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

Sun_Addict

Me too nicnak. Oh to be young again knowing what I know now.

HH it's best to focus on the present, one day at a time, be in the moment.

[Deleted User]

Nicnak wrote: »

I wish I could go back to the past too. I would change so much x

Another one here who would change so much.

I sometimes see my life as a long walk in a forest where I keep coming to forks in the path. After the first wrong one, because there were so many trees in the way to confuse the issue I kept taking the wrong one each time there was a choice. Every time I hoped it would lead me roughly to where I wanted to go, maybe not my original destination but somewhere equally nice. Sometimes it didn't turn out so badly, I'm one for making the best out of what's thrown my way, but my life's been full of thoughts of ''if only''.


It would be lovely to go back in time to that very first fork in the path and take the alternative direction.


I sound a really dissatisfied grump don't I? Sorry:o. Feeling a bit 'down' at the moment. My friend's husband has really gone downhill this last few days. His condition worsened drastically last night and they phoned my friend to go in so I ran her to the hospital during the night and stayed with her for a bit. She wants to stay all day today too so I came home in the early hours and didn't bother going to bed. Her brother arrived just before I left, the first time he's been as he's 80 and not a confident driver and lives about 200 miles away. He's planning to stay a few days with her so will be able to run her home and to the hospital whenever she wants to go. I don't think there's much hope of any recovery, it's so sad, they are an inseparable couple who've been married well over 50 years and such lovely people.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

I wish I could go back to the past too. I would change so much x

Sun_Addict wrote: »

Me too nicnak. Oh to be young again knowing what I know now.

HH it's best to focus on the present, one day at a time, be in the moment.

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Another one here who would change so much.

I sometimes see my life as a long walk in a forest where I keep coming to forks in the path. After the first wrong one, because there were so many trees in the way to confuse the issue I kept taking the wrong one each time there was a choice. Every time I hoped it would lead me roughly to where I wanted to go, maybe not my original destination but somewhere equally nice. Sometimes it didn't turn out so badly, I'm one for making the best out of what's thrown my way, but my life's been full of thoughts of ''if only''.


It would be lovely to go back in time to that very first fork in the path and take the alternative direction.


I sound a really dissatisfied grump don't I? Sorry:o. Feeling a bit 'down' at the moment. My friend's husband has really gone downhill this last few days. His condition worsened drastically last night and they phoned my friend to go in so I ran her to the hospital during the night and stayed with her for a bit. She wants to stay all day today too so I came home in the early hours and didn't bother going to bed. Her brother arrived just before I left, the first time he's been as he's 80 and not a confident driver and lives about 200 miles away. He's planning to stay a few days with her so will be able to run her home and to the hospital whenever she wants to go. I don't think there's much hope of any recovery, it's so sad, they are an inseparable couple who've been married well over 50 years and such lovely people.

I guess we can all look back and think if only. I wouldn't have got into debt, that's for sure, if I knew then what I know now. When we moved into our current house 15 years ago we had no debts temporarily, and then quickly ran them up again .

I'm sorry about your friend's husband Carboot, that is very sad. You need a good night's sleep. I always feel down when I get overtired.

But as SA says, we should try and focus on the present and the future, not the past. Hindsight is a wonderful thing . But we all did what seemed right at the time, with the knowledge and wisdom we had then.

It is sad to think about mistakes we made and people we have lost. But we should try to focus on the people we still have and what choices we can make now to improve our current lives.

I feel more cheerful this morning as I slept better and the sun has put in an appearance .

Dorastar

Agree that hindsight would be wonderful, but also know that things do happen for a reason, we just might have to wait years for that reason or to see good from them. At least we have seen the financial light now, so we can take the lead on it rather than just be lead by it (if that makes sense).

Yay to some more sunshine today, going to plant up the plants I bought yesterday

System

I was only saying to my mum yesterday about hindsight and what I would change if I could go back. However I am very much a happy person, I realise the mistakes I made way back when and I am just grateful today for what I have. It then makes me wonder if I had made better decisions where would I be and would I be any happier .?

Glad you had a good Saturday saunter. Great book choices by the way .

Hope you get out today, very autumnal here today, cold and sunny.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Dorastar wrote: »

Agree that hindsight would be wonderful, but also know that things do happen for a reason, we just might have to wait years for that reason or to see good from them. At least we have seen the financial light now, so we can take the lead on it rather than just be lead by it (if that makes sense).

Yay to some more sunshine today, going to plant up the plants I bought yesterday

Cumbria_lass wrote: »

I was only saying to my mum yesterday about hindsight and what I would change if I could go back. However I am very much a happy person, I realise the mistakes I made way back when and I am just grateful today for what I have. It then makes me wonder if I had made better decisions where would I be and would I be any happier .?

Glad you had a good Saturday saunter. Great book choices by the way .

Hope you get out today, very autumnal here today, cold and sunny.

Thanks Dora and Cumbria.

Thare are some things we can't control and some things that are due to bad decisions on our part. I do wonder how different my life would be if I had been better at budgeting and not got into debt. That is my biggest regret. We could have paid off our mortgage with DH's pension money if we han't had the debts .

But what's done is done and I have learnt my lesson and will never have a credit (debt) card again.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Today we're planning to meet my stepdad at a NT place near him to go for a walk and then go back to his house for dinner. It's a cool but sunny day so it should be good.

I hope we can afford to renew our NT membership after Christmas, as it's really enhanced our lives and got us out a lot more. I want to go to some NT houses in November and December to see them decorated for Christmas .

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I guess we can all look back and think if only. I wouldn't have got into debt, that's for sure, if I knew then what I know now. When we moved into our current house 15 years ago we had no debts temporarily, and then quickly ran them up again .

I'm sorry about your friend's husband Carboot, that is very sad. You need a good night's sleep. I always feel down when I get overtired.

But as SA says, we should try and focus on the present and the future, not the past. Hindsight is a wonderful thing . But we all did what seemed right at the time, with the knowledge and wisdom we had then.

It is sad to think about mistakes we made and people we have lost. But we should try to focus on the people we still have and what choices we can make now to improve our current lives.

I feel more cheerful this morning as I slept better and the sun has put in an appearance .

Thank you, those were really lovely words:A

I'm glad you're feeling a lot more cheerful today:j. Sunshine always lifts the spirits doesn't it especially at the back end of the year.


I probably am tired but I don't feel sleepy at the moment. I'll probably nod off in the armchair when I'm trying to read my book after tea and want to stay alert to finish it:rotfl:

Well done on your book bargains yesterday:T. Since finding your diary I've become more interested in historical fiction again thanks to you. I saw Hilary Mantel being interviewed on a book programme the other week and she was talking about her career. I still have a copy of Wolf Hall bought at a car boot sale a couple of years ago and not even started yet. It's the actual thickness of the book that keeps putting me off starting it:o


I don't think everyone realises that she wrote in several different genres not just mediaeval history and I happened to come across her book on the French Revolution (a period in history that fascinates me even more after reading a brilliant biography of Madame Tussaud which read like a novel). It's called A Place of Greater safety and I spotted it on the charity stall in the foyer of the hospital the other day. Looks almost unread, in hardback and only cost £2 although I added a bit more as a small donation as the charity raises money for the hospital. Chuffed to have found it, have been looking out for it for ages:j.. It's another thick one though, 749 pages and quite a small font. I need plenty of time to give to this one, I know her books are really detailed and need 100% concentration. Since I was ill, that's something I'm still lacking, hopefully not forever though.

doingitanyway

Like you HH I wish I had known then what I know now. It's fine. I know now. The bank is not my friend and I intend not to have debt or credit again.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Today we're planning to meet my stepdad at a NT place near him to go for a walk and then go back to his house for dinner. It's a cool but sunny day so it should be good.

I hope we can afford to renew our NT membership after Christmas, as it's really enhanced our lives and got us out a lot more. I want to go to some NT houses in November and December to see them decorated for Christmas .

Sounds like a lovely day, it will do you all good:beer:

I think the NT membership is a need rather than a want for you and DH. It definitely has big health and well-being benefits as well as purely enjoyment ones. If I were you I'd pull out all the stops to economise elsewhere so you can renew it. Not easy I know when spending is already cut to the bone but there must be somewhere you can eke out a little more. Have you anything you can sell? I know you like to donate to charity (as I do when possible) but there have been many times in the bad old crippling debt days when I had to sell things to make enough money just to get by:o