Squirrel's Smiley, Smart and Solvent Diary

redsquirrel80

Tired tired tired.. meant to be finishing stuff off at work.. motivation = zero.

Karmacat

Oh Squirrel, I *love* the cat stories :kisses3: And the accompanying OH story!

And thats very good news on the money front, thats turned out fine after all...

Can I make a suggestion on the pension thing? Keep it, and add iton to your new pension at your new place. You're getting an increase in pay, so you don't need that money for survival. Compound interest makes that money much more attractive than £800 saved later on, in your late 30s or even 40s. When I was in my 20s, I changed jobs regularly - I bought the tent I used for my last Interrail trip with pension money I cashed in, I remember that decision very clearly but I certainly didn't need the money .... and today, that would probably have made a fair bit of difference, tiny as it was.

redsquirrel80

Hi Karma, that's good advice (which I haven't followed previously when changing jobs) - however I'm not able to cash this one in, I either have to transfer it into my new pension, or just leave it there until I retired - at which point I'll get £800ish a year from it (sorry if that wasn't clear from my post, I've only barely got my head round it!).

Last night we had interesting cat social interactions - all the local cats seem to congregate in our garden.. Madame Cat herself isn't too keen, she hisses at the ginger one and the big fat white one (both other females I think), but she flirts with the big black & white very obviously male one who comes round.. they are so funny, they get quite close, but then they won't look at each other unless they think the other one isn't looking :rotfl:

Karmacat

I love watching cat politics! Its best at the back garden, isn't it ..... because my back garden slopes *up*, I can't do it so easily here, so I'm really looking forward to it at the new place

Yep, I didn't realise you meant about *where* to leave/put your pension. You probably need to consider asset spread - sometimes, when places go bust, people with company pensions *still* lose out, in spite of promises that the pensions are ring fenced. Having pension money in two places lessens the risk if that were to happen, and also the risk of your pension being affected by criminal activity - bosses really do sometimes make off with the pension fund.

Other than that, its partly about the returns each place guarantee - slow and steady might seem boring, and you could get better money elsewhere, but excellent returns often imply riskier investments, which in turn means you could lose the lot. Completely, or as near as made no difference.

Hope this helps.

redsquirrel80

That does help, thanks, and confirms the way I was thinking of going, eggs in several baskets sort of idea!

Karmacat

Eggsellent

sallyx

not long left now Squizz....you have your outift sorted for first day of work next week

redsquirrel80

Not quite Sal, I had decided but the forecast is for it to be really hot so need to rethink with something lighter.. don't want to be all sweaty on my first day

redsquirrel80

Well it's hot today - already really warm coming to work - I was carrying a huge bag though. Having picnic lunch today as my leaving do!

I am feeling quite odd now as I'm starting to see work people for the last time (well in a work setting) - as some work part time, are off on holiday etc. Am also pretty unimpressed that our head of dept, who sits in the same office, has not said a word to me about leaving and is now off on holiday so I won't see him again - he always was bloody useless but that is shocking behaviour for a manager. I did my 'leaving questionnaire' yesterday where I put in some pretty straight talking about what I think they need to sort out (and then panicked later on that I'd said too much!)

Ooh payday tomorrow - off to do some sums.

Edit - sums done, sig updated in case I don't get a chance tomorrow.. sub £9k! :j

Karmacat

Hurray! Except boo to the boss and the workplace

Have a lovely lunch! I'm off here now, working at 10.30, but have a really great last day

xxx