Edinburgher gets cracking!

Lois_E

edinburgher wrote: »

Thanks for dropping by Lois.

2-3 (2 more likely)
5-10 years (forever home -1)

In your shoes I'd go for

• 3 bedrooms (or 4 if you're likely to get grandparents etc coming to stay frequently, and you can afford it)
• Garden
• Catchment for good primary school
• Easy parking close to home (or a driveway if possible)
• Don't bother about being close to adult nightlife because you won't be able to go out anyway

edinburgher

I have no idea how to find a good primary school in Scotland!

We've looked at a few developments. All have been 3 bed, garden, no garage but plenty of parking, within 10 miles of both sets of parents.

Completely agree re. nightlife - I'm an antisocial sod at the best of times and Mrs E is happy with the odd husband taxi into Glasgow to meet friends

Lois_E

edinburgher wrote: »

I have no idea how to find a good primary school in Scotland!

We've looked at a few developments. All have been 3 bed, garden, no garage but plenty of parking, within 10 miles of both sets of parents.

Completely agree re. nightlife - I'm an antisocial sod at the best of times and Mrs E is happy with the odd husband taxi into Glasgow to meet friends

Oooh - within 10 miles of grandparents - perfect! Are your parents and Mrs E's parents the sort who will help with childcare?

gallygirl

edinburgher wrote: »

celebrated the new tax year by moving 2% of my pension pot into index-linked gilts.

:eek: Why gilts - what do you know that the rest of us don't :eek:

Lois_E

gallygirl wrote: »

:eek: Why gilts - what do you know that the rest of us don't :eek:

IIRC, Ed is keen on diversifying and on passive investments. I imagine gilts are just part of his portfolio - I mean he's only talking about moving 2%, and of his pension fund too - so stuff that's invested for the long term. I don't imagine IRs will stay this low for his entire working life until retirement.

edinburgher

Oooh - within 10 miles of grandparents - perfect! Are your parents and Mrs E's parents the sort who will help with childcare?

Mrs E's Mum made noises that suggested that she was keen on babysitting. The volume of said noises has reduced as time goes by, but I suspect that she'll at least trial childcare assistance. Both of my parents work jobs that are either inflexible, or involve travelling.

Why gilts - what do you know that the rest of us don't

1. 100% equities is too much, plan is to drop in 2% gilts/year until I hit something like 70/30
2. My works pension from L&G doesn't have much choice, so bonds aren't an option. It was either index-linked gilts, or 15+ year gilts, I made my choice. Or cash, but L&G actually manage to lose money on cash sometimes, can't see how that's possible...
3. I can diversify more in an ISA, hold some bonds there

*Edit: and Lois is spot on re. passive investments, I'm only holding index tracking funds and funds that don't charge BS 'performance fees'/similar.

Lois_E

edinburgher wrote: »

Mrs E's Mum made noises that suggested that she was keen on babysitting. The volume of said noises has reduced as time goes by, but I suspect that she'll at least trial childcare assistance. Both of my parents work jobs that are either inflexible, or involve travelling.

Even if parents can't commit to regular childcare while you and Mrs E are at work, they can still be very helpful for the odd evening out, or weekend day out or something. Or when you're ill and could do with a bit of a hand. Or when the child is ill and the nursery/childminder won't take them. Or when the childminder is on holiday. Etc.

edinburgher

I'm not doing my parents down with that comment, they certainly help out my brother and his wife with their daughter. That said, they raised 5 kids, so I think they feel that they've largely done their time

abouttimetoo

Hi Ed, just been catching up and so pleased so see Mrs E is home and up and about again

Regards
ATT

Lois_E

edinburgher wrote: »

I'm not doing my parents down with that comment, they certainly help out my brother and his wife with their daughter. That said, they raised 5 kids, so I think they feel that they've largely done their time

Of course. What grandparents are able to do depends on their own circumstances. When they are able to help, that's great, but if they have jobs and/or other commitments, then they may not be able to help very often, and that's OK.