The Big Adventure

Karmacat

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: :T
I was actually wondering about selling on ebay, but I'd much rather build my own collider, yes please

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: :T
I was actually wondering about selling on ebay, but I'd much rather build my own collider, yes please

You could build the collider, and then sell the actual collider on eBay! I'm sure there'd be a major bidding war.


Mr Goldie gnasher update - he's got to go to another dentist for this tooth to be taken out. He'll be sent a selection of dentists to choose from. I think he'll book the appointment for the new year. The tooth isn't hurting, and he doesn't want to stir his mouth up over Christmas.


While he was out I cancelled a standing order on our Halifax account. What a palaver, internet banking wouldn't do it, so I had to find our telephone banking details. First time I was routed through to an advisor who conveniently 'lost' my call. Second time I went through an automated route and a robot cancelled my standing order.


The simple task of cancelling a standing order took 20 minutes in the end

Goldiegirl

There was a point at work this afternoon, when I was running around trying to find a printer that a) worked and b) no one else was using, when I thought 'I've got to get out of this place'. Then I thought, 'I am!'


Five weeks tonight it'll be done and dusted.


Still can't quite believe it. I will be sad to say goodbye to my colleagues, as they are a good bunch. But I won't miss the general air of stress that goes with the job


My friend has dropped off two party dresses for me to sell on eBay, both still with tags. I'll get them listed at the weekend, as it's just the right time for party dresses


A £5 JL voucher has come through the post, as part of the myJohnLewis offer when we bought the phones a couple of weeks ago. I'm expecting a £10 JL voucher from Ipsos, so we'll probably put the vouchers together to buy something nice, at some point


My new Paperchase diary was received today - can't wait to start using it!


Have a good evening

Karmacat

Woo hoo! It must be so weird. Weird but wonderful :j

Goldiegirl

Yes, weird and wonderful is the way to describe it.


It's weird and wonderful that working days are now in single figures. Just 9 to go. I'm hoping it may be 8, as I've calculated I have enough holiday time for another day off. HR are dragging their feet with all the confirmations, so I've got to wait and see.


Another of the Buy It Nows on eBay sold today. I might do BINs more often, as it's nice to get a surprise sale.


A charity bag has come though the door, so I'll sort out a few bits to go in it. I get much to excited about charity bags.


I'm just about to put my feet up and watch two episodes of my guilty pleasure - Coach Trip. I like the travel element of the show, but I'm also a fan of Brendan the tour guide!

Goldiegirl

I've given up the fight, and used the tumble drier for the first time this winter. At this time of year it's very difficult to get things dry even in nice weather, but today we've been having heavy showers. I don't mind drying clothes on horses, but sheets are too much. As it was sheet washing day, I've dried the sheets in the tumble drier.


We've booked the car parking for our cruise in March. As this was an early booking, we get to choose either free car parking, a free coach to the port ( no coaches go from our area) or on board credit ( usually about £50 per person on board spending money). We normally go for the free parking, which would have cost us £152, for this cruise.


One of the first things we intend to do in the new year is to go down to one car. By making this car parking booking, we've made a decision about which car to keep - it's my car! :j


My car is 12 years old, a smaller car which is cheaper to run. Mr Goldie's is only 8 years old, but a larger car which is more expensive to run. Plus, the size of the car means I'm not very comfortable driving it, and I simply LOVE my car!


However, we are thinking of buying a new car around May / June next year, and would trade my car in at that time. We keep our cars for years ( both our cars were bought new), so things like depreciation don't bother us too much as keep our cars for so long.


I've prepared my friend's two dresses to go live on eBay tomorrow evening.


Also, I've requested the £2.50 from Greenmetropolis, for the book I recently sold.


I'm starting to think about doing a review of the year and making plans for next year. I think I'll make a start next week.

Karmacat

The free car parking sounds the best choice by far, Goldie, thats great. And yes, I'm sure it makes sense to have only one car once you're retired - to do things individually, you have to "book it" ahead, so to speak, but its realistic, isn't it.

Annual reviews and projections! OMG, as they say Its a jaw dropper, but its .... exciting, worrying if I've done enough for my own review, all sorts. Very interested to see what you make of your year!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

I very much like the idea of a review. Will start thinking about it. Have a good evening and luxuriate in the thought of only nine more days!

Goldiegirl

I've never really done a review of the year before (except at work, to justify my existence, or that's what it felt like sometimes! ), but, what with being more organised this year and keeping records, I thought I'd give it a shot.


I've been dipping in and out of Mr Money Mustache today. I like some of the points he makes, but not terribly keen on his writing style.


I was thinking about saving half of ones income. Thirty years ago, there was no way we could have saved half of our income, not with the high mortgage interest rates back then. We were in a slightly better position by the end of the 1980's, and we *could* have saved more, but didn't, as we wanted a couple of years of good holidays before we moved. We then took on a large (for the time) mortgage of £82500. That took us to the mid 1990's before we had any real disposable income. At that point we did start to think more seriously about retirement, and Mr Goldie increased payments into his personal pension and I started AVCs in to my final salary scheme. So we can thank our former selves for that, as it has helped us now.


We did save at this point in our life, but for short term things like holidays and home improvements ( although the latter was an investment in the house, I suppose).


But significant saving for 'the future' didn't start until well in to the 2000's, and it's only been in the last few years we've been able to save half of our income on a regular basis.


I think he's slightly disingenuous saying he's retired, and he seems to have some sort of property business and he must be making money from the blog. but I came across a blog where he claimed he was definitely retired as he didn't *have* to work.


It's interesting to read, but I'm not a fan as yet!


Whilst Googling something else I found something called the Simple Living Forum, which looks interesting. It's US based, but it strikes a chord with me


On the eBay front I've had 20 auctions ending today, which yielded seven sales, all for my friend. Not earth-shattering, but welcome nevertheless. Five of the seven buyers live in London - I always like a good eBay coincidence.


I've got free listing from today until Tuesday. That's the second week in a row that I've had the FL. It's like buses really I waited ages for a FLW, and now two come along at once! Only got a few listing going live this week, so I'm not making full use of this particular free listing opportunity

Watty1

Love the simple living forums. Lots of great ideas on them. Haven't read them for a while as simply run out of time to do the basics, but they are great for ideas, especially at this time of year