From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

beanielou

I am still on MFW. I have finally paid the mortgage off. I had a turbulent journey to being mortgage free as a lone parent with a disability. Times I thought I would never get there. I now only have a home improvement loan. DS is now a fully functioning independent adult. I think MFW is all the richer for us all sharing our very different lives and experiences.
Please stay 🤗

in_need_of_direction

whereas I never ventured as far as mfw. I stayed a dfw to continue to beat myself up about the times I traded unsecured debt for secured debt. If you’re having doubts about continuing to post, greying, can I suggest you go to the start of your thread and consider how happy people were to “see” you again.

With regard to how you choose to experience parenthood, I don’t think there are any of us who don’t struggle, albeit in different ways, with regard to our lifestyle choices. It’s taken me a long time to realise that all we can do is our best at the time we make decisions.

Yours is one of the threads I visit regularly as I love the reminisces that periodically pop up and I also find that your Day to day updates are grounding. I must admit most of your cookery would scare the bejesus out of me. I still have nightmares thinking of my mother’s use of the pressure cooker.

That said, while I’d be sad not to pop in, if you need to step back, I hope it works out for you and the gp family

rtandon27

GP - yours is one of the well balanced & sane voices in this part of the internet. You being you is such a good influence on so many of us! I learned to meal plan in a fun way because of you! Pizza on a Friday & all is well with the world!

The universe sends us all trials and tribulations & things we did not ask for, and sometimes things we never knew we wanted! You are one of those rare people who teaches us how to handle those things with grace and resilience. I hope you stay on MSE and in the diaries, being yourself, and posting about your day to day from your virtual kitchen.

Greying_Pilgrim

It has become apparent to me why my kitchen is tiny. Despite it being the largest kitchen we have ever 'owned'. All the MSE'rs are in here with us 😁 Specifically, tmv was with us this afternoon. I had got the Brussels out to shred, and LG asked if they could do some. I said yes, and they got the 'smaller' knife to begin cutting. It was clear that despite their best efforts, the smaller knife wasn't the one to 'shred' the sprouts. So, I remembered what tmv had said about training Brownies to use knives…… and so I said, "why don't you use the big knife? But be careful, I've sharpened it….." So they did, and although we had to have a discussion about how to cut the sprout when you're actually 3/4 of the way through, LG persevered, and I am so glad to report LG has as many fingers now, as they started with 😉 They felt involved, and trusted, and they didn't grouse about the cooked sprouts on their plate 👍 They did moan about the broad beans, but ya can't have everything, can you?

We have had a lovely 'Valentines dinner'. We had a qu0rn white wine, cream bake, with plenty of veg in there, and pasta (LG requested it over rice), and there was shredded sprouts on the plate too. The bottle of sparkling English wine was possibly amongst the best we've had. It was a bin end, so "cheap" (everything is relative, so it was far more than we'd normally pay for several bottles of wine…… ), but it was rose in colour, full of summer fruit flavours, and I'm glad that we got it. The place is full of wonderful memories of our wedding, and remains our favourite county on earth.

DH is currently doing the washing up. Hopefully the troops will be content with a MrS falsey corneyetto for pud.

Change or pivot is on the cards. We've not had an in-depth conversation, but DH was quite open to looking at how we could change his retirement date. That's massive. Normally we have convos that DH will immediately see faults, or 'Abbots', but no. I got "yes, I need to look into sorting out (streamlining) my private pension pots, and yes, you could make this work…….." Sure, that puts the onus on me, and we're both agreed that LG mustn't miss out, but it's a step forward - with ease - that I've not seen before.

I have not commented - in depth - with regard to recent posts, but I have read them, and know that I greatly appreciate them. I will come back to them. But for now, a c0rneyett0 dupe has my name on it, so……

Thank you for joining in and thank you for your support. Greying X

KajiKita

What a lovely post and well done to Mr GP ❤️

Happy valentines eve to you all x

KK

themadvix

❤️❤️❤️ What a lovely post GP - you have such a lovely family! I’m so pleased for you that Mr GP is thinking along the same lines about retirement. (And I’m very glad LG has all their fingers intact!!).

Baileys_Babe

Good to hear that Mr GP is willing to look into retirement plans, even if most of the work will be down to you.

Well done for trusting LG with the big knife and congratulations to LG for using the knife safely.

edinburgher

Tiny? Your kitchen is massive 😘 Don't underestimate the impact that your humble, friendly ramblings have on the wider interweb. Think classic Greek philosophers with a keyboard. Your chat makes us all think and sometimes feel a little uncomfortable because you're challenging life on "hard mode" and thriving.

In terms of where your "home" is, I've barely OPed compared to most on MFW, but I recognise my tribe. Different strokes for different folks, similar values on different streets. X

BookWorm

I'm another one who would miss you and your diary if you no longer posted here. I very much enjoy the 'discussions' that go on and also hearing about Family GP (despite being so very far removed from my own life and situation.). You always come across as a thoughtful and well reasoned individual, who welcomes other points of view. I don't post too often these days but I very much appreciate the friendly corner of MFW

Cherryfudge

The only reason for you to leave would be if you genuinely felt happier elsewhere, and sometimes there are different aspects of our lives or different seasons in which we need to talk to different people. That said - even if you were to go elsewhere, please don't leave us! And bear in mind, if winds of change are blowing, how much support and wisdom you have on tap here. People who have 'known' you for years and still keep coming, who have walked with you, albeit virtually, through some significant times: people who will put the kettle on and listen as you talk through whatever's on your mind, then hand you a brew and nod in the right places… what would we do if you moved on?