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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
    Thank you Skinty, when we went to a Loch before they had all terrain scooters for hire, which OH spotted after 🙈 I have said if we return I will try one out. I wouldn't hire one on a regular basis as I've seen how cheap the normal ones are, second hand. 
    I am getting a lot of people saying I should be claiming, I should be using equipment etc, maybe it's time to start listening 🤔

    SIL did a tip run yesterday, OH dropped some stuff round to her to take for us, came back with a load of wood to make a raised salad bar next year.

    OH purchased a chainsaw, he has had enough of trying to saw / axe the monster stump out. 
    -- he will be able to finish the shared path between ours and plot neighbours garden, I have been putting little stones in-between the crazy pathing.
    He will also be tackling a plot neighbours hedge and also trimming the overhanging next-door neighbours leylandii.
    -- more firewood for the pit, although I'm not sure where he will store it all 🙈

    Anyway, today I must plant up my m0rr1s0ns mint, that rooted quickly and decent thick / stable roots. 
    My apple seeds must also get planted today, they have sprouted in the fridge. No sign of the cherry seeds sprouting yet.
    Will take my shower step stool down.

    I'm going to try not to buy anything unnecessary this year and will see if I can be savvy with my survey points instead 🤗
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,958 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Glad you are looking into things that could support you to continue your independence. 
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/25
  • Good idea to take a stool out to the garden. Hope it helped & you were able to get out in your garden today 😊
    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
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thank you ladies, can convert my survey points for AmzN and buy a few assistance items. I spent this morning looking through a few sites to see what's available and know what to look for.

    Had a total change of plan as it rained all day!

    Can't remember if I said there was laminate or something similar under the lounge carpet.
    OH took it up and underlay, spent ages slicing and tying it all up, then removing the staples and carpet grip. Car is loaded and tip run tomorrow. 
    I got stuck in to sweeping before cleaning and polishing by hand 🙈 I sat down on the floor doing about a foot square at a time.

    The lounge looks so much better 😁😁😁 it's lighter, brighter and feels bigger. Also more in-keeping with the age of the flat.

    I think the laminate was expensive when fitted, it's not thin / flimsy like some are. 

    The dilemma I have is what 'colour' to do the skirting / door / door frame.
    Shall I do it white to match the units, do I do them the colour of the wood around the windows or the colour of the current floor or shall I wait until the proper floor is put down but then we haven't decided what colour we are going for yet (we are having engineered wood flooring at some point) 🤔 
    -- concrete floors so we can get away with wood floors.
    -- don't think the lounge skirting is original, probably 80's and will get changed to reproduction unless I can get some original from the reclaimers.

    Had roast chicken and veg for tea, ice cream for pudding.

    Resting on the sofa now as that's my holiday over ☹️
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • ryanm8655
    ryanm8655 Posts: 1,203 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hey, just stumbled across your diary and had a skim.

    If you have mobility issues have you applied for PIP? I noticed you pay for a bus pass, if you have mobility issues you should be able to get this for free (https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass).

    August 2019: £28.8k

    November 2020: £0 (0% interest)

    My debt free diary: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77330320#Comment_77330320


  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 24 August 2020 at 10:54AM
    ryanm8655 said:
    Hey, just stumbled across your diary and had a skim.

    If you have mobility issues have you applied for PIP? I noticed you pay for a bus pass, if you have mobility issues you should be able to get this for free (https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-disabled-bus-pass).
    Thank you 😊
    I've not applied for it, currently psyching myself up to do it! Working from home due to C19 so no commute costs being paid out at the moment, also doesn't apply up here.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • Irenadler
    Irenadler Posts: 884 Forumite
    500 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hey Babs
    Sorry to read that you've not had as relaxing a holiday as you hoped for; but nice to 'see' that you are keeping busy and getting your home as you want it.
    I was just pondering and thinking that maybe laminate floor edging or beading to match the floor might be an alternative to traditional skirting for you? As it curves into the bottom of the wall and isn't straight up and down like skirting, might be easier to clean/maintain and less of a dust trap? Solves part of the 'what colour' issue? Just an idle thought, it might be more pricey, I was just thinking that pushing a mop or broom over the floor would clean up curved edging/beading at the same time... :)




    "...when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains however improbable, must be the truth..."
    "Mastering a low budget lifestyle now, means you are set for life" quote by 'Miss Babs'

    Dog's 'Pot o' Gold' = £23.85
    Household maintenance = 0
    Prolific Academic = £41.64
  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 17,149 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thanks Ren, what I didn't say is I pulled a back muscle and got earache while on 'holiday' 🙈
    The flat is a mishmash of looked after / cared for and ex-rental / abused. I guess it's like peeling an onion, remove a layer of 'ex-rental' and the 'cared for' is revealed, same as the garden.
    Someone loved this flat, put time and money into it, then it fell into being a rental and for cheapness things were covered over, the garden it was just left to its own devices.

    The edges aren't a dust trap as such, doesn't take long to wipe the floor over. I like skirting and wouldn't not fit some when the room is done. I can't 'modernise' the flat and am going to do my best to be sympathetic to its age (110 years old).

    The dust sheet arrived today, so I will be doing the second lounge unit the weekend. Still got loads of paint to get through 😁

    Opened up a new regular saver today. Will put a bit in each month and when my old one matures can put the money in I have been putting into the old one into the new one; they are the communal repair pots.

    Find out tomorrow what my take-home pay will be following the payrise.
    Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,958 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I would be tempted to paint the skirting the same colour as the wall if that's any help.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £22.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.6K updated 6/7/25
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