First Steps to Solvency

warby68

Day 133 - another nice one coming up for your first day on hols - 135

Well done for nipping your spiral in the bud and yes you certainly can mention that it doesn't matter if your 0% extends a bit beyond your original plan. Your earning capacity and stability and the fact you've turned round a tanker make that so. Glad you see it and can head off your obsessive, extreme demon these days.

I also agree about the 'loose' holiday budget - get a good idea of what spending opportunities there are and then relax.

You've really got this at the moment. Even Boris is on his jollies so why not @alt80 and family?

getmore4less

Well done on getting some normality back, it makes you a much better person to be with on here, I guess the same at home.

Easy for me to say, but the finance plan can have some room for flexibility.

I suspect this will get easier as time progresses and the negative figure gets a smaller and that balloon is in sight.

If you remember trying to squeeze every spend out was never going to work and now you have some living in the plan it is a lot more comfortable to be able to do things like the weekends away and you have benefited a lot from them as you will this Greece trip.

This is one that does not need micro managing, you have a list of things that you know will cost and rough idea where that will total might go, don't overthink while out there, if there is something that you want to do just do it, if the total ends up at £1.5k or even more that's not a big issue(does not even add 1m to the end date) as they say you regret the things you don't do more than the things you do(that don't quite work).

Very pleased that the wife turned that corner on this one and has rejected her IG way of going on holiday.

Might be worth suggesting(or a step too far) for her to actually do some blogging on her old page with a very strong I found real life message, the old glitz and glamour extravagance from Dubai becomes the rural idyllic retreat of Greek Islands real people living real lives.


I know you can't turn off completely as you are the boss but your guys(and lasses) have done great in the past and will do again, while away just manage, guide, delegate do not get tempted to do work.

Purplelady65

While I remember the sunsets in Santorini are absolutely stunning (you probably already know this). I’ve been to eight of the Cyclades islands and Santorini definitely had the best sunsets. Well worth the effort of going to one of the vantage points. Hopefully with you going in October it might be a bit quieter tourist wise. 

Willowtree222

Hope you have a lovely time and it’s as peaceful as you need it to be 

you’re doing fab 

alt80

Today's calendar item was 'do something constructive to improve a difficult situation' - things ticking along not too badly rn but decided I'm not taking my laptop. Just taking the ipad it has a keyboard so still have access but won't be tempted to turn into a work from hol which is what I usually wind up doing when we go away for anything longer than 1 or 2 nights. 

Given in to a bit of a silly advent calendar F&M tea advent cal. it's £145 and we're going to have a homemade one too but at least it's not like 2018/19 I think I worked it out to £700 on them. Yeah I know before anyone says anything it's embarrassing really and no !!!!!! wonder I got to where I was.

@warby68 ha you knew I'd be looking forward to day 135 lol.

I have to deal with it, just keep on the right path generally and move on a bit. Each day aim for a little better than the last. Today been a good one tbf. Tomorrow I already know is going to be not so good but no chance to go off the rails, take a bit of joy haha. Have planned to make it an alcohol free day; first AF flight probably since I was a kid but that'll be a win. 

Haha BoJo staying with his billionaire mate in southern Spain and there I'll be camping on a sofa bed in a 1 bed flat still have a sea view though.

@getmore4less lol my wife and in-laws say the same thing mate, I should keep that in mind really, keep me on the programme.

I'll be glad when the balloon payment is gone tbh will be an accomplishment in my head anyway to get that clear and what remains as debt at least being 0% rather than refinancing the balloon that's already had a element of interest applied. Last Range Rover I refinanced the balloon. Land Rover must !!!!!! love it when I turn up to look at a new car fml.

Yeah I couldn't cope with the frugal life or whatever you want to call it, wasn't for me tbh I'm impressed how some on here seem to live on thin air but not for me.

Re regretting things you don't do rather than things you do yeah that one doesn't really work for me tbh idk maybe look back in the future and think I learnt something from it who knows.

I've no doubt my Mrs will ask for a few photos but probably keeping it a bit too !!!!!! real for IG ha everywhere we're staying is basic tbh doesn't bother me too much. 'Real' Greece quite different to the Greece the influencers etc post on IG. 

@Purplelady65 Santorini is stunning generally, nothing like the sunsets - I have been a few times but not this late into the year. The weather is likely to be a bit mixed but as you say likely not too many tourists. 

Grumpelstiltskin

Enjoy your holiday, put NG on the backburner it will still be here when you get back ( Unless someone decides to drop a bomb on it )

warby68

Balance strikes again

The advent calendar - one plus the homemade suits your new chosen lifestyle, more real but still with the odd splurge. Might be expensive for many tastes but not bad at all for your balance. 

There are some gorgeous children's advent calendars this year. I think I'm going to buy the Gruffalo and Friends one filled with tiny books for my little nephews. That seems like really good value for a tenner.

Sun_Addict

Have a brilliant holiday, I hope you have a well deserved break away from it all with your family. Enjoy 🏖

Four_Seasons

Have a wonderful time, you (day 133) and your family are doing so well, I am sure you will have some interesting tales to tell us on your return. 

dawnybabes

Enjoy the holiday, hopefully build some bridges with your sister