We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

A Better View 🌄

Options
Fortune_Smiles
Fortune_Smiles Posts: 5,101 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
edited 13 August 2023 at 10:42AM in Mortgage-free wannabe
Hello Forumites 😊

here I am again with a new diary for the new chapter we're embarking upon.  For those who haven't met me before, here's a quick summary of our journey so far:
  • I joined the forum 11 years ago.  Mr F and I had bought our first house together 9 years earlier and life was very full on.  We decided to pay off our mortgage to give us more lifestyle options
  • and we nearly did it 😂  I was able to retire from full time work and take up the responsibilities of running the home.  That took a little pressure off Mr F and allowed us to have more work life balance.  However, we then decided to move to our dream home 😲
  • this brought further improvements to our lifestyle but more mortgage which we set about overpaying in earnest
  • Mr F was promoted just before the move and his new job involved a lot of global travel and time away from home.  The Pandemic brought some respite from that.  However, this year, the travel has started to increase again and it's becoming too much
  • which brings us to the present day.  Mr F is currently serving his notice period 😲  We have private pensions which will cover essential living costs but, if we want to have any savings or fun money, we'll need to bring in some extra income so we're setting things up for Mr F to become self-employed.
We're hoping this will mean we have more time to spend together but are still able to fund the lifestyle we'd like.  Having had the security of Mr F's well paid, full-time job for so long, it does seem as though we're standing on the edge of a cliff but then...

'Standing on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais

It would be wonderful to have some company on this next leg so I hope you can join me.

Fortune x
 
PS If you'd like to read about our previous adventures you can find them here:

Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais
«134567…78

Comments

  • Rach273
    Rach273 Posts: 83 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10 Posts
    Happy new diary! I’ve only just discovered your old one so looking forward to catching up and following your progress with interest :)
    "It’s all about balance, do you see? Balance is the trick. Keep the balance and—” She stopped. “You’ve ridden on a seesaw? One end goes up, one end goes down. But the bit in the middle, right in the middle, that stays where it is. Upness and downness go right through it. Don’t matter how high or low the ends go, it keeps the balance.”
  • rtandon27
    rtandon27 Posts: 5,636 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Happy New Diary Fortune!
    4 YEARS 10 MONTHS DEBT FREE!!! (24 OCT 2016)
    (With heartfelt thanks to those who have gone before us & their indubitable generosity.)
    ...and now I have a mortgage! (23 AUG 2021)
    New projection - 14 YEARS 10 MONTHS LEFT OF 20 YEARS (reduced by 15 mths)
    Psst...I may have started a diary!
  • Humdinger1
    Humdinger1 Posts: 2,293 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Tip-top @Fortune_Smiles! I have subscribed.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 
  • teapot2
    teapot2 Posts: 3,530 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Happy new chapter and diary x

  • VintageHistorian
    VintageHistorian Posts: 998 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Happy new diary FS! Have duly bookmarked this new one to follow.
    "You won't bloom until you're planted" - Graffiti spotted in Newcastle.

    Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind - Doctor Who

    Total mortgage overpayments 2017 - 2024 - £8945.62!
  • SandyShores
    SandyShores Posts: 1,962 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Following you over here :smile:
    "Think of many things, do one"
    Mortgage 30 Jul'25 est. £209,749 £309,749 (aiming for sub-£200k next)
    Seven Goals; 12.5lbs lost in 4 months (5.5lbs to go); walk/run/exercising/weights/yoga 

  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 95,489 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Happy shiny new diary.
    A new chapter beckons  xx
    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.
  • Four_Seasons
    Four_Seasons Posts: 916 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Posts
    Following along xx
  • juliejim
    juliejim Posts: 7,943 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Lots of changes ahead! Happy new diary!
    NST #10 Steps 7K 2/30 10K 2/12 5 a day 3/30 NSD 0/20
    MBNA £5500
  • savingholmes
    savingholmes Posts: 28,971 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Congratulations on the next chapter - will continue to follow with interest.
    Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
    1) MFW Nov 21 £202K now £174.8K Equity 32.77%
    2) £2.6K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
    3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £24.3K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.2K) = 30.1/£127.5K target 23.6% 29/7/25
    4) FI Age 60 income target £16.5/30K 55.1%
    5) SIPP £4.8K updated 29/7/25
★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.6K Spending & Discounts
  • 244K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.
Update Your Picture