Always pay off your debts with the highest interest debts first. Clear the mortgage if you can. This is what we did when I left the mob in '87. Continue to pay the mortgage payments to yourself, and the family saving soon add up.
Whenever we needed a new washing machine/fridge/TV etc we asked the shop how much it would cost over 2 years. Then bought it cash and payed the HP payments into our savings for the next 2 years. In edffect we were our own bank.
Also joined the RAuxAF working on the view that if civi job went tits up, I would still have an income, and RAF stuff is easy to an old hand init???
Result is all the advantages of mess life, access to gym, etc etc and the pay from a civi job. Also enough dosh to be able to retire from my civi job in 14 more days. Staying in the RAuxAF though. to trickle feed the bank account, while now taking long holidays in exotic locations.
Last edited by RayDarr; 14th Jul 2006 at 09:06.