Don’t dilly dally on the way

The other night, a friend was contemplating whether or not to get another drink. He decided he would, but with the comment, ‘I always start to get a little worried when my bank balance dips below two thousand euros.'

This statement was a cause of great hilarity to a couple of us around the table. I am – if not by choice – the kind of person who starts to get a little worried when their credit card debts start to approach two thousand euros.

I’ve been thinking a lot about finances this past week – mainly because of holiday planning, but also on a more long-term basis. Things have been rather tight financially since I quit my proper career-type job to work for myself. I don’t regret leaving the hell of corporate life, but I haven’t enjoyed swapping it for the hell of counting every cent – and finding there are never enough.

I’ve finally come to the sad conclusion that it’s my flat that’s the money pit. It was excellently located and the perfect price for my old job and salary; but after various renovations and outsourcing, the condominium charge is now so exorbitant that, if it goes up much more, I’ll soon be able to rent another place with it!

There’s nothing for it: may the housing market be whatever it is, I’m losing way more by staying put. I’ve decided to get out as soon as I can. I’m trying to get back to Helsinki to cut down on travel costs and time. Much as I hate cramped living, this will no doubt mean putting one more notch on the failure tally and moving into a smaller place.

A decade ago, I came to Finland with three suitcases and a handbag. Since then, I’ve moved through a series of one- and two-room flats to this (for the Greater Metropolitan Area) spacious three-room place. And somehow I’ve managed to fill it, and my cellar storage room, with junk!

Going through the ordeal of moving is not a pleasant prospect, but I’m already feeling better after having made the concrete decision to get out. Downsizing means I’m going to have to get rid of some furniture and junk, and I’m feeling good about that, too. There’s something very satisfying about throwing out large quantities of rubbish, but you really need an incentive to set about it. I could probably lose half a room simply by going through old papers!

So it’s time to quit dilly-dallying and press ahead with Project Relocation!