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Giving every £ a job

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  • Sun_Addict
    Sun_Addict Posts: 24,102 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    If you’ve overspent it’s totally understandable in the circumstances, you’ve had a lot going on. When I lost my mum I found it easier when I could no longer say “this time last week/month/year”. It’s a very hard time for you so anything that helps make it easier is good, be kind to yourself, accept offers of help, anything. 
    I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,974 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Hi Blackcats
    Not surprising everything feels surreal. It always felt weird to me that the world kept spinning and people went on with their lives while I was grieving - I loved the 'stop the clocks poem' for that reason - particularly as read out on 4 weddings and a funeral - you can find it on Utube
     
    I read
    The money diet - by Martin - unless he updated it - it will be well out of date now. The wallet workout on here pretty much says the same thing in less words

    I also like
    The millionaire next door - talks about how our upbringing etc impacts our £ as well as life circumstances
    Simple path to wealth - basically says use Vanguard index trackers or equivalent
    The millionaire mindset - changing our relationship with £
    and loads more...
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £1.6K Net savings after CCs 14/8/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £25.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 31.1/£127.5K target 24.4% 15/8/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • Definitely take it easy on yourself blackcats - you need some nice things to look forwards to.

    Though it is borne out of tragic circumstances, love that you are finding some nice pictures/family history.
  • Blackcats
    Blackcats Posts: 3,903 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks SH - Stop the Clocks is beautiful.  I found a piece of paper where my mum had written out the poem "the life that I have" - it's a lovely poem with an interesting history as it was used as a code during WW2. 
    Thanks for the book suggestions too.
    thank you Rebecca.  My mum had done lots of work on the family tree so in due course I shall look through all those papers.

    retirement countdown 50 weeks to go.

    no spends today, in fact I got some money paid to me for some purchases I'd made for someone.  I was paid in cash so I'll keep that in my purse and try not to fritter it.

    I used some home grown potatoes to make potato salad tonight.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,974 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Gotta love home grown potatoes!
    Lovely poem you shared too...
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £1.6K Net savings after CCs 14/8/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £25.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 31.1/£127.5K target 24.4% 15/8/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • Home grown potatoes are the best!  My grandma had a vegetable patch at the bottom of her garden and I remember she used to go out and dig up new potatoes and then cook them with a load of butter and mint (also from her garden) - never tasted anything better in my life.  It really is the simple things.
  • Blackcats
    Blackcats Posts: 3,903 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I've never grown potatoes before but my mum bought me a kit that she saw advertised in the paper so she would be pleased that I actually ended up with some edible produce.  I agree Rebecca that butter and mint is perfect.  I love Jersey Royal potatoes - especially the first taste of the season - there is no taste like them.  

    It took a bit longer at my dad.'s tonight and we were so tempted to buy a takeaway on the way home but actually couldn't agree what we wanted and neither of us were enthusiastic about a particular choice.  OH pulled up outside a kebab shop but to be honest it looked a bit grotty so we drove home and had some fresh tortellini (from the fridge) with some tomatoes (from the garden) and some onions, peppers and tomatoes - added a sprinkle of cheese - delicious.  Took 10 minutes to make and everything was already here.  
  • Sun_Addict
    Sun_Addict Posts: 24,102 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    On the advice of Jamie Oliver on one of his TV shows, I planted some sprouting potatoes in a bag of compost. They grew shoots and leaves very rapidly and I was pleased to see a few weeks later they had produced some potatoes. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered these were the very same potatoes I’d planted originally 🤦‍♀️
    I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)
  • Baby jersey royals are amazeballs!

    Well done on not plumping for a takeaway - your supper sounds so much more satisfying (and bonus that it was free!)
  • foxgloves
    foxgloves Posts: 12,615 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I think that the seed potatoes for 'jersey royals' are 'International kidney' tuber variety. Agree new freshly dug potatoes just need butter & mint for yum-ness.
    F x
    2025's challenges: 1) To fill our 10 Savings Pots to their healthiest level ever
    2) To read 100 books (36/100) 3) The Shrinking of Foxgloves 6.8kg/30kg

    "Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards" (Soren Kirkegaard 1813-55)
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