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Debt and Caring
Comments
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Good luck with your future plans.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.3K Equity 36.55%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £30.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 35.5/£127.5K target 27.8% 14/11/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 62K or 48.6%)
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 £5.1K updated 14/11/251 -
And... I'm back. Possibly. Lets see how this goes.
Way back when I started this diary I said my money problems came about as a result of emotional problems. Which wasn't quite the full story.
My emotional problems are if anything, a very small piece of the puzzle. And so the next stage of my journey is going to be to have myself assessed for autistic spectrum disorder.
This has been a long time coming and is something I really, really don't like talking about. Even though I know all of you will be nice 🤷
Financially it changes things. The assessment is private and will cost €850. I am on a waiting list for 4/5 months and so it will hopefully coincide with the payment of the support grant.
I will likely be buying more aids for myself (thanks badmemory for the prompt to check VAT, I am slowly making a list). Starting with the most expensive headphones I have ever bought (Amazon monthly payments) but so far have given me my life back in a way I did not know was possible.
I am keeping it to myself IRL with the exception of a friend who already knew but I am going to try and be honest on here. Key word being try.
So debt and caring will still be debt and caring but now I'm also caring for myself. Hopefully.5 -
My son wears ear plugs under his headphones, which seems to help.
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Yes I have done that as well. These headphones honestly take the stress of sound perception away almost entirelybadmemory said:My son wears ear plugs under his headphones, which seems to help.2 -
I honestly believe we’re all on the spectrum to a greater or lesser extent. I know I don’t consider myself to be neurotypical. It’s all about coping strategies and being kind to yourself. I’m glad the headphones are helping x4
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Well I suppose thats true in a way, the human brain can only do so many things. And where you sit on each thing is what determines your nature.1
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I think quite a few people me included on here have ASD - but it can be used as a force for good -and once you know you can plan things better so it is less limiting... You can potentially access more support too - if you qualify for extra help.Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.3K Equity 36.55%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £30.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 35.5/£127.5K target 27.8% 14/11/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 62K or 48.6%)
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 £5.1K updated 14/11/252 -
ASD has been a huge advantage for me during my life. Trying to go against my nature has been the root of many an error.
I will confess that over the last few weeks I have spent quite a bit of money. For now I have accepted that these are steps I need to take to go to a place where I can do more.
I may not know how much I have spent but I know what it has been spent on.
-bills have been paid. Some late.
-art supplies
-toiletries-food-books-tea from coffee shops2 -
Those sound like reasonable ways to spend money, @WelshmansDaughter. I'm planning on treating myself to some bits to try a craft project from a new book I've been given. I love being creative! And why shouldn't I spend time and money on developing that?
Enjoy your art, books and coffees.
I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/223 -
Life is for living too. Do what you have to - to enjoy it along the way - despite the many challengesAchieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £171.3K Equity 36.55%
2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 10/10/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £30.9K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.25K) = 35.5/£127.5K target 27.8% 14/11/25
(If took bigger lump sum = 62K or 48.6%)
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 £5.1K updated 14/11/252
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