Progress not Perfection

beanielou

Great bargains. 

Cherryfudge

It's all sounding great, especially the looming end of mortgage! Nice to have gift cards to spend, as well - and a bargain coat for the dog!

Sun_Addict

Morning all.

WFH again today. Had my nice leisurely start to the day reading with a coffee.

I've decided to go to the big Mr T today instead of Saturday as we'd like to go to a local park with a Christmas market and this weekend is the last chance we'll get; we haven't been yet this year. I don't need to get much as I'm doing the veg shopping tomorrow at Lid! on the way home from work. It's the last day of the 25% off wine offer and I'll see if I can get another of the half price beef joints for Mr SA. I cut up the beef into steaks/joints/stewing beef and freeze them for future use. 

I feel like I peaked too early with Christmas and have stalled a bit. I don't know why I feel like this because it's not as if I have a Christmas dinner to prep. I've only watched one Christmas film so far although I've planned in Love Actually for Sunday afternoon and I've still got Monday and Tuesday. I'm just so busy with working and playing catch up on chores at the weekend it's hard to fit in a couple of hours to sit down and watch a film and Mr SA won't watch them at night. 

Today's exercise will be walking to/from Mr T, a lunchtime strength training class and Zumba tonight. 

Tonight's dinner is salmon with Mexican rice from freezer stocks and stir fried veg. 

Sun_Addict

Blackcats said:

Fabulous to be starting 2026 mortgage free!  You've worked blooming hard at managing the household finances despite MrSA's canvas shoe, man bag etc spending.  For me being mortgage free was about the feeling of freedom and relief after squillions of years paying a mortgage.  The freed up money is obviously great but the freedom felt even better.  Treat yourself on the first day that your mortgage direct debit doesn't go out just to ensure you have a big celebratory smile.  Have a kitchen boogie to George Michael's Freedom and/or Michael MacDonald's Sweet Freedom 💃

I don't know how I feel about it really. The mortgage has always been quite small and it's never felt like a burden, we were lucky to get on the housing ladder when we were very young and property was cheap. When I paid off the final bit of the debt it felt like an anti-climax because no one knew about it so I couldn't share the good news with anyone, other than the lovely folks in MSE diary land, and it was never more than £5k anyway. Things would be very different if Mr SA hadn't become ill, he was a big drain on the finances before and would spend whether we could afford it or not. It's only since I've been in control of the finances that the debt and mortgage have been paid off and savings built up. 

enthusiasticsaver

I think the paying off of the mortgage is probably more psychologically exciting than financially as you say it was small anyway. At least you know it is all yours from January.  Years ago we used to keep £50 on the mortgage so the bank/building society still held the deeds but that is less important now land is registered. 

Glad you had a nice day shopping and lunch out and got a few bargains.  I am still not in the Christmas mood although I have bought all my presents and wrapped them and under the tree and the food/drink situation is under control. 

Not sure why Mr SA wants canvas shoes in the middle of winter but I do not suppose there is any rhyme or reason to his purchases. Good job it is just a charity shop he goes in. 

doingitanyway

Wow, great bargain on the No7 shop.
Pleased you had lunch out
I will be shopping for Mr L veggies tomorrow too, That will be my early(ish) morning walk

foxgloves

Thank goodness Mr SA doesn't live next door to John Lewis! 

Sun_Addict

foxgloves said:

Thank goodness Mr SA doesn't live next door to John Lewis! 

We have a little boutique on our local high street, I am very relieved that she doesn’t sell men’s clothes 🙂 I’m amazed that for someone who does very little walking he seems to need so many pairs of shoes! 

Sun_Addict

Well that's me about to break up for Christmas 😁

Working in the office today and just about to log off - out of office is officially on.

I was wide awake just after 3am this morning, no idea why. On the plus side it meant I left the house earlier and had time to do the bits I was going to do after work which was pick up the Waitrose Weekend paper, buy a gift voucher for DGS and still be at work for 7.30. So I shall be heading straight to Lid! from work rather than push my way through a crowded city centre.

DS has confirmed they're coming on Christmas Eve so now I can pick up a few nibbles to go with the drinks. 

Glad I had time to hang out the washing this morning as it's a lovely sunny day. 

RelievedSheff

Merry Christmas SA.

We are not really in the Christmas spirit this year. We only put the tree up last weekend!

Looking forward to a couple of weeks off work though. Today is my last day as well.

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas.