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Moving forward and upwards

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  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks DIA and SH

    The weekend I finally picked up a mirror and can start trialing makeup and hairstyles.

    I'm still having almost daily deliveries, the courier's laugh and say it's like Christmas for me. I've been wearing my old size 14 jeans and will be going through my existing wardrobe this weekend. Hopefully free up space to add my new-to-me clothes.
    - only waiting on 5 more parcels.

    I added kiwis to my fruit bowl tonight, even TomBo is tucking in.

    My walks are round shops, the supermarket, a little exploration etc. Trying to spend a bit longer out, take a couple more steps etc it all helps. I'd like to slot in some swimming, just need a warm and sunny day.

    Got my eye test and contact lens trial this week and not much else planned yet.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 9,955 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Kiwis are a good addition to a fruit bowl  :)
    You are sounding well
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 100/1000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Good luck with the contact lens trial
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    February financial round up:

    Saved £336, balance £8738
    Car £100, balance £858
    Misc £133.94, balance £252
    Float £0, balance £40

    Mortgage O/P £200, balance £56,279 (ish)

    CC £0 balance

    March plans:

    Throw money at savings as I had my shopping fun last month!

    I'm banking my rewards into my misc fund to slowly increase that and still transferring existing savings to my 7% account. 

    Surveys are done randomly, as and when I feel like it. 

    Bills wise. I'm trying to reduce gas use again, but we keep having ad hoc cold spells. CT is up 5%, however the bulk is front loaded to the initial payment and the remaining 9m is an extra £1pm.

    I'm hoping to be just under 12st by the end of this month. Still haven't decided what size / weight I want to be.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thank you DIA and SH

    I'm having a wonderful time so far this year and am so grateful for the Dr taking time to review my history, listen, change / increase meds, take bloods and sort additional meds out!

    Financially things feel stable and it's a comfort having as much money in the bank as I do.  It was nice having the spending spree last month as there was a mix of personal and things for the home. We've also purchased loads of DVD's so our evenings are cosy.

    The mortgage debt doesn't feel scary any more as it's consistently reducing with the contractual and overpayments. 

    I've had a CL trial before and did wear them many years ago. I'm not going to be wearing them each day and saving them for going out / weekends etc. Only problem I foresee is my nails, however there's an applicator I can buy.

    Better crack on and do more work 🤭
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • Skint_yet_Again
    Skint_yet_Again Posts: 8,443 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Hung up my suit! Mortgage-free Glee!
    I used to wear contact lenses but my eyes started getting very dry and they were too scratchy to wear. They do give you freedom from glasses which I miss. Especially when swimming. 
    0% credit card £1360 & 0% Car Loan £7500 ~ paid in full JAN 2020 = NOW DEBT FREE 🤗
    House sale OCT 2022 = NOW MORTGAGE FREE 🤗
    House purchase completed FEB 2023 🥳🍾 Left work. 🤗

    Retired at 55 & now living off the equity £10k a year (until pensions start at 60 & 67).

    Previous Savings diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597938/get-a-grip/p1

    Living off savings diary
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6429003/escape-to-the-country-living-off-savings/p1
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    It's great the financial stress has gone 
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks Skinty and SH

    The good thing is I don't wear glasses all the time, especially not when working, in meetings, watching TV, reading, gardening etc. I only wear them for driving, shopping, proper days out and family gatherings, but tend to take them off for the latter as I can't see too well close up and miss those tiny face changes.
    - I'll go for a pack of disposables as they'll probably last me the whole year!

    Although my eyes only altered .25, I have ordered two pairs of glasses and added a tint to the red framed ones, keeping the purple as standard. My existing glasses will go in the glove box and my old ones will be kept for gardening. I also got a bottle of the eye cleaner, rather than wipes. Collecting the glasses in 2 weeks and getting my CL trial lenses at the same time. Spent just under £95 as I picked from the buy one get one free range.

    The pack of trousers arrived and they're great. Some of the things I've ordered have been faux leather, denim, satin, chiffon etc and I've quickly built up a fantastic wardrobe for nearly all occasions; from everyday shopping to summer, parties to events. All kinds of shoes, boots and shoe boots, with my existing pumps and boots to dress up / down. Plus the jackets and coats, while retaining a thick winter coat. Even a few bits of jewellery, scarves and shawls.

    Aside from the skirt and top from the CS the other week, everything else has been purchased from the comfort of my chair. To start with, it was a bit of trial and error with sizing. However, I now know what sizes to buy from several different 'shops' I would normally have avoided; usually out my budget or fashion shops but pre-loved allowed me to get things more pocket money friendly. 

    Some of the items are a snug 12 and will replace some of the identical 14's in time. Some are a 14 or 16 but more like a 10. I shouldn't need to bulk replace anything for a while. 

    As for me, I'm 12st 1lb. For the first time in a while my top is bigger than my belly as I've lost 3in off it and my legs are also shrinking. 

    There's a lot to be said about being financially stable and settled in my job now the horrible person has gone!

    Anyhow, I've got to go through all my existing clothes and bag them ready for the CS 🤭
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Very impressive weightloss and wardrobe contents buying
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thank you SH

    I'm enjoying updating my wardrobe and had to add most of my existing items to the charity bag, which I didn't expect. Hopefully I'll get through the last of it this weekend.

    I've got black 'leather' trousers. Pink, red, purple 'leather' skirts, dresses, waistcoat etc. Black jeans. Pink, aqua, purple, red, white dresses of various lengths. Several denim dresses and skirts. Multicoloured tops. My gorgeous coats and jackets. I'm waiting on a couple of pairs of coloured shoes too. All giving me mix and match options, dress up or tone down, accessories from scarfs and shawls to jewellery and tights for the extra wow factor.

    For further finishing touches, I'm waiting on some things for my hair for different up do's, buns, plaits etc; should make it easier for me to faff. I've got all the make-up and nail varnish.

    Best thing is my 'new' clothes will cover me for dropping another couple of sizes. Add a belt to take it in a bit, slip a top under the dress and no one would know it's the wrong size! Plus I've got the ones where I duplicated the purchase but in the next size down, or it was a small size 12 / 14 etc.

    I'm doing long days at the moment and have about 7 more weeks before they'll reduce to my usual hours. No update on when the FT job is getting advertised, but I expect it to be after this rush; I'm not asking as it will happen in time.

    We've had snow on and off over the last couple of days. 

    I'd like to colour my hair, brows etc and have a pamper this week. Sort through my existing jewellery box and hopefully get my 'new' stuff hung up and in the drawers ☺️
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
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