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🌞 Happy Days in our Golden Years 🌞



Just over a year has passed since the final entry of my last diary. A whole year of no debts and no mortgage 😁 We are semi-retired, using our private pensions to cover the cost of bread and butter and running our own business part-time to put jam on it. You’d think I could do without a money saving diary in those circumstances.
However, after years of developing and practising good money saving habits, I’m finding it difficult to break free of a scarcity mindset. (It’s a common challenge for the newly retired apparently.) I feel as though I’m overspending or am not spending mindfully. This isn’t rational as the house hasn’t suddenly filled with diamond jewellery and there wasn’t a Porsche on the drive last time I looked. I think it’s because I’ve stopped thinking about money so much. That could be considered a good thing but it’s making me feel unsettled and out of control. I’m hoping a new diary will help me, as it has before, with finding the right balance to fund happy days in our golden years.
In the absence of a ‘Retirement diaries’ thread, I’m returning to my old home of ‘Mortgage-free wannabe’ which I hope is ok with everyone. Although I have been quiet on the Forum this last year, I have been keeping up with diaries and silently cheering everyone on. It would be lovely to ‘see’ some old friends.
Fortune x
PS If you'd like to read about my previous adventures you can find them here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466434/a-better-view/p1
Working at Living
Comments
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Welcome back (although you've not really been away). It sounds as though you are missing talking about money, maybe?
I think a 'Retirement diaries' thread would be very popular, and helpful too.I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/227 -
Welcome back dearest Fortune! It will be lovely to 'hear' your voice again & see pics of your creative endeavours!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!7
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You’ve been busy living 🤷♀️😊 No bad thing I think 😊
What are you doing with your time now? Have you taken up hobbies you didn’t have time for before? That might help with the scarcity mindset feeling - that you are using your time and money on something fulfilling for you?
KKAs at 15.07.25:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £233,521
- OPs to mortgage = £11,816 Interest saved £5,28 to date
Fixed rate 3.85% ends January 2030
Read 41 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 9th August
Produce tracker: £272 of £300 in 2025
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.7 -
I'd love to read a retirement diary - show us all what we're aiming for!Start mortgage date: August 2022; Start mortgage amount: £240,999; Original mortgage free date: August 2056
Current mortgage amount: £226,957.97
Start student loan 2012: £29,750; current student loan: CLEARED July 20258 -
Yay welcome back Fortune! I always love reading your posts, consider yourself subscribed!"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!7 -
Cherryfudge said:Welcome back (although you've not really been away). It sounds as though you are missing talking about money, maybe?
I think a 'Retirement diaries' thread would be very popular, and helpful too.rtandon27 said:Welcome back dearest Fortune! It will be lovely to 'hear' your voice again & see pics of your creative endeavours!KajiKita said:You’ve been busy living 🤷♀️😊 No bad thing I think 😊
What are you doing with your time now? Have you taken up hobbies you didn’t have time for before? That might help with the scarcity mindset feeling - that you are using your time and money on something fulfilling for you?
KKMerlin's_Beard said:I'd love to read a retirement diary - show us all what we're aiming for!
Fortune x
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6623005/happy-days-in-our-golden-years/p1?new=1
Working at Living7 -
VintageHistorian said:Yay welcome back Fortune! I always love reading your posts, consider yourself subscribed!
Fortune x
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6623005/happy-days-in-our-golden-years/p1?new=1
Working at Living5 -
Oh Fortune, its lovely to 'see' you back. So happy to hear things are all well with you and Mr FI'm another who loves to read your posts. How's F- Dawg (and if memory serves me right a grand baby?)BW x5
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Lovely to have you back Fortune! 😁Mortgage free 16/06/2023! £132,500 cleared in 11 years, 3 months and 7 days
'Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.' Ernest Hemingway6 -
BookWorm said:Oh Fortune, its lovely to 'see' you back. So happy to hear things are all well with you and Mr FI'm another who loves to read your posts. How's F- Dawg (and if memory serves me right a grand baby?)BW xthemadvix said:Lovely to have you back Fortune! 😁
Fortune x
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6623005/happy-days-in-our-golden-years/p1?new=1
Working at Living6
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