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A Year in the Life of...

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  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,757 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yep - we're doing the prep for our hallway refurb at home a bit at a time - it works better for us for sure than trying to hit it all in one go and setting ourselves daft timescales....and then not hitting the targets and feeling downhearted!  Sounds like your decluttering mission is going brilliantly anyway - and what a good idea to time yourself putting together the flatpack so you know how long the second one will take! Genius! 
    🎉 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: 96,772 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Glade that you are getting there :)
    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.
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    EssexHebridean said:
    Yep - we're doing the prep for our hallway refurb at home a bit at a time - it works better for us for sure than trying to hit it all in one go and setting ourselves daft timescales....and then not hitting the targets and feeling downhearted!  Sounds like your decluttering mission is going brilliantly anyway - and what a good idea to time yourself putting together the flatpack so you know how long the second one will take! Genius! 
    I have to admit that we have been decorating the hall for about 2 years now.  We started when I was feeling good then I had a couple of health flair ups and a few (many) lazy moments.  It's only been in the past 3-4 months that we've really got cracking.  The fact that we haven't  sold is a major factor in missing out on the properties we are offering for.
    I do enjoy a flat pack.  Never thought to time myself before but because I have two I thought I could try to beat my time the second time.  They're only Ik3a 2 drawer M@lms so I thought I would be quicker than that!

    beanielou said:
    Glade that you are getting there :)
    Thank you, me too 🙂
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Excellent progress. Really hope it helps you get the result you want. I find mirrors and even changing outdated pictures can have a huge impact.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise) (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £5K updated 10/10/25
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    savingholmes said:
    Excellent progress. Really hope it helps you get the result you want. I find mirrors and even changing outdated pictures can have a huge impact.
    Thank you.  Yes, I'm looking forward to getting the mirror up as that will be the final bit to do in the hall.  I also bought a radiator cover (flat pack, of course) which I think will really help to accessorise.  It is going to turn out like my original vision, it's just a shame I didn't get the finger out earlier so that we could have enjoyed it for longer.
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,087 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Always the way. Conveyancing still takes ages currently so you will probably have a fair chunk of time to enjoy it regardless.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.8K Equity 36.37%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £27.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 34/£127.5K target 26.6% 10/10/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 60.35K or 47.6%)
    4) FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise) (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
    5) SIPP £5K updated 10/10/25
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,772 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Enjoy your weekend  :)
    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.
  • astrocytic_kitten
    astrocytic_kitten Posts: 811 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    girlatplay said:
    savingholmes said:
    Excellent progress. Really hope it helps you get the result you want. I find mirrors and even changing outdated pictures can have a huge impact.
    Thank you.  Yes, I'm looking forward to getting the mirror up as that will be the final bit to do in the hall.  I also bought a radiator cover (flat pack, of course) which I think will really help to accessorise.  It is going to turn out like my original vision, it's just a shame I didn't get the finger out earlier so that we could have enjoyed it for longer.
    You’ve done loads, well done! Also be careful what you wish for on the time to enjoy it 😂
    Debt at LBM (Dec 2018): £23,167
    Debt free Feb 2021
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,757 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I agree that mirrors can make SUCH a difference to a room - both with regard to the amount of light and the perceived size of the space. I'd ideally like to try for a sneakily positioned mirror in our hallway but I'm not certain it would be possible to place it in a way that would truly boost the light. 

    It's fab to hear that your refurb is turning out so well too - lovely when it all comes together as you'd imagined isn't it! 
    🎉 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
  • girlatplay
    girlatplay Posts: 3,884 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    astrocytic_kitten said:
    girlatplay said:
    savingholmes said:
    Excellent progress. Really hope it helps you get the result you want. I find mirrors and even changing outdated pictures can have a huge impact.
    Thank you.  Yes, I'm looking forward to getting the mirror up as that will be the final bit to do in the hall.  I also bought a radiator cover (flat pack, of course) which I think will really help to accessorise.  It is going to turn out like my original vision, it's just a shame I didn't get the finger out earlier so that we could have enjoyed it for longer.
    You’ve done loads, well done! Also be careful what you wish for on the time to enjoy it 😂
    🤣🤣 yes, indeed
    Mortgage at 12/07/2022 = £175,000
    Mortgage today = £161,690.76
    300 271 payments to go.
    House buyout fund £21,000/£40,000
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