When you find yourself wondering when your life got so boring then realise it isn't boring at all, just peaceful.
When your fences get damaged during a stormy winter and you can get together with the neighbours and pitch in your share of the repair bill without even flinching, let alone feeling sick at the thought of getting in to even more debt.
Similarly, when one of your pets needs the emergency vet and you can easily find the money to pay the bill while waiting for the pet insurance to pay out.
When you can turn down overtime at work because you no longer need to do 60-70 hours on the hamster wheel each week trying to keep up with household debt. All while your layabout A and his friends, who are 'in between jobs', tell you you need to have a drink so you can learn to 'lighten up and have fun'.
Realising you've had your new bed and mattress for a year and they still have no dents or p*ss/vomit stains; in fact they look as new as they are! Also,the satisfaction of actually
owning the bed because you were able to save money to buy it.
When you can go to bed to sleep off a migraine without curling up and sobbing because your A and his dead head friends are shouting and crashing about downstairs despite knowing you're ill.
When you look for essential household paperwork and find it in the last place you remember putting it without having to turn the house upside down while the A sneers at you because you're the "useless b*tch who always loses things".
You find yourself able to spoil your loved ones at birthdays and holidays.
You no longer dread bank holiday weekends and Christmas and take your share of these off work because you now want to join in instead of hiding away.
You no longer feel embarrassed when the recycling truck comes round and even know what the blokes collecting the stuff look like because you're no longer ashamed to make eye contact with them.
I could go on!