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

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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Hi Hairy,

    Just caught up with your diary, love the new title :)

    Really glad that BiL is home and hopefully on the mend :D

    Yay to the found money...I do that too, if I find any hanging around :rotfl:

    Hope that the wedding goes well xx
  • redofromstart
    redofromstart Posts: 5,932 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I second what Pauline said about the Midlands - cold and dark today, tried to rain but didn't quite get there. Bring warm clothes and a big thermos.
    My mortgage free diary: +++ Divide by Cucumber Error.  Please reinstall universe and reboot+++

    GNU Mr Redo

  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,625 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    :rotfl::rotfl: at traffic cones and profitable room clearance! MrEH had a root around down the back of the sofa last night but only turned up 2p! :D
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,586 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    I remember a few years aqo my DS returning home with a traffic sign :eek: One of my neighbours was rather sniffy about it & we had a policeman across the road :eek:
    There are many worse things.
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.     ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,403 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Love the new diary title!

    Hope you have a good time at the wedding xx
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • millymolly22
    millymolly22 Posts: 101 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Have been reading your diary over the weekend and you seem to be in the same position as me.....in debt for most of our adult life and now its paid off it still seems hard to save an emergency fund or for a holiday.

    When I look back at old lists of debts and what I paid off them each month I wonder where that money has gone now !!!!

    I'll be following your diary with interest :)
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    beanielou wrote: »
    Have had the flu & still have.

    Sorry to hear that beanie :( hope you feel better soon.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    117pauline wrote: »
    I love the idea of the checking the clothes before you go. Last time I forgot!

    The Midlands is freezing and very dark today. Hardly conducive to going out.

    Try having a notepad by your bed to get rid of those hectic thoughts. It helps me to focus on real or imagined fears. I am trying to put some of the CBT ideas into practice now.

    Is it still exciting being debt free?

    Take care honey
    Pauline

    Yes I should try writing it down Pauline, although I worry about waking DH.

    I still have a huge underlayer of deep happiness at being debt free :T. It's removed such a heavy burden from us :D.

    I think the reason I am now obsessed with frugal living and saving emergency funds is that I never ever want to be in debt again, and the more savings we have the safer I will feel :).
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Deleted_User wrote: »
    Hi Hairy,

    Just caught up with your diary, love the new title :)

    Really glad that BiL is home and hopefully on the mend :D

    Yay to the found money...I do that too, if I find any hanging around :rotfl:

    Hope that the wedding goes well xx

    Thanks purplemum, it's not often we get paid to do housework :D.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
  • HairyHandofDartmoor
    HairyHandofDartmoor Posts: 13,960 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    redofromstart wrote: »
    I second what Pauline said about the Midlands - cold and dark today, tried to rain but didn't quite get there. Bring warm clothes and a big thermos.

    Noted, warm clothes will be packed and probably blankets too nin case we break down :eek:.
    Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
    Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
    EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
    CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
    HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS
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