The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

Phew, I seem to have finished my review of the year and a plan for new year.


Once I get into something, I find it had to stop typing! I'll do some tweaks over the next couple of weeks, before posting.


I've paid my £5 Hx reward into the LXF


I've chased Ipsos I Say for my JL voucher I ordered a month ago. I really wish I hadn't re-started another cycle of surveys with them. Once I get to another payout, I'll definitely stop, as it's such a long time to wait.


Even Opinion Outpost seems to have slowed for me. I've got 20 more points to earn to get to my next £10, and I've stalled at this point for 10 days.


I suppose I should start doing a few more Christmas cards..... but I can't be bothered at the moment. I'll need to start to get ready to go out soon, so I'll just mooch for a while. I don't even have that many cards to write out, but it gets to be a bigger effort each year!

Karmacat

Not surprised you can't be bothered with Christmas cards when you've just finished your review - thats a big deal!

And are you about to go out and have fun with your friend? Have fun, if so

Goldiegirl

Yes, we'll have coffee and a cake and a natter and a look round the shops. Fun will be had!


I probably won't see her again before Christmas, as she's away on a mini cruise, the week before we go away. I've managed to do her card, so at least I can give it to her.

Karmacat

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Fun will be had!

:j:j:j:j

**happy dance**

Goldiegirl

Had a nice tea with my friend, and then did some vicarious shopping when she did some Christmas shopping.


This morning Mr Goldie and I went to the local shopping centre to get some 'bits' - some razor blades and shaving gel for Mr Goldie, I needed some face cleanser, which was buy 3 for the price of 2, so I added to my toiletries stash. Also, new toothbrushes, envelopes and stamps for Christmas cards. We used double and extra points vouchers in Boots and had a 20% off voucher for WHS.


But we spent the best part of £50, which seems ludicrous for the few bits that we brought home.


But, from here on we should be able to use our toiletries stash for quite a while, and if we do need anything not in the stash, can buy the item with points that have accrued.


I have a pile of ironing to do, so I have a feeling no Christmas cards will be done. But I've earmarked Saturday for the cards, so I can post them sometime next week

Goldiegirl

Another two days work out of the way..... now down to three days to go. This seems like the longest countdown in history!


Yesterday was mega busy, but today way one of those rare days when it was actually quite pleasant, and we could take our time over what we were doing. I even got the chance to sort out my desk drawers.


About three weeks ago, we both wrote to our tax office, asking for them to switch our personal allowances to our pensions, ahead of us leaving work.


Mr Goldie has received a reply, saying they can't make any amendments until he leaves work.


I was under the impression you could allocate your personal allowance however you wanted, so it seems a slightly strange reply.


However, we're just going to let it lie and write again after we stop work.


I know we could phone..... but I really hate waiting in phone queues unless I'm desperate.


I haven't had a response to my letter yet, so I'm waiting to see what sort of response I get.


I have very little faith in the HMRC's ability to get anything done, so I'm braced for it not to go very smoothly.


Anyway, off to put my feet up, hopefully will catch up with everyone over the next few days

Goldiegirl

We had to scrape the ice off the car when we went out this morning, but only had to get some fruit and veg so it was a low spend.


We are going to visit our friends in Berkshire for lunch tomorrow, so no need to think about Sunday lunch, although we'll have to pay for extra petrol for the journey.


I have now got to the payout point of £6 for Viewsbank. I started their surveys in late July, so it has been pitifully slow. They review payments at the end of the month and pay out on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. So I should get paid around 13th January. I'm not doing anymore surveys from them, and once I've been paid will delete my account.


I had an email from Ipsos I Say about my outstanding JL voucher ...... they are working hard to get all their vouchers out, and I need to wait another week. *sigh* Can't wait to get to my next payout point and stop doing their surveys as well.


I've just booked another show at the Marlowe in Canterbury, to see Blood Brothers next September. That's three shows we are going to next year. I'm going to look into becoming a 'Friend' of the Marlowe. It costs £33 for a couple, but you get money off tickets. I want to work out the point it becomes cost effective to be a 'Friend'.

I'm just about to wrap up the Christmas presents for our friends to take with us tomorrow, and will then do those pesky Christmas cards so I can get them posted on Monday.


Hope everyone is having a good weekend

BookWorm

I feel your pain on the card writing. I have in fact just sat and done mine. I was going to just do the overseas ones as they need to be posted but once I got going, I have done them all. So feeling pretty pleased with myself now

Have a lovely weekend and enjoy your day out tomorrow

Karmacat

Hope you're having a nice lunch with your friends, Goldie and the theatre plans for next year sound great.

Bookworm - love the idea of having done the cards already, good for you!

Goldiegirl

Evening all!

Very nice time at our friends today, they did a lovely lunch, and took care of my dietary needs, which was great.

Mr Goldie has known this couple for more than 40 years, and I've known them 35 years.

On MSE, we talk about our finances quite openly, but in real life I think most of us aren't quite so open, even with people we know very well.

I think it's very sensible not to talk too much about finances with friends, but on the other hand it's quite frustrating...... As I'd quite like to know how they were able to retire early.

She stopped work 9 years ago when she was 51, and generally had part time jobs and didn't have a private pension. I know she inherited some money from her parents, but no property, as the house went to her brother, who then died and left the property to his wife.

He stopped work three years ago, at the age of 60. His dad died about 18 months ago, and he inherited a house..... Not sure how much it was worth, but it was in Hammersmith, so I think it must have been sold for a sizeable chunk of money.

From something he said today, he hasn't got any income at the moment apart from interest, which must be over £10000(personal tax allowance) as he has it paid net, not gross.

They've lived in their house 35 years and do all the things like meal planning and cooking from scratch

But they also have 3 cars, in the last three years have had extensive improvements done to the house and also have had at least two big holidays a year plus various short breaks.

On the face of it, it seems to be a risky strategy. Firstly to rely on an inheritance to finance a retirement- that's always a risk.

I can cope with using the interest to finance day to day living.

But they seem to be drawing a lot of the capital for the improvements, the cars and holidays. Again that seems risky, as they are eroding the source of their income.

I know it's probably wrong to be so curious about their financial arrangements, but what they are doing seems to be the opposite of the wisdom I've gathered from MSE.

I'm just wondering if they have some sort of secret that the rest of us don't know about, or whether they're just living for today, and when the money's gone it's gone.

I'll never know the answer, but it's good for a ponder.

Oh, regarding the Friends of the theatre that I was talking about, the break even point is about 4 shows a year, so we MAY consider it next time we want to make a booking, as we both love the theatre.