, except that I work four days a week instead of five, my blog is more successful, my house is in better condition and location and I take more trips abroad. Possibly I’d be living in the Netherlands. It did get me thinking though. It was pretty easy for me to enunciate my dream life and I’m part of the way there already, it seems silly not to make my dream life part of my goals.

working four days a week

Working four days a week, rather than five would mean earning less money. I’ve calculated that if I could do it right away, I’d be taking home £250 less a month, with a reduction of about £350 in retirement contributions as well. I can’t afford this at the moment, but if I earned a bit more, and I was more frugal, this could become possible. My immediate goals are a promotion at work and maintaining my existing spending (incorporating some inflation) when I get a pay rise - almost certainly in April.

a more successful blog

What I mean by success for this blog, is in fact more commentators. I love getting feedback from people and interacting. I like both agreements and disagreements. My immediate goal is to double the number of comments that I receive on average per post.

my house in better condition

My house needs work doing to improve its condition, when I had the survey done the surveyor said that it was in typical condition for its age (it’s about 100) and gave a list of jobs that need doing. My ongoing goal is to complete these jobs (which include redecorating the interior and putting in a new bathroom and kitchen).

travelling

Travelling means happiness to me. There are so many countries that I want to go to, and so many things that I want to see. I’ve got a list of places to visit and my ongoing goal is going to be to travel to every single one.

Now that I’ve defined my goals, I need to work out next actions to be associated with pushing each one forward. That’ll require some brainstorming.

Sep

28

i’m coming to dc

Filed Under plonkee | 5 Comments

So, I ended up buying up plane tickets to DC.

I get in on Wed Nov 28 at 14:10 and leaving at 21:55 0n Mon 3 Dec.

Ideally someone will suggest a DC pfblogger (plus me) meet up.

Or failing that give me some great ideas as to what to do.

I’m so second guessing this decision.

Sep

27

standing up to the green-eyed monster

Filed Under plonkee | 15 Comments

Being envious is dangerous.

I’ve got a friend who is a few years older than me who has been in a long term relationship for about 10 years. Together they own the house that they live in and have another investment property. They have a sports car, which their selling to replace with a BMW. In the past year they’ve been on four foreign holidays.

There are a few key reasons why my friends can afford so much more than me. Because they are a few years older, they purchased their first house prior to the recent housing boom. They have friends who work for airlines and so they can get discounted travel. They earn on half as much again as I do, each. There are two of them, and this gives savings. They also carry credit card debt and have a car loan.

I’ve been deeply envious of my friend since we met. I want a nice house, a relationship, foreign holidays, and all the trappings of success. Its a good job that my fear of debt has meant that I haven’t acted on my jealous feelings, I reckon I’d be owing the credit card companies thousands and thousands.

On the other hand, I’m still allowing my envy to affect my own life. When I don’t look at their lifestyle, I am actually happy with mine. I don’t really want their house (because mine is beautiful) or car (driving kills the planet). I’d love to go on holiday a lot, but I genuinely prefer - and can afford - budget travel. I may not have a boyfriend, but I have my much valued independence and many wonderful friends. I’d rather be young, on balance.

I vow that from this day on I will no longer look at their lifestyle with envy. Instead I will remind myself that I am living my dreams. It might be in a small way, but they’re still being realised.

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