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Friday, February 14, 2003
 
I've been meaning to start doing the Friday Fives for ages, so here we go:

1. Explain why you started to journal/blog.
I read blogs and journals all of the time, the first blog I ever read was Miss Bitch, I found that site by accident when I was using Google to look for something work related. I intended to start my own for ages but it wasn't until I stumbled across SheilaM that I decided to have a go.

2. Do people you interact with day to day or family members know about your journal/blog? Why or why not?
No, Clare knows I have one, but she doesn't read it, I tried for ages to get her interested in other Blogs but she just doesn't find any of them interesting! I haven't told anyone else I know about it, I don't think I ever will because I want to keep this journal/blog (I'm not actually sure what it is) separate from my "real life". I realise that because I'm writing about my "real life" that last bit doesn't make a lot of sense.

3. Do you have a theme for your journal/blog?
No. I don't take it seriously, I update it when I get the time and feel like it. At the moment I tend to be writing about what is going on in my life, but that might change in the future. I am always thinking of things I want to write about here, but I'm never near a PC at the time! By the time I do get in a position to update, the moment has passed or I have forgotten...

4. What direction would you like to have your journal/blog go in over the next year?
I'll take it as it comes, I should think it will be much of the same. I would like to update it more often though, I really must make some time to do it.

5. Pimp five of your favourite journals/blogs.
Just five? I suppose I've already mentioned a couple of them, so here are a few of the others:

Not.So.Soft - I've been reading Meg's blog for ages and I love it! It's really well written and interesting (that goes for the rest of the site too)

Grayblog - Been hanging around here for a while too, I wasn't a fan at first but it really grew on me

Adorable - Again, been reading this one for ages! An accidental find turned out to be a friend of a friend! I'm always looking for an update of this journal.

Orbyn.com - I always enjoy reading this one, 'nuff said.

Scalloblog - Not been reading this one for a long time but I like it.
- Steve, 2:21 PM,
 
I really do intend to update this blog more often than I do, I never seem to get the time and the motivation at the same moment though!

We're going to make some big changes to my whole life/job/debt/house situation, it's scary and a big step but we will come out the other side happier and with a generally better life.

I'm not particularly happy in my job, I have made some real progress and had some great successes along the way, but despite plenty of promises I'm still no better off than I was when I took this role on a year ago.
Recently the company has recruited two new employees to do the same job as me in different parts of the country, they are paying the new guys more than me and they get a much better deal in other areas too, it's the final straw and I'm going to leave as soon as I can (unless they start playing fair).

My plan is to see if I can get a job at the HQ of the parent company in Oxford (I worked there for about 4 years before I started this role), We'll sell our house and rent a place in Oxfordshire (probably Bicester) for a year or so. We should make enough money from the sale of our house to completely clear all of our debts, this will be a huge relief and improve our quality of life a great deal. It really is a big step, but I honestly believe it is the right thing to do for the long term future.
- Steve, 1:15 PM,
Sunday, February 02, 2003
 
Financial worries are still making life less than enjoyable, I'm sure there is no quick fix but I can understand why so many people take out extra loans to consolidate their outstanding debts. It seems that nearly every advert on daytime television is pushing huge consolidation loans as the answer to all your money worries.

I'm hoping to see someone at our local Citizens Advice centre tomorrow, we really do need some (free) financial advice. I have been getting all our figures for incoming and outgoing cash together today, the difference between the two is really scary.

The bad news is that we owe thousands, we are way short of being able to pay all of our commitments each month (almost £1000 per month short). There isn't much good news except that we are facing up to our money problems and seeking help. The one key factor that could get us out of this mess is that the equity on our house (the difference between what we have left to pay on the mortgage and what the house is currently worth) is a bit greater than all of our combined debts. In theory we should be able to sell our house and pay off everything, mortgage included, and then be totally debt free. We would then need to rent a house and hope that either house prices come down, or my salary goes up.

With average house prices being over £100,000 and average wages being around, £20,000, how do school/university leavers ever manage to get on the housing ladder?
- Steve, 10:24 PM,

 

  
 
   
 
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