Tag Archives: progress report

September Progress Report

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Another month down and only one more term left in this management role thank goodness. On the finance front, here are the numbers:

Mortgage:

  • current balance: $43,731
  • down from $45,990
  • total reduction: $2,259
Savings:
  • current balance: $690,450
  • up from: $678,595
  • total increase: $11,855

 We’ve all been working from home during September and are still in lockdown which will probably end in the next few weeks. I am expecting to have to go back to the office next week which I am really not looking forward to.

 Last week I was on leave and spent a lot of time dealing with work issues & attending meetings including one where we were very rudely told off for working from home. It was quite insulting & very disrespectful. Each of us in that meeting was on holiday but still made time to attend. To be told off like that was just one more reminder of how toxic this workplace is & how much I want to leave. I keep reading about The Great Resignation and I could quite likely be a part of it the way things are going. 

On a positive note, I’ve been doing lots of decluttering and have several bags of old clothes ready to donate when the op shops open up. I went for a lovely walk with an old friend a few days ago down by the river. 

It was a beautiful spring day and we spent a few hours catching up, while we enjoyed the views and got some exercise.  We followed a walking path that goes along the river & even though we’re still in town, just 10 minutes from home, it feels like you are away from the traffic & noise.
Its magpie swooping season here and although there were plenty of maggies about there was no birds swooping at us as we walked.

The view back towards town. I remember as a kid we were not allowed to swim in the river but  I used to sneak down with a friend and go for a swim sometimes in summer. At the moment there are lots of snakes about so it’s not the smartest idea to swim here right now.  

Today we have a public holiday here so I’ll be doing some more decluttering and perhaps a bit of cooking for the freezer. We are meeting with the financial planner again next week to make some decisions so I’m looking forward to that and to enjoying this lovely spring weather in the next few weeks.

Progress Report: August – the covid edition

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August has been a really tough, and stressful month. I haven’t posted because my posts would just say ‘worked all day, worked extra, fell asleep on the lounge”. 

Too much work, not enough staff + covid + being a mental health professional dealing with vulnerable, at-risk youth, & currently in lockdown has just been too much some days. 

I’ve been working from home for most of the last month due to covid cases in our town and all my team are also in areas under lockdown due to covid cases. Sadly, we have had several young people take their lives which impacts the whole community.

So I am very tired but OK, just two more weeks until a short vacation period and then one more term to go. I am seriously considering if I retire earlier than planned though as I’m watching these covid cases go up and up each day. We are meeting with the financial planner again next week to look at various projections. It would be wonderful if I could finish up this year instead of next – I feel like covid has changed everything. I’m just so grateful that we have been saving so I am now in a good position to leave if I decide to.

Heres the numbers:

Mortgage

  • current balance: $45,990
  • down from: $47,650
  • total reduction: $1,660
Superannuation
  • current balance: $678,595
  • up from:$665,116
  • total increase: $13,479

July Progress Report

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 July has been a difficult month. I have spent my time working, sleeping, and working at home after hours & on weekends. The workload is just crazy and exacerbated by dealing with covid lockdowns, being very short-staffed ( I am covering 4 positions) and the area I cover was just increased with more staff to manage. Added to that is preparations for restructuring so lots of meetings & reports.

I am very tired and life has been too far out of balance.

So I’m very glad that it’s August – the start of a new month!  I am going to work at getting some more balance back in my life and I only have a few more months left of this workload. 

Heres the current numbers:

Mortgage:

  • current balance: $47,650
  • down from: $49,111
  • total reduction: $1,461
Superannuation:
  • current balance: $665,116
  • up from: $649,758
  • total increase: $15,356
I’ve been saving this month to pay the financial planner and also I have some big annual bills to pay so my mortgage payoff has slowed down and next month will likely be the same.
We reached our 2021 savings target a few weeks ago – I am just amazed to watch how quickly our superannuation is growing. 
This week I’ve been getting our finances ready for the accountant and also preparing information for the financial planner. We had our investment property valued and I was stunned to see how much it has grown in value! It has more than doubled.  I felt quite emotional as we could sell that property now, clear all debt and still have money left over to invest. I am not sure what we will do yet but it feels good to know that we have options.  
So August is about me getting back into some better routines, relaxing more, and working less.  DH and I both organised to work just three days this week, so we can step back a bit from work. I have meetings with HR about part-time options and with the financial planner at the end of the week. Only 501 days to go!