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Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

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Comments

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well done. Hope you have a great weekend.
    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
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 1,985 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks savingholmes, it was lovely - hope yours was too.  I can feel myself getting a bit bothered and worked up - its because there's a lot of pressure at work and its being pushed down on to us.  I'm trying to stay calm though and to remember it is just a job, its not life :smile:  
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage 30 Aug'25 est. £209,500 £309,749 2020 (current ends 2038)
    Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    With the amount of time we spend at work - it is our life. Definitely need to find ways to lighten it up and have fun if you can.
    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
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 1,985 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks savingholmes.  I have been having a serious rethink about taking work home with me, but I always seem to be saying 'just this one more time'.  I am definitely going to have a look at managing my workload and getting to the point of being able to say 'that's good enough' rather than trying to complete everything.

    On a more positive note I am making time to exercise three (and sometimes four) times a week.  I was hoping to see a big shift in weight loss, but I've obviously not cut my calories enough as I seem to be slightly stuck, or losing ever so slowly.  I haven't cut them very much as I don't do feeling hungry very well.  One of the huge benefits of exercising is all the muscles I am gaining - I even saw a calf muscle earlier today! :smile:  I feel so much better too, but would love to lose another stone.  Summer is the best time for me to lose weight so I'm going to have another push at following a healthy diet with a calorie deficit.  I need to get into a daily walking habit - just not managed to get that organised yet but I have a bit of a plan.

    Money seems to have gone a bit off track recently.  We haven't gotten into debt and the savings are gradually building but no mortgage OPs.  That will come, we just have a few things that need to happen first which are out of our control at the moment.
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage 30 Aug'25 est. £209,500 £309,749 2020 (current ends 2038)
    Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Good luck with your goals. 

    Glad savings are being built rather than eroded - that's a challenge in itself currently.

    Hope things improve soon.
    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
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 1,985 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks savingholmes, I know we are in a very lucky position currently - but also aware that changes can happen suddenly.  I am trying just to be positive and not be the worrier I usually am.  I seem to have spent my lifetime worrying about things that either never happen, or if they do, we get on and work through them.  When I left my job (due to stress) a few years ago we had to live so frugally for quite a few years - but I am so proud of what we did - and one step at a time we got there. 

    I think part of feeling so positive at the moment is all the exercise I'm doing.  On three days a week I'm doing some really good exercise, and also trying to do a long walk at the weekend.  Plans are on the other three days to get my goal steps in, but to also make time for a lunchtime and/or morning walk on the three exercise days.  Its been a gradual process getting here - finding things I like to do -  I'm scared to stop as I think I might not start again.
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage 30 Aug'25 est. £209,500 £309,749 2020 (current ends 2038)
    Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Glad the exercise is helping. 

    I agree with you about so much unnecessary worry...
    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
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 1,985 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thanks savingholmes, exercising was hard going to start with but I'm getting used to it now, so much that I don't like the thought of having to miss a session.  I'm not doing very well on my step goal on non-exercise days though.  I was planning an after work walk today but it was so grey and windy, and then rainy that I sat and watched tv instead.  Probably needed as I dozed off.  Will have to work out how to fit it all in later on.  
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage 30 Aug'25 est. £209,500 £309,749 2020 (current ends 2038)
    Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Weather has been very changeable today. Had electric blanket on tonight!
    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
  • debtfreeoneday
    debtfreeoneday Posts: 5,013 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Well done on the exercise. So good for you mentally as well as physically. 
    DFW (08/08) £64,346.53 Gone (02/19)
    MFW (08/08) £118k Gone (09/23)
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