Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

elantan

LadyWithAPlan said:

badmemory said:

My cynical opinion looking back, is that men tend to deal better with having a wife & a spare & women deal better with just being the spare.  I don't know if it still true but single women used to live the longest & single men the shortest.

Ha! Yes it is true  happiness tests are single women are happiest followed by married men..  (this is when married people are asked separately - apparently the stats change when both partners are in the same room together

I havent thought about being the spare but i guess they get the best version - the romance, wining and dining  and no stress, no clean up or laundry duties ... - I would feel very sorry for the poor wife though 

@savingholmes I really enjoy my single life and the future person would have to be amazing for me to split my life, my savings, my time ...  

that's kinda how I feel, love the man I have but if something were to happen no way could I be bothered, I would be away adventuring ... lifes far too short . 

Well done on the savings @savingholmes,  I'm liking the Portugal idea 

Honeysucklelou2

Catching up...love the arbour! Looks like a welcoming, calm place in the garden.

The hoarding comments were interesting to read. Battling clutter here and have been for a long time. I have been trying to be more ruthless over the summer holidays and accept that the chances of upcycling/fixing some furniture is unlikely due to lack of available time, so I don’t need to keep it, just in case. It’s trying to change my way of thinking...

Hope the move works out for your sister.

savingholmes

elantan said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

badmemory said:

My cynical opinion looking back, is that men tend to deal better with having a wife & a spare & women deal better with just being the spare.  I don't know if it still true but single women used to live the longest & single men the shortest.

@savingholmes I really enjoy my single life and the future person would have to be amazing for me to split my life, my savings, my time ...  

that's kinda how I feel, love the man I have but if something were to happen no way could I be bothered, I would be away adventuring ... lifes far too short . 

Well done on the savings @savingholmes,  I'm liking the Portugal idea 

Your circumstances do sound challenging El. Your meals sound tasty though.

Today's song in my head

"where d’you wanna go?
How much you wanna risk?
I’m not looking for somebody
With some superhuman gifts
Some superhero, some fairytale bliss
Just something I can turn to, somebody I can kiss
I want something just like this"

Interestingly in my head though the 'kiss' line was turned into 'somebody I can miss.' Freudian. Made me laugh. Suggests I like the idea of having someone more than the reality.

savingholmes

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Catching up...love the arbour! Looks like a welcoming, calm place in the garden.

The hoarding comments were interesting to read. Battling clutter here and have been for a long time. I have been trying to be more ruthless over the summer holidays and accept that the chances of upcycling/fixing some furniture is unlikely due to lack of available time, so I don’t need to keep it, just in case. It’s trying to change my way of thinking...

Hope the move works out for your sister.

Thanks HSL - it's lovely - I now need someone to come in and tame the garden around it. I'll chase the handyman for a return date.

Hoarding / clutter. I think with such a large family it's easy for you to have too much stuff. I imagine you'd have to be quite ruthless just to stay on top of the relentless level of stuff entering the house. Then throw in the uncertainty and scarcity you've been dealing with for years I imagine it's all very challenging. I am starting to see that if people don't buy it on FB - it probably has little residual value - and that's helping me let things go. I've just listed another couple of items - still boxed from 1k3a that I bought 2 years or so ago....

I was talking to a friend about my house - she'd clocked I had too much stuff given there are only 2 of us living here now. We talked about my plans to quietly get move ready in terms of redecorating my house, sorting the garden and shifting clutter / excess etc. It adds value to my home and makes it more liveable.

We all like the holiday cottages with minimal stuff - just need to move to that model more at home too. Some FI people feel going minimalist really speeded their journey too - when I look around my home - I can see their point. It wouldn't be so bad if everything we bought got used - but that still isn't the case. I'm trying to work harder to reduce unnecessary spend moving forward. I was watching one of those 'steps to' £ independence and they listed the 72 hour rule on purchases as a major tool. It's one I'm aware of but need to use more. My Am**** spend has been hugely improved this month - just essentials (FF thermometers, moisturiser and grocery and pet food). My overall spends this month have been much higher than I originally planned due to gift to DD, handyman, FF repair and dental - and I'm grateful that I cut my art/hobbies and clothes budget this month to £0 otherwise that would have been £80-130 on top. Also relieved my fuel bill is dropping - although I have planned my journeys more to reduce them - as well as the pump £ falling.

I will look at whether I can claim any of the dental back. I need to double check whether osteopath covered - and then book some slots with someone who was highly recommended to see if it helps with my pelvic tilt and other issues. One of my CCs that I use for points and immediately repay once no longer pending - has locked me out - so I also need to ring up over that.

Ideally, I also need to go to balance class tonight but not yet booked in.

WelshmansDaughter

It does seem like a lot of the big spends are going toward health which does tie in goal wise. Maybe a good analysis could be regular overspending and one offs. Or even goal stopper and goal progress?

savingholmes

WelshmansDaughter said:

It does seem like a lot of the big spends are going toward health which does tie in goal wise. Maybe a good analysis could be regular overspending and one offs. Or even goal stopper and goal progress?

Thanks WD. Next pay month I will trial a weekly budget for planned food & non-food & goal stopper items and see how we go. I like @Blackcats idea of gradually shaving down the costs rather than being too full on and rebounding worse.

If I cope with my dentist appointment - I plan to book another set at the £353 which while painful on every level - should boost my confidence longer term.

I've only got one counselling appointment in the September pay period - so that's due to drop to £45. Will see how well I cope. She didn't have some of the dates I wanted available... 

I'll add handyman to my budget at £100 a month plus any materials.

Planning to avoid clothes / art / hobbies spend.

I was hoping to go and see DS but now I'm unsure. I've left £50 in the budget for that plus up to £50 on eating out / days out - but would need more if I went. I was originally planning to go to a P Inn. I may also need more fuel. I originally set up a holiday pot for this - but I am reluctant to draw from it. I may wait to see if my AVC goes out or not. DS doesn't know his availability yet as he doesn't have a timetable for the second job element. This week he's living with friends as he has a week's gap between his last accommodation and the new role with studio flat starting. He was able to move his stuff to the site last weekend though which saved on storage costs. 

I've submitted my elec meter reading which was on a par with Feb i.e. high. I have used a fan a lot recently though with it being so warm. I may check my work diary - and then book a smart meter appointment each for elec and gas. It would be good even if frightening to know where I stand bill wise... I find it extremely irritating that BG only produce proper bills quarterly - but they gave me an elec fix which will save me loads so can't move away from them. Sh311 are irritating but at least you can see your usage and spend when you put in a monthly meter reading.

LadyWithAPlan

it’s great  you are focusing so much on all the details as that is the way you will win

Your  pension plans are good, as you say you just need to get the mortgage down 

i love Portugal but now we at our the EU there will be extra costs such as monthly health insurance there 

On the spends it’s so easy to overspend as things do mount up like dentist. Your health though is super important and if you feel you need to spend that then you do. Balance classes etc are all super important. I rejoined the gym in July - paid upfront for the annual mbership as it saved me 2 months -! Still it was over £500 ouch but I thought about my health, my fitness, my life goals and decided it was a reasonable purchase as long as I really use it.
Plus up to being away I go 4-5 times a week and shower there so save on electricity

Goal stoppers - are they unnecessary over spends ? 

I will be joining you on a declutter and sale when I finally get back home. 

 I might track it to inspire me such as items sold or thrown, amount of money made 

savingholmes

LadyWithAPlan said:

it’s great  you are focusing so much on all the details as that is the way you will win

Your  pension plans are good, as you say you just need to get the mortgage down 

i love Portugal but now we at our the EU there will be extra costs such as monthly health insurance there 

Thanks - that's the hope. On Portugal - I need to apply for an Irish passport - but first get registered as a foreign birth... Complicated, could take years, but one of my sisters has done it. That would give me more freedom despite Brxt.

LadyWithAPlan said:

On the spends it’s so easy to overspend as things do mount up like dentist. Your health though is super important and if you feel you need to spend that then you do. Balance classes etc are all super important. I rejoined the gym in July - paid upfront for the annual mbership as it saved me 2 months -! Still it was over £500 ouch but I thought about my health, my fitness, my life goals and decided it was a reasonable purchase as long as I really use it.
Plus up to being away I go 4-5 times a week and shower there so save on electricity

When I'm on plan / not too exhausted - I was going to the balance class twice a week. I stopped going for 2 months this summer - and restarted last week (once). Thankfully I get a reduced rate - £24 a month for membership. I've booked to go back tonight. I'm going for fitness, flexibility, hope of reduced falls and social connection. It resulted in a meal out and a new friend last Friday - so worth it.

LadyWithAPlan said:

Goal stoppers - are they unnecessary over spends ? 

I will be joining you on a declutter and sale when I finally get back home. 

 I might track it to inspire me such as items sold or thrown, amount of money made 

Goal stoppers were the BDBs Budget and Diet Busters

Will watch your decluttering journey with interest. I track extra income each month on my s/sheet as well as in my diary. I find it motivating. Because I have automated my savings at what feels like a high target level for me - I then use that extra cash to 'cushion' the budget from any other shocks that come my way. If I can reduce my grocery and unnecessary spends though - I'm hoping that will create more available £ to throw at the mortgage / savings / pension.

savingholmes

Sorry if I've spammed you all today. I was awake early!!

Cleaner has been and for the first time in a year or more the counters in the utility are 95% clear and the floor is 100% clear. There is even space in my utility cupboards again. I found yet more coffee (out of date - but hopefully fine). Also a jar of sauce I'll give DD. We found out of date tortilla wraps but they look fine so will aim to use them sometime when I buy chicken again.

The cleaner said she had taken some stationery and fruit last week after I offered. I said I couldn't tell and asked her to take more. She's taken a load more pens, some anti bac gel and other bits and bobs. I've then emptied another tub of more recent pens into that pen drawer... I showed it her - so she knew I was serious and that I had plenty left. I've told her the goal is to get my many piles of stationery to fit into the (20) A4 size drawers in the hall cupboard... Most of them have labels... I've a long way to go. 

I'm going to try and sell my craft stamps on FB that would empty a drawer for my current hobby stuff... I also want to list some DIY paints...

I've got a pile of electrical items I need to take to the tip - 2 kettles and a long extension lead and BB box.

Binned some clothes ex left. Binned some cleaning descaling products that again we're unlikely to ever use - and I didn't have the energy to list anywhere.

Sorted out my logon for the gym - so booked to go to balance class tonight. Seems to have come around so fast!

Working from home tomorrow and Friday. Friday DD flies abroad though so busy time. I have a follow up health appointment after my blood tests etc on Friday.

Food today:
Spag bol - it was okay. Slightly disappointing.
Macaroni milk. Too much pasta I know but I fancied it.
Apples from the garden.
Chicken noodle soup.
A fudge and 2 SW bars.

I need to get changed for balance class - and also nip in store to get DD luggage labels as all ours have disappeared. It's next to the gym so should be fine. She'll refund me the £. She found 2 euros and about 30 cents today so was happy. We also looked through my jewellery and I gave her some pieces.

Mrs_Binxtoria

I have read your pension post with interest as I am also currently looking at my pensions.  I have now managed to track them all down, I knew where they were but hadn't logged onto any of the websites and I had to email one of the providers for a statement/forecast.  Providing I continue working until retirement age and based on the figures that I have at the moment I am looking at c.£20,000 per year including the state pension.  I want to clear the mortgage and then be able to contribute more to both mine and DH's pensions.

You have done really well with your e/fund and I like the term 'goal stoppers' I have quite a few of those at the moment