Holding On and Letting Go 🎈

Fortune_Smiles

2022 - How did we do?

Reading over my goals for 2022, it's clear that I wasn't entirely confident the year would go to plan... and it didn't 😆  We hosted two Ukrainian refugees which was a wonderful experience, and something I'd gladly repeat given the time again, but it did mean putting our plans on hold for the first part of the year.  Our original goals also morphed as the year went on:

Health

• I successfully completed Dry January 🥂
• and recovered from a back injury plus a niggly knee issue that had caused me problems for some time
• I exercised more regularly during the second part of the year
• and lost a stone in weight (although some may have gone back on over Christmas 😊)

Wealth

• we overpaid £79,270 to the mortgage meaning we've now paid off 73% in 5 years and 5 months 🥳  This was money we'd been ring-fencing for when the fixed rate was up and overpayment restrictions no longer applied.  It also included a small pension I cashed in
• we increased Mr F's pension contributions by around 50% which will save on his tax costs
• Mr F developed some plumbing skills and was able to carry out routine repairs in the house like replacing toilet valves, tap washers and radiator valves which has saved us quite a lot
• we bought a new dishwasher
• and a new woodburning stove after ours was condemned (yet to be installed)
• we continued to maintain and improve the house including fitting two new window blinds, replacing two damaged fences, getting the annexe windows refurbished, repairing the boiler and installing a ring doorbell

Happiness

• I found a new writing group to attend
• and did more painting and crafting
• Mr F and I went on regular date days
• and had a mini-break in London with our Ukrainian guests
• we hosted a Platinum Jubilee weekend for friends and family
• and had lots of visitors and made lots of memories.

So a good year overall which improved as it went on.  I am especially pleased with our progress on overpaying the mortgage which is why I'm here after all 😆

So onwards and upwards - time to write some goals for 2023 😁

Fortune x

greent

Amazing 2022, FS - unbelievable OP over the year! Lots and lots achieved 🥂👏 (getting in the fizz emoji before dry Jan! 😄) x

Fortune_Smiles

greent said:

Amazing 2022, FS - unbelievable OP over the year! Lots and lots achieved 🥂👏 (getting in the fizz emoji before dry Jan! 😄) x

Thank you greent 😁.  It wasn't all money saved in 2022 but it was all paid off in 2022.

Fortune x

savingholmes

Fantastic OP. 

You seem to have balanced current and future self well too along the way.

beanielou

Awesome 🤩 x

SandyShores

An amazing write up Fortune, you've had a productive and happy year

FlacosFloozie

What a great year! Hope the new one is just as good for you.

savingholmes

Happy New Year

Merlin's_Beard

It's so lovely that you were able to have such a positive impact on other people's lives, and hit all your goals, and live a little yourselves as well. A year well spend

ruby_eskimo

Wishing you a very happy new year Fortune - the 2022 round up sounds like a very positive year and may that positivity continue into 2023.