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My diary... becoming debt free whilst still having a life!!!

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Comments

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks for the kind words everyone. Done another survey for £1.50. Bought some more £1 for 2 halogen lightbulbs from Tescos and some more pressies (oops) in the Tesco sales/discontinued area. Did use £4.80 in vouchers printed from this site towards them tho. I printed some others for use other days - you really should check it out....

    Bye for now... Hope we all have a better week next week
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise)
    (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 13/9/25
  • sistercas
    sistercas Posts: 4,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    Thanks for the kind words everyone. Done another survey for £1.50. Bought some more £1 for 2 halogen lightbulbs from Tescos and some more pressies (oops) in the Tesco sales/discontinued area. Did use £4.80 in vouchers printed from this site towards them tho. I printed some others for use other days - you really should check it out....

    Bye for now... Hope we all have a better week next week

    SH could you post the link? I get really confused trying to find the right thread for things like that
    thanks x
  • Morning all!

    Lovely day so washing in progress. Been an expensive month for us what with my birthday and our anniversary yesterday which was cheap and cheerful but lovely! we decided not to buy cards but had a nice pub meal (courtesy of pa in law) and a chinese last night watching some films, feel stuffed still and my IBS is threatening to make an appearance but i dont care!

    back to work Monday cant say i'm looking forward to it but there we go.

    1 step
    If you wait for perfect conditions, nothing would ever get done! :T
    I'm not short - I'm condensed awesome! :p
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    sistercas wrote: »
    SH could you post the link? I get really confused trying to find the right thread for things like that
    thanks x
    Ideas re coupons
    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tipnote/supermarket-coupons?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=centrebar&utm_campaign=tipnote

    Printable money off
    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1103933
    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1103953
    Freebies board
    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=37

    I found Tesco the best for this....

    :money: I am really chuffed today as the 5 aprons I bought last week for 49p each - actually went thro the till for 1p each saving me £2.40! I went to the garage - where I forgot to bargain last week when they gave me a quote - and asked if there was anything they could do and the price went from....

    £79.99 to £32.50:j So it just shows how much we waste when we don't bargain!
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise)
    (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 13/9/25
  • Ruby
    Where are you?
    We're missing you.

    Hi to Cas, SH, IC, 1SC and all who sail on this thread!
    Getting there...slowly! :D

    GC : must do better
    NSD: very rare

    No matter how slow I go I am lapping everyone on the couch.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi all - I managed an NSD today, washed some clothes at 30, wrapped a finished basket. Glad to see you enjoying your new found craft and cello skills. Ruby - spotted your basket on the other thread. I still need to buy cup cake cases - Wilkos were selling 10 bath pearls for 99p at the weekend (near the kiddies toy section) so I have toppers for my cupcakes...
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise)
    (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 13/9/25
  • Hi everyone,
    I'm here....
    Busy weekend in our house. Felt like a really bad mother today because having got DD (aged 5) ready for a friends swimming party, complete with new sparkly hat that was a party requirement, we arrived at the pool only to be told the party was YESTERDAY!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

    So I had to take her swimming to make up for it.

    Money is rubbish this weekend we have spent our weekly budget already, anything at all other than going to work, eating and drinking etc. means we have to use money not accounted for in budget!! ho hum:rolleyes: . Never mind it isn't loads extra and not the end of the world.

    As SH said I have put the first of my baskets to bed. My SIL's is finished, personalised with a lovely diary. I have decided that for three of the other baskets I will personalise with a christmas girly DVD and for my best friend might try and stretch to the new sex and the city DVD. My sister will be happy with a bottle of wine and that leaves one which I have a particular 'emma bridgewater' mug in mind for.

    In pain today because I must have slept in a funny position last night and hurt my back and neck, I thought the swimming may have helped but instead it has made it worse.

    How is everyone else? How are you all doing on the following:

    1. Debt busting
    2. Christmas preparations
    3. Parenting (I need help with how to live with a teenage boy...has anyone read the book bringing up boys? (not sure of the author).
    4. Creative creations?
    ;):D
    I know I am nosey but hey we are all friends?

    Off now to browse around other threads.

    Lots of love, hugs and big glasses of your favourite tipple!!!

    :A
    The good you do comes back to you.
    DFW Long haul supporters No: 134
    ;)
  • Hi everyone,
    I'm here....
    Busy weekend in our house. Felt like a really bad mother today because having got DD (aged 5) ready for a friends swimming party, complete with new sparkly hat that was a party requirement, we arrived at the pool only to be told the party was YESTERDAY!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: I have arrived at the end of the party before now as I got the times wrong :o (more than once):eek:

    So I had to take her swimming to make up for it.

    Money is rubbish this weekend we have spent our weekly budget already, anything at all other than going to work, eating and drinking etc. means we have to use money not accounted for in budget!! ho hum:rolleyes: . Never mind it isn't loads extra and not the end of the world. I'd tell you off but I'm no better - are you on the make £10 per day challenge for October? I can only see me and sistercas so far. ;)http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1184639
    - that is the only way I can remotely get away with still spending ANY money on non-essentials. I've got my first payments received and due for payment this month from my favourite cash back site

    How is everyone else? How are you all doing on the following:

    1. Debt busting - I've paid off 2 cards since July. This is part of the pay of a debt by Xmas challenge - see here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=993525

    2. Christmas preparations - at least 2/3 of presents sorted

    3. Parenting (I need help with how to live with a teenage boy...has anyone read the book bringing up boys? (not sure of the author). - I read it but wouldn't recommend it - although I did try its idea of creating a barrier by which people pass form boys to men. For my DS's 10th birthday I gave him a book called "what's happening to me" - we also went away as a family to an adventure hotel and tried to make it a special time. My OH has also been making more of an effort to have father and son time.

    The book I would most recommend is this: 5 love languages for childrern.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Love-Languages-Children-
    51RD1BEP8TL._SL160_AA115_.jpgThis has helped me not only in understanding my children and why they don't always appreciate what I do (acts of service - my primary love language with quality time as a close second) and my OH when their primary love language is touch (and gifts)

    Have you read Love Dad by Josh McDowell - found that good Chapman/dp/1881273652/ref=srhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Dad-Positive-Handling-Pressure/dp/0849931274/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222641141&sr=8-1_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222640957&sr=8-2

    There is also chickensoup for the teenage soul which I think is a nice positive book to give them
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicken-Soup-Teenage-Tough-Stuff/dp/155874942X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222641192&sr=8-2
    51rWVw5r1nL._SL160_AA115_.jpg

    Have you read Love Dad by Josh McDowell - found that good
    5107ZDY0REL._SL160_PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,21,-23_SH30_OU02_AA115_.jpgAlso like Rich dad, poor dad - about the different directions our lives can go in depending on the choices we make http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/0446677450/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222641308&sr=8-3

    I wonder whether any of our debts came from our love of books?:think:

    4. Creative creations? - No more since last weekend. Been actually putting some washing into bags ready to be put away (a lot from last weekend, some even from the week b4 :eek: plus this weeks...:o
    ;):D
    I know I am nosey but hey we are all friends?

    Off now to browse around other threads.

    Lots of love, hugs and big glasses of your favourite tipple!!!

    :A
    I've answered your questions above - hope that's useful. Try your library and friends before buying any! I think pigsback and poss greasypalm do cashback on Amazon;)
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise)
    (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 13/9/25
  • YB you are hilarious, I laughed my head off! That is definitely worse - NO HORSE AT ALL!!
    My you, going forwards, facing backwards is extremely confusing but sums up my life right now!
    Money saving going not too bad, virgin vie helping but not great as I thought!
    Ruby, dont feel bad about spending money on night with mates, your motto was after all, 'whilst having a life'!!!! U did right! Hope you enjoyed it! Never spend money on friends and not enjoy the time with them!!
    Debt - £10,000

    Small changes..... Big Differences!
  • Wow!! What a great reply SH, thanks ever so much for the book recommendations I will look into each and every one of them.

    IC, thanks for your kind words. You are so right, I tend to worry too much after the event and it can have take some of the fun away!!

    I hope everyone's Monday is good!!

    xxx
    The good you do comes back to you.
    DFW Long haul supporters No: 134
    ;)
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