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Budget, What Budget?

This post at Lifehacker about budgets took me to the budget calculator of CNBC’s Carmen Wong Ulrich, and from there to a comparison with my own spending.

Carmen’s budget pie looks like this:

I took those proportions and made some charts of my own.

Based on a monthly income of £625, Carmen’s machine says I should be spending as follows. (Note that I have renamed three categories: Housing = Housing & Tax; Household = Utilities; Everything else = Miscellany.)

Housing & Tax 30% £188
Transportation 18% £113
Food 14% £88
Miscellany 11% £69
Savings 10% £63
Debt 10% £63
Utilities 7% £44

My actual monthly spending is more like this, though it leaves out water bills and long-term debt that I’ve deferred.

Housing & Tax £330
Transportation £25
Food £80
Miscellany £30
Savings £0
Debt £210
Utilities £150

Two things to note. My monthly outgoings exceed my income by £200, and my proportions are way out of line with Carmen’s. The first means that means I’m borrowing more every month, and my active debt share takes more of my income. The second means that I’m making tradeoffs, such as between transportation and debt, where the combined total is the same in both charts. I have effectively diverted most of the transport budget to pay for debt, and my savings budget to pay for utilities.

Here it is graphically. On the left, the standard suggested by Carmen. On the right, my actual spending.

It’s obvious that my budget shares are dominated by rent, utilities and debt. Showing them side by side will clarify just how different those portions are. In the chart below, green bars are what Carmen suggests. Red is what I actually spend, even though it is greater than my income.

Carmen’s guide says I should spend just under half my budget on the combination of rent, utilities and debt. I am spending more than four-fifths of my £825 monthly outlay on those three things. Given that my £625 income covers three-fourths of the spending, I am borrowing in order to pay some of those three categories, and borrowing again to pay for things like food, sundries, and transport.

It doesn’t work quite that way, because I am spending actual money on food, and borrowing via my overdrafts to pay for the increased borrowing, while deferring some of my debts and postponing payment on my utilities and portions of the rent.

The question of what to do about it revolves around two things: reducing my outgoings and increasing my income.

Reducing outgoings could include things like going to a debt counselling agency and seeing what schemes I can partake of. I have already sought tax relief, so that’s not going to change. I have also been looking into gas and electricity schemes, and may be able to accomplish something there. I should look into water rates as well, since they really stick it to me every few months with a flat rate bill, even though my water consumption is low.

Increasing my income is a much better solution, but given the poor results of my job search so far this year, I’m not counting on it. Given that my current spending is about £4.75/hour on a 40 hour week, I should be able to make ends meet temporarily on the minimum wage, depending on what costs increase (travel, food, taxes, sundries). But that ignores the load of debt I’ve deferred, specifically college loans, unpaid credit cards and utilities. It also leaves out dental work, insurance, both personal and otherwise. So short-term solutions are not proper solutions, and I’ll be in this sort of situation until I can find - or make - a proper job. Possibly some time next year.

2008 10 10 dp Finances Comments Off Permalink

Moral Questions

A MetaFilter post linked to a story called What makes people vote Republican? Which in turn linked to a series of questionairres about morals.

Here are my results for the first of them.

Apparently I am a moral conservative when it comes to questions of harm. I don’t know whether that means I am more concerned about harm, or less concerned. And I am a moral liberal as regards fairness. Whatever that means. Maybe I’ll take the survey again to see what questions pertain.

But the survey really focuses on the last three columns. From the site:

The big difference between liberals and conservatives seems to be that conservatives score slightly higher on the ingroup/loyalty foundation, and much higher on the authority/respect and purity/sanctity foundations.

I take this to mean that the sharper differences between liberal and conservative moralities show up in the last three columns. From the looks of it I am neither conservative nor liberal, but possibly ultra-liberal. In these columns, the difference between liberal and conservative is 1.0, 1.1 and 1.6. The difference between a liberal and me is -.8, -.5, and -.7. So I am somewhat sharply distinguished from a liberal, and very sharply distinguished from a conservative.

There’s another way to consider this: as a ratio. If the upper limit is set as 100%, then the lower figures can be seen as relative rates of agreement. In the purity column, if 2.8=100%, the liberal value of 1.2 is 42.8% of the upper figure, and my .5 is a dramatic 17.8%. If a liberal is only half as concerned about purity, I am less than a quarter as concerned, meaning the difference between me an a liberal is as sharps as between a liberal and a conservative.

So what does that make me? Answers to Hugh Romney or Abbie Hoffman, please.

2008 09 11 dp Psyche Comments Off Permalink

Photomapping: More Fun Than A Square Peg

Doing things with Photoshop and AutoCAD, that is.

The above is a contrived portfolio piece that makes use of a slightly awkward set of objects: 3D terrain and some hand-built coils, each rendered with a different material. I will do more with this, partly to make more use of the reflective qualities of the glassy green terrain, but also to add more complexity and interest.

Saturday’s excursion to Bridgnorth along the Severn Valley Railway produced about 150 photos. I wanted to see if a composite effect produced different impressions. I didn’t achieve anything dramatic, but was nonetheless pleased with some of the results.

I used two appraoches. One involved cutout, anisotropic diffusion and kaleidoscopic tile filters. The image above is the diffusion filter followed with kaleidoscopic tile, while the series below start with the cutout filter, equalization and a Xero plugin called Abstractor. Each of the steps are displayed here.

The cutout filter was interesting in that it produced a lot of shapes that could be fitted together to make polyhedra. I imagine a folded surface, a terrain map based on colour and compositional patterns. A filter that did the work of generalising contours would be very useful. While Photoshop includes a contour filter, it looks at a limited set of data, and doesn’t produce isopleths that make intruiging compositions. For that, some variant of AutoCAD is probably required.

2008 07 23 dp Imagery
Projects Comments Off Permalink

Neighbourhood Gone Quiet

9:30 PM - The birds have gone to sleep, the bats are not yet out. For five blessed minutes there have been no cars on the surrounding streets. I can hear a door close four houses away, and a murmur of conversation in one of the back gardens. The air is still. No rustle of leaves.

It’s the warmest evening of the summer, the gnats are out in force, and there are traces of herb in the air: basil, lavender, thyme and the faint smell of hot asphalt after the heat has broken.

There’s a radiant quality to it. The temperature and fragrance are emanating from the things that absorbed heat during the day, releasing some of it now that the air is slightly cooler.

It’s glorious, it is. The best day so far.

So good that the back doors are wide open, I’ve cracked a can of Beck’s, and sat on the swing, gently swaying in the quiet.

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2008 07 22 dp Weather Comments Off Permalink

Barometer

Computer: Steady, with unresolved problems. The last major crash of several weeks ago has been partly rectified by setting up the Dell 4100 with Windows 2000. It won’t run XP, probably due to a hardware fault on the motherboard. I haven’t had time to install the full set of software on the downgraded OS, and cannot install various packages that require XP. So I’ve been working with reduced functionality. Other machines are okay - though each of them is also constrained by hardware problems. One crashes randomly and frequently, so is only useful as a storage device. It needs to be backed up and overhauled. Another machine has no hard drive space and needs backing up. So I need to get a tape drive working or a stack of DVDs.

Thesis: Have submitted chapters 4, 5 and 6 to good reviews. Have now got til October to revise Chapters 1 and 7, write an abstract and appendices. I am beginning to feel that I am now coasting towards the finish line, which is apparently a year from now. The subtle but important change is that I don’t have to worry so much about yet another disaster throwing everything into doubt.

Houseworthiness: Bad. I haven’t had the time to reinstall the kitchen shelves from when the plasterer was here in, what, May? So the table is still heaped with things that should be on shelves. Similarly, the bedroom has a computer and wiring that should be elsewhere and the place needs a thorough cleaning. However, the toilet tank overflow valve has been repaired and the constant drip has stopped. There does appear to be a different problem with the seal at the pedestal base.

Finances: Still dire. Into the overdraft for the fifth month running. Still borrowing money for basics. Now three months behind on rent. Have been making intermittent but intense efforts to find work. Spent two days visting agencies, most of whom say the job market has been contracting since March, and that casual labour is increasingly difficult to find. Have signed up with a dozen online agencies and shopped my CV around. Have been browsing Gumtree and sending enquiries. Ditto the Birmingham Mail on Thursdays.

Weather: Lovely. Consistently good. Probably the best thing going at the moment. It’s been sunny a  lot, warm as well. Consequently the garden has been thriving and I’ve been able to work outside for brief periods at frequent intervals.

Garden: Some good, some less than good.  Built a trellis from roofing lath, and have set a honeysuckle to climb on it. Have bought two potted runner beans for training up the fence or garden posts. Have repotted several plants from last year, and trimmed 2-3 feet off the laurel bushes at the bottom of the garden. The last time I did any work on them was two years ago. In contrast, I should note that one of the other tenants has done a hatchet job on parts of the front garden while neglecting the really necessary bits. He’s hacked up a rose bush and a willow tree, even though the lawn hasn’t been cut this year and bushes are overhanging the footpath. His priorities and techniques are not what they should be. There’s a broader issue in that  the other tenants have neglected their responsibilities for the time they’ve lived here. The lack of care was somewhat aggravated by the builders and scaffolding making a mess, but hasn’t stopped anyone from doing a simple mowing or tidy-up. I make a consistent effort to keep the back garden in good shape, and would like to attend to the front as well, but cannot justify the time, and should be able to count on the others doing some of it.

Fitness:  A bit more out and about on the bike, but not enough to count for anything other than a sore knee after a 14 mile bike ride last week.

Waking State: Pretty good, considering.

What else?

Had a lovely time in Northampton on my way to/from Milton Keynes.

I don’t have a social life per se. One or two friends who I see once or twice a month, a few acquaintances who I might see in passing a couple of times a week, but no nights out, no meals, no pubs, movies, shows, parties, sports, or group excursions aside from the voluntary work I do. Mind you, there’s not much I want to see or do. I’d really rather have a workshop and some material to potter about with. And time to do it.

A strange and hopefully rare thing happened two days ago when someone tried to mug me over the phone. Some guy purporting to sell mobile phones rang and asked if I was happy with my T-mobile phone. I don’t have a T-mobile phone, but did briefly consider one last year, so this guy seems to have got my details from that company. He asked if I wanted a new phone and I said no. He asked what phone I have now and I said none. He then said that if I didn’t want to buy a phone from him right now he would bankrupt my bank account and give me a bad credit rating, then recited my account number and sort code as though that would convince me of his ability to do either. In response, I asked for his name, phone number and company. He said Kevin, gave 0871 424 2725 as the phone number and 3G Direct in Kilmarnock as the company. These were probably lies. He then said that if I intended to complain he would click a button on his computer and wipe out my bank account.  I put down the phone and called the police, then the bank. It’s pretty clear he was lying about everything and probably hoping to get me to give credit card details over the phone. If he got my Switch or credit card details I could be in trouble. But a bank account and sort code? What a bozo.

That’s not a very good point to end on, so I’ll end on a bit about things I’d rather be doing.

I would like more time to reflect upon things, do a bit of incidental research and have more to say about topics that interest me. But the competing demands of trying to find work, complete the work I’ve already got, and deal with various obligations means that doesn’t happen. I’d like to write some grant proposals, get into the libraries more often, do some focused reading, learn some programming, and travel to a few other cities for a day or two at a time. I have no prospect of that happening soon, but have a clear enough idea that should the opportunity arise I will know what to do.  Maybe later this year, maybe next year.

2008 07 05 dp Finances
Fitness
Houseworthiness
Thesis
Waking State
Weather Comments Off Permalink

On my bike

Today the job search began in earnest, in that I did some serious pavement-pounding. On my bike.

The lead-up to this is that since sending off three chapters last week I have turned my attention to finding a way of paying the rent/bills. My teaching income (~£400) doesn’t cover my costs, and I’ve been drawing ever close to the £1000 limit on my overdraft. It’s been hovering around -£800 for over a month, so things are very precarious in terms of having a single large bill tip my account into the disaster zone.

So I’ve been buying the Mail on Thursday, been subscribing to online job agencies, looking at Gumtree, and worrying. I also started trying to identify agencies that deal with casual labour, since that seems like the fastest way to a bit more income.

Unsurprisingly the online agencies are more focused on filling office jobs, most of which require some sort of qualification and often a proven record. So it’s been clear that I need to go shopping on the high street, which in turn meant printing off the (already updated) CV, collating a list of offices to visit, and getting on the bus. The idea was to start this past Monday, which passed in a flurry of errands and other activity. Likewise Tuesday, spent at the computer improvising a data scraper and looking at the results.

Today started slowly. I wasn’t ready to go until 1:30, by which time I’d decided to include two places in Tyseley on a list of 20 other places in the city centre. Given the fine weather (sun, rain, sun, sun, sun) and my lack of coins for bus fare, the idea of cycling along the River Cole made sense, along with going into town via the canal towpath.

Natch, the camera came along.

This at an abandoned allotment in Sparkhill, next to where Run-A-Muck used to store garden waste.

This crossing over the Grand Union at the Ackers, with the Tyseley incinerator in the distance.

Later, on my way into town, this view of older technology

and this view of the city skyline from Small Heath Bridge

There’s more to the story, but it’s late now.

All told I cycled 14 miles today.

2008 06 26 dp Finances
jobsearch Comments (0) Permalink

Transferable Skills

I’m jobhunting, and trying to do it in an organised way. I’m not doing very well, but I do come across interesting things.

I signed up at Reed.co.uk and looked for jobs using the local search feature. Of the several hundred results, one included an interesting list of person specifications. It prompted me to copy it and think about starting a collection of such things.

That collection might be some sort of list, but it would be better if it were a database where groups of traits were set out as profiles. Far beyond my capacity, that. So here’s the raw list:

Job Specification

  • Supporting and maintaining relationships with suppliers.

  • Acting as a point of reference for services and product information in order to ensure customer requirements are satisfied.

  • Monitoring compliance with bank and regulatory policies, identifying the need for action where necessary in order to minimise risk.

  • Adapting to changes in systems, processes and working practices in order to achieve operational improvement.

Person Specification

  • Ability to meet deadlines.

  • Able to deliver a prompt and courteous service.

  • Able to work well individually and as part of a team.

  • Adapts own style and approach in response to new information.

  • Adapts well to change.

  • Applies skill, effort and judgement to get the job done efficiently.

  • Can keep up to date with current internal and external procedures and expectations.

  • Communicates changing priorities and objectives along with the reasons for the change to all affected staff.

  • Demonstrates personal commitment to the decisions of the team.

  • Demonstrates respect for the expertise and professionalism of colleagues and peers.

  • Ensures objectives are always met.

  • Ensures own role and objectives are clear.

  • Has a keen eye for detail.

  • Has a thorough, probing and systematic approach to information gathering.

  • Helps other colleagues when they are under pressure.

  • Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency of work processes.

  • Listens to customers before offering solutions.

  • Makes a full contribution to team performance.

  • Strives to exceed customer expectations.

  • Treats people with respect and integrity.

  • Works within limits of authority, seeking guidance when unsure.

I’d pull out key words from each. It would be even more useful to score/scale these and create a graph as profile.

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2008 06 23 dp jobsearch Comments Off Permalink

Mango Pickle Soup

I never work from recipes, so if I want to create the same dish more than once, I have to make some notes about what went into it. In this case the interesting thing about the dish is its sour, pungent flavour.

I started with a tin of Sainsbury’s carrot & coriander soup - the kind that sells for 38p, and which is thin to the point of meagre taste. So I started adding things to give it a bit more substance. First, a handful of lentil sprouts. They cook quickly and have a nice crunch.

Then some sliced red onion, because I had an unused half. Had there been a half tomato that would have gone in too.

I’d bought this oil-free mango pickle on Ladypool Road and was curious to see how it would work - or not. The flavour is a bit tart for me, and I thought the soup might mellow it a bit while bringing up some of the other flavours. I was almost wrong about that. I put in a tablespoon, and it fairly dominated the soup. Not too much, but given that the carrot/coriander was weak to start, this became the dominant flavour. Good with the onion, and probably better had I put in come pungent herb like basil or mint.

Next time: a stronger carrot base, some basil, more onion and a tomato.

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2008 05 24 dp food Comments Off Permalink

Two Out, One In

Northern summers have two early morning allures. One is that I get direct sunlight between 5:00 and 8:30, if the curtains are open. The other is that there’s an incentive to get up at dawn and do things indoors or out.

5:00 8:30

So today I washed the windows, then set about repairing the outside workbench. It’s a door set on two welded frames. The door has been damp all winter, so I stripped the veneer and set the bits to dry. I also nailed some pallet boards to it for reinforcement. Then I trimmed the edges off a small pallet and set various bags of plaster and cement on it. They are now tidy, high and dry.

Then I set a diagonal brace against the fencepost that holds the garden gate. The post tilted inward a bit and the gate scraped the ground as it opened. Pushing out the post lifted the gate up and it swings freely now.

Back indoors, I tried something I’ve been wondering about for a while. Marmite roasted sunflower seeds. Once upon my time as a baker, I made tamari-roasted almonds, cashews and sunflower seeds every week. It was just a straight marinade for 30 minutes, then onto trays and into the oven, stopping to stir them every 15 minutes. Given that Marmite, Bovril, Vege-Mite and other yeast extracts are salty and pungent like tamari, I wondered if a dilute Marmite would produce a similar result using a cast-iron skillet.

It does.

I spent the rest of the day formatting Chapter 4. The (short) story there is that I’ve given up on using Microsoft Word, Open Office Writer, and other desktop document software because they make spurious formatting and style changes, or don’t handle images well, or have poor search-and-replace functions, among other things. So I’ve taken to writing and editing in HTML, mainly using the free version of HTML-Kit. It has an excellent search-and-replace tool using Regular Expressions, leaves my formatting intact, and handles graphics very nicely. But it does mean I have to write every line of code.

Getting the result on the left means writing all the stuff on the right, plus a variety of other tasks.

It’s time-consuming, and I spent ten hours on it today. But I get the results I want.

2008 05 20 dp Projects
Thesis
food Comments Off Permalink

A Day Off

Sunday. I meant to finish revising Chapter 4 and get started on student essays, but it was sunny out, and I’ve had no exercise for several days, and had woken with a stiff neck, so some sort of outdoor activity was in order.

First, I got to work on sorting out some of the kitchen refit. I cut a length off the MDF I’d scavenged last month and made a shelf between the sink and the wall, over the washing machine. I also primed it, but in a novel way. The primer is several years old, and has congealed to the thickness of jelly. So I couldnt brush it on. Instead, I used a trowel, then rubbed it in with a damp cloth.

There it am. Okay, so what if most of the work was indoors. At least it was bending, flexing, physical kind of work instead of tapping away at the keyboard. But what did I do next?

AutoCAD.

I want to use the lath I scavenged from the roof to make garden trellis, inlcuding one around the ‘pond’. The lattice is on a grid 266mm wide by 200mm high, curing through 140 degrees. It will be very fiddly to make, especially since there’s no space for nailing the ends of each segment. I started wondering if it’s possible to bend strips of fir that have beeb dry for a hundred years.

Then I went outside to put up the birs house, and ended up makinga scaffolding frame. Good exercise, in the sun, did what was needed. Except for getting the birdhouse up. Need more time. Came back in when I started feeling peckish and a bit faint.  Grilled two aubergine on the griddle, plus a leek. Leeks roast really well if they’re sectioned at 10cm. Once they cooked, eating them was like sucking marrow from a bone. Yum. Ditto the aubergine.

Then had a brainwave for Rebecca’s brithday present. Not telling what it is.

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2008 05 19 dp Projects Comments Off Permalink