I really really want to be........mortgage free!

ourcornercottage

Thx I've taken a look and started to open account but my iPad crashed halfway through!

Have tried to get the site to send a confirmation email but fear I might need to call tomorrow to sort it out!


I'm very excited to be getting so organised. Had a 6 monthly statement from my VM pension which I had regretted getting but actually it's done well this last 6 months. I Have Had It for years and opened it with VM at the time as I knew no better and had a unit trust with them. I know that VM perhaps aren't the best but I was saving something and they were going up by more than I put in so I was happy. For me that's good as I was a very late starter for planning for my future and lived for the day probably 10 years too long!

Cream_Tea

Can you put your blog link up again I've unsuccessfully searched for it earlier and lost patience. Have you done the pallet one yet? That's what I was going on for to see pictures.

Well done on the pension. I need to get DH on the case he is 30 with nothing except our meager savings. He is holding off for his work to start one.

CT

ourcornercottage

Hi CT it's http://stretchyourpennies.blogspot.co.uk I have included pallets in a couple of posts but there's one dedicated. in fact you just reminded my I saw a house with a few lovely ones in the front garden today so will go and ask if they way rid of a couple. Since setting out on my quest for 2 I've found none where as before I was seeing them everywhere!

I'm starting a stocks and shares ISA too as my pension is meagre for my age I want to save a bit more without it being tied away totally. That might be an option to get your OH started. I have a unit trust that I've had for years and although I can access it I don't no matter what, I see it as part of my retirement plan. It's part mindset. I have started thinking a lot about retirement just lately. I think it must be my age and the positive effect on the posters on here!

ourcornercottage

Stocks and shares ISA opened today starting with £50 per month I've suggested BF does the same and he has agreed this is a good idea. I will get his set up tomorrow.

Top tip for those who are going paperless. Buy a garden incinerator and burn old paperwork instead of shredding which takes yonks. I've had 3 boxes worth built up which has been smoldering away all day! My poor neighbours but it's all done, no chance of any identity fraud in my house and the plants have good compost!

In other news I'm getting some stuff to review for my blog which is fantastic. A great brand and good value for what it is so I'm very happy to review it!

ourcornercottage

New Money shuffle started today. Due to this the OP will have to wait a few days til I know where I am. Hoping to make a bit of a bigger OP this month i would like to OP BY £250 but I'm still not going to make it to £400 this month but should be back to almost this level for July.

ourcornercottage

Spending my day off doing washing as little OCC wet the bed for the first time in years and managed to get it on duck down quilt and both the pillows, slso on the sheet and matress protector as well as Jim jams! That equates to three loads of washing which will go straight into tumble drier when washing has finished (and solar panels are generating) to get the duck down stuff totally dry. Just need to wait til second loads done before I pop out for eggs as trying to make gluten free pastry today and we have run out!

In other news got said widdler into one of tesco school holiday cooking clubs thanks to MSE newsletter :-) he will love it and it's totally free :-) will just have one week of school summer hols without stuff planned but will probably go to soccer school as he loves it there.

Got the pin to my s and s isa today so need to activate that later and have a look around. Need to open BF's one too but will do that on PC tomorrow as iPad seems to crash a lot just lately as its getting on. Edit - done and £10 added to see how it works.

Should have my next £20 to invest in funding circle today as I'm reinvesting all the interest and repayments as soon as next £20 comes available. In 10 years time I will be pleased with this investment I'm sure! Edit - done A rated and 8.3% not bad.

ourcornercottage

So £10 landed in S&S ISA account okay. Had a look around the website it all looks very complicated so will need to do some research. I've set up a DD of £50 per month, question do you add this up in your 'account' until you have a larger amount to invest ie £500 or can you do was small investments as it comes in.

ourcornercottage

Okay day today. Spent £3 on a coffee! But earned £4 from solar panels!

Inspired by this forum I've been reviewing/upping my investments. Just so I can compare later as of today I have

£200 in funding circle and a few old bad investments in shares that don't make me any month and aren't worth selling!

£50 per month to VM unit trust (50/50 ftse and gilts/bonds)
£130 per month to VM stakeholder pension
£40 per month to Other stakeholder pension
£200 per month to savings which goes towards house stuff.
£25 per month to cash ISA (just for £10 save together!)

Just started
£50 per month to new s and s ISA

That's £500 per month saved although £200 is saving up for things rather than actual savings. Aim to increase this by £100 by the end of year!

As of next month I also want to get back on track with my OP's of mortgage. Still aiming for £400 per month minimum. Would start this month but new money shuffle is bedding in and I have small pots in a few accounts. By next month I'll be confident there's a bit of contingency in each account just in case!

Heard back that I didn't have a pension at one of my old jobs, still waiting on the other one which is more likely. Still not very likely but worth checking! I had a great salary in this job so if I did get a pension it's likely to be not an insignificant amount :-)

ourcornercottage

Sigs updated for funding circle and kW generated.

Having a lazy afternoon after taking son to squash, delivering birthday present and doing shopping. Now we don't eat out anymore, groceries are averaging £40-50 per week and we go short of nothing. Every 6 weeks or so we have a no shopping week to use up stuff.

Nothing much to report on money saving front today. Might try to list some stuff on Facebook or eBay if I can motivate myself!

ourcornercottage

Today has been a mix of really good and very annoying.

Went to see jurrasic world which was really good. Thought we had 1 free ticket with odeon but we didn't so had to pay full price :-(

The film finished later than expected so went to morrisons cafe for lunch which was only about £10 but took sooooooo long.

Finally was heading to local open gardens to support mini's school and had a blowout on the duel carriageway. That means 2 new low profile tyres as both front ones will need doing. Will have to wait a week to when we are paid but we have other vehicle to use so we don't need it.