Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

norfolkdream

Happy New Year

I was just saying about holidays, work colleagues dont understand my OPing, they say they would rather enjoy life while they are still young blah blah, They are only a couple of years younger than me and I will be MF this year. I will then be going on these fab holidays but like you my kids will be older teens and as I am single it will be better for all of us and less stressful than taking small children (I did take them abroad on my own when they were small when tesco points were amazingly easy to get and had a few free hols out of it - ah them were the days!)
I cannot wait to be MF and plan an amazing holiday before all the house reno plans start

Good Luck with SW and dry Jan.

Firegirl

I really appreciate what my dad did for me now. Growing up we lived in a nice area but we had very little stuff. Second hand bikes etc. holidays were to see family and we never went abroad. I got a job and went straight out and bought a pair of Levi's!!!!! I was so delighted.

Now I think he's taught me well. Hence being on this board. Without my dad we would never have the house were in today cause he taught me to work and save for what I want. I've had my focus on this final family home since I bought my first flat. Overpaying and chipping away for years, But it's only when you get older that you really appreciate it.

When your mortgage free, spend your cash on experiences and not things. Psychologists say that that's what enhances your life. This is when your hard work pays off!!! Very exciting!!!

newgirly

Hi Norfolk dream and firegirl, thanks so much for posting

Nd I think I remember you talking about using the tesco points to take them away years ago! If only we could do that now. My issue is that even if we could just book up , they don't want to go the little angels, are my lot normal? They are 2x 15 year old boys and an 18 yr old dd! I appreciate that at 18 dd doesn't have to go obviously, I guess I just expected that after a childhood with not many proper holidays they might want to go when they get the chance.

Firegirl, how lovely that everything your dad did for you growing up is appreciated and that it's helped teach you a better way to manage your own future. I totally agree about experiences being the most exciting way to spend your money, not just holidays but nights out with friends, trips to see shows, also treating other people has to be one of the nicest ways to spend your money, can't wait until we are mf

Happy new year by the way!

AlexLK

Have you picked the sideboard up?

As for holidays when I was growing up, apart from a few trips abroad with school, we went to Spain three or four times per year. My parents weren't interested in doing much more than walking along the beach and sampling the local food and wine. I didn't enjoy it, was bored and never understood why they didn't want to do much. Looking back it was their only time away from work, didn't understand that at the time, though. To be honest, I think your children would likely appreciate a holiday gift in a few years time for them to go somewhere they've always wanted to visit more than a family holiday at their age (depends how you all get on, though). If it means so much to you, perhaps it's worth considering saving after the mortgage is paid and they are grown up enough not to just decide they want to go to Ibiza.

newgirly

Hi Alex, happy new year

I hope they will want to go away with us in the future and it's just a phase, as we have had lots of fun over the years and although plenty of bickering has always gone on and still does we used to have good fun going away, and it's great having time all of us together. Your parents sound like they did try by going away so often with you, it's a shame it was not as enjoyable for you though.

Sideboard being picked up tomorrow.

Well I have not lost 4.5 lb only 2.5 lb, I weigh x amount of stones plus 2 which I forgot to add on when checking in today, what an idiot, I makes much better sense though

Calories 229 under target and have eaten 6 Jaffa cakes as well! Not sure if I can keep logging everything I eat as listing every ingredient in a homemade receipe is time consuming. Will try for a couple of weeks and hopefully my stomach will be used to what my head is trying to do.

I have managed to break my 4th tablet this week, that's 2x iPads , one hudl (refunded) and the free little lg one that came with the phone contract, which has been tricky to use all along really. Well I fished out the last ipad that I dropped a spice jar on and broke the screen, and this time it seems to be working. The screen was fixed last year but the keys still kept working by themselves, charged again and tried today and so far so good though and I am able to type way faster than on the old thing. If the iPad doesn't last long I might have to buy another second hand one as I forgot just how much better it is

AlexLK

Happy New Year, NG.

I suppose going away together when your children are adults will depend on how close you are once they've grown up. I hate to be cynical but I can't see them wanting to go away with parents until, perhaps, they have children of their own.

Honestly dread to think how you can break 4 tablets in one week. :rotfl:

newgirly

:rotfl: just the one this week

You are probably right about the holiday situation, that's why I am fussing over it now, to try and get one last trip in I hope we will all be close in the future, my family are all close , dh's are not really. I try to not be a suffocating mum and hold back. Dh's mum was very pushy when we first got together and we basically backed off and stopped going round as much as she was so demanding. I hope I don't make the same mistakes (apart from trying to force them on holidays they don't want to go on :rotfl:)

I guess parents and Inlaws can be a bit of a pain, it's just taken me a while to realise I am one of those now!

ourcornercottage

What about a road trip somewhere? Can be flexible then so everyone does what they want.

We're planning on flying to Italy to visit a supplier in the summer hols and have an extra week in a hired camper travelling round. Are any of your suppliers somewhere nice? It's a good excuse to get a holiday in!

This will cover the 'visit a country I've never been to' on my New Years resolutions for me and the Miniocc as we've never been there. But the BF went to the world cup there (I think it was 1990 ) so will have to try and get another trip in too will have to be cheap though, only problem is no close countries he hasn't been to.

AlexLK

:rotfl: Re. parents and in-laws, I certainly know mine can be a "bit of a pain". :rotfl: I suppose being a parent also puts a new perspective on it, I realise why my parents did some of the things they did and do now understand. Really, really hope my son doesn't turn out like me, honestly dreading the possibility of that happening.

Are you doing 41 things this year, then NG?

newgirly

A road trip? Are you kidding :eek:days of driving with dh and the kids all squished together :rotfl: sorry that was rude, but no, that's what my nightmares are made of. It's definatly one to do in the future without kids. Perhaps an extended trip to the U.S. with a part road trip in a nice old caddy, we got married in a 1968 pink one, all class

Oh dear Alex, I'd not realised your parents could be difficult no I won't be doing 41 things quite yet as I have still not got over the shock of turning 40.