Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

savingholmes

Tahlullah.H said:

Fantastic planning Savings.

Thanks Tahlullah - it's been one of the toughest year's of my life - but getting there now...

Bargainhunter30 said:

Well done SH, you are doing so well and should be so proud of yourself, you've come such a long way in only a short time.

I would carry on with the decluttering, it will be great for the £'s and also mind. I recommend Marie Kondo's show on Netflix to keep the motivation.  Your house will soon be your temple!

I do like Marie Kondo - she is an inspiration. I couldn't do it the way she does though I would just get completely overwhelmed. Selling stuff is very motivating. Can't believe I gave up so easily before. I just sold something footy related for a tenner. Someone is coming for it on Tuesday am all being well. Considering sharing it with DS though as he's skint and it was his originally - although given it's been in the shed up to 10 years and still in its packaging - I think it's fair to say he was unaware of it! I did ask his permission first before listing.

savingholmes

MovingForwards said:

The gifts and sales are good.
Join as many local selling sites as you can to list your art, there's only a couple who do it on my ones.
Settle in to your routine and see where life takes you, spread your wings and enjoy what you've got.

I think you're right... but I'm not getting enough listing views for my art - so it's something about the description / search terms I've used I think... Need to think about that. Also gave them decent price tags and not planning to go lower whereas other things I discounted more quickly if I got few views. Am working my way up to putting them on 3tsy at some point. 

Blackcats said:

Found you!  You are sounding so happy and positive and I'm so pleased you are doing so well emotionally and financially.   You've given me a prompt to get on and do some more de-cluttering and start some selling.  

Thanks Blackcats glad you found me. Just think how much bigger your starting retirement pot will be if you do sell stuff as well. You already have your marginal gains pot and now you could add this to the mix. 

SandyShores

Just caught up with your new diary (I was wondering why the other one was so quiet ).  Amazing new journey.  I'm set to pay the mortgage off by 75 years old at the moment, but I like your phrase that its an enforced savings plan.  We have options don't we

savingholmes

Glad you found me Sandy. I did wonder if you'd be popping by soon. Yes - we'll both kick the mortgage into touch early I'm sure. I think now I'm on a selling rather than spending streak I should hopefully make progress. Still can't get over the plastic shelving selling or the footy picture... 

savingholmes

Well I managed my 100 mile round trip in snow and icy conditions safely so that's a relief. DD honestly thought work would be cancelled due to snow... Bless. 

I've bought some food and some leggings with my cash. All mine have holes currently!! About to get changed ready to do some painting again. Will then go around the house and see what else I can list while it's drying... 

Think I'll list the sled. It's the perfect time... It's on a mezzanine thing in the garage - just hope I can get it down without anything unintended coming down with it.

jwil

Well done on all the listing and sales.  Definitely the right time to list the sled!

chicker

Hello 

I've been trying to read your diary for a week but every time I got interrupted, it seemed to get at least a page longer 😂

It sounds like you've been through a lot this year and have a really positive fresh start now.

I love decluttering but struggle to get around to selling anything. I'll sell a load of stuff then not be able to face it again for ages! 

Good luck with all your plans.

Chicker

savingholmes

Hi Jwill - I've listed the sled and added some crockery. No hits yet. Need to list more. 

chicker said:

Hello 

I've been trying to read your diary for a week but every time I got interrupted, it seemed to get at least a page longer 😂

It sounds like you've been through a lot this year and have a really positive fresh start now.

I love decluttering but struggle to get around to selling anything. I'll sell a load of stuff then not be able to face it again for ages! 

Good luck with all your plans.

Chicker

Welcome @chicker - I fooled you by coming over with a following from a DFW thread!! But yes - my divorce recently went through and I bought my Ex out the house so had quite a lot going on. At our worst in my married life we were £70K in debt despite being on an interest only mortgage. This was a factor in the divorce. We'd got down to under £2K of debt and he started proposing expensive spending of over £12K. I felt if we stayed together I'd never get ahead, never get in a secure financial situation as we were already on our third or fourth debt spiral having paid stuff off before. I felt like I'd learned my lesson but he still hadn't learned his. The fact he bought a fresh gaming laptop and incurred thousands of pounds of debt weeks before the divorce was finalised vindicated my decision.

The mortgage feels huge to me as I was on interest only before - but at times last year with me managing the £ and on a dual income we paid off over £3K of debt in a month during lockdown - 3 months on the run. This suggests even on a single income I should be fine as I earn more than my Ex. I am struggling right now as I had higher than expected legal costs and a run of large car bills. A family member gave me a gift that helped me have an EF / pay bills as otherwise I would have had to delay the divorce at least a month or more to save up to reduce the risk of fresh long term debt. I didn't want to delay as we were living 'apart' in the same home - awkward!! I am also already due to be 73.5 by the time I paid off the mortgage - I didn't want to add another month to the term. 

My big debate currently is do I just wipe out the debt with my EF or keep my EF. I think peace of mind wise I prefer the EF even if I have to lean on a 0% card for a little while longer to maintain cashflow.
 
I had today off but had to be up super early to take DD 100 mile round trip. I watched a few episodes on pr1m3 and then went to bed for 3 hours! Tonight I'm hoping I can make myself carry on decorating - but I am also trying to teach myself to practice self care - before I reach burnout stage. I'm WFH tomorrow - then have Wednesday off and a counselling appointment. Then I am in work Thursday and then WFH on Friday.

DD is returning home a night early this week - and has lifts to and from work by others for all of December. Can't tell you how pleased I'll be to have a lie in on a Monday!!

MovingForwards

Keep the EF, having access to cash feels safer, your small debt will come down soon.

You sound like a totally different woman, so much life and enthusiasm.

EssexHebridean

Definitely agree on the EF - with the debt on 0% at the moment in any case there’s no hurry to clear it, and I’m guessing if you needed to bump it on to another 0% card in due case you probably would be able to. 

On the art, I don’t know much about selling stuff like that but it doesn’t feel like FB would be likely to be quite the right platform for selling it, I must admit.