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Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality
Comments
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Thank you MF, Beanie and Dancing. Currently at motorway services eating a strawberry tart with decaf coffee.
Some of my favourite images from today:
I love alliums so after going in the palm house behind me I sat on a bench journalling while admiring the view
I loved the water lilies. They had giant Lily pads
I loved the princess observatory particularly the cactuses and flowers
I found the art and sculpture installations interesting too including the hive. They played music too
Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2) £2.5K Net savings after CCs 14/4/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £3.6K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £39.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 45.2K of £127.5K target 35.4% 8/5/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 67.1K or 52.6%)
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 £5.4K updated 8/5/2610 -
Kew looks fabulous - so glad you had a good day. I love reading your diary, and Kew's been on my list for a while and I think your trip photos have given me the impetus I need to sort a day out there myself! Happy birthday
Aiming for mortgage free by September 2030
Balance 1.1.20 - £69,701.80
Balance 1.1.21 - £63,699.80
Balance 1.1.22 - £57,762.80
Balance 1.1.23 - £53,074.20
Balance 1.1.24 - £47,902.00
Balance 1.1.25 - £44,141.20
Balance 1.1.26 - £40,312.20
over payments 2026 = £1010/£1,200 /// invested 2026 = £750/£1,800 = TOTAL (YTD) £1,760/£3,0003 -
Happy birthday, or is it tomorrow? Happy birthday weekend any rate.Mortgage OP 2026 £860/2000Mortgage balance: £31,763
Make £50 a month Jan £20, Feb £0, March £31, Apr £20, May £20
Boiler fund £2085/30003 -
Wow, they look fantastic, what a day you've had. Have a great 🍰 day!Mortgage started 2020, aiming to clear 31/12/2029.4
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I enjoyed it and had perfect weather - about 19-21 degrees. I took it very gently and only went and looked at a few things as there were just so many options. I was there 4.5 hours but I did spend time just sitting and taking in the view and then later eating - including a must have mint choc chip ice cream obviously. There were so many options of things to go and look at it was hard to choose but I basically went in the Victoria Gate and went right as far as the kitchen gardens and then went a slightly different way back. I'd enjoy going back - perhaps with DS or someone one day and then see all the things I missed! I did over 10300 steps having done about 7400 yesterday. Both good for me.Lauraebrad said:Kew looks fabulous - so glad you had a good day. I love reading your diary, and Kew's been on my list for a while and I think your trip photos have given me the impetus I need to sort a day out there myself! Happy birthday
Thanks It's today. When I got home DD had bought me FR chocs as my main gift hadn't arrived. She's out with friends at the moment as I wasn't sure when I'd be back. I've got her a K Creme doughnut - DS and I had one yesterday and I save her the 'ella one.MovingForwards said:skint_spice said:Happy birthday, or is it tomorrow? Happy birthday weekend any rate.
Thanks MF - I think it's been one of my best ever - perhaps because I did what I actually wanted - and of course my surroundings were beautiful. Looking forward to my own bed tonight.Wow, they look fantastic, what a day you've had. Have a great 🍰 day!
Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2) £2.5K Net savings after CCs 14/4/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £3.6K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £39.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 45.2K of £127.5K target 35.4% 8/5/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 67.1K or 52.6%)
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 £5.4K updated 8/5/2610 -
Happy Birthday for yesterday! Fabulous photos, glad you had a lovely time
"Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee2 -
good luck @savingholmes - I'm taking a little break from diaries so last post for a while - but you deserve your new found liberation and I hope you have a lovely summer enjoying your adventures and in your beautiful garden
I think I saw you in an ice cream parlour
Drinking milk shakes, cold and long
Smiling and waving and looking so fine4 -
Thanks jwil. Today I am taking DD to my fave Italian restaurant so hopefully we'll both get to have a gorgeous spag bol.jwil said:Happy Birthday for yesterday! Fabulous photos, glad you had a lovely time
Thanks for the good wishes. Enjoy your home renovations and getting life how you want it too.mark55man said:good luck @savingholmes - I'm taking a little break from diaries so last post for a while - but you deserve your new found liberation and I hope you have a lovely summer enjoying your adventures and in your beautiful garden
My garden is beautiful in a Secret Garden kind of way with lots of biodiversity hiding the original planting scheme!!
My honeysuckle is now in full bloom I may take a photo of that later and post. Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2) £2.5K Net savings after CCs 14/4/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £3.6K
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £39.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 45.2K of £127.5K target 35.4% 8/5/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 67.1K or 52.6%)
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 £5.4K updated 8/5/265 -
Happy Birthday for yesterday , the same day as my dad. Glad you enjoyed your short break . The photos have been lovely to see , and also those of your garden.Life is an adventure, never stop exploring.2
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That sounds absolutely blissful.savingholmes said:
My garden is beautiful in a Secret Garden kind of way with lots of biodiversity hiding the original planting scheme!! My honeysuckle is now in full bloom I may take a photo of that later and post.Start mortgage date: August 2022; Start mortgage amount: £240,999; Original mortgage free date: August 2056
Current mortgage amount: £224,460.73
Start student loan 2012: £29,750; current student loan: CLEARED July 2025
Unread owned books Jan 2026: 256
Undone crafts 2026: +12
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