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Mission: freedom!

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  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thanks Aspiraton. Unfortunately I don't know any roofers- will ask around a few friends for recommendations. I certainly hope its an easy fix!

    Popped to Asda yesterday and get a few emergency outfits for new job. Was pleased as managed to get a nice formal dress from the sale rail for £8 :smiley: . But must not buy any more outfits for now- Ive brought about £100 worth of clothes, new shoes and a handbag from Asda, and also brought afew nice branded second hand shirts from ebay (albeit most of my purchases havent arrived yet. Must stop shopping now and see how I get on otherwise this new job is going to bankrupt me :blush: .
    New job involves sitting some professional exams so I brought some pretty highlighters and a folder in Asda too to try to encourage me to start the revision.

    I queued so long to get into Asda yesterday I was starving by the time I got in and ended up having a bit of a 'smash and grab' style shop- brought lots of yummy things but again that did the budget no good :-1:

    Must get back on track again from today.....

    My premium bonds (where Ive invested the bulk of my emergency fund) didnt win anything again this month- getting disheartened. Hoping for a win next month :wink:



    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Today I have been focusing on some of my smaller MSE resolutions (mostly because I've been procrastinating about housework and exam revision).
    One of them was to buy less toiletries. It's going well... my toiletry supply cupboard is definitely getting less cluttered (an excellent side effect. This one has been helped by boots etc not being easy to shop in since lock down. Lookkng through my supplies I still have plenty of sample moisturizers, make up (2 unused full size mascaras and an embarrassing amount of unused eyeshadow, lip balm and highlighters) and several tubes of hand cream and body lotion each. 

    I must keep to not being seduced by manufacturers claims once lock down is over.

    I've also been trying to do a bit of decluttering but I'm not faltering as the spare bedroom has turned into a homage to clutter. Roll on the car boots restarting!
    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,017 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Glad you were able to kit yourself out for your new role. Sounds like an exciting phase of life.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.6K Net savings after CCs 14/8/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £25.6K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 31.4/£127.5K target 24.6% 1/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 53.3K or 41.8%)
    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 £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Enjoying my new role but its definitely more sedentary. I was out in the community before, I'm more desk based now. 
    I'm noticing my fitbit buzzing at me every hour telling me that I'm not doing enough steps. My step count has definitely dropped and I've noticed my belly is already starting to expand :wink:
    As such new goal is to make sure I get 10000 steps in a day, even if it means walking in circles around the living room.


    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Checked my bank account rewards section today... had earn more than I expected since having this card... just over £80. Not bad for just having my direct debits coming out of it (or does that mean I have too many bills?!)
     Either way I've requested that back so I can shove it in the savings.

    After alot of thought I've decided to get a refund on April's holiday instead of rebooking at this stage. I'm sure we will rebook eventually as I live having some sun to look forward to but even with the incentive (20% off) to rebook next year thr holiday prices are still crazy. Will wait til the market settles a little I think. In the meantime the money can work for us in the savings account instead (once they finally process the refund!)
    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,017 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Good luck with the refund. I think it is sensible to get your money back while you can. Better in your pocket than theirs.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
    2) £1.6K Net savings after CCs 14/8/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £25.6K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 31.4/£127.5K target 24.6% 1/9/25
    (If took bigger lump sum = 53.3K or 41.8%)
    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 £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Payday today so a day for review.
    Money wise we have done excellently and will be transferring £1000 to the savings account tonight and making a couple of small token overpayments. Turns out this lock down stops my frittering and eating out habit big time!

    Emotionally though its been a hard time- in the last two weeks two close family members have been diagnosed with cancer. Struggling with lock down restrictions not being able to see them (along with the rest of my family). I do struggle that I head out to work everyday and spend time with other people and their familys but can not see my own   :'(
    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • WhySeaEm
    WhySeaEm Posts: 127 Forumite
    100 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Hello, congrats on the new role and I'm glad you found some outfits to wear at Asda. I too must work my way through toiletries and stop bulk buying! 

    As for your family members, I'm really sorry for you (and them). Really sad news made harder with lockdown.
  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thank you whyseaem!
    I must say the NHS has been brilliant over the last couple of weeks with both family members. We are very lucky to have such a great system.
    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




  • Ponylover
    Ponylover Posts: 85 Forumite
    10 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Both family members have had thier ops and are home safe ready for the next steps. 

    MSE-wise had the roof sorted today... turned out to be a small job that cost less than 100. Result! Now onto the other jobs.
    January 2020- starting point! Update jan 2021
    Loan 1: £10798 £5637
    Loan 2 (DH)  £4586 £3280
    Credit card 1: £2496 £1755
    Credit card 2 (DH): approx £1000 £600
    Mortgage: £234,235 £227,746
    Total debt: £252,125  £239,018
    Savings approx £2k. Approx £9k




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