From debt to freedom...

Sarahwithlove

Congratulations so happy for you and so pleased everyone took the news well. 

Willowtree222

Merry Christmas xx

sudonum-mum

Just catching up as not been on for a while.

Congratulations

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, MeandO, Janb5, Moneywhizz, SA, SH, Sarahwithlove, sudonum-mum and Willowtree222.

Merry Christmas one and all 🎄.

Yesterday was lovely…it was Christmas in waves! I worked Christmas Eve at Job 2. It was surprisingly busy but was able to finish at 10, came home for a while and then went to the midnight service at the village church. 

SO was a star and cooked Christmas dinner. It was so strange as for the last 20+ years, I’ve done the cooking but I enjoyed a more restful Christmas!! SO’s children were with us until mid afternoon. As they left DD1 and DSiL arrived ( having spent the first part of the day with his parents) so we had the afternoon with most of the DDs DSiL and DS3. DS1 came round with his fiancée in the evening. I had chance to have a really good chat with him which  was lovely and all the more precious because I don’t see him that often.

I’ll catch up with DD2 and DS2 in the next few days.

peb

So so pleased for you.   

Cherryfudge

What a lovely description - Christmas in waves! Ours is similar: there are too many to get together comfortably so my we are doing smaller batches and saving our main present-opening for next weekend with our youngest and his partner. It makes the fun and the family times last a lot longer!

Spendless

Pleased youve had a lovely Christmas. I think I must have missed ir forgotten that DS1 was engaged, congratulations to them too. 

misslolu

Congrats @Honeysucklelou2! Amazing news to end the year!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Peb, Cherryfudge, Spendless and Misslolu.

I worked Boxing Day evening which was a long shift and have a few shifts to do this week, including New Years Eve. I will have to have a break somewhere in the shift because last year was 9 hours non-stop 😳. 

I had chance to catch up with DS2 and DS1 at the weekend. I was able to have a good catch up with them both. DS1 and his fiancée are looking in earnest for their  own place. They are saving as much as they can for a deposit but the challenges of finding somewhere at a reasonable price is ongoing. 

I had chance to sit down on Sunday for a few hours and go through all accounts to check balances. The good news was the continued decreasing balance of the mortgage. £5k was paid off on 2024, making over £8k paid off in the 18 months I’ve had the mortgage.  Unfortunately I’ve not had chance to save as much as I’d wanted to. We were getting tips at Job 2 but for various reasons we have been told we can’t have them, so even if they are given, we have to hand them in. That was my source for filling the envelopes for a savings challenge so now that has gone, the savings haven’t grown.  

It gave me chance to think about the coming year. I have my wages from Job 1 and Job 2.  I need to plan carefully because wedding costs need to be thought about and factored in. We’re not talking about a huge bash, but if we just count parents, siblings and children, we are looking at 35 people!! Lots to think about!! Having that couple of hours was useful to clearly see a picture of the finances going forward. I’m still using the 100 squares and colouring off squares so that I have a visual reminder.

Yesterday we went to SO’s mum’s for a celebratory tea. It was the first time since getting engaged that SO’s siblings were altogether hence the celebration now. It was lovely and DS3 gets on well with SO’s mum and sister. He never knew his paternal grandparents as they both died before he was born so it’s lovely that he will have a step-grandma.

Today I’m catching up with my parents and working at Job 2. If the weather holds I need to get the last few bulbs in!!

Have a good Monday everyone.

sashybo

Sending huge congratulations HSL - you absolutely deserve every happiness. 🥰