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Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality
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Merry Christmas @savingholmes4
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Thanks MF and WelshKitty - Safe home again. Hope you all had a lovely time.
Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/255 -
Hope you had a lovely day
"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 McGee1 -
Thanks Jwil. It went well overall. A few tears but not unexpected with 'firsts.'
My family were generous to me - and I got the top things on my wish list - including clothes, lots of art stuff, a light for DD's room and so on. I managed to get time alone with some of the family I see least which was good. It was very weird leaving my kids there and coming home alone. (Ex is going there today - also weird - and will then bring them home then they are seeing MIL tomorrow. Doubly strange given his family are blanking me still).
The journey home was made worse by the fact there was a lot of surface water, it was raining hard and rarely lit despite being on the motorway. There were moments when my tyres lost grip on the road but luckily I was far enough from other cars it didn't matter - scary though.
I'm having a friend over for lunch today. So need to tidy up, finish decorating the birthday cake, make some roasties and the veg. She's bringing the meat. When she's gone I'm planning to extend the table in the kitchen and get my art supplies out and have fun acrylic pouring...
Had a really good chat with my brother who incentivised me opening my £tsy shop and putting 10 paintings up - once I've done it he will send me £100 to use towards canvases etc. Game on! He also challenged me to invest in my health and tackle my weight before it catches up to me. He's not wrong - so thinking of buying some new trainers as a first stop. My current ones are no longer comfortable - and I had put insoles in them to extend their life but that raises the heel to a level where it's uncomfortable - so I solved one problem and created another... Hard parting with the £ though. He suggested that I also invest in a personal trainer... I need to think about that one as that would be really hard to afford and meet any of my financial goals.
I checked my bank account on Xmas Eve as you do - and found that I had been refunded £25 from my life insurance provider. After a little panic - I read the encrypted letter they sent me earlier in the week - the policy is now in my name only and they have dropped the insurance premium to £23 pcm - so I have £25 extra a month to play with now. I had assumed that since the cover hadn't dropped in value the premium would stay the same. I was going to use the £25pcm off my mortgage / pension - but with what my brother said - I think I need to find a way to invest it in my health, improve my diet and become more active. Will think on that some more.
I've told BIL my list of jobs that need doing. Luckily he would like a bolt on the floor bike stand and metal shed - so dismantling them for me would give its own reward as he can then have them. I could take his kids to the park when he comes over or I could give them an art session or a bit of both. My sis could then have some peace and quiet at home...Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/2510 -
Glad you had a nice day @savingholmes 😊
I'm embarking on a year of self-care myself so look forward to reading about your adventures! 😉'Happiness is not a destination but the journey you walk every day'
Weight loss challenge 2024:
Start weight: 9st 13.1lb
End weight: 8st 13lb
Weight loss challenge 2025:
Start weight: 8st 6lbs
End weight:
JSF: £0/£2000
'It's the small compromises you keep making over time that start to add up and get you to a place you don't want to be'3 -
Thanks Leftat ...
Today's cake. Super tasty. Don't think this was what my brother had in mind...Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/257 -
The cake looks amazing SH! Thats so lovely that your brother has encouraged you on both the art and fitness fronts. Have you got a shop on Etsy yet or is that a work in progress ?
Hope you had a lovely lunch with your friend.paydbx2025 #26 £890/£5000 . Mortgage start £148k June 23 - now £138k.
2025 savings challenge £0/£2000 EF £140. Savings 2 £30.00. 175 -
Strawberries- one of your 5 a day - totally healthy!! 😉😊savingholmes said:Thanks Leftat ...
Today's cake. Super tasty. Don't think this was what my brother had in mind...'Happiness is not a destination but the journey you walk every day'
Weight loss challenge 2024:
Start weight: 9st 13.1lb
End weight: 8st 13lb
Weight loss challenge 2025:
Start weight: 8st 6lbs
End weight:
JSF: £0/£2000
'It's the small compromises you keep making over time that start to add up and get you to a place you don't want to be'3 -
I bought myself some trainers. I'm hoping they are as comfortable as they are pretty. £88 including delivery. £8 cheaper than original site I looked - plus should get £7.50 cashback - so dear even with a 30% discount on the original selling price LOL but a little MSE in there. I last bought any 6.5 years ago though so no wonder they were becoming uncomfortable! Just hope the new ones fit now.
My friend enjoyed the cake as did I. I'm debating going for a nap after all that delicious food.
Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £172.5K Equity 36.11%
2) £1.8K Net savings after CCs 13/9/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £26.8K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 32.6/£127.5K target 25.6% 13/9/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 54.5K or 42.7%)
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 £4.8K updated 13/9/256 -
Love the trainers! Cake looked lovely. That’s one of the reasons why I won’t bake anymore because I eat it
LTotal Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #1244
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