New project!
Oh yes, after a bit of procrastination, the new project is underway. A really different project, from working with my flat mates, this is quite a personal one. I am taking a good hard look at the my personal finances. Can you understand why my usual enthusiasm for my permaculture stuff was dampened a bit?
But after a week’s break up in Yorkshire, I came back ready to have a go. Also, Sara and I spent some time figuring how much we can get from Get Growing over the growing season and this month was more than I expected.
Permaculture is about designing a system for sustainable living. Although there is a lot more I can do to become more environmentally sustainable, at this moment in time my financial sustainability brings my environmental stuff in jeopardy. So why not apply the principles, theories and techniques to personal finances. As a recent self-employed person and setting up and running my own organisation, there is a huge need for it all to be sustainable.
Today I started the surveying. I looked through my bank statements and surveyed my income and expenditure. I have done all of 2009 so far. It was quite relieving doing the work. To face facts. And deal with numbers. Being dyslexic and numbers having a tendency to jump around quite a lot, this daunting task for anyone is just a tad more daunting.
With this clear understanding and having kept my timesheets up to date, I was ready to take the next step. Months back I had got a tax credits form, filled it out, but hadn’t filled in number of hours because wasn’t sure what it was going to be. I went on to complete the form and more importantly went to the post office and sent it off. As if that wasn’t enough, I came back and tackled the online tax self assessment that is due in January. That process is now underway and I’m waiting for the codes etc.
During the process of surveying became clear: which months were going to be tighter, where potential cuts could be made. I also started factoring in other ways of increasing my income.
I planned to explore the principles of ‘apply self-regulation and accept feedback’ and ‘use and value diversity. Even within the first session, I feel confident that will happen.
To conclude with the action learning questions:
What is going well? Feel relieved to have started, got good results from the surveying that will have lasting impacts. Feel more much in control.
What is not going so well? Have to wait to get codes for the online assessment, lots of uncertainly makes planning and surveying difficult.
Vision? Using zone and sector tool for the surveying and designing. To come with a plan how to become more financially sustainable, especially given the seasonal nature of my work. Figure out ethical investment.
Next steps? Use zone and sector tool for surveying, and then move onto the assessment.