Beautiful autumn colours.

It was the sun that got me out for a walk today. It was a bit chilly, but dry. First something to eat before I set off. An omelette with beetroot, lentils, and noodles. 

It's a walk I have done before so I didn't expect to take many photo's. However, I couldn't ignore the gorgeous autumn colours. The tree I was standing under was full of big red berries. I was hoping to include some of them in the picture, but it didn't work. 

You can guess what caught my attention here. 

A little bit of road walking, then turn right along a farm track. 

It was flippin windy. Time to get the winter jackets out. 

On the way back now and the sun is going down. The last stretch of track before I was back in the village. 

Walking towards the sun as it's going down over the horizon gives some spectacular scenes. 

One look back over my shoulder, with a long zoom, and you can see the towers of the Humber Bridge, and the lights going on over the water in Hull. 

I recorded this video this morning and left it to upload itself onto yoootooob while I went out. Talking about retirement and how much money do you need to save before you stop working. 

Time to get the thermals out and the big jackets, it's getting cold out there. 

Have a good weekend. Catch ya later. Toodle pip.   ilona

Get rid of it.

Here is a short pep talk from me. If you have debt it will bog you down. If you don't pay it off it will escalate and become bigger and bigger. Interest rates will mount up. Throw every spare penny you have at your debt. Make it a New year Resolution to get rid of it. 

When it has gone you can enjoy your debt free freedom. 

Toodle pip.   ilona

If I can help somebody as I pass along......

This comment has cheered me up no end, and I thank Athena for sending it. I copy it here, because it shows that there are some lovely people who appreciate the hours I spend tapping away on this keyboard, sharing my life with anyone who wants to read it.

I get similar comments from lovely blog readers, and I appreciate them all, some have been reading for a long time. I don't expect compliments, I don't expect praise, in fact I feel a bit embarrassed about it. But hey ho, it's nice when it happens. I don't recall seeing Athena's name before, I think she has been secretly viewing from the sidelines. This was a nice surprise this morning when I checked in.

Athena5 September 2019 at 02:52

I need to thank you Ilona. 8 years ago i started my frugal journey. Initially saw you on tv. No i was not in debt but living from pay to pay. Decided mortgage had to go!. Paid of £85000 in 6 years took in lodger lived on yellow sticker food!. Every penny budgeted!. All clothes charity shop. Now have saved for 2 years half my income. Now can retire in 4.5 months from nhs at 55. Without mortgage paid and savings no. For that i thank you!. Athenax

I write the blog for me, if someone finds something useful in it that's the bonus. Athena I am so pleased that you are on track for a wonderful retirement. The burden of a mortgage has gone, due to all your money saving and planning. You should be proud of yourself, I am proud of you.
Best wishes,  ilona

It's my house

Today is the end of a very long journey, one that I didn't want to take when I first set off in 1976. When I signed on the dotted line I felt as though I was signing my life away. That it would be the end of freedom as I know it. I felt that I would be carrying a massive burden for the rest of my life, that it would weigh ,me down, and I would be trapped with no way out.

But now, 37 years later, I have found the way out, I carry that burden no more, it has gone. Now I have my freedom back, and it feels pretty darn good. Chuffed? You bet I am. Chuffed that I stuck it out, chuffed that I worked hard, and chuffed that I never missed one payment in all that time. Today, I made my very last mortgage payment, and the house I sit in belongs to me.

I don't care that nearly everything in it is second hand. I don't care that my furniture is old fashioned. I don't care that I don't have a massive TV or a leather sofa. I don't care that the chair I am sitting on was given to me. I don't care that I wear second hand clothes, or cut my own hair, or buy out of date food. I don't chuffin care that my house is ex council, and not in the posh street on the other side of the village. It is my house.

These walls that could do with a lick of paint are my walls. This roof which has a few tiles missing is my roof. The old tumbledown garage which needs updating is my garage. The crumbling driveway with weeds poking through, is my driveway. The light that doesn't work in the kitchen, the guttering that leaks when it rains, the bath that isn't sealed properly around the edge, the shower that doesn't work, the toilet seat that is broken, the single glaze window which needs replacing, the front porch where the wood is rotting, and the small window in the outside store that is about to fall out, are all minor details that I can live with. They may or may not get fixed, I don't care.

Tonight I am proud to sit in my house.
Lots of love, Ilona xxx