greent's mfw journey

Karmacat

greent wrote: »

We have an appointment (here) with an IFA tomorrow morning, mainly to discuss pensions. Our DB pension schemes from our banking days have a joint transfer value of just over £900K - but as well as the guaranteed pension amounts there are also pensions payable to the children aged under 23, should anything happen to us. As the children range in age from 20 down to 8yo this is something to take serious note of. It will be good to get a professional opinion on some points, and as OH used to work with the guy (in banking) he's not just some random person I believe (OH arranged it) that this first appointment is free

Fantastic pension amounts, congratulations!

Also wanted to say that those pensions payable to the children are potentially incredibly important. My youngest nephew was about to enter the last year of his undergraduate degree when his father died. He couldn't stand the thought of carrying on in a student house of six people, so the pension that was directly payable to him was used to rent him a little flat on his own. It made all the difference, and he managed to finish the degree successfully that year and graduate at the expected time.

A bits n pieces kind of day today - took DS2 for haircut at the local barbers (much nicer to be in than where OH takes him) and DD has just nabbed my car to take herself to a hair appointment (I believe the first one ever that she'll have paid for herself!) Have also baked a brown seedy loaf, a white loaf, a lemon Victoria sponge (just need the 2 halves to finish cooling before I sandwich them together) and a sheet of chocolate cookies However, I have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner! Am now just going to do an hour of ironing to Holby on catch up whilst the 2 smallest are playing 2 loads of washing also done

I'm not a fan of ironing, but that sounds an absolutely idyllic day, greent

atypicalblonde

Good luck to DS1 with his test!

Your posts always make me crave a cuppa and a slice of HM cake I was watching your granite and totally forgot as it finished whilst we were away, d'oh! Hope it sold xx

Moneyfordreams

finally caught up ... ever busy.. good luck to DS1, we've suggested driving lessons for DD2s 21st in September.. she want them before that so sounds like we'll be coughing up soon x

Urbanshyne

greent wrote: »

I've started reading my diary back from the beginning - gosh! - I was so motivated and full of energy back then!! It was my 8 year diary birthday a week ago, which is what prompted me. Some bits are bittersweet but it's a worthwhile exercise. It has galvanised me into listing half a dozen more costly items on fleabay tonight (well, getting basics on there to ensure I've made a promotion deadline- will fill in more details on them tomorrow) It's also made me think about how 'jaded' I can be nowadays - I am going to try to be more jolly I also think that I have gotten quite lazy - I used to achieve far more with my time - so I am planning on less mse/ blogs/ general internet/ candy crush (shhh) time.... should hopefully mean I am more productive elsewhere!
x

Hey greent,

I used to live out of a rucksack not that long ago. I wasn't homeless, so I'm saying that semi-metaphorically, I suppose, but there was little permanence to my situation that meant a rucksack of stuff was all I could commit to really. Shared houses, travelling, job insecurity, parties - they all played their role in that. Fast forward 10 years and impermanence has found a solid foundation in this house I nearly own. The transformation has been dramatic for me, and I wonder if I had a diary covering those years whether I, like you, would lament something lost. It's entirely sentimental, I guess, and maybe one judges oneself harshly when a wildfire mellows to embers (if that's what you're saying of course!?), but things change, priorities evolve and, well, we get a little bit older.

And the point to this...? Errr...

greent

atypicalblonde wrote: »

Good luck to DS1 with his test!

Your posts always make me crave a cuppa and a slice of HM cake I was watching your granite and totally forgot as it finished whilst we were away, d'oh! Hope it sold xx

It did sell, thanks, atb - and I'd put it on when there was a listing offer, so my fvf was a bargainacious £1 :T

Moneyfordreams wrote: »

finally caught up ... ever busy.. good luck to DS1, we've suggested driving lessons for DD2s 21st in September.. she want them before that so sounds like we'll be coughing up soon x

Expensive business, driving lessons! :eek:

Urbanshyne wrote: »

Hey greent,

I used to live out of a rucksack not that long ago. I wasn't homeless, so I'm saying that semi-metaphorically, I suppose, but there was little permanence to my situation that meant a rucksack of stuff was all I could commit to really. Shared houses, travelling, job insecurity, parties - they all played their role in that. Fast forward 10 years and impermanence has found a solid foundation in this house I nearly own. The transformation has been dramatic for me, and I wonder if I had a diary covering those years whether I, like you, would lament something lost. It's entirely sentimental, I guess, and maybe one judges oneself harshly when a wildfire mellows to embers (if that's what you're saying of course!?), but things change, priorities evolve and, well, we get a little bit older.

And the point to this...? Errr...

- The bitter bit was being reminded about some tough times/ horrid things happening - but the diary overall came out as positive and energetic, I think.... And has motivated me to get some things shifted/ money in - so was worth doing!



DS1 failed his driving test - sadly. Has another one booked in for early June. Fingers crossed!

'Twas DS1's 18th bday on Sunday - seemed to like his presents and cake, so that's the main thing! Also got some generous cash gifts from 2 of my aunts, so they shall be banked

DD went back to uni last Sunday night (taking the usual approx. 1+ week's worth of food with her!) She's coming back for the Summer 19th May (finishes her exams a few days earlier, but that's the best date to collect her and all her stuff)

Pension guy was ok - but concentrated very much just on transferring the DB pensions. Kind of missed telling us some basics, which I had to ask about at the end - and also missed some other stuff (maybe assumed we knew it - which we kind of did once-upon-a-time when we worked in retail banking, but that's a long time ago) OH got huffy when I said I'd like to talk to someone else as well ('cos clearly that was a criticism of him.... rolls eyes....) but I'd like to do some more research and have more info/ knowledge when talking to next person and also talk about not just the DB pensions and pros/ cons of transferring. So we've agreed to do that.

Kitchen is still not finished.... granite people scratched a piece of the granite - and they can't polish it out - as we didn't scratch it I am not happy with their solution as it is still visible - and about 8 inches + long. I want a new piece of granite. It's all gone quiet......... Can't get it painted until granite is sorted, as removal of granite/ upstands causes damage to walls/ paintwork. Meh! Still... it will be lovely when done - and final payment to kitchen co and money for decorator are sat in an interest bearing account in the meantime

It's so chilly today! Almost Autumnal feeling! I may have to put the heating on low for a couple of hours this evening - I'm already cold in a jumper and vest top and socks and slippers! (and jeans, of course! )

Can't remember if I said, but OH's contract has been extended yet again - end date is now end of June (was end of April). :T

We've got increased pension contribs from this month into co pension scheme - co is putting in 15% and we are putting in 10%. Sounds great - until you realise that we actually take out tiny drawings from the co, so the £ amount is still small! :rotfl: Still, it's better than nothing - which is the amount of contributions we were making just over a year ago! I'm just waiting for tax credits people to contact me now about an overpayment - they think I owe them money - I'm not convinced that I do (or if I do it's much smaller than the amount they suggested as a possibility last year) I need to get our personal tax stuff up together for 2017-18 to have all figures to hand for them and then can pass it over to accountant - along with company accounts (year end was 31st Jan)

I've just about got time to re-tidy and vacuum kitchen before collecting smallest from school...off I go.....! x

apple_muncher

Is the fact that you didn't have enough laundry for a full load connected in any way to dd going back to uni...? Jus' askin'!

greent

apple_muncher wrote: »

Is the fact that you didn't have enough laundry for a full load connected in any way to dd going back to uni...? Jus' askin'!

HaHa!!! We normally have enough for a full load every day even when she is away - but I did do 2 loads yesterday, so it'll even out (and will have 2 loads on Fri) And to be fair to DD, DS1 creates far more washing than she does - although his tends to emerge from his room in bundles, rather than daily (and usually has lots of odd socks in......)

Managed - in that gap before school - to tidy kitchen, vacuum kitchen/ hall/ cloak/ lounge/ dining room and list something on fleabay - yeay! Have since sorted some other things into sets (toys) for listing but don't think I will do them tonight.

Having sold 4 things on fleabay last week (£95 net sales) I now have a bid on one thing at £80+ :T - ends in a couple of days. I really hope the person who wins collects it, as it is large/ bulky / heavy to send by courier. I've got watchers on my other 2 listings - am hoping that they might change into a bid or 2, fingers crossed I'm really motivated to get stuff out of here atm - whether it be CS, fleabay, passed on to someone else, recycled etc - just as long as it's Gone!! Not sure what's brought that on, but I've even been doing more housework - Spring cleaning fever must've struck! :rotfl::eek::rotfl: (On which note, I shall now go and put away some of the 2 hours' worth of ironing which I did earlier..... )
xx

apple_muncher

Steady on, mrs! Don't overdo it now...

MeandO

greent wrote: »

HaHa!!! We normally have enough for a full load every day even when she is away - but I did do 2 loads yesterday, so it'll even out (and will have 2 loads on Fri) And to be fair to DD, DS1 creates far more washing than she does - although his tends to emerge from his room in bundles, rather than daily (and usually has lots of odd socks in......)

Managed - in that gap before school - to tidy kitchen, vacuum kitchen/ hall/ cloak/ lounge/ dining room and list something on fleabay - yeay! Have since sorted some other things into sets (toys) for listing but don't think I will do them tonight.

Having sold 4 things on fleabay last week (£95 net sales) I now have a bid on one thing at £80+ :T - ends in a couple of days. I really hope the person who wins collects it, as it is large/ bulky / heavy to send by courier. I've got watchers on my other 2 listings - am hoping that they might change into a bid or 2, fingers crossed I'm really motivated to get stuff out of here atm - whether it be CS, fleabay, passed on to someone else, recycled etc - just as long as it's Gone!! Not sure what's brought that on, but I've even been doing more housework - Spring cleaning fever must've struck! :rotfl::eek::rotfl: (On which note, I shall now go and put away some of the 2 hours' worth of ironing which I did earlier..... )
xx

Spread some spring cleaning mojo this way please!

Karmacat

I'm too much in awe of what you accomplish, without sounding frazzled, to advise you not to do too much :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Great that you're getting rid of stuff you don't want/need any longer, and good for you for sticking to your guns about the granite - letting them install a piece that you can *see* is damaged is not what you want!