Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

powerspowers

Oooh a new diary! Commenting before I get left behind 😉 

SH you have done so well in the last year, achieving debt freedom and work on your long term mf & fire goals.  I think more important though is how you’ve focused on a new start for you and moved forwards in a positive way. It’s lovely to see. All the best with part 2 xx

MovingForwards

Happy new diary. You've achieved a lot over a year and the new plans look good.

Humdinger1

Utterly brilliant @savingholmes.  Feel proud and carry on being who you are living your best life.  I have subscribed and am so looking forward to your journey.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Merlin's_Beard

Do love to see the non financial updates, and how much progress you've made in every area in the last year.

As far as your DC pension - I don't want to discourage you from fact finding because that's always a good thing - but I'd bear in mind that the market in general has crashed in all sorts of random ways due to war/political chaos/global inflation so I wouldn't assume that a small loss is a bad outcome.

badmemory

Merlin's_Beard said:

Do love to see the non financial updates, and how much progress you've made in every area in the last year.

As far as your DC pension - I don't want to discourage you from fact finding because that's always a good thing - but I'd bear in mind that the market in general has crashed in all sorts of random ways due to war/political chaos/global inflation so I wouldn't assume that a small loss is a bad outcome.

In fact if you have some years to go I believe now or in the not too distant future is the time to put in more ready for when it recovers.  In fact after the last bump mine went up almost 30% in less than 2 years without any additional contributions.  Of course that is by no means guaranteed & is always a risk.  But as they say what goes up can come down.

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend 

Honeysucklelou2

SH, you have achieved so much in the last year...a huge well done to you. You have also found the time to encourage so many of us on these boards - Thank you.

newgirly

That’s a fantastic achievement in the last year well done and a happy new diary 😊

skint_spice

I thought you had gone quiet😂 happy new diary!

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie, MFD, Humdinger1, MF, Merlin, Skint, HSL, BM  @newgirly and Powers

Thanks for the encouragement. I have a workable financial plan as long as I don't rock the boat... Merlin and BM - you are probably right on the DC pension. 

I was so bored last week!! I need to make myself go out more and try new things or get stuck back into old ones. 

Yesterday I made myself go out. I had spag bol at my fave Italian restaurant - it didn't taste quite as nice as normal - but that could be because I'm still a bit ill from a few weeks ago.

I bought an ex-display potato planter/compost bin with a hinge opening and ex-display 1.8m long raised bed which will be delivered Tuesday for me. I got £5 off delivery by taking out a free loyalty card. I bought some plants for my parents for xmas. I also picked up compost, manure and cyclamen. I had the window open driving home!! I've been watching Huw on YT and his strongest advice is to save yourself money by making your own compost. He's not wrong so I am planning to use cardboard, green waste, manure etc in layers to create a 'hot bed' to give my veg a boost / quick start next year. Once I've created the veg bed area  - I'm planning to cover it in plastic to help it rot down quicker. I can't start though until the handyman/gardener has finished digging out the bamboo.

Today I want to fill the garden bin with what didn't fit last time as its due to be emptied this week. It's currently blocking access to where I am hoping to put down my new raised beds. I also want to measure the space so I have a better idea of how everything will fit together. At a second garden centre I saw a raised planter - the wood triangular kind on legs - 2m long ex-display that I was also tempted by. However, that was a lot of money - so will try and give myself some thinking time and check I really, really, really want it... There are a lot cheaper raised planter alternatives I could consider if that's what I'm really after that might have more growing space...

While plastic isn't ideal - I'd hate to spend loads on a wooden planter and then have it rot to nothing within a few years. I could  source free pallets and see if I/he/DD could make some for me which would be a lot more satisfying. There's someone round the corner that looks like he has spare pallets - I might knock on and ask. There are always free ones on FB too. I've put a drill and bits on my xmas list but who knows whether anyone will buy me one... I doubt it - but could always get one in the Jan sales. Even paying for the tools and then using pallets would be cheaper than buying the other planter I saw - and an enjoyable little project... I've never used a drill but DD has... 

I still want to buy more bark but yesterday was expensive enough without that on top! I had googled where the cheapest place was to get it though. I want to see if there is anyway I could get wood chip delivered for free from tree surgeons as that would be better still. FB seems to have reduced price bulk bag woodchip... whether they'd deliver here I don't know...  Will consider it.