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Small steps lead to big changes...

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  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,452 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just look at that total for the PADs! You need a Nationwide bonus and a PB win every month! 
    🎉 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
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just look at that total for the PADs! You need a Nationwide bonus and a PB win every month! 
    Wouldn't that be marvellous! :D:D:D 
    "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: 22,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    This week has been tough at work so I'm glad it's over.

    The kids have an inset day today and tomorrow, so it was nice not to do the school run this morning, and maybe we'll do something tomorrow if they want to.  

    I finally tackled some admin frogs at lunchtime today.  I emailed the dentist and told them I wanted the kids to stay on NHS and to add them to the waiting list.  I also said I wanted to keep the appointment they already have but on a pay as you go basis, I don't want to sign up to a payment plan.  I'll have to see what they say when they reply.  

    I've also booked the kids in for the optician as well, another thing that's been on my to do list for about 6 weeks.

    From the MSE email yesterday I opened up a Kroo account and put £50 in.  Hopefully I'll get the £10 amazon voucher, but if nothing else the interest rate is not bad so I could move some of my pots to it, as those savings accounts are hideous rates, but I also want immediate access.  (Actually they've just emailed to raise the interest rate so it's even better than was in the email).

    Because I've been a bit unhappy at work recently, it's focussing my mind more to make the best of my money so that I can achieve my ambitions sooner rather than later.  I need to be more proactive with my savings.   It seems like a lot of effort to juggle stuff around when balances aren't very high, but I should try and maximise the interest anyway.

    I can't quite give up my PBs at the moment though as I like the fact that I can't get them instantly, but could still get them if I needed to, and I do still dream of getting a nice lump sum!  I want them to be my 3-6 months living expenses as an emergency fund.

    "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: 22,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I've for the first time in ages got to cash out in Ipsos I-say.  They don't have amazon vouchers listed on there any more.  Have they stopped doing them does anyone know?  I might ditch them if they have.
    "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
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,997 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well done on the surveys.

    Completely get wanting an escape plan too....
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £1.6K Net savings after CCs 14/8/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £25.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 31.1/£127.5K target 24.4% 15/8/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
  • jwil
    jwil Posts: 22,082 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Well done on the surveys.

    Completely get wanting an escape plan too....
    Thank you.  It's a hard balance trying to juggle between wanting to spend as little as possible so I can retire early (DH doesn't want to), but also ensure the kids can have a life, and do the work on the house!
    "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
  • doingitanyway
    doingitanyway Posts: 10,073 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Mortgage-free Glee!
    Great PADs!!
    An escape plan is a good idea, but as you say it needs to balance with conflicting demands so not easy. But you seem to do not easy on a regular basis  :)
    If you have built castles in the air, your work should not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them

    Emergency fund 800/1000
    Buffer fund 0/100
    Debt Free (again) 25/072025
  • WinterWarrior
    WinterWarrior Posts: 6,103 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I like my pb’s for the same reason. I keep the most in there as it feels inaccessible even though I could get it back out in an emergency. I think asking for it back would feel like asking my dad for extra pocket money…scary, embarrassing and expecting an interrogation on why I need it 😁
    I keep thinking I ought to educate myself on investing, but I just can’t get my head around the risk. 
    Not all who wander are lost - J.R.R.Tolkien
    🌊 A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor 🌊

    My WW and friends diary is here 😁 … 
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6259606/must-try-harder/p1

  • Sun_Addict
    Sun_Addict Posts: 24,149 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I like the regular savers for good interest rates. The money is tied up for 12 months but no doubt you could get to it in an emergency but forfeit the interest. 
    I get knocked down but I get up again (Chumbawamba, Tubthumping)
  • I’m very protective of my pb. It’s a good safety check as I’m more cautious of cashing those in than withdrawing from a savings account 
    Mortgage at 01.01.14 £119,481.83:eek: today £0 Emergency fund £5.5/5.5k & £200/200 cash.:jWeight 24/02/19 14st 7lb now 12st determined to stop defining myself by my mistakes. Progress not perfection.:T100%through my 1% mortgage challenge. 100% through my pb challenge.
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