Debt free in ten years-my new, more realistic challenge.

poohbear59

I have spent ages reading my diary from the beginning. It was revealing and I was pleased about how far we have come but I also saw a pattern of the Winters being very hard.

This coming Winter will have to be better, somehow.
We really need to save some contingency money for when times are lean. I also think I need to maybe charge a little bit more when doing private sales of the cottage. Obviously the ebay ones can't be too expensive or no one will buy but I think I am being a bit too generous with some of the private bookings. And if we stay with cottages4you I want to discuss the terms of our contract.

We are still working towards gettig a boiler for the Winter as we both became aware of how the cold was affecting our health.

THEN, DS1 is getting married in the States in April!!!!! We don't have any money to buy plane tickets yet and I guess prices will go up! When we are there we plan to stay for a while and see family and friends we haven't seen in years. I am hoping we can get by on the amount we have for food and fuel for the month at home.

Going back to the diary.... we have two houses:D We didn't have two houses four years ago. We had one house and a derelict barn. The two houses together are worth more than half the outstandig mortgages. So in effect one is paid for. :j Note I haven't included other debt to family and CCs. One day I will work it out i comparison with the equity.

One of our aims was to be mortgage free by retirement and I believe it is still possible. I always add if I live that long which upsets my kids but my mother had great plans and didn't make it

Todays great news is that DS2 has work until at least the end of October so won't be moving back home. He is really happy:j

poohbear59

We went to the dentist today which is covered by a health plan. I need a scale and polish in two weeks time. DGD had her first visit and managed not to bite the dentist

Then we took DS2 back to his house. He is the last one there. All the others have moved on to pastures new It was a bit of an emotional visit as I knew some of them very well. I taught two of them from age 11. It is great that they are doing so well.
DS2 now has to find himself a new house before the end of the month.

DA has been on the phone for hours the last three days. She has so many worries that we can't solve or help her to solve. I want to help her so much but am too far away to pop to see she is okay every day. I am here at the end of the phone though as often and for as long as she needs.

please-let-me-be-lucky

It's great that you've been able to read back through to help refocus and that you have found lots of positives :T. Amazing news about the USA wedding too, maybe we should start a 'Send Pooh Stateside Fund' .

Glad to hear DS2 has work, but sorry DA is unsettled. I'm sure you are a great source of comfort to them both Xx

debtfreewannabe321

Congratulations to ds1 how great

I started reading back through my diary the other day and it was an eye opener as to how far we've come I bet you felt the same too yay to dgd for not biting the dentist :rotfl:

beanielou

Pooh~~You just shine through as being such a lovely person.

poohbear59

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please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

It's great that you've been able to read back through to help refocus and that you have found lots of positives :T. Amazing news about the USA wedding too, maybe we should start a 'Send Pooh Stateside Fund' .

I need to try to save but it is impossible ATM.
Still waiting for my dad's house sale to go through then probate. 1/8th share might give me enough for flights plus heating system. Lots of fingers crossed

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

Congratulations to ds1 how great

I started reading back through my diary the other day and it was an eye opener as to how far we've come I bet you felt the same too yay to dgd for not biting the dentist :rotfl:

DFW I was amazed DGD just bit the mirror the dentist put in her mouth.

beanielou wrote: »

Pooh~~You just shine through as being such a lovely person.

Now I feel really embarrassed Thank you for saying such a lovely thing

Mr P has been paid :j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

I am going to check what he needs to pay out in invoices then will see what is left for us.

He is doing another job this week but missed yesterday as his work partner wouldn't get out of bed!!! But today he is there and they are working together liftig flags and putting down damp proof course and insulation before putting back the flags. It is in an old farmhouse.

DS2 still hasn't found anywhere to live :eek::eek: He has to be out on Saturday. I guess he could stay in a Travelodge but his pay won't cover the costs. It is too far to come back here after his shifts in the middle of the night. And he doesn't have a vehicle.

I am just praying he doesn't need a large deposit as we don't have anything to help him pay. It is difficult for him to live on less than minimum wage. He doesn't have full time hours yet, last week was just 21hours.

Today DD has asked me to go over to her house so she can help me fill in some forms whilst DGD has her sfternoon nap. Just waiting for the phone call.

Today will be a NSD as I am going nowhere near any shops.

And I had two bookings for the cottage in November today. They will help us to get through the Winter.

Tomorrow we have to pay the final balance on the cottage I have booked for Mr P's family to stay in together in November. DD has offered to pay it as four members can't pay until 7th September. All of them youngsters. Mr P's sister has paid extra to help cover those who haven't paid yet. Payment wouldn't have been made if it wasn't for the kindness of DD and DSIL. We paid the deposit so have paid well over our £106. We will get some back when yougsters pay up.

A weekend away in a cottage for £50 per person is quite cheap. We will cook in bulk in preparation for our stay to save on food costs, no meals out unless we can find absolute bargain somewhere.

They are almost all vegetarians which should help keep costs down. My plan is to get every couple to provide a part of a main meal and then get DSs to do one too as they won't be in couples.

My meal plan says Chinese chicken for tonight. I will have to ask DD for a loan of some chicken as I used all of ours up when we had an impromptu meal for 8 on Monday!

grannyx2

You sound really upbeat at the moment, which is lovely.

congratulations to DS

Hope your chicken borrowing plan works out

Granny x

poohbear59

grannyx2 wrote: »

You sound really upbeat at the moment, which is lovely.

congratulations to DS

Hope your chicken borrowing plan works out

Granny x

Thank you

The chicken borrowing plan didn't work as DD had planned chicken stir fry for tonight: but I found I had some sausages in the freezer so have made a spicy tomato sauce with lots of onion, garlic and peppers and a touch of chilli powder.

I will add the sausage cut into pieces for the men and I will have mine as a veggie version. I don't eat sausage. We will have it with pasta and I will give it a fancy name

DD and I have the forms filled in so they can be sent off tomorrow.

brizzledfw

Hi - just catching up pooh..its great you have some November bookings and about DS. just hope he gets some accommodation at a sensible price.

Agree re winter. and fuel is crazily expensive. We also rely on our woodburner and scavenging wood..my parents are a good source. We still have discarded rafters stashed away in the shed for the winter coming which should burn well. cutting them up could be a job for OH though..dont fancy that one:rotfl:

poohbear59

Brizzled, I just smiled when I read your post as we also have lots of old rafters stashed away too. Mr P spent a day cutting them all up ready for the fire. He lit it again last night. It was necessary but I felt I would rather stick on some extra clothes. At least it means we have some hot/warm water for cleaning today.

DD and I are not going out today as we went to the dentist on Wednesday. Saving fuel again

I am going to start sorting the paper mountain. Mainly junk mail.

And see if I can persuade DS1 to mop the kitchen floor when he gets in from work. Ribs/muscle sprain is still very painful.