Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

The woman with the rucksack must have been a carer for the woman with downs syndrome. She did an amazing job, patient and cheerful, and even she started laughing after she dropped the coins and the other passengers were passing them back to her .

Willowtree222

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

The woman with the rucksack must have been a carer for the woman with downs syndrome. She did an amazing job, patient and cheerful, and even she started laughing after she dropped the coins and the other passengers were passing them back to her .

Sounds like she is. She must have been very grateful for all your help!

Sugarcandy

Hi I use Parcel Monkey for heavy parcels. You put in the dimensions and weights of your parcel and a list of couriers will come up. I have only used 2 of them as I don't have a printer, UK Mail I think it was and Royal Mail 48.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks Sugarcandy I'll look into that.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Yesterday I did my Saturday ramble. I bought two books in the charity shop for DS3's birthday, which is next weekend. I also bought him a three pack of socks in Sup3rdry (which turned out to be half price) as an extra birthday present. His main present is going to be a leather bound notebook and a Cr0ss pen. We'll need to post them all to him. It will seem strange not to see him on his birthday. Then I got fruit, cheese and milk before going home.

In the afternoon I cleaned out the furry moron and did some laundry, which seems to be building up, despite DS3 being away for a week. I felt tired after that for some reason.

Today DH and I worked for a couple of hours setting up my new business idea. It feels good to get started on it.

Then we did a video call on Fac3book with DS3. It was really nice to see his face and hear his voice . I feel like I've actually seen him and we found out a lot more about what he's been doing . We're going to do it again on Wednesday.

We were supposed to go for a walk this afternoon with my stepdad, but it rained a bit so he rang to cancel. He's still going to come for dinner tonight. I felt at a bit of a loose end after he cancelled, but I've been sorting out laundry and tidying up a bit instead.

I didn't sleep very well last night as I couldn't stop thinking about my mum, so I feel a bit tired today . But it's been a largely positive day so far.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've realised that it's just over a year since I started this diary. So many things have happened since than that it's hard to believe it hasn't been longer.

GOOD things have included paying off our consumer debts, DS2 going abroad four times and DS3 going to uni .

Very BAD things have been my mum dying very unexpectedly and DH having a mini stroke .

STRESSFUL things have included negotiating with debtors, DS2 going abroad four times and DS3 going to uni .

So a very eventful year with a mixture of good, stressful, and two really awful events. I wonder what next year will bring.

The lovely people on this forum have supported me through good times and bad, and I'm very grateful for that and don't know what I would have done without them.

My goals for the next year are:

GOALS

-To come to terms with my mum's death
-Work on my business in the hope that it will bring in some money eventually
-Keep supporting DH and the grown up children
-Live frugally
-Go back to my volunteering at the school
-Start Pilates one evening a week
-Try and find the joy and purpose in life that losing my mum seems to have knocked out of me a bit

If our money situation improves then a very big goal will be to save up an emergency fund, get repairs done on the house, and then overpay the mortgage to pay it off quicker. We only have about £40,000 left to pay on the mortgage and nine years to go. It would be nice to reduce that so it's paid by the time I'm sixty (in six years time).

I have no idea what the coming year holds for me, but I hope to deal with whatever life throws at me with strength and some dignity.

Willowtree222

Ah, we are year buddies!

It has been a tough year for you too. Great goals for next year too. I plan to put mine in place soon as well. x

Dorastar

What a year (for both of you) inspirational stuff ladies x

Sun_Addict

Can't believe you've been on here a year! What a year it's been for you, a real mixture. Hopefully the next year will be a positive and happy one xx

System

It's been a year of ups and downs for you and the family.

The plans all sound good going forward but don't be hard on yourself , do what you enjoy and the rest will follow along.

Good to hear you are sorting your business venture out.