To Freedom...

BlueMoo

Very jealous of you all with your pensions - I get a measly 2.75% of my wage.
It's something I have been weighing up/thinking about for a while as my family did not struggle at all, whereas my in-laws find it very hard.

I guess part of my MFW journey is to make sure I don't have high expenses when I retire.

**
Well done kirsty for the OP. very good going considering it's coming up to Christmas.
I second a pic of the kitchen please.

kirstypark

i am not complaining about my pension - honestly, i know it's a good deal, but it still might need topping up as i was unqualified for a large part of my career and not earning as much.

anybody got any idea how to attach a photo?

kirstypark

another £75 into the pot today as was planning an overnight trip, but changed our mind when we couldn't see anywhere we wanted to stay. also there are still bits to be done to the house, so might as well stay home and do that.

now paying £6.54 a day interest, down by 1.02 since july. although the big figure still owing still seems huge, there are small dents being made in it.

LauraJo

Hey KP - that's a great saving on interest since July! No idea how to post pics tho sorry

kirstypark

morning - what terrible news about the helicoptor crash in Glasgow last night. we stayed next door to that pub in june when we last visited, very sad.

got all my presents down from the loft last night - this includes the enormous haul of stuff i got in the Boots 75% sale last january and some bits i have been collecting along the way, was very pleased to realise that i almost have everything now, even a couple of extras that OH will wrap up for me. Last year he bought me snow tyres, so at least i will get somethiing nice to unwrap. Decided to splash out a bit and bought chocolat from that nice hotel online - spent about £70 but got a free gift, and over 10 quid back through TCB, so can slip some chocolate into everyone's pressie.

Last year we decided to only get ourselves presents if we really needed them - and experiances and making memories seem more important than "stuff" So have hired a vintage campervan for a weekend in may as our present to each other. OH has longed for one and is forever looking online for ones on sale - i reckon he might change his mind after driving round scotland in a bumpy van doing a noisy 40mph :rotfl: If he still has the bug after driving an old bug then we might think about buying one next year. I know - not very moneysaving, but life is short and there needs to be a balance.

Speaking of which i am off to town this morning to get a massage from an old pal who is starting her own business - she gets a bit of custom and i get a bit of relaxation - looking forward to this :j

kirstypark

massage was great - i trained as a massage therapist years ago, but have done very little since and forgot how beneficial they are. And she only charged me £30 for the hour because she knows me - so am definately going to make time for one every month now. In fact she does a face lift massage using reflexology which is supposed to be better than botox - so am going to try that next and if i like it, will book a course.

our monthly DD to the mortgage has been reduced by about £25 a month, so paid it, added the extra and a few more pennies today, making a grand toal of £94,886 left to pay. Don't think there is much more to overpay now - we are still buying bits for the house. new doors getting hung this week and clearing out the sunroom which was still full of boxes this weekend. Socialising for christmas starts next weekend.

kirstypark

still doing small jobs around the house - sunroom was painted and i thought we should go very neutral after the pink and blue diner kitchen - but it looks very white and boring! There is no heating in there so won't be using it until summer, might change it then.

Dinner last night was lasange made with some leftover mince and a tin of baked beans added to make it go further - was lovely and no one said "why are there baked beans in this?" so maybe didn't notice. tea tonight is spanish sausage and mash.

LauraJo

Morning! That campervan experience sounds fab!! Where are you gonna go?

kirstypark

hi laurajo, not sure where we will go - there is a festival in Ullapool that weekend, but that distance might be a bit ambitious in a van that only does 40mph. A festival is on my bucket list for next year as we missed carfest this year when i had my tonsils out, so might combine the two.

kirstypark

well it's been an expensive few days getting in xmas pressies, new dress for parties and starting to buy in food - then OH announces he has a tax bill due in jan :mad: So will have to stop overpaying for now and pay that up quick. I really think we need to wind up the business as not making any cash from it at the moment. And i only had 113 more to pay to hit my target.