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Learning to walk before I run
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That long weekend was hard work! Exhausted from exercise and general dadding and we all seem to have developed varying symptoms of a vomiting/upset stomach/lethargy bug 🤕
- £4.26 paid into New Home fund (Chase cashback and a few pennies of savings interest)
- A decent wodge of LISA bonus has arrived (£100+), signature updated
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Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** in ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 13 months left.7 -
Ooh lovely interest. Always gratifying!Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here6 -
Better than a poke in the eyeSuffolk_lass said:Ooh lovely interest. Always gratifying!
£2 transferred to New Home fund today (cashback and last month's Zopa interest (can you tell I didn't have much money in there?)) In slightly more exciting financial news, my DB pension has been updated and had 10.1% inflation adjustment made - adding £15k to my NW. Must tell myself that I'm no better off in real terms, no matter what the spreadsheet thinks
I am off until next Wednesday, trying hard not to think about all the overdue work that waits for my return
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Have a lovely break. We plan to bunt here (having bought 1950s-style cotton union bunting for last year's platinum jubilee celebrations, it is a good opportunity to reuse it. "Free" decorations. DH getting his eye sorted today. 1.30 opSave £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £9004.48 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £1111.79 and most of my May purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here5 -
Hope all goes well.Suffolk_lass said:Have a lovely break. We plan to bunt here (having bought 1950s-style cotton union bunting for last year's platinum jubilee celebrations, it is a good opportunity to reuse it. "Free" decorations. DH getting his eye sorted today. 1.30 op
I do love the 10.1% uplift on the DB pension. I have had the same. Makes me very happy.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £166.7K Equity 38.23% 12/7/26
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 31/7/26 (but owed £400) so £2.2K
3) 44.5/82K = 54.26% AVC Goal by mid 20284 -
I haven't been on here in a few years, and am thrilled to return and see you had another baby Ed
belated congratulations! 6 -
turtlemoose said:I haven't been on here in a few years, and am thrilled to return and see you had another baby Ed belated congratulations!
Thank you @turtlemoose - she is a lovely addition to the family
We hosted a first birthday party for her yesterday with family and friends, buffet for 25+ people, I am zonked!
I was so busy that I never even got a plate of food, although I picked at some leftovers in the evening. All went swimmingly bar one relative hanging around until half past 8 (party was described as 1-3) 
In financial news that doesn't involve the ruinous expense of feeding and watering 25, Mrs E has advised that she will receive a pro rata bonus of £500 this year (subject to tax). She is very pleased as she has been off on maternity leave for pretty much the entire year and it will cover one of her monthly RS payments, which is nice7 -
savingholmes said:
Hope all goes well.Suffolk_lass said:Have a lovely break. We plan to bunt here (having bought 1950s-style cotton union bunting for last year's platinum jubilee celebrations, it is a good opportunity to reuse it. "Free" decorations. DH getting his eye sorted today. 1.30 op
I do love the 10.1% uplift on the DB pension. I have had the same. Makes me very happy.
Looks like state pension forecasts have been updated as well. 9 more years of contributions required!
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Thanks for the reminder to check Ed. I have just 2 years left to contribute to get full whack.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £166.7K Equity 38.23% 12/7/26
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 31/7/26 (but owed £400) so £2.2K
3) 44.5/82K = 54.26% AVC Goal by mid 20286
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