£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Humdinger1

TOPM that sounds an excellent plan.

Verbatim

Way hey! You're back! I have so missed your posts and have been excitedly checking whenever your thread appeared in my subscribed list showing that there'd been a new post, only to find it wasn't you posting at all.
Good luck with your new ventures and I'm looking forward to reading the next chapter of life chez TOPM.
Vx

the_cross_rabbit

De-lurking to say well done for making your various decisions. I'm another eco nerd and totally get how hard it is when you feel you have to compromise your values to adhere to others percieved rules of been MSE. Rules are made to be broken though.
CRx

baglady1

Hi TOPM, glad you're back. Was beginning to get a bit worried as were others on this thread. Would also be interested in your new blog .Hope you had a good Christmas. All the best for the New Year and all your new plans. They sound great and right for you which is the most important thing.
Regards bl1

Sayschezza

I have lurked on here from the beginning and can understand the reasons behind your decision. I have never been SE but was lucky enough to have a job in a huge national industry that always had overtime on offer. It was a no brainier for me to work as many hours as I could rather than not having enough money to pay for the type of life I wanted. Good luck.

The_Moo

Happy New Year TOPM! I.am so.glad you're back and sounding so positive. Like others I've missed your posts - I drew a lot of inspiration from you. I admire you for sticking to your principles and hope this change of mode works its magic for you.

Please do continue to post, I will follow with interest. Wishing you the very best!

dawnybabes

Congratulations on your new venture. Only you are walking in your shoes and only you can make these changes. �� exciting times ahead

BalanceBy50

Yay so happy you are back!

Your posts always resonated with me because of the balance you wanted to create. We decided after a couple of miserable years to slow down our debt busting as I wAnted a better family life and having small children it meant having days out/holidays etc plus a balanced diet.

I am also self employed and my friend who i run the business decided 15months ago we wanted to earn more so have worked really hard to do this and it is paying dividends however I only work 3 days and they can be long days but I rarely sacrifice my two days with my 3yr old as he will be all grown up before I know it.

I had thought about starting a diary but my confidence isn't strong enough and I worry that my scenic route doesn't fit with other people 's ideals.

I am looking forward to following your journey and I am wishing the TOPM family a very happy & healthy 2019 with a completed extension xx

poddle911

Happy 2019 to you, TOPM! (& to you other lurkers/occasional posters!)

What a brilliant post to read - I'm so happy that you've come up with an alternative (and sustainable) solution that fits with your ethos and prioritises joy (and not frivolity) for your family. You have given the penny-scraping, hardcore debt-busting a go - a really bl00dy good one! - and it's so brave to reassess, change tack and invest in yourself, but nobody here doubts that you can do whatever you set your mind to. Wishing you all the best with everything - and a happy and healthy year ahead. Keep us posted!

@BalanceBy50 - start a diary! I think TOPM is proof that one size does not fit all and I (for one) would love to read it

Starmummy

Hi TOPM

Your new focus seems so you. Well done for having the courage to be true to yourself. It is admirable.

As for Holidays, I'd be a huge hypocrite to deny anyone travel, It is the ONLY thing we can buy that makes us richer.
We have discovered the cheapest way to do an abroad Summer holiday is to stay in Ski resorts. They are gorgeous places for hiking in the summer and accommodation (apartments not hotels) and flights are cheap too.
We have just booked a week in Slovenia the last week of August. The flights were £360 for thress of us and the accommodating (2 bed apartment, sleeps 5) was £300.
We will just need car hire and food. The active element would be right up your street too. We went to the Dolomites last year also very budget friendly.

Take care

SM