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Small steps lead to big changes...

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  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Today's PAD - £20

    Jan - £319
    Feb - £32
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    We went to the coast today, so it was nice to blow the cobwebs away!

    This afternoon little miss decided she wanted to learn to ride a bike on two wheels (she's always been too scared to before), and so we took her to a closed car park to have a go.  She's really determined, and was refusing any help, preferring to just try herself.  She did really well and I think she'll get it before long!

    She's now decluttering her room because she wants to redesign it.  I've been delivered two big bags of books which she wants to get rid of, so I'll have a look through and check there's none I want to keep!

    Little jwil just likes to chill! 

    I'm meant to be listing, but I can't be bothered, so I'll save that for next weekend.
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 97,040 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Little Miss is on a roll today  :)
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 29,109 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well done little Miss.

    £20 PAD is great.
    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 14/11/25
  • Sun_Addict
    Sun_Addict Posts: 24,548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Aw little miss sounds such a sweetheart 😍 £32 already for February is awesome it’s only the 4th! Well done 👏 

    I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    beanielou said:
    Little Miss is on a roll today  :)
    She is, I wish I had half of her determination!

    Well done little Miss.

    £20 PAD is great.
    Thank you, a nice start to the month!

    Aw little miss sounds such a sweetheart 😍 £32 already for February is awesome it’s only the 4th! Well done 👏 

    She's a real character!  I love her enthusiasm!  Thank you, I'm pleased with the pad totals so far :)
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,627 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Today's PAD - £2

    Jan - £319
    Feb - £34
    "Good financial planning is about not spending money on things that add no value to your life in order to have more money for the things that do". Eoin McGee
  • Hi jwil, 
    Your PADs are inspiring me. I started doing this last month (after a long hiatus from the forums I am back to pay down my mortgage) and I felt like it wouldn't make much difference with small PADs here and there, but reading stories like yours helps me to see every little really does help. 
    I remember those books from my DS1, DS2 & DD too. I have actually kept our favourites back when the kids all had a clear out, so if I should ever be blessed with grandkids I will hand them back over as a gift, hopefully the kids will have their own fond memories of reading them with me and it's not just me who remembers them, :joy: DFW321 :heart:
    Emergency Fund- £687.77
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,956 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Loving Little Miss's enthusiasm for decluttering - now I wonder where she's got that from eh?! what a star though, even if there isn't much to sell at least it's gone from the house!

    How's your knee doing now? I'm having an issue with one of mine in particular at the moment - not sure what's causing it but every few days it swells up a bit and gets sore. I'm trying to be scrupulous about not sitting with my feet tucked under me a I'm sure that doesn't help! 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
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