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Learning to walk before I run
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I have been having a productive wee day off, I am soon to stop this nonsense and sit on my bum
Cooked one of my favourite Chinese snacks: https://thewoksoflife.com/turnip-cake-lo-bak-go/. Absolutely delicious, although you end up using about a dishwasher full of dishes and utensils and a raft of weird and wonderful ingredients (dried sausage, shrimp and shiitake mushrooms, anyone)? I have tidied up, aforementioned dishwasher is on, completed a £3 survey on Prolific and withdrew £10.49. I've also been for a long walk, 15,000 steps and rising for the day.Now to watch Mothra with a cup of tea
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Well done on steps.
Highland/Country dancing lessons for DD sound fun.
I like your percentage to future self idea.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £169.8K Equity 37.1%
2) £1.3K Net savings after CCs 16/1/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £2.4K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £34.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 40.6/£127.5K target 31.8% 16/11/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 62.7K or 49.2%)
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 £5.2K updated 16/1/265 -
Not a lot to report, just struggling to get back into the work mindset after my very long weekend
Mrs E has found me a new job to apply for, it looks good and would pay a bit more. The only downside is that it closes on Monday but hopefully I can write a decent application as it's very similar to my current role (public sector, governance, statutory deadlines etc.)Mrs E dispatched me to buy some clothes for the girls on M&S today and I have endeavoured to do so in the most @South_coast way available to me. I used my Sainsbo's credit card to buy a gift card via TopGiftCards (4.x% cashback and Nectar points). I then went back through TCB for 2.x% cashback at M&S, activated M&S cashback via ZipZero and then forwarded on the purchase receipt to them for another 2% cashback It might sound faffy, but I see it as a 9% discount. 9 -
Nice. I love it when you can stack discounts 9% is definitely not to be sniffed at! 2026 decluttering: 319 🤑🥉 ⭐️🥈🥇 ⭐️ ⭐️
2026 use up challenge: 109🥉 ⭐️🥈🥇 ⭐️ ⭐️
2026 decluttering goals I Use up Challenge: 🥉52 🥈100 🥇250 💎365 🏆1,000 I 🥉25 🥈50 🥇100 💎150 🏆3005 -
Ooh, excellent work. Now just keep your fingers crossed you don't need to return anything and order it again 🤣!edinburgher said:Mrs E dispatched me to buy some clothes for the girls on M&S today and I have endeavoured to do so in the most @South_coast way available to me. I used my Sainsbo's credit card to buy a gift card via TopGiftCards (4.x% cashback and Nectar points). I then went back through TCB for 2.x% cashback at M&S, activated M&S cashback via ZipZero and then forwarded on the purchase receipt to them for another 2% cashback It might sound faffy, but I see it as a 9% discount.Mortgage start: £65,495 (March 2016)
Cleared 🧚♀️🧚♀️🧚♀️!!! In 5 years, 1 month and 29 days
Total amount repaid: £72,307.03. £1.10 repaid for every £1.00 borrowed
Finally earning interest instead of paying it!!!6 -
Just had the email saying 25% off Waitflower 6 bottles of wine againSave £12k in 2025 #2 I saved £14,660.97 of £6000 or 244.35% of my target. The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I finished the year at £2880.99/£3000 or 96.03% of my annual spend so I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026
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 -
Thanks Suffolk_lassI have found a new job to apply for. More money but NHS (so pension not as good and hours slightly longer). Will need to do some sums, I think net positive.6
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Good luck with the job applications.
Well done on the 9% return.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £169.8K Equity 37.1%
2) £1.3K Net savings after CCs 16/1/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £2.4K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £34.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 40.6/£127.5K target 31.8% 16/11/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 62.7K or 49.2%)
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 £5.2K updated 16/1/264 -
Spreadsheet says £49/mth extra value after 3 years of increments, I'm worth more than that
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Be aware there's a £2 cashback if you spend £5 via TCB today. I got the usual supermarket voucher.YNAB is showing us as c. -£100 for October with generous budgets for all that can be trimmed a little. Last month before the mortgage monster appears11
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