Prosperous and Creative Soul Year 5

savingholmes

Thanks Lucielle, WD and TG

The decluttering was excellent but exhausting. I went out for a meal after, took something to the tip and then went to bed for 3 hours!! I think a combination of decision fatigue and being with someone for 3 hours - although she was lovely. She also made room for my xmas stuff in the cupboard under the stairs so my guest room is more usable again. We also fit in 2 chairs, 6 stackable stools, a bucket and a strimmer. The bottom of the stairs / inner hallway is now clear. It feels relaxing and a relief to have it clear. She also picked up everything off the floor that didn't belong in the back L shape - so it all feels better. 4 bags of stuff left and a lot of what stayed (in my art area) was given homes.

I've booked her to return in a fortnight. I bought another 'matching' cupboard on FB for £30 - RRP over £120. One of my existing cupboards is falling apart (one I've had over 15 years) - so looking out on FB for other matching ones to the new set.

I also bought a gorgeous bright red handbag for £30 from TK which I may see if someone will give me for my birthday and a £100 plastic storage garden bench too… So it feels like money is flowing out at a rate of knots. I do feel more excited about the future with the holiday. I've also subscribed to Duo again so I can brush up my Italian - and am hopefully sharing the membership with my Mum - which should knock at least £20 off the cost.

Holiday now booked for June which is very exciting. I'll go to my Mum's and then we'll get an uber to the airport. We'll arrive in a city where we could do some sightseeing before going to another city by train and staying at a hotel overnight. That then puts us an hour by public transport away from where we are going. Then we'll get an airport transfer taxi on the last day and then an uber thereafter. I need to book it off with work tomorrow. I got a passport photo done today - so that's my next job - to finish the renewal. I bought an 'extra' on my bank travel insurance last year - I need to see if I am still covered or whether I need to pay it again before I go. Last year I think it was around £100 extra. Just have to hope the holiday goes smoothly now.

I'm feeling a bit 'eek' over the money for all that but life is short. It's within the ballpark of what I anticipated - I just find it scary when the money starts to go out. Mum thankfully is transferring the money over for her share as the bills hit. I've put the flights and the first night's hotel on a cashback credit card. But that needs clearing within a month so I will need to raid my savings. The main hotel doesn't need paying until June and I'll get paid again just after my trip starts. He gave me a special rate - which was very generous. It is nice going to a family run hotel that values return guests. I also need to decide what to do with my cat. I hate catteries but the last person I got to come into my home to look after my cat didn't do a great job. I've tried 2 apps so far…

I also did another portrait and started a painting of a lion - using mainly pallet knife plus painted some backgrounds for other pictures.

beanielou

Life is indeed short.Glad you are booked.

lucielle

A holiday to look forward to is nice to have. Lovely that you get to spend time with your mum.
L

Honeysucklelou2

Your garden sounds very colourful…fabulous! How lovely to have a holiday to look forward to. Well done on the decluttering.

savingholmes

Thanks HSL and Lucielle and Beanie

Yes my garden is very colourful now. Tulips of all varieties in all their glory. Red robin in flower. A hedge above my garden with white flowers and cherry trees as well as a range of flowers in my garden - including love lies bleeding. Very happy.

Been paid again. So another £1.1K has gone into AVCs. My investments are up again - which is always a relief.

A friend asked to borrow money. She never has before - but it was a big amount by my standards. I chatted with my sis about it - and then loaned the friend only what I could 'afford' to lose - which was 20% of her original ask. For me that was really good boundary keeping. Let's hope I get it back around August when she promised as that is when my CCs are due. DD is also due to repay her loan around then.

I'm hoping the unions agree our pay rise by September - if they do - I could get back pay just in time for my CC pay off - or in time for my Oz holiday - either of which would be sweet. That assumes that work don't do a restructure before then and put me on protected pay. I'm hoping I avoid that however - although if they offered redundancy - that's still my preference.

I'm hoping to book a series of chiro sessions again - as I get the costs back.

My holiday has thrown my budget for a loop - but the CC isn't due until next month - so will chip away what I can and then review use of savings then. Meanwhile my savings can continue to earn interest.

savingholmes

I know not all of you have the signature showing so this is where I am at with my goals:

Achieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030

1. MFW Nov 21 £202K [s][/s] now £167.4K Equity 38% 3/4/26
2. £2.5K Net savings after CCs 14/4/26 (but owed £1.1K) so £3.6K
3. Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC £38.5K + Lump Sums DB £4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.3K) = 44.4K of £127.5K target 34.8% 17/4/26 (If took bigger lump sum = 66.4K or 52%)
4. FI Age 60 income target £17.1/30K 57% (if mortgage and debts repaid - need more otherwise) (If bigger lump sum £15.8/30K 52.67%)
5. SIPP £5.3K updated 17/4/26

By the end of the pay month - my net savings should be £3.1K (or with owed amounts £4.3K). That assumes that the stock market stays steady or increases.

Although I'd love to finish work next year on my birthday (57) - unless get new money in it seems unlikely. As well as mortgage payments - I need to plan for car replacement by 2030 too - which suggests I need to work another year or two (at least) beyond that to boost my funds. My sis is unsure that I will get sufficient benefit from stopping structured work - to offset the increased anxiety around living on a lower income. My goal after the divorce was to aim for age 60 which would be more prudent - 62 would be even better - but I'm trying to balance that with the reality that I have limited life energy… and none of us know how much time we have left.

I need to keep taking the big picture steps I can, while ensuring my daily steps don't wreck my overall plan. So that means for now:

Continue AVCs - should increase to £1150 a month from next month

Continue repayment mortgage - which means I'm chipping away around £675 off the capital owed each month

Continue chipping away at CCs (min £455 a month) - with the aim of clearing them entirely by September with the additional use of savings.

Try to ensure I have net savings and investments left even after Oz holiday and clearing CCs.

Try to reduce how much money I need to live on - and save/invest more.

Keep doing my art course and build up collections to show and sell - and develop my voice as an artist.

Lauraebrad

I love that turn of phrase - 'develop my voice as an artist' - it looks like your goals are really well balanced between financial and personal growth x

beanielou

Even 62 is a massive 5 years before SPA which is fantastic. What you have achieved is incredible.

SuperSecretSquirrel

Hi SH 👋

As we all know everyone has their own budgets and plans, so feel free to ignore, but to me a 30kpa retirement budget for one adult with no debts (inc mortgage) seems a lot. We're targetting less than that for a family of four. I know we're on the cheaper end of the scale, and others will be aiming for more than you are, it's all very personal, but have you modelled scenarios where you need less than 30kpa? Does that change the timescales to something you are happier with?

Merlin's_Beard

You're well on your way to your goals!