The Little Cottage by the Sea

Rhyddid2026

Well you can see from my diary I'm hardly the most stable so it might not completely pass!😂
I didn't mean anything by the wages comment, I just got registered and chartered 18 months ago after going back to uni at 40. People (family mostly) seem to think because I went to uni that means I'm loaded but the majority of my debt is related to studying. I also look 'financially dumb'. I do love my job though, so it's all worth it really.

BrimfulofSascha

No offence over the wages. I know how ridiculously privileged I am in the grand scheme of things.

Rhyddid2026

And also you worked hard and made sacrifices to get to a place where that was possible!

ryandotdee

Well done on your progress

Have read through from the beginning, and its been really thought provoking.  Can see a few parallels in our situation, and seeing the progress you are making is giving me that extra bit of hope I need right now, as I am feeling a bit daunted by the road in front of me.

Good luck with the Marathon! I did a training race in Italy in November which was amazing, was preparing for a race in Jan but sadly broke my ankle so have had to drop out, hoping I will be running again in time for the London Marathon though.

Keep going, you are doing so well!

BrimfulofSascha

ryandotdee said:

Well done on your progress

Have read through from the beginning, and its been really thought provoking.  Can see a few parallels in our situation, and seeing the progress you are making is giving me that extra bit of hope I need right now, as I am feeling a bit daunted by the road in front of me.

Good luck with the Marathon! I did a training race in Italy in November which was amazing, was preparing for a race in Jan but sadly broke my ankle so have had to drop out, hoping I will be running again in time for the London Marathon though.

Keep going, you are doing so well!

Nice of you to pop in. shall put the kettle on, do you prefer tea or coffee?

Injury is such a risk isn't it. I'm less than six weeks out from the race and I'm currently sporting a rib injury. I've not been able to run further than 6km the past coupe of weeks. The ankle sounds devastating though. I hope you recover well.

BrimfulofSascha

Hi lovelies,

I think it's time to sneak in and ask to hold a confessional.

I've had a big back step in progress in the last six weeks and the debt has gone up and the savings down. 
The biggest issues were my car finally dying and my boiler needing replaced. 
The boiler was done half from savings and half with an interest free loan.
The (new to me but not new new) car was done part from savings and part with a low interest bank loan (not car finance- I haven't totally lost my money sense).
This wouldn't be a problem but the plastic got flexed over the last 6 weeks too, prepaying for travel over the coming months. The workload has just been too much and I've not taken annual leave in ages- burnt out and 'treated' us to a couple of trips (big birthday weekend away for DP - totally my expense, and travel for my marathon- shared expense) I also went bonkers with christmas treats (but not food), and sundry expenses for DIY bits and bobs (plastering where the boiler was, boarding the ceiling and floor where the boiler now is, paint etc) 

2026 start debt is now back up to £31,080.69! Ouch!

But, I have a reliable car, and a warm house, and the payments are affordable. I just wont be debt free by March 2027. I've done a BT for the overspends on the CC. It's 0% for the next 21 months so will just aim to pay that off by the rate expiry.
The boiler loan ticks by until Dec 28, and the car loan Nov 29.

I have no plans to speed this up right now. I'm going to stick to the payments and chuck any access into savings and S&S Isa and just see how it ticks itself along.

The debt is a lot but it doesn't control me and I want to  enjoy the tiny bit I have left of DD's childhood. She reminde me on New years day that she will be 18 next year. Frightening! I am not ready to let go.

The positives,
I still hold 1 month income in savings/EF
I hold £532.15 in sinking funds (home repairs, car ins/maint, Gifts, Travel)
I really like the new car and I know it was a sensible decision given my commute.
All (bar new windows) the expensive need-a-professional-in things are now done on the house. A relief as a solo homeowner.
I *think* we are coming out of the other side of the terrible teens (touches wood)
I am loved, and healthy.

2026 goals
* Get debt below £15k.
* 1 adventure (big or small), 1 DIY job, 1 Race, each month of the year
* Read 52 books (managed 38 last year)
* Do something personal developmenty

I think that's it for now.

I'll try and have a catch up on some diaries. I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Love and light
Sascha

Rhyddid2026

I was going to reply with whatever priests say in confession, but I've never been, so I can't 

And now I've gone down a priest confession meme rabbit hole. 

You have plenty of positives there, and both those big spends were kind of an investment, and you have a sound plan to clear them off, so onwards and upwards!

Humdinger1

@BrimfulofSascha life takes over sometimes!  You've done the necessary without losing your grip.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

BrimfulofSascha

Happy Friday folk,

Lots and nothing to report.

We had a lovely break away in the mountains for DP's big birthday. I splashed out a bit on a nice cottage for the weekend with a hottub. It was bliss having time just the two of us in the hills. Did a couple of long hikes, on one we didn't see another soul the whole 8 hours.

We have also been to Spain for the marathon I couldn't run due to injury. Changed our plans slightly and spent longer in the mountains, another day couple of day long hikes were had, another where we didn't see a soul for 8 whole hours. The weather was poor, especially compared to the previous months trip in Wales, but we are not fair weather hikers, we came home with everything wet and muddy. Just how we like it.

A little movement on the debt but not as much as I'd like. I mentioned an injury above. It's meant I'[ve had 6 weeks of twice weekly appointments with a chiropractor. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how not cheap that is! Health is our most important wealth though, so I will persist.

I'm still prioritising long walks and outdoor time for recovery and mental wellbeing and it has helped no end this winter.

It's almost Spring and I'm feeling sunny this week.

I hope you are all well.

Love and light

S

BrimfulofSascha

Hi Lovelies,

How much better is it now the mornings are lighter? My sleep is terrible at the moment with lots of things in my head, but it makes getting out of bed easier.

My bank account is already looking tight and it's only a week since pay day. I've spent way to much on groceries and convenience with how hectic work is. It's taking a toll on my stomach as well as my bank. I have a recipe box arriving today that I hope brings some order (and fibre) discounted of course.

This should be my last week of 2x weekly chiropractor sessions. I have my assessment on Friday and then I hope I can reduce the frequency. It should also mean I might be able to start some more strenuous exercise. I did get back to running last week and managed 24km. Not to be sniffed at, but nowhere close to where I need to be for Ultra running season. Thankfully I only have 1 race scheduled, and not until August. I've learned my lesson from my health failure for last months Spanish marathon.

I booked flights for me and my daughter's summer trip this week, £234 for both of us. I paid on my CC for the protection but I have that in the holiday pot so I will transfer over at the end of the month so I don't incur interest. I've yet to plan any other element of the trip yet so I do need to be a bit more proactive with that.

Speaking of pots, for the first time in my debt journey I think I'm finally starting to crack sinking funds. I've always managed a half attempt with car expenses, but it wasn't realistic given my mileage. Everything else has always been spent in the month it's deposited.

Current scores are

Holiday Pot:£476.04

Car Pot: £321.48

Gift Pot: £223.44

Household/DIY Pot: £102.28

all achieved since Christmas.

EF currently £2737.69 - which is just about one months living expenses including just above minimums on debt payments.

So if 5H1T really hit the fan I could scrape together £4k. It's mad that I have c.£30k of non-mortgage debt and have never really had savings and yet now £4k seems a tiny amount to see me out of a hole.

My 2026 plan of action

• pay the minimums on my car loan (£189) and the boiler loan (£47). these are low-ish monthly values and linked to a specific spend, with low interest rates.
• round minimum credit card payments to the nearest 50/100 each month. (£100 BC, £200 Virg, £250 NW)
• keep up with sinking funds ( monthly = £20 household, £100 car maintenance, £75 gifts, £250 holidays) - I know that's a lot in holidays when I have debt but I know myself and I will feast or famine if I don't have purpose.
• everything else gets chucked in savings £100 to PB, everything else to my Marcus account.
• pay chunks off credit cards when 0%'s run out. next one is end of June which I'll need to send £3k to. Gross.

This will see me CC free by November next year, I will just keep the car loan rolling. This deadline does assume I will get my annual bonus in Spring 2027 but I have been conservative with the estimate. My savings should also be c.£12k by then so if I don't get the bonus it won't derail me completely. 7 whole months before DD finishes full time education- which is my absolute no negotiations deadline.

I will then look to make small increases to my mortgage payment and large increases to investing type savings. I aim to round the mortgage payment up but then over pay a chunk at the end of term from investments. This makes the most financial sense.

My big goal when I'm debt free is to live a little. My debt free date is a smidge after DD's 18 birthday. I have worked my a55 off to raise her by myself and I want to do all the things I never dreamed I'd be able to do when I became a solo parent at 21. I have a big adventure planned for October next year so it would be nice if I could shave off 1 month and do this trip CC debt free.

I think this is the most explicit I've probably been in my diary about numbers.

Now just to get to work and make sure I don't derail my goal with pub lunches and running shoes!

Love and light

Sascha