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Trials and tribulations of a Debt Free Wannabee!

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Comments

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well had a nice evening yesterday - spent about an hour and half with friends. It does make a difference to how I feel about life if I manage to get out to do something for me!

    Withdrew £5 today on free daily scratchcards! Woohoo and I got £10 in Amazon vouchers yesterday from bp to use towards OH's present! Short day today but need to get on! See you later!
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
  • Verbatim
    Verbatim Posts: 4,831 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    Have read your thread through SH and it was as good as a novel, with cliff hangers leaving me wondering whether you'd get the job or your OH the bike, and so on! Very impressive how you've persevered through it all.

    Your commute sounds horrendous and speaking as someone who once fell asleep at the wheel be very careful. Sometimes pulling off the road and having a power nap, just 10 mins or so, can make a big difference.
    CCs @0% £24k Dec 05 £19,621.41 Au £13400 S 12600 Oct £11,981 £9481 £7500 Nov £7250 D £7100 Jan 6950 F £5800 Mar£5400 May £4830 June £4660 July £4460 Aug £3200, S £900, £0 18/9/07 DFW Nerd 042
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Verbatim wrote: »
    Have read your thread through SH and it was as good as a novel, with cliff hangers leaving me wondering whether you'd get the job or your OH the bike, and so on! Very impressive how you've persevered through it all.
    Thanks verbatim for taking the time to read my diary :T- it has really, really felt a rough ride the last 6 months! :eek:

    I am grateful to have a job but my commute is literally taking 3-4 hours a day and I am physically on site another 8.5 hours even if I leave on time. So with the commute I am putting in 12 hour days - for a lot less pay than a year ago when I was only commuting 1 hour a day!

    I'm not sure how sustainable it is but at the same time I have absolutely zero energy to look for anything else! Financially I can't afford not to work either.... I think I have to review what I do as a job in the longer term because I certainly don't want this kind of commute as a life style choice. I am missing my kids and they miss me for an extra 2-3 hours a day at the mo which is not great at all. It is balanced a bit by me picking them up from school on a Friday but not sure that is enough....

    I have set myself milestones to aim for work wise
    • xmas (booked some time off too) and then review how I am coping and how urgent it is that I get something else!
    • easter - review how urgent it is to move on and start applying for perm roles as least!
    The job is temporary anyway so.... its not forever! If I manage to repay debts at the rate I want to I am hoping to clear 2/3 of my debt while I am in it.... which will give me more freedom of choice over what I do in future!
    Verbatim wrote: »
    Your commute sounds horrendous and speaking as someone who once fell asleep at the wheel be very careful. Sometimes pulling off the road and having a power nap, just 10 mins or so, can make a big difference.
    My worst time for wanting to fall asleep is in the morning! I only just scrape in on time as it is - stopping off for a sleep would mean I have to get up even earlier. Going home I sometimes feel a bit sleepy but it is a bit more manageable....

    Didn't win on BB today - :confused: sulking now :p

    I've said to DD I will take her to a special play area tomorrow - poss with a friend so she is chuffed about that.... Want to try and take DS out for pudding or drink or something ... Wondering when OH gets a turn :rolleyes: Hard to fit everyone in with quality time in the same weekend!:o

    Just ordered OH another pressie from amazon using my vouchers from bingoport so pleased with that:j Only had to add £1.04 to a £28 ish pressie! and that after already buying a £17 one....!
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well we have been a little bit naughty today.... ordered takeaway pizza still claiming it is :money:tho as at £14 for 4 it was still half the cost of eating in!
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
  • milann
    milann Posts: 11,524 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Glad you managed to get out with friends.

    Sometimes a treat like takeaway pizza is just what's needed to keep you on track and not feeling too deprived and everything is money saving. Like you said it's a lot less than eating out and after the long hours you work you deserve a bit of a treat.

    Milann
    January spends - £587.58
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks Milann - I was going to just go out with DS but OH objected lol - he didn't want to miss out so was demanding we all went which I said would be too dear ROFL

    With mse it is about finding cheaper ways of achieving the same result - family time with a treat on a budget!
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
  • Lurker1972
    Lurker1972 Posts: 779 Forumite
    Think you deserved that pizza !
    I do not make mistakes, I learn lessons.
    I work to live, not live to work.
    I love to live & live to love.
    Good enough is exactly that.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    There is a reason I like you guys....LOL
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
  • Lurker1972
    Lurker1972 Posts: 779 Forumite
    tis true, MSE is great place
    same goals, same hurdles & temptations
    best still, no judgement!
    I do not make mistakes, I learn lessons.
    I work to live, not live to work.
    I love to live & live to love.
    Good enough is exactly that.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    OH has just told me he is getting a £100 bonus at xmas which is fab news. He's not had a payrise this year at all but this is a little welcome extra!

    I'm hoping to take DD out with a friend later to a play area.... OH has gone out eyeing up motorbike boots bless - his zip has practically gone on his! I have so much to do this weekend! unfortunately it is all the dreaded housework
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    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 £5K updated 10/10/25
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