Don't obsess too much about getting the 12 hours in over the year and the revalidation by experience.
If your finances are stretched, and you have to leave it for a while longer, do the time with an instructor nearer the revalidation deadline and do a proficiency check with an examiner. This could cost you the price of 3-4 hours rather than 12.
Not as much fun perhaps but it sounds like you will have to do the equivalent instructor time anyway.
Last edited by chrisbl; 23rd November 2014 at 19:47.
Reason: comma in wrong place