After 20+ years here I'm not sure where I belong anymore ...

benbenandme

Roast dinner done, now vegging with the dog watching ET 😊

Later I need to tidy the kitchen, then a nice hot bath. Tonight I want to read up on solar panels, not necessarily something I'm thinking of, but something I've never really taken any notice of before, I'm just interested to see the longterm costs/benefits, especially living in a south facing home on the south coast. This is where it feels strange, suddenly considering all sorts of things I have never taken notice of before.

Blackcats

The money from your aunt via your mum must feel bittersweet but it's a wonderful thing for your mum to be able to for you and your DS. Your brother is very generous too.

I am SO pleased for you.

Sun_Addict

So pleased to read your news although it’s sad about your aunt.

I stayed on the DFW diaries board after becoming debt free.

skint_spice

All the best in your new situation, financially it’s a great position and one that you deserve to enjoy x

benbenandme

Morning all, a nice sunny albeit cold one here this morning. Winnie wakes up at 6 so this morning we went to a car boot sale rather than the normal beach walk. £1 to get in, £3 on a new phone charger cable as mine packed up yesterday (new phone doesn't arrive for a couple of weeks), and £8 on a couple of lovely jumpers. I was tempted to buy a couple of bits to flip on ebay or vinted but decided against it, I'm still in decluttering mode so bringing extra stuff into the house isn't part of the plan. I wanted to get some plants or fruit / veg but this car boot didn't have any of that stuff, it was clearly families who had been doing an Easter clearout.

Home now with the first coffee of the day and a bit of chocolate egg :) Not sure what the rest of the day holds as yet, will see Mum for a bit but probably just another mooching around kinda day.

I read the MSE views on solar panels and am giving it a miss - 13 years to recoup the outlay isn't worth it in my book, not sure I'll still be living here at that point.

benbenandme

Just won 800 octopoints on spin the wheel (Octopus energy), worth £1 and £13 on a slot game on skybet.

badmemory

13 years to recoup seems like a lot. I've had mine just under 2 years & am looking at recouping in around 9 although probably less as I am learning more recently about how to take advantage. The first year I didn't have a clue. Now I fill my battery overnight on cheap rate. I use quite a lot & I suspect that the more you use the more you are likely to save. But then the sun is free & I suspect that there is only one direction electricity is going to go.

benbenandme

A lovely early morning beach walk with Winnie today, now just pottering at home, will visit Mum in a bit then I need to do some shopping, some food bits and some stuff from B&M.

This week has flown by, I want to start getting things finished off at home, I still need to clean the carpets etc. The skip is full and being collected on Tuesday, then I have a few metal bits to be collected by the scrap man. Yesterday I tidied up the garden, cut the grass and got the cushions out for the garden chairs. I like this time of year where it's warmer, lighter, and everything feels good with the world.

Spendless

Hi - I've also been here for 20+ years, had 2 diaries (ran debt back up) then became both debt and mortgage free during the life of my current one. Eventually I decided that we'd start paying back into savings money we'd taken out for various life situations plus supporting kids thru Uni (for 8 consecutive years still ongoing!). Last month I eventually paid back the 'life events ones' and from next month will start paying back the kids higher education costs. I call them my 'alternative universe' savings cos in an alternative universe, we never had to fork out for them in the first place!. We also have bits and pieces that need doing on the house that have been on hold since our eldest went to Uni in 2018!

You will always find something to strive for. I notice your mortgage is quite a low % and the fixed rate finishes next year, that might be something you want to start saving towards.

Good luck.

benbenandme

Had a lovely beach walk with a friend this morning, now watching the footie for the afternoon. The dog is snoring nicely, lots of walking and fresh air and she is sparko.

Back to work tomorrow so I need to sort my bag out later. Someone is coming round later on to buy something I put on marketplace when I was sorting out the garage - another tenner for the pot hopefully.