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Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations
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Sorry to hear about your mum SL, I hope there is a way forward that helps.
On another important point, happy birthday! 🥂🎂
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Happy 🎂 birthday
“the princess jumped from the tower & she learned that she could fly all along. she never needed those wings.”
Amanda Lovelace, The Princess Saves Herself in this One2 -
Happiest of birthdays to you. 🐝🥂
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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*** in ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 19months left.2 -
Happy birthday, wishing you a lovely day.
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!1 -
Happy birthday SL - the sun is finally shining so it must know it is your birthday.
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Genetics @Suffolk_lass? Would that cover 'bees too angry to sell' I wonder? I'm sure you'll do brilliantly. Love Humdinger xx
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And happy birthday!
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Hope you had a lovely birthday SL - and sending all the good vibes to your Mum too.
🎉 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
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00. Balance as at 31/12/25 = £ 91,100.00
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her1 -
Thanks for the good wishes, my mum is doing OK. I think more than anything, we both needed a F@F hug. Mission accomplished, along with a bit of pruning and taking her out for a bit of a trip to somewhere my dad used to take her, and to a coffee shop she had never visited.
Therein lay a tale. We arrived just before 12.00 and checked it was OK to just have coffee as we were shown to a restaurant table. Mum had a super-sweet (and reportedly delicious) hot chocolate, while I had a black coffee. There were two young men next to us who were eating their lunch and I suggested to Mum what one of them was eating, and reassured her it would have been enough for both of us. Then one of them initiated a conversation with us and we chattered away (Mum mostly) while I tried to let them get on - they were clearly working locally (roofer and fencing company sweatshirts; always a giveaway!) and on a time limit. I even suggested she was on a bit of a sugar rush. We all laughed. When we left - they had bought our drinks and the girl behind the till was more than a little thrilled (they were both lovely looking lads, her age). Such a lovely thing to do. Three of us (including the till employee) were thrilled. I bought a cream strawberry doughnut (the size of a side plate - literally enormous!) and we shared it that evening for dessert. Mum was still talking about it after I came home.
It is busy, busy here now, with a start again area of garden, and seeds to plant, along with getting space to our bees
Save £12k in 2026 #2 I have banked £2870.61 so far, against a £10k target The 2026 Save £12k in 2026 thread is here
OS Grocery Challenge in 2026 I am sticking with a £3000 annual budget for 2026 - currently £568.34 and most of my March purchasing made
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the grow your own in 2026 discussion thread
My keep within our budget diary is here6 -
What a nice thing to happen in the coffee shop. Glad to hear your Mum is doing ok.
Yes, it's much needed garden time here too. I've been enjoying it though, as it involves lots of mindful activities.
Your Black Russian seeds have made nice little plants btw 🙂
F x
2026's challenges: 1) To rebuild our Emergency Fund to at least £5k.
2) To read 50 books (12/50) 3) The Re-Shrinking of Foxgloves 8.1kg/30kg
Remember....if you have to put it on a credit card, extend your overdraft or take out a loan to buy whatever it is, you probably can't afford it, as that's not your money, it's somebody else's!2
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