Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

savingholmes

Cheery_Daff said:

I think it's helpful, for me at least, to see people who are not in debt, and who have a decent income, still thinking about spending and saving carefully. I now earn more than I ever did, and am occasionally in danger of getting a bit spendy, but reading diaries keeps me on the straight and narrow. If I could only read diaries of people who were really struggling, that really wouldn't help - the variety is what makes this place special, I think 😊

I think my problem is that I want to be everything, all at the same time 😂😂 High flying professional (ha!), and also someone who potters around the homestead making jam and scything 😂 Fine, theoretically, but both take up an awful lot of time and energy!

I totally agree. This is why even when I was on the DFW board - I also read the MFW board as it tended to be more positive and upbeat and show the opportunities that come in life after debt / with only mortgage debt. 

Good luck whatever your choices.

Fortune_Smiles said:

Hi LaPlan 😁

I was a career girl too and decided in childhood that I wanted to be independent and child free.  It was still an unusual path to take in the 1980s when I started my career and a lot of people found it puzzling.  I have never regretted my choice and, although I did marry in my early forties, Mr F and I have a proper partnership and each of us has been the main breadwinner at some stage.

We spend a lot of time working to earn our money and shouldn't feel guilty about spending it.  I do sometimes feel awkward posting about spending on luxuries on a money saving site.  However, I remind myself that striving to budget and spend on things that are important to me and align with my values is not a waste.  We all want to live our best lives, should do so whenever we can and are not obliged to justify that to anyone.

Fortune x

Don't feel awkward FS - like with LWAP - it's inspirational - as long as it is part of a managed plan / positive direction in life. People who have different goals - wider our view of what's available which isn't a bad thing either. It may increase our courage - or may entertain us even while we cheer you on.

KajiKita

Cheery_Daff said:

I think my problem is that I want to be everything, all at the same time 😂😂 High flying professional (ha!), and also someone who potters around the homestead making jam and scything 😂 Fine, theoretically, but both take up an awful lot of time and energy!

Me too!! 😉😊😂

KK

South_coast

LaPlan, as the one whose comment kicked off this discussion, I should probably clarify I was being tongue in cheek! You can 100% spend your money exactly how you want (you do you, no judgement here), but labelling it as frugal when even you think you have been spendy may perhaps have been pushing it a bit 😘!

FlacosFloozie

Fabulosly frugal sounds great! Its good to plan for the future but I strongly believe you have to enjoy the life you are living now.

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LaPlan, as the one whose comment kicked off this discussion, I should probably clarify I was being tongue in cheek! You can 100% spend your money exactly how you want (you do you, no judgement here), but labelling it as frugal when even you think you have been spendy may perhaps have been pushing it a bit 😘!

We are all good!  And yes I did go ouch £4.8k in 3 months feels spendy.... Its great to be challenged to then think through rationally  and decide. I am looking forward to see if YNAB changes my spending as it so tightly tracks it so nowhere to hide a large bar bill

I just googled some definitions of frugal - I definitely relate to some of them - I can be thrifty and prudent, I do save up for large purchases but stingy and tight - thats not how I want to view my MSE life
Definition 2  is more me I guess travel one doesnt 'need' but my soul/spirit would argue it is an essential   

1. thrifty, chary, provident, careful, prudent, penny-wise, scrimping; miserly, stingy, tight, penny-pinching. 2. scant, slim, sparing, skimpy. 
2. careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to

I think the definition having a MSE life vs being frugal   can be open to interpretation - my States trip   - where I stayed for an extra week at a friends - cost me £400 in changed flights, a $200 dinner and maybe $100 in food which for a 2 week trip (I was staying in a multi million $ home with a heated pool and jacuzzi, bbq and housekeeper -   I am stating as very MSE  if not actually frugal though  whilst I was there I was careful to use my per diems wisely and often underspent them to save so I was definitely frugal there as in penny-wise..   
I walked most the time instead of ubers  largely to get the joy of walking along the beach to meetings and also to save the uber fares. Frugal,  health and happy

The flight out and hotel  on the beach first week, the UK travel portion  was covered by work.  I also got $100 back from the accom due to issues.
I did buy some xmas gifts there that were definitely cheaper than here, of course it could argued frugal people dont buy xmas gifts - in which case thats ok I am happy to not be that kind of frugal  


The £1k+ xmas gifts  are definitely not frugal but its what my family do, it was  far more before and has been cut down  but its at a level I am ok with in my life and can comfortably afford..  As all the lovely posters above have said its about choosing ones spending and I think the ynab giving me a detailed view of every spend and  permanent record will be v helpful. 


I think fabulously frugal might be the LaPlan official definition  

savingholmes

Fabulously frugal - sounds like it's more you. 

I think definition two fits more with how I interpret frugality. I see most of the items in definition one as uber frugal.

I think the 'rich life' concept fits you too - you've decided where you are happy to save money and where you want to spend your life energy on what makes you happy.

CRANKY40

The younger me spent a lot of time in Camden when I worked in London zoo as my second job - my sister worked in Chalk Farm so we drank in Camden and in various Irish pubs too. I couldn't afford to buy in London though (I was very young), even working for a building society as my main job so I ended up buying a flat in Sittingbourne. People from so far out travel to London to work. I moved to West Wales, back to London for a bit then up to Merseyside. 

I now lead a very quiet life in a 3 bed terrace with a decent sized garden. If money was no object what I would really like is a house that has a big enough kitchen to have a bottled water fridge and a salad and veg fridge with a clear door. I'm looking forward to seeing which part of London you decide to buy your home in.  

LadyWithAPlan

@CRANKY40 I have no idea where in London I will end up so we are all looking forward to that.
Working in London zoo sounds fun unless its clearing up the poop in the rhino enclosure ...

@savingholmes indeed there is frugal and there is uber frugal ... and now there is LaPlan frugal  - maybe I need to add it to wiki!

@FlacosFloozie yes my cousin died last year at 56 and had a partner die of cancer before 40 so I am aware life can be short.. and must be lived 

LadyWithAPlan

beanielou said:

skint_spice said:

Fabulously Frugal - you do you LWAP, I for one enjoy living vicariously 😂

So do I   

I will endeavour to live extra large on a budget for you both

Fortune_Smiles said:

Hi LaPlan 😁

I was a career girl too and decided in childhood that I wanted to be independent and child free.  It was still an unusual path to take in the 1980s when I started my career and a lot of people found it puzzling.  I have never regretted my choice and, although I did marry in my early forties, Mr F and I have a proper partnership and each of us has been the main breadwinner at some stage.

We spend a lot of time working to earn our money and shouldn't feel guilty about spending it.  I do sometimes feel awkward posting about spending on luxuries on a money saving site.  However, I remind myself that striving to budget and spend on things that are important to me and align with my values is not a waste.  We all want to live our best lives, should do so whenever we can and are not obliged to justify that to anyone.

Fortune x

Interesting - its good on here to hear about each others lives and past decisions. I also think one saving hard to buy a fabulous vacation is as valuable as buying an extra large home. Thats why actually the deciding your own rich life makes sense, for us to spend wisely on things we choose give us great value and equally to not waste cash on stuff that doesnt, whilst balancing the budget.

Cars and driveways dont float my boat, though boats do.. However whilst I do occasionally see a canal boat for sale and think 'ooh' I then remember I have art, loads of clothes and shoes and travel loads and have zero boat maintenance skills. so that lifestyle makes zero sense. even if I do have the cash to buy a boat right now. 

Cheery_Daff said:

I think it's helpful, for me at least, to see people who are not in debt, and who have a decent income, still thinking about spending and saving carefully. I now earn more than I ever did, and am occasionally in danger of getting a bit spendy, but reading diaries keeps me on the straight and narrow. If I could only read diaries of people who were really struggling, that really wouldn't help - the variety is what makes this place special, I think 😊

I think my problem is that I want to be everything, all at the same time 😂😂 High flying professional (ha!), and also someone who potters around the homestead making jam and scything 😂 Fine, theoretically, but both take up an awful lot of time and energy!

I also learn a lot from others on here, with very different lives. The fact I choose to live in London makes the house buying/saving  more difficult, though I also work here and earn more because of it at least pre covid.  
I am liking the ynab precisely as it is stopping me being 'a bit spendy' as it really shows the opportunity cost of a v b. 

I also want it all    Scything sounds exhausting but at least you are saving on the gym membership.

Merlin's_Beard said:

Definitely agree with variety being the spice of life! I don't have the energy to live that jetsetting a life (nor would I enjoy it) but I love watching you do it LaPlan. There's a whole bunch of people here in a whole bunch of circumstances and I glean things from everyone's diaries and find them wildly interesting however similar or different they are to me.

Thanks I would post some pics - that States pool was insane, as I sat beside it reading mfw diaries - but of course with all this financial info on here I think its not wise.
I have the kind of  wind they describe in me from the book/film Chocolat -  I do love to return home but if I am not on a plane every month life feels small. Hoping my new side hustle will provide more travel and more money.

NSD 3/13 WOOHOO
MG - Jan 23 - I am about to run around to find 5 things to declutter to hit my Jan 5th 

savingholmes

Love the Chocolat reference. I can see that...