1000th post!

 

I can't believe this is my 1000th post!  When I started this blog in 2012 I had no idea how much my life would change.  I had a crazy plan to save £40k in 4 years so I could stay in the family home.  Since then there have been so many plans, some working out and some falling apart.  Sometimes due to my own mistakes or sometimes spoiled by other people changing their plans.

The biggest thing I've learned about myself in the last 12 years is that I am perfectly capable of being financially independent and I definitely do not need anyone in my life telling me what I can or cannot do!  If I'd had the confidence I have now back then I would have done a few things differently.  But everything always works out in the end.  Just not in the way you think!

So if you've been with me all this time, thank you!  If you've just recently found me, thank you!  The next part of the adventure starts soon and every single decision (or mistake!) will be mine 😊

Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!  As always I'm not making resolutions but I'm aiming (again!) to continue simplifying life and doing more of the things I love 💖 I've added my 4 goals to the sidebar ----->>>

So far my plan is to spend January finishing off all the DIY jobs that need doing, then in February the house (and garden) will get a deep clean and tidy.  Fingers crossed, the house can go on the market in March.  Eeeeek!!!!

In April my youngest son gets married and that's as far as I'm planning for now!

Hogmanay 2023

It's Hogmanay and a time when everyone reflects back on the year that has passed.  2023 certainly threw a lot at me and my family!  It was not the year that I had planned!!

I started the year off by being ill, my school got inspected and I decided that I'd had enough of the bureaucracy of education.  I then became even more ill and was signed off for several months before officially retiring early at 57 at the end of the academic year.

My Lovely Mum took ill very suddenly and I spent most of the Summer back in my childhood home.  My garden and allotment were sadly neglected although they produced a small of edible produce.

I impulsively bought a puppy (although it was in my long term plan of retirement) and she has taken up a lot of my time and money to get her healthy after a nasty puppy illness.  Here she is watching the snow falling yesterday ❄❅❆

So even though this year hasn't quite gone to plan, I still made it!  I'm even more grateful for my health now (physical and mental) and it will continue to be my number one priority next year.  I need to be in the best shape for all the changes 2024 is bringing to me and my family.

Happy New Year to all my lovely readers wherever you are and may you enjoy peace in 2024 💕 xxx

December Dark

I'm finding the dark mornings of December hard.  The dogs still need fed and toileted at 7am but it feels like the middle of the night.  Because it's still dark I can persuade Luna to come back to bed after feeding her and I spend another hour or 2 in bed until it's light.  The dark evenings don't bother me, just the mornings where I struggle to get going.

I was woken up at 9am by the builders who had come to finish off the wee fiddly bits.  They were supposed to come yesterday 🙄 But the cladding and new guttering is now officially complete 🎉  The electricians came yesterday and did all the wee fiddly bits of electrical work I've been needing done.  The above light switch is on the wonk by about 1cm 🙈  It doesn't look too bad in the photo but it's obvious in real life.  I'm at the stage where I'm not going to sweat stuff like this any more.  I'll fill in the wee gap, paint it and leave it alone.

I got a Sainsbury's delivery this morning, a big one or so I thought.  Hopefully it will do me the rest of December with just a few bits 'n' bobs from M&S to buy.  As I was putting it away it really didn't seem like much food at all for just under £130.  And there were a few substitutions I returned.

At what cost?

 

Today is the final dose of medication for both dogs to get rid of this blasted parasite.  Tomorrow Luna has a scheduled vet appt for her final vaccination.  But I've been warned she may not get it if they don't think she's 'clinically' well enough.  I honestly don't know what else can be done to eradicate it except dig up my whole garden and re landscape it.  And remove every single carpet and soft furnishing the dogs sit/lie on/brush against, just in case it's lurking there.  Luna doesn't get out into the back garden at all and doesn't get into any rooms with carpet.  Poor Emma is just very confused about everything 😢

I did pop to Tesco but it took ages trying avoid the flooded roads.  Stirling has been very badly hit.  I was very good and only bought laundry supplies, coffee and the usual allowed 2 packs of paracetamol for Emma.

The Tesco capsules work out at 16p each and I use 2 each time I wash the dog towels and bedding.  Plus I'm adding the sanitiser as a back up.  It really goes against my ideals to not use Ecover or equivalent earth friendly/home made products but they simply don't kill off viruses etc.  I'm balancing cost v principles and I'm honestly not happy about it.  My usual Ecover laundry liquid has been costing me 48p a load and by doing 3 or 4 loads a day I've used up a whole 1.5 litre bottle!  It would normally last me a few months!!  I can only hope this will all be over soon and I can go back to 'normal'  whatever that looks like now.

I bought the cheapest decent coffee.  At £3 for a 200g jar it doesn't break the bank.  But then it got me thinking about how it might have been produced.  Did the farmers get a fair price?  How was it processed so cheaply?  Etc etc etc...  Living simply and/or frugally has many challenges and I'm tying myself knots overthinking everything.  

What is the 'real' cost of having dogs especially when they get sick?  Maybe it's because I'm stir crazy being cooped up in only 2 rooms in the house with Luna.  It's not what I thought I'd be doing just a few months into retirement but I keep having to tell myself it must surely come to an end soon.  Please send positive vibes our way for the vet visit tomorrow!! 

10 years!

 

10 years ago today I moved back to the city, bucking the trend at the time of everyone moving to the country.  It was very stressful time in my life and I really didn't want to move.  At the time I didn't have many choices of houses to buy and I'll be honest and say I didn't love this house when I bought it.  It was supposed to be a stop gap before my then partner and I pooled our resources to buy a home together.  But plans (and people!) change and here I am 10 years later on my own (totally happy with that choice!!) planning to sell up next year and downsize even more.

I was thinking last night that I've now decorated every room in the house (except the craft room) and refloored the whole house with carpet and laminate.  I've replaced 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a utility room. I put in a woodburner.  I've painted everything white (mostly!)  I've replaced wonky doors and windows.  I've cut down horrendous Leylandii trees and built raised beds in the front and back gardens.  And I've tried to do it all as cost effectively as I can.  I'm lucky as I bought this house at a time when the housing market was low and I'll be selling it as the market is improving again.

I'm aiming to get the house on the market next March so I have started a list of the 'things' that I have to finish, get fixed and make everything look amazing in photos!!  My painting everything white strategy has paid off as all I need to do in some places is just a few touch ups.  No new materials will need to be bought.  I need an electrician to fix some lights and sockets.  And a builder /joiner to repair an outside wall.  Then Operation Downsize Me will begin in earnest!! 😊

Older and wiser??

 

I'm 57 today!! 🎂 Another year older and wiser??  Nope 😂  Still feel like I'm in my 30s although my body is telling me otherwise.  Number 1 priority now and when I retire is to get my health and fitness back up to where it was pre pandemic.  I remember fondly (!) the days where I could do a full day's work and then come home to go to the gym and workout for 2 hours.  Or go cycling/walking all day on a Saturday.

On reflection, I've spent the last year (since I got Covid) going to work then coming home to recover.  And by recover I mean doing NOTHING in the evenings or at weekends except to prepare for going back to work.  Holidays were spent recovering and catching up on dr and dentist appts, sorting out admin that could only be done in person.  

I'm really looking forward to getting even better!! 

The perfect description of a single woman in her 50s!

I haven't watched the last series of Happy Valley yet.  I'm saving it to watch during half term next week so no spoilers!!  From what I read Sarah Lancaster has outdone herself and Sally Wainwright's excellent writing has made it another outstanding triumph for the BBC.  BTW if you've never seen Gentleman Jack do watch it if you can, also written by Sally and on the Beeb.

But it was this quote that caught my attention.  It captures perfectly my view on life as a 50 something single woman!!!

‘I’m just becoming the person I always wanted to be. Don’t take shit off anyone, any more. I say it like it is. I know who I am. Finally. And I know the be-all and end-all isn’t necessarily to get myself hitched to the first flaky twat of a man who happens along.’

YEP!!! 😂😂😂

2023 Goals: A year of more

 

This year's goal was to survive and thrive and while I definitely survived, not too sure about the thriving bit!!  Going into 2023 I've thought really carefully about what my goals for the coming year will be.  I've decided it's to be a year of more.  More of the good stuff I started in this first year of my 4 year challenge and I want to take it even further than I thought I could at the start.

So, here are my 5 goals for 2023!

1.  Live more frugally and simply

While this year has seen me tighten my belt and save half my salary most months, I think I can do more.  After analysing my spending, I'm going to set a strict budget for each area and stick to it.  I think I can simplify my eating habits (saving more money) and in turn become a lot healthier.  I'm going to try ditch my Diet Coke habit!!  And no takeaways!  My health took a big hit this year and I don't want that to happen again.  Living more simply should help.

2.  Save more than £10k

I managed to save £10k in just 9 months of this year so if I can do the same again every month in 2023, I  should be able to save even more towards my retirement goal.

3.  Buy no more new clothes or house items

I have more than enough clothes and shoes even after my big declutter to move into the downstairs bedroom.  I definitely do not need to buy any more.  However, I'm setting myself a challenge to make/upcycle/buy second hand anything I might need.  For example, my jeans are a bit threadbare but I'm not buying 'new' ones if they burst.  

The same goes for house items although I have budgeted to repair or replace my leaking patio doors and repair/replace 3 'blown' double glazing units on 2 windows.  I do need flooring for the kitchen and utility room and will need a new carpet for the room that's to be my son and DIL's living room.  These things have already been budgeted for but I will seek out the most frugal options I can find.

4.  Grow more fruit and veg by improving my soil health

Thanks to being ill for a large part of the sowing and growing season my garden and allotment plot didn't yield as much as I'd hoped.  But I've done a lot research on permaculture this year and have realised that the health of my soil needs a huge improvement.  Commercial fertiliser is going to be expensive and in short supply so I need to be able to produce my own soil improvers.

5.  Spend more time at home and keep work at work!

This one is going to be hard but I need to stop bringing work home and doing extra/unpaid stuff at home.  When I'm at home I should be doing things I enjoy.  I think once I have my craft room up and running properly I'll be more productive at home.  I realised that this Christmas I didn't create a single home made item for gifting.  That's not like me at all.

Totally doable goals I think.  There are a few other challenges I'm going to set myself as well but these are the 5 big ones.  Have you set any goals for 2023?  Any plans?  

Financial Review of 2022

 

It's been a bit snowy the last few days.  It was a gentle start on Tuesday morning and by the end of the day we had a good few inches.  It hasn't lasted and is completely gone today.  I didn't leave the house so it's been the perfect time to take a long hard look at my finances 👀  

I have a simple pen and paper approach.  I start by going through the last 12 months' worth of bank and credit card statements to analyse my spending.  Even by doing this I quickly realised that I also need to look at my PayPal statements as some of my purchases weren't there.  My eBay account is linked to PayPal as are some of my takeaway purchases 🥡🍕😳

Then I write it all in my book and sort out the categories.  Main ones are food/supermarket, car, house, pets, school (as I discovered I've spent over £500 on toys and equipment for my class!!!), garden/allotment and one offs (like a wedding) 👰 Even just sorting out the categories was an eyeopener.  I mean, over £500 on school stuff!!!

One of my biggest expenses is my car as I'm still paying it monthly. This year it's cost me £3,907.  But once it's paid off in 2024 it should only cost me around £1,000 a year to run.  I only filled up with petrol 4 times this year (it's a hybrid) and I've still not done 5,000 miles yet!

Another big expense is my council tax.  It's a few pounds short of £3,000 and I have to pay it.  And don't even get me started on energy costs...

As I've said before I have a stable well paid public sector job (that I now hate!) so I have a guaranteed income every month.  I can meet these costs and save a decent amount as well.  Problem is if I retire now (or in a year or 2) I can't meet these costs on my teacher's pension.  And that's where I'm stuck.  Unless I sell my house and downsize.  And I'm not ready to do that yet!

But I challenged myself to save £10k this year and I did it!!  I pretty much managed to save half my salary each month.  Although I discovered that in April, November and December I didn't save anything!  So I saved £10k in just 9 months.  If I really really put my mind to it, I could save more next year (if I'm still teaching by December!!!)

Making time

My lovely friend who is my mentor/coach/counsellor posted this in our wee FB group yesterday and it hit home hard.  I've been forced to stop and make time for being really not well all week.  And I've said to my Headteacher and Occupational Health I'll probably not be back next week either.  No point going back to teach 19 lively 4 and 5yos when I'm not almost 100% fit and well.

When I fractured my ankle earlier this year I took the time to pause and reflect on life.  And for a while I did slow down and make more time for myself.  But oh how quickly I slipped into bad habits and let the job and teaching a new stage dictate my life.

Clearly the universe decided to give me another wake up slap!! 😂  Ok I'm listening and paying attention now!

Starting with breakfast this morning, I'm going to make sure I stop and eat one instead of grabbing something on my way out the door with my travel mug of coffee.  And because I've not been eating breakfast at home I stopped taking my morning supplements.  Taking them on an empty stomach with black coffee makes me throw up!  So I made some porridge and added home grown blueberries from the freezer, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, some nuts and turmeric infused honey.  Then I took my supplements.  Instead of coffee I had a herbal tea.  Cutting out coffee normally gives me headaches but since I've had a permanent headache for 8 days I figured a few more days won't hurt!

I wasn't hungry at lunchtime as breakfast was late so an early evening meal of gf toast, avocado and egg went down nicely.  I've slipped a bit recently and not been as careful at sticking to my gluten free and dairy free eating.  I think my body is telling me to get back to it!!

I also bought something a few weeks ago that will help with my lack of exercise.  Ironically I haven't even opened the box 😳 but I will soon and report back!  Eating well, taking my supplements, exercise and generally making more time for myself are the priorities.

So as we gain an hour tonight (clocks go back!) and head into Winter, I am making time for my wellness because frankly being unwell sucks!

Is it worth it?

 

When I think of the time and effort that I put into growing 'stuff' I find myself asking at the end of the season 'Is it worth it?'

I planted my tomato and chilli seeds on the 23rd of March, that's 6 months ago!  I nurtured them in my new heated propagator and then potted them on when they grew big enough.

I gave some to friends and planted the strongest ones in my polytunnel.  Then I fractured my ankle and needed my son to check them regularly so they didn't die in my absence.

Luckily they survived and I spent my whole summer holiday nurturing them as they were the only things that survived the neglect and the wet months of May and June.

There are still a few tomatoes ripening on the windowsill but so far I've processed enough in various ways to fill 11 of these containers and freeze them.  Each one is equivalent to a can of tomatoes currently costing 28p in my supermarket.  But surely they taste better for being home grown and organic?  Honestly, there's no difference in taste once it's made into a sauce!

But those 6 months gave me a reason for going to my favourite place even when the weather was awful.  Even when I didn't feel like leaving the house.  Maybe when I pull out a frozen tub of tomato sauce in the middle of Winter it will make me smile and start my plans for next year. 🍅

So true!! 💖

Pause - a time to reflect and be grateful

 

I have a dear friend who is also my mentor/coach/counsellor (she has many labels!) who always tells me that I need to look for opportunities to stop and pause throughout my day.  Since my brain races too fast for meditation she thinks just a few daily pauses is better than nothing.

Well thanks to my ankle injury I'm overflowing with chances to pause as I really can't do much else.  I am grateful that I don't have pain unless I'm walking so haven't needed pain relief.  I've spent the last 2 weeks with my ankle raised when I'm not moving about.  So I've had a lot of thinking and reflecting time in between reading several books, watching cheesy movies on Netflix and knitting a summer cardigan.  Oh and eating!!!!

Much of the time I've been on my own as my son is either working or spending time with his new girlfriend.  At times I've felt particularly vulnerable as I realised I wouldn't be able to get myself out of a situation alone.  Being unsteady on my feet, I've not been able to go up and down stairs safely and in an emergency I'd be stuck.  I'm extremely grateful to have a downstairs guest bedroom and bathroom.

But I'm also grateful for this opportunity at a very tired and stressful point in the school year.  June is the most frantic month in a school as we're constantly assessing and recording and report writing and finishing off 'stuff' before the summer break at the end of this month.  I've been able to do quite a lot just by being able to sit at my laptop and do my paperwork.  My class is now in the hands of a very capable supply teacher (although it took 7 days to get her!) so I feel less guilty about not being in class.  Thanks to technology I've been able to log in and 'see' my kids and they've seen me on screen.  I've also been able to do my parent contact meetings from home.  So still working even though technically I'm signed off.

The biggest thing I've been thinking about is my future and what I need to do now for retirement.  Current plan is 2 more years of teaching.  This year (for many many reasons!! 😳) hasn't been very frugal so far.  That changes now! I've found a few new to me frugal living YouTube channels so I'm binge watching them while I knit. And I'm making lots and lots of lists 😄

So I may be temporarily inconvenienced by my injury.  But I am incredibly grateful for this unexpected chance to pause, reflect and be grateful.

The Road Less Travelled

 

Well here we are halfway through February and my first post of 2021!  How did that happen? Since the move back to home learning for schools here in Scotland I've just been spending all my time online, trying to make learning accessible for my parents and kids.  Being on the laptop at night used to be my relaxation so I've been spending my evenings and weekends doing other stuff. Mostly Netflix and reading!

I received this book for Christmas from a very special friend 💕

It's not an easy book to read and throws up a LOT of issues that need to be dealt with.  It's a book I almost read 8 years ago when I was studying for my counselling qualification.  I'm not sure why I didn't read it at the time but serendipity and all that meant the time was now.  I'm still not quite finished reading it but have read and re read most of it since December.  It's completely changed my outlook on life.  It's changed my thinking on a lot of areas.  Worth a read if you're interested in personal and spiritual growth.  I think given this past year of pandemic shit, family deaths and the complete breakdown of a relationship/friendship meant I was simply ready for change. And for the first time in ages I am both happy and content with my life.  Photo taken yesterday.

I still haven't set any goals for this year, maybe I won't do any at all.  But I'm still trying to be frugal, not waste resources and have huge plans for my garden and allotment.  😊

Get stuffed 2020!

 

Oh how I started the year naively thinking I'd be closer to my retirement goals and finally enjoying the life I wanted.  Even without Covid, this year has sucked for my family. Organising funerals in the midst of a pandemic wasn't nice.  Clearing out a hoarder's house definitely wasn't nice.  My youngest son's relationship broke down and he moved back home. Not nice for him.  And I finally severed ties with someone who just couldn't be a friend once our relationship had ended.  So yeah, 2020 can do one!!

But since I'm not a negative Nelly I can acknowledge the positives that have come from this year.  Like many others I have been forced to slow down and reassess what is important.  And practise gratitude for what I do have. Throughout the year my job was secure and my family stayed Covid free.

I can now look back at my 2020 goals and realise I have achieved some of them, to some degree.  

1.  I did work out a retirement plan then changed it, several times!  I'm changing stages in school next year and have committed another 2 years to my school.  So I'm still teaching but I have a few other things in the pipeline.

2.  My son is currently living in the extended part of the house so we'll see how the Air BnB concept 'could' work.

3.  I managed to save then spent my savings!!  Ah well!

4.  I did reclaim my back garden from the chickens.  It's a work in progress but it's much better than it was.

5.  Gigantic FAIL!  Neither fit nor healthy atm but I'm working on it.

6.  I did grow more fruit and vegetables thanks to my new allotment!

7.  I've made a few permanent changes that will help but I could definitely do a lot more.

I really have no ideas what my 2021 goals are yet.  Obviously to stay healthy and Covid free is in there, plus growing more stuff on my allotment.  I'll have a think and read what other people are planning.  But right now 2020 can get stuffed!!

Wise words

Last week I removed myself from someone's life.  Someone I thought was my future.  I should have done it a year ago but I wasn't able to at the time.  Today this popped up on my FB feed and it felt so appropriate! I feel no guilt what so ever.

When someone disrespects you (and there are many many ways they can do this) you need to stand up for yourself.

Onwards and upwards lovely people 💖 xxx

Don't panic!

Two of my friends messaged me separately this morning to say our local Sainsbury's had no toilet paper left and that Tesco had no paracetamol or ibuprofen left.

I just don't get it.  Why, why are people panic buying?  I can sorta understand medicines (at a push!!) or anti bacterial soap/hand gel but loo roll???? How is that going to prevent coronavirus?  And I've seen the clips on FB of people screaming and fighting over trolleys filled up with just loo roll.  WTF?!

Doctors who work with infectious diseases are telling us not to panic.  Why are people trusting what they see online instead of listening to the experts?  Stockpiling hurts the most vulnerable people in society.  Those who can only afford to shop once a week due to benefits or those who can only shop with a carer. Or people who can't shop around and can only walk to their nearest supermarket.

Sadly another example of the selfish society we've become.  Me, me, me.  Sometimes living on a remote island is very appealing.

10 Days, 10 Photos Challenge

I was nominated by a dear friend to take part in the Facebook 10 days, 10 photos challenge where you had to post a photo that meant something to you without explanation.  I thought it would be nice to share here and explain why I chose my 10 photos 😊

The first one was my 3 boys.  This one was taken at my Dad's 70th birthday party, 6 years ago.  My middle son (on the right) is the one that lives in Australia so they are rarely together in the same place.

Day 2 was my mum and my sister on my sister's 50th birthday, 2 years ago. She lives near Guildford so we don't see each other very often.

Day 3 was my mum and dad taken in 1978 or 79 when we got our first ever dog, a Cairn terrrier (like Toto in the Wizard of Oz!)  I'm not sure where they were going but dad rarely wore a suit!

Day 4, my 2 gorgeous girls.  Lucy on the right was not happy when I got Emma.  It took a very long time for her accept this newcomer.  When I found them sleeping together in front of the Aga I had to take a picture of Lucy with her paw round Emma 😍

Day 5 was this selfie was taken in October last year in Gran Canaria.  It was my first ever solo holiday and I snapped this before I went to the pool one day.  When I looked at it later I realised that I'm in ok shape for my age and that I shouldn't be so hard on myself.  I'm almost 54 and that body has been through a lot.  Yet I'm still here and I'm healthy!

Day 6 was my Aga in my old house.  It meant a lot to me.  I loved cooking on it.  I still dream about re doing my wee kitchen in this house putting in a 2 oven Aga.  I have found a local company that sells and fits reconditioned Agas 😉

Day 7 was this one taken 9 years ago after I had been really ill for months with whooping cough.  I'd come out of my 24 year marriage and been through a breast cancer scare ( I had 3 small cysts).  My mental and physical health had been at an all time low.  This was my neighbour's trampoline and we had sent all the kids away to play football.  It was the first time in a very long time I had felt really happy.

Day 8, me getting ready to be a passenger on a 2 person Microlight.  It was a huge deal for me as I'm terrified of flying and I was putting my complete trust in OH as he had just earned his pilot license to take a passenger!  I loved it, especially when we flew over my house and Stirling Castle 😊

Day 9 - I would never ever do a parachute jump so this was the closest I would get.  When we were in Singapore for the wedding we had the chance to try indoor sky diving.  It was an amazing feeling and so freeing.  I would definitely recommend it.

And my last one was a selfie taken during the terrible winter of 2010 and 2011 where I was snowed in for weeks.  It was taken on the paddock of my old house.  Beyond the fence was the moor where roe deer and an ancient Welsh pony were my neighbours.  I still miss that house!

All these photos had already been posted to FB over the years but it was nice to look back and remember why I had posted them.  Like most people I know, I don't share much there so when I do it means something to me or my family.

January Goal Reflections

Did anyone else think that January went by in a flash??  To be honest, the first 2 weeks were a jet lagged blur for me so maybe that's why! 😄

Even when work was challenging last month, I kept focused on my goals and have been quietly working on them.  So I thought I'd share what I've done so far.  I've also made a list on the side bar to help me stay focused on them.

1. Create a retirement plan to retire from teaching in 2021

I've shared my plans with a few people and so far no one has laughed or said my ideas are ridiculous.  So I'm encouraged by that.  I've booked myself onto a few local seminars about setting up a business and hopefully will be able join some groups with like minded folks.

2.  Turn the extended part of my house into an Air B and B

I've been talking to some of my friends who have stayed in Air BnBs and asking them what they liked and didn't like.  So I'm making notes all the time about what works.

3.  Save, save, save

I stuck to my budget and managed to save half of my January salary and paid off my credit card bill in full.  I've made a few on going monthly savings too.

4.  Reclaim my back garden

Sadly losing one of my chickens this month has made me decide I'm not going to keep chickens any more.  I'm going to tidy up the enclosed run and confine Penny and Tuppence.  I'm planning to buy some chicken enrichment toys.  Then I can start thinking about re planting the garden.

5.  Stay fit and healthy

Big fail on this one as I haven't been to the gym once!  But I have eaten healthily.  Must try harder this month.

6.  Grow more fruit and vegetables

I've been looking through the seed catalogues and planing my garden and allotment.  I've not bought anything, yet!  Sarah Raven has a 10% discount (or 15% for new customers) that ends today so I might put in an order tonight.

7.  Work harder to reduce my environmental impact

I've made one big significant change that I hope will contribute but that deserves a post of it's own.

--------------------------------------------------------

A few people have said to me that they'd love to retire early.  When I challenged them on why they thought they couldn't, they didn't have an answer.  But I know they're thinking about it now!

My 2020 Goals

1.  Create a retirement plan to retire from teaching in 2021

I have decided that I will be retiring from teaching next year (2021) when I am 55.  I can access my teacher pension at 55 but it's not great due to years of part time working and taking it early lowers the payments.  I am planning to use some of the equity in my house to generate an income as well as doing a few other things.  I know exactly what I want and will be working on this all year.  Watch this space 😉

2.  Turn the extended part of my house into an Air B and B

I know I want to stay in this house but it's too big for just 1 person.  So, I'm planning to turn the extended part (utility room, shower room, study and family room) into a separate annexe and rent it out.  I live in a tourist area so there should be plenty of business.  Hopefully it'll be open by 2021.

3.  Save, save, save

I really need to stick harder to my frugal ways.  As well as creating an Air B and B, I still have 1 bedroom and a bathroom to upgrade.  I'd like to stick to a tight budget and reuse as much as I can.  I'd also like to have a safety net tucked away in my savings.

4.  Reclaim my back garden

The chickens have really trashed my back garden so either I re home them or create a larger enclosure for them and stop them free ranging.  Undecided on this one.  Either way I need my back garden to be lovely for people using the Air B and B.

5.  Stay fit and healthy

Keep eating well (definitely less meat and animal products) and exercising regularly.  No point in retiring if I'm not fit enough to do stuff!!

6.  Grow more fruit and vegetables

Now I have my allotment this should be easier this year.  I'd like to preserve as much as I can too.

7.  Work harder to reduce my environmental impact

As much as I enjoyed my 2 holidays I did feel a bit guilty about flying and the effect on the environment.  The bush fires in Australia have really brought home the fragility of our Earth.  I'm going to keep reducing my plastic use and try to simplify all areas of my life.  2020 will be my year of living more consciously.

These are my main goals for the year.  There are a few biggies in there but I have given careful thought to the direction I want my life to take.  I'll talk in more detail about each goal over the next few weeks and start putting wheels in motion.  Exciting times lie ahead!