We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Learning to live my dreams not trample on them

1…159160162164165…168

Comments

  • tirlittan
    tirlittan Posts: 3,397 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    Well done on keeping the exercise up SavingH. And don't worry too much about just losing weight. As you say,your fat % is going down, you're probably building a bit of muscle as well, the weight loss will follow. You will need to change/up the exercise every 4-6weeks because your body will get used to what you're doing. But the most important thing is that you're exercising! And hopefully enjoying it as well. :)

    Your life sounds so busy, I'm not sure how you manage it all! And so jealous about the cleaner...;)
    DEBT FREE OCTOBER 2012!
    Proud to have dealt with my debts!
  • lucielle
    lucielle Posts: 11,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Ditto re the cleaner.
    L
    Total Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
    Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
    DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #124
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi Tirl and Lu - thanks for posting...

    Cleaner is fab. Been to the gym again tonight - took my son so we both got some exercise. Machine reckoned I'd burned about 350 calories. Which I think on top of other walking of done today is good.

    Well things are weird still at work... Feel on the cusp of change and its never a comfortable position to be in. I have now got approval to go ahead with my business though so nothing now standing in my way there which is good. I am trying to clear my study at the moment so that I have a better workspace. Hoping that will create some opportunites - kind of if I make more space in my life for my business the rest will follow... Have to live in hope anyway
    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: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well yesterday I signed up to a 4 year servicing plan - which gave me 10% discount and free mot for next year. In theory that saved me £96 plus next year's MOT which would have been about £56 so not bad. I basically paid this year's service including brake fluid and pollen filters and will pre-pay monthly for the next 3 services - but that in its own way takes some pressure off. Unfortunately since the garage is right next to an outlet village - I then spent any of said savings....
    • I got a £69 dress for £16.20 :money:which is fab as it's an occasion dress and we have an occasion to go to in 3 saturdays' time!
    • I also got 2 slub cardigans for £10 each
    • A 3/4 sleeve top for about £19 that had been £30
    • A cami and short sleeve tie top for £15
    • A skirt that was £39.50 for £24
    • I bought DS shorts that had been £30 for £8
    • I also got 6 nora roberts books for £9
    By that point I'd been on my feet for 5 hours and was absolutely exhausted. The bargain dress was literally in the last shop I went to. Since I'm overweight only about 3 shops out of over 100 had anything to fit me - but at least I know for next time that it is pretty much not worth bothering with the others unless I massively lose weight in between!

    Meanwhile OH looked after kids and baked shortbread with DD but it was rock hard bless them...
    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: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Had a nice relaxing day today. Went to church and DD got invited out afterwards - so I actually got to sit down and relax and read a book today (as well as doing the meals and the washing) but it was as close to a relaxing sunday as I've come in a long time! I think I must have given myself time off for good behaviour or something as normally I try to cram everything into the weekend that I don't fancy doing during the week!
    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: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Having an OK week so far. Talked to my boss about trying to get pay sorted for second element of role - still not finalised. I am going to buy some holiday tho in the hope it gives me more time for my business. I have also sent an application off to get on a course which should help my business hoping I get a place on that. I need to write a flyer and agree a date for delivering my first workshop for my business! I also still need to finish writing my materials. Our printer has given up the ghost at the moment so either need to get it fixed or just get a new one...

    Picked up a £4 bra at Mr As yesterday - perfect fit! Result! So actually binned an old bra today - the wire was poking thro. I also picked up a pair of trousers £7 reduced from £16 and a shirt £5 reduced from £12.50 in the sale at Mr Ts tonight for DS so pleased with that. He's going on a school residential trip next week and its always nice to look your best in that environment! Oh well best get off to bed!
    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
  • gilligansyle
    gilligansyle Posts: 4,124 Forumite
    Hi - you are really busy as usual. I like the idea that if you clear some space for your new business, then the work will come to fill it!

    I've always found Asda and Tatco fine for clothes, especially for work.
    Debts at LBM - Mortgages £128497 - non mortgage £27497 Debt now £[STRIKE]114150[/STRIKE][STRIKE]109032[/STRIKE] 64300 (mortgage) Credit cards left 0



    "The days pass so fast, let's try to make each one better than the last"
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi Gill - nice to see you posting again.

    I am not posting as much at the moment because I am busy at work, busy with kids, busy trying to set up my business..... Struggling a bit at work at the moment.... Considering whether or not to go part time as my heart isn't in it at the moment. It would then also give me more time to spend on my business and hopefully help me feel more positive when I am in work. Things are changing at work at the moment but don't want to be more specific in case my identity is ever unmasked....

    Oh well....

    The rest of the family are all okay. I had my hair done today and I like it. My hairdresser has agreed to display my business cards and gave me an idea for a new potential market....

    DS and I went to the gym. I was in awe of DS - he did the stairmaster for an hour and went through 2 large bottles of water!! We had biriyani curry and rice for tea... it was different - not sure if I'd pick it again tho.

    We're having lunch at church tomorrow and I had some M&S vouchers so bought some stuff from there to take with us...

    Hope you're all doing well!
    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: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Not really looking forward to work tomorrow. Hope it goes better than Friday!!

    I've had an okay weekend. DD spent a couple of hours at a friend's tonight so was pleased with that.

    Did some work on my website and also spent some time on planning my marketing. Seriously considering reducing my hours at work to make more room for other business stuff I want to do - but feels risky and scary as we do need the money. We can manage on less tho if we have to - and if I was happier and more fulfilled as a result it would be worth it.

    Need to try and arrange to meet up with friends this week too
    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: 29,070 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well I had a better than expected day which was a relief. Only worked a short day - will make up the time another day probably altho in credit flexi-time wise so it doesn't really matter... I'm not going to do 2 jobs at work any more will just do the one which should make life an awful lot easier

    Going to go to the gym now with the kids and get them to do some gym based exercise and some swimming - Hopefully that will help reset my system too! Not sure that I will go in the pool tho.... but if DS goes in with DD that should be okay anyway
    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
This discussion has been closed.
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.4K Life & Family
  • 258.8K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture