Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

debtfreeoneday

That’s how I feel about the lottery a bit SS I know you have to be in it to win it!  But we rarely do and then I think whether it’s better to save the money. 

SandyShores

I think it might be because its only a few quid here and there.  I turned the radio on the other day in the car, and someone had won £10k in a radio competition - they were asking if she wanted to take the money, or to gamble it on winning £1m.  I don't know what she did because I had to get out of the car, but I think she took the money.  That's what I'd do - I'm a bird in the hand person normally, especially for that amount

savingholmes

A 🐦 in the hand is worth a lot

SandyShores

Definitely savingholmes. Well done on being debt-free!!  I tried to add up how much debt we'd had, but gave up - I know we paid off about £20k of cards twice, before  I had the final lightbulb moment when they'd built back up the third time (and that doesn't include money wasted on various cars).  The first time we went on a holiday not funded by credit cards was so much more relaxing.  

I've been making decisions about new furniture just recently and I find it really stressful.  Not just the laying out of large amounts of money on things that we will be living with for a long time, but all the organising of getting rid of the old etc.  I'm trying to keep calm and tell myself its just things.  Its quite exciting really as at last we can start furnishing the house how we want it to be (so I need to stop conjuring up things in my mind that might go wrong ).  

savingholmes

Sounds exciting to have new things and let go of the old.

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, its really exciting.  I just worry, worry, worry - worry about choices being right etc.  Mr Shores can be a right Victor Meldrew sometimes which doesn't help either.  But I've got to say that so far the plan is coming together and I am starting to love our home (not that we didn't before, but C-19 has been a hiccup to getting things how we want them).  We did a bit of gardening today and sat out in the sunshine.  Was nice to be out in the fresh air this weekend.

SandyShores

Exhausted today from running around doing errands and shopping.  I even forgot it was bank holiday as all the shops seemed open.  It was good to get so much done though.  Plans to get the Shore House up to designer stand (haha not really) are coming together nicely, if slowly.  We are almost ready for the next chapter.  I feel like it should be something like 'heading over the hill' rather than cutting it fine now.  Although I'll leave it for now, as its good to remind myself that we really are cutting it fine, probably just in time to make it to retirement mortgage free.

savingholmes

You'll make it. At least you have 2 incomes to help you.

debtfreeoneday

Rate I’m going I’ll need a new diary name next year as mortgage free by 2023 just ain’t happening. Maybe something like a bit more mortgage free than I was in 2023. 😂😂

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, I'm going to try my hardest and yes, I do have a partner in crime - although I tend to spend a lot of time being the bad cop to Mr Spendy-Shores   I'm thinking along the same lines as debtfreeoneday in that it might be a  'getting as mortgage free as possible' thread.  That takes some of the pressure off while keeping the goal in mind.

I do want to put our mark on the house now and at least get the final few large purchases sorted.  Then we can finally settle down to paying off/saving up.  

It doesn't come easy all this spending, when we're so used to saving does it.  But we are definitely more mortgage free than last year, so heading in the right direction