Find the SecondStar and soar, and then straight on till the morning…

SecondStar

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

I had my last day of work yesterday, and I’m not back till the 2nd. I’m enjoying a relaxing day at home, and then going to my partner’s for Christmas Day tomorrow. There is lots of tasty food in the fridge, and the sun is shining.

It’s only 5.5 weeks until we go to India! I was mapping out what needs to be done in that time - I have to finish altering my wedding outfit, get my hair cut, go for a makeup trial, get my nails, brows & lashes done, and order a couple of suitcases, plus other travel items - bug spray, compression socks, a travel pillow etc. My partner has his wedding clothes sorted, he just needs 2 pairs of shoes & a belt. We both have enough casual clothes for the trip.

I still have to pay the pet sitters, but I have them booked. We will sort visas and insurance in a couple of weeks. It still doesn’t quite feel real!

The whole thing has cost a fortune. The flights and hotel were both much more expensive than we had originally anticipated. Still affordable in that we’re not going into debt, but still more than expected. I’m putting a positive spin on it by thinking that if I’ve been able to save up this much cash, then I can save that much for other things in the future too.



My emergency fund has dropped a bit, and is sitting at £5,528 - the goal is £8,000 which will be 6 months of expenses. I’m aiming to get this filled as quickly as possible, so I can then focus saving efforts elsewhere.

I’m planning to have a chat with my partner about what the next couple of years will look like, once India is out of the way. That will dictate whether money is saved towards a wedding, overpays my mortgage, or is invested for retirement. I’ll be opening a LISA as well, as I’m turning 35 in a few days and don’t want to miss the window.

Lots of thinking and planning to do!

Humdinger1

Sorry about your chook @SecondStar.   You did everything possible and are honouring her in the wonderful life you give the others.  How right you are about saving being about practice! Your technique is fab.  Happy Christmas/Seasons Greetings love Humdinger xx 

SecondStar

And happy New Year’s Eve!

It was my birthday yesterday, a big 3 5, and I’ve been very spoilt all week. Highlights for December have been visiting the aquarium with my partner, arts & crafts shopping with my friend, seeing the new avatar film on the biiiig cinema screen, Yule celebrations with my viking pals, National trust properties after dark and all done up for Christmas, starting a new mixed media journal which I’ve not done for years, making and wearing a decorated felt crown for my birthday day, and feeling very ‘seen’ by my loved ones, with some very nice presents received.

I’m coming into 2026 feeling good about my finances. My expenses have come up a little with getting the chickens, and the cost of my cat’s regular medications & healthcare going up, but they’re still not as high as when I also had my dog before August 2024. My wage has also been slowly going up twice annually, with similar predicted for this coming year.

I’ll be continuing to save £200/ month for another 12 months, which should bring me to my £8k / 6 months emergency fund by next December.

After that £200 comes out, I have £350 to split between sinking funds (Christmas, birthdays, trips) and savings.

My car will be turning 11 this summer - I’ve had it from new, the only thing I got out of my previous marriage. I’ve been lucky that it hasn’t needed major works, but I’m aware that it’s coming of an age where problems start to occur. It’s a 2015 Renault Twingo which has had an easy life with low miles, and I would like to keep it for another 3-4 years or so. But it’s wise to look to the future, so I’m going to start putting £50 aside after the India trip, with the idea that a pot will build to go towards the cost of a new car in the future. I would much rather not take on finance or other debt, if possible.

I also want to start putting a bit into investments, probably another £50 / month for now. Probably another £50 / month into overpaying the mortgage. £50 / month towards a wedding fund. The remaining £150 / month between sinking funds - we’ve no other big holidays or expenditure planned for this year, so that should be plenty until the emergency fund is filled at the end of next year, which will free up that extra £200 / month.

There’s other non-financial plans too, but it’s time to start getting ready for bed - no big NYE plans around here, it’s been a tiring week!

SecondStar

Looking at non-financial plans for the year then, last night I made myself a 2026 ‘bingo sheet’, with things I’d like to achieve or track, along with little punch cards where you can mark off having done certain things - gamify it a little!

My punch cards include - 10 x feet in the sea, National Trust visits, friend dates, fruits tried, screen-free evenings, picnics had, solo dates, letters sent, and plants planted in the ground.

Other bingo items include trying all of the coffee shops in my village, persuading one of the hens to sit on my lap again, finish the bedroom & bathroom, decorate the kitchen, try a new physical activity, make a new friend, cook a 3 course dinner for my partner and I, have over 200 no-spend days, and have over 200 went for a walk days.

It’s all things I enjoy already, and would like to intentionally do more of!

SecondStar

29 days until we get on our first plane to Delhi!

I only found out this morning that my bff & her partner ARE actually coming. I hadn’t heard any of their plans, and so assumed they might not be able to make it. Today she says that they have their visas…but haven’t booked anything else! Another friend was messaging asking what we’re all wearing, as she’s just about to start looking at outfits.

I love my friends dearly, but I could neeever leave something this late! We’ve been planning our trip for a year, and my friend is only booking theirs this week!

I have finished altering 1 outfit, almost finished the 2nd - need to add some snaps to the blouse closure, and finish stitching the skirt tonight. Have to put some elastic in the waist of my 3rd outfit, and take up 2 pairs of trousers for my partner. He’s waiting on 2 pairs of shoes arriving, and I ordered a bag last minute.

I’m going for my curly haircut tomorrow afternoon which I’m excited for, and I have my makeup lesson with MAC on Saturday. My lashes & brows are booked for the last Saturday of the month, and my nails are booked for the day before we leave. The pet sitter is coming next Wednesday to get a key and meet the hens & rabbit, and my cat sitter is confirmed.

There’s still some bits to buy - compression socks, bug spray, body tape, a day bag, possibly a 4th suitcase, earrings, plug adapters, and safety pins - but we’re almost there. If we didn’t have flights and hotels booked by now, I’d be losing my mind!

SecondStar

We fly on Wednesday afternoon!

Everything is ready. Outfits were altered, pet sitter has a key, lashes are lifted, evisas are confirmed, suitcases are packed. Tomorrow morning I’ll take my cat to her sitter, get my nails done in the afternoon, and book the taxi for Wednesday.

My curly haircut was a huge success, she kept the length but lightened it with layers, and it looks much better. On the other hand, my MAC makeup lesson wasn’t as useful or helpful as I’d expected - the application tips were good, but the products and the colours/tones weren’t good, and that had been the main reason I wanted to go. I had to buy product to the value of the lesson which was £90, but ended up spending £120 instead. I got a concealer (beautiful shade, but far too drying on my skin), a setting powder (again, pretty but too drying; good for setting eye primer but much much too expensive for what it’s worth!), a bronzer (far too orange for my complexion in natural light), and a blush (the best and most fitting product I got, and one I’ll actually wear). The look did include lipstick and lipliner, which I’ve never worn before. I was so unsettled by my reflection wearing lipstick, I felt I looked awful!

I had gotten so hooked on the idea of the lesson, that I think I had to do it just to tick it off as something I’d tried. It did open a door for me though, and sparked an interest to learn more about makeup shades & application. I learnt more online than from the lesson, but the lesson was the catalyst. I even bought 2 lipsticks since! Both in more flattering, natural tones to match my colouring, and I’m happy with them.

Harkening back to my post at new tears - I’ve tried 7 different types of fruit already! I love dates, and dislike cranberries. Pears are bland, and figs have a tannin taste that I din’t like. Apples taste good but the texture is horrid, and mango is a maybe.

I have had 1 screen free evening, and have gone to 2 different craft events and chatted to people with plans to go to more. And Florence briefly perched on my leg whilst I sat on the floor with treats! I’m not quite classing it as ‘a chicken on my lap’, but it’s big progress! The no-spend days are going well, but the walking days are not. One to focus on when we get back home.

in_need_of_direction

enjoy the holiday. At very least it should give you a break from this weather

KajiKita

Ooooh …. 'citing!! Count down is ON!! 😊

Years and years ago I had a makeup consult done where they did half of my face with concealer, foundation, eye liner, shadow, blusher, mascara - the works. I hated the feel of it - like I couldn't breathe. Looked in the mirror and hated it so much I started crying and demanded that they clean it all off me immediately! Tellingly, the sociopathic boyfriend was with me at the time and was encouraging me to get my whole face done … I've never worn more than a little concealer, mascara and lipstick since then. 😉😊

KK

BeachSiren

How was the holiday and wedding @SecondStar? Hope you both had a great time x

SecondStar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82000485#Comment_82000485

Hello!

Sorry I’ve been awol, everything just happened very quickly, and then the comedown lasted longer than expected! Both the holiday and the wedding were absolutely amazing, truly a once in a lifetime trip. The 3 day wedding was spectacular, and it was so special to be able to spend so much time with all my friends. It made our little 10ish hour affairs look miserly in comparison! From the venue, to the food, the music, the sounds of peacocks in the morning, and the sights of colourful birds and new plants, it was wonderful.

The city was amazing too, everything feels in a constant state of movement. The traffic is a law unto itself, but everything just flows along at its own pace and rhythm. Nothing is ever rushed, but it still gets done very effectively. The history, culture, and art is like nothing I’d ever seen before, I could’ve spent weeks with a sketchbook and a camera pouring over everything - even the most uninspiring strip of motorway barrier is covered in painted murals and brightly coloured designs. Everything has a handmade artistry to it, with ancient crumbling buildings butting up against brand new concrete fabrication businesses.

The museums, the textiles, the pottery and ceramics, the carving and inlay, and the jewellery… Plus the sheer, vast volume of humanity in the city. Your only privacy was in the bathroom, or closing the hotel room door at night! But everyone we encountered was just lovely, so friendly and warm and welcoming. The whole experience was a sensory overload, I became exhausted just from so much visual input. Your eyes, nose, ears, and tastebuds are battered all day long, and it’s wonderful.

We had budgeted a lot of spending money and had brought 2 empty suitcases with us, and I shopped until we dropped. I brought home lots of masala chai, incense, earrings and bangles, artwork, crockery, home decor trinkets, perfume, and the textiles! I could’ve spent a fortune just on textiles. I bought dresses, tops, skirts, and matching sets. Cushion covers, pillow cases, duvet sets, a 5ft woven wool rug, and the most beautiful hand block printed king size quilt I’ve ever seen, which had to be vacuum packed to fit in the suitcase!

When I finally arrived home, it took 3 days for my ears to stop ringing with how silent it was, after the background racket of Delhi for 2 weeks. It took about a week for my tastebuds to readjust to the flavours I hadn’t eaten, and everything tasted bland and 2-dimensional. I had the biggest post-holiday blues for about a month! My friends and I messaged back and forth, catching up on each other’s shenanigans post-wedding, and kept the eagerness going which was nice. It helped lessen the sting of being home. I was flying to see my bff in Glasgow a few weeks after the Delhi trip, and it was perfectly timed to check in with each other after the holiday.

My partner and I have talked about going back in a couple of years, we’d like to visit Jaipur next time. I would absolutely love to do an artistic retreat, either by myself or with my bff, and just spend a few weeks soaking up all the boundless inspiration and turning it into artwork. It’s such a cliche for a western Brit to be enraptured by India, but it really got under my skin in a way that nowhere else has before.

Now that we’re home and settled, it has been a very busy time with the run up to my partner’s birthday at the start of May, and then our big viking event which was last weekend. But we pulled it all off, and I earned more money this year than previous! I’ve been working in the garden the past couple of months, finally being brave enough to dig up the rectangle of back lawn and start turning it into flower beds. I’ve planted flowers, dug a pond, ordered a 2nd swing seat when the fabric failed on my 1st one and I fell through it! The money from my viking sales will go a long way to continuing my project. It’s a powerful thing to create a garden and to grow things under your own steam.

And we’ve got the next wedding to go to in July! The couple are hosting their British celebrations for the ones who couldn’t make it out to Delhi, so it’ll be a 5 day wedding by the end of it. I can’t wait to see everyone again, all wedding should be at least 3 days long in my opinion!