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The impossible dream
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I reached a stage where I almost hated Christmas. Virtually everything went to the charity shop at the beginning of January, mostly because people don't listen, I've had that many perfumes etc that to me smell worse than my brown bin (food waste) despite telling people who always think they know better. So I persuaded friends to drop the present giving. Then finally I was left with my mother, my sister & my son to buy for. My mother died & my sister & I decided to stop Xmas presents & now as we couldn't meet because of lockdown we have stopped birthdays too. We are both in a comfortable enough place that if we want it we can buy it. If one of us can't afford it then neither can the other. So I just buy for my son now. The stress that takes away is incredible.
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Thanks PP & BM. Considering Christmas is supposed to be the season of good cheer, it is unfortunate that it engenders dread and loathing in so many. Primarily because of the sheer commercialisation of it all, the expectation of others, the unwillingness to accept that some people can't afford the thousands that twill need to be spent to keep everyone happy. In the past I have fallen out with my family because of the expectation on me - sister without children and in their mind, in a well paid job, so can 'afford' it. Actually, I am in an average paid job, I am just uber careful with my money! But, I am expected to buy for everyone and to play Santa! They won't come to me, I have to go to them. Anyway, I made a decision to move past my annoyance and to just try to embrace the season of good will and if it means saving all my bits throughout the year to help me cope, so be it. So, this year's conviviality will come from the kind donations of Shop & Scan - £70, Tesco Clubcard - £75, Top Cashback - £105, Boots - £15 and Sainsburys Nectar - £35. Then, come New Year, time to start collecting all over again!What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - £25,900. 31/01/23 - £22,300. 28/02/23 - £20,500. 31/03/23 - £17,500. 30/04/23 - £15,800. 30/05/23 - £13,800. 31/06/23 - £11,300. 31/07/23 - £9,800. 31/08/23 - £8,300. 30/09/23 - £6,000. 31/10/23 - £3,000. 30/11/23 - £1,200. 06/12/23 - £00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park1 -
It's worth saying that the chimney bloke didn't come. Big shock!! Oh well, it means the money stays in my account for a bit longer, so less interest to pay to the mortgage company. A plus side to everything!What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - £25,900. 31/01/23 - £22,300. 28/02/23 - £20,500. 31/03/23 - £17,500. 30/04/23 - £15,800. 30/05/23 - £13,800. 31/06/23 - £11,300. 31/07/23 - £9,800. 31/08/23 - £8,300. 30/09/23 - £6,000. 31/10/23 - £3,000. 30/11/23 - £1,200. 06/12/23 - £00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park0 -
Hi Tahlullah
Sorry your chimney guy let you down again. Glad you have a future alternative to heat source pumps. They sound like they will literally be a nightmare - noisy, uneconomical and inefficient.
On the xmas side - I've told people not to expect anything this year - prioritising my 2 kids - but other than that have a whopping mortgage to pay on my own for the first time and a bumper payment in December. I also have loads of car bills...Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/251 -
Well, I made my radiator table which works really well. I have chosen to leave it wood colour with some stain (knotting solution), rather than paint it white. Anyway, looked on the Bay of E and seriously, they (the mysterious they!) are selling my exact table for £60!! Maybe I should start making them and undercutting others. Amazingly, this table cost les than £10 to make, so a fantastic mark-up for the sellers.
I also managed to re-upholster my bench seat in the bedroom. I found an Egyptian label in it and it is stuffed with straw! I didn't take it out, I just added some seating sponge from Dunelm and stapled - and then screwed - straps across the bottom to keep it all in and to take the weight when sat on. It is great. Really pleased. So, two jobs done. Hoping to paint the radiator pipes white today as I bought some Hammerite paint for the job in summer and never got round t it. As I am on a roll, this seems like something I can do quickly whilst watching TV.
Nothing spectacular happening moneysaving wise. Waiting for the bill from the accountant for last year and hopefully the gardener is coming on Monday to cut back the hedges, so that will be it until next year. After that, just the Chimney debacle which is still ongoing. But the open fire is fantastic.What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - £25,900. 31/01/23 - £22,300. 28/02/23 - £20,500. 31/03/23 - £17,500. 30/04/23 - £15,800. 30/05/23 - £13,800. 31/06/23 - £11,300. 31/07/23 - £9,800. 31/08/23 - £8,300. 30/09/23 - £6,000. 31/10/23 - £3,000. 30/11/23 - £1,200. 06/12/23 - £00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park2 -
Very impressed at the furniture making. How is the selling of stuff going? I have yet to startAchieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/251 -
Hi SH. Like you, the selling is taking a back seat. I really need to pull my finger out. I just find the whole process soul destroying, but hopefully will start at some point. Now does seem like a sensible time - people may want things for Christmas.What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - £25,900. 31/01/23 - £22,300. 28/02/23 - £20,500. 31/03/23 - £17,500. 30/04/23 - £15,800. 30/05/23 - £13,800. 31/06/23 - £11,300. 31/07/23 - £9,800. 31/08/23 - £8,300. 30/09/23 - £6,000. 31/10/23 - £3,000. 30/11/23 - £1,200. 06/12/23 - £00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park0 -
You've cleared a good chunk of £ off in a month despite that...
Enjoy your new fire...Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/250 -
If it can go wrong, it will go wrong! And the gardener has Covid and so can't make the last appointment of the year. 1st world problems.What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - £25,900. 31/01/23 - £22,300. 28/02/23 - £20,500. 31/03/23 - £17,500. 30/04/23 - £15,800. 30/05/23 - £13,800. 31/06/23 - £11,300. 31/07/23 - £9,800. 31/08/23 - £8,300. 30/09/23 - £6,000. 31/10/23 - £3,000. 30/11/23 - £1,200. 06/12/23 - £00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park1 -
Hi Tahlullah - as you say 1st world. Hope the rest of your day goes better and your gardener recovers quickly.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/250
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