Settling in for the long haul

Dakota_Rose

It’s been a reasonably good day today. I had a very early start for work and didn’t sleep the best so it wasn’t the greatest of beginnings. However it’s been fine and I had some work from home time this afternoon which is always a good pick-me-up.

I’ve sold a dress on eBay so that’s £19.50 coming in once cleared. This was one of mum’s items so I’ll pop half in her savings and half towards the velvetiser. £9.50/£50 cleared.
Mr D has also sent his contribution of £25 so I’ll keep that aside for now, as I’d like to give him it back if I can make enough in sales this month to clear it. Not sure I have enough listed that will go, but you never know.

Eldest’s trust fund statement has come through today and it has gone up by £80 since last year. This is the most notable increase in many years. He started with the smaller £250 payment, which we’ve never added to. We placed it in a HSBC half savings, half S&S trust fund (risk averse? - me?) It’s now just reached £532. I’m not sure if this is a good return in almost 16 years? Either way, it’ll be very welcome for him in another 2 years. The younger children did not get the payment and although they’ve started their savings pots, there’s very little in them. We will aim to give them the same lump sum as eldest receives when it’s their time. It’s given me food for thought anyway.

Tonight’s dinner is spag bol which is smelling delicious. Beyond that, there is a very quiet evening planned. I must pick up a new book as I’ve spent too much time scrolling since I finished my last.

Friday tomorrow!

Dakota_Rose

Well I haven’t picked up a new book yet, but I did take Dakota Dog out for a walk tonight and have just sold another item on eBay. £30 for this one 😊

Chuffed with that. Half will go to mum so I’m on £24.50/£50 for the velvetiser. That’s my half paid for and any extra will mean Mr D can have his contribution back.

Not much energy left in the tank now so after I’ve had my peppermint tea, I think I’ll have an early night.

Dakota_Rose

£3.84 cashed out of TCB tonight so when that clears I’ll have £28.35/£50 covered.

I’m pleased it’s Friday and am, as always, looking forward to my time off work this weekend. We haven’t made any big plans, but will visit Mum and enjoy some good food.

Sun_Addict

You’re doing really well. Enjoy your weekend 🙂

Honeysucklelou2

Your packed lunch sounded delicious!! The child trust funds are interesting if you have children that span across that time frame. Half of my children have them and they have been useful in providing a deposit for uni accommodation for 2 of them but my youngest didn’t have one so I’ve set up a standing order to a savings account to ensure he has a similar pot!

Enjoy the weekend!

Dakota_Rose

Thanks both for dropping in. Is there a better feeling than waking up on a no-work day? I don’t think so 😂. I do enjoy so much of my job, but I genuinely think I could live very happily without work. Unfortunately, at the rate my finances are going, I’ve got a lot of years left to graft. I have touched upon others’ diaries in the MFW forum talking about FIRE plans. I’d love to retire really early but I just don’t think this is an option open to me.

What does today look like? It’ll be low spend. We plan to visit Mum (Little Miss is having a sleepover) and take her over to a charity shop she likes. She hasn’t been out much at all since her back surgery so she has been looking forward to this little trip out. From the sales this week, she also has some spending money to enjoy.

Mr D wants me to hold a ladder again as he carries on drilling through the thick render over our air bricks. He’s hoping by getting the air flowing again, we can prevent some of the winter damp we’ve been getting. They’re very high up and hard work to get through.

Other than that, hopefully just some time to enjoy being at home. I may start a new book, I have a jigsaw to continue with and should really try and stay awake long enough to spend some time with Mr D! This week has felt like a series of busy days and early nights.

Rhyddid2026

I'm with you on the FIRE plans, no chance for me with this much debt and so little pension. I'd like to have enough to choose what work i do and when I do it though, so that's my aim. Maybe financial flexibility rather than total independence. Just work a few months here and there maybe, work through winter to have summers off, or a day a two a week in a cute little book shop all year round.

What book are you starting?

FootyFanDan

pretty similar I think my aim is to be able to choose what I do n not have the stresses later in life. It’s all nice having a good salary but the stress and hours that come with that aren’t all fun. It would be nice to have the choices rather then feeling stuck because of past bad financial decisions

Dakota_Rose

@Rhyddid2026 I haven’t started one yet but have a shelf of books to be read. I’ll happily job share with you in that book shop of yours 😉. I could paint bookmarks for the counter in my spare time 😂 .

I don’t feel so bad about past decisions @FootyFanDan. We’ve been working hard and wisened up so much in recent years that I’ve moved on in my mind. My aim is definitely to be comfortable enough to leave my current job at a reasonable age, but I just have no idea what I’d move onto at the moment. One positive will be my pension, which is very generous and I’ve been paying into it for twenty years now. I hate the thought of being too stressed/ill to enjoy it though. Losing a parent in their early 50s is a sobering thing. Life really is too precious and I want to enjoy it, especially the simple things.

Nothing spent today other than Mum and I spending our £6 sale money on some lotto tickets. Neither of us would usually do so, but it’s the first time we’ve been out together for a while and she fancied it as a treat. I have salvaged a couple of other things she was wanting to clear out and have listed them on marketplace. We’ll see if they’ll go this month.

I have almost completed my jigsaw but have achieved nothing else today.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s a good phrase…financial flexibility…that’s a positive aim!