Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

I have just got off a very long phone call (wait) to HMRC to sort out my online account. It turns out there were multiple things that were incorrect with my details hence why I have never been able to set up the online account properly. Hopefully these should all be correct from midnight tonight so I will log in tomorrow and hopefully be able to access and add stuff. I have tried this on and off for a couple of years so it is nice to feel like I now exist

I have a few more jobs to work through. I am hoping to finish them all by the time my first meeting starts at 2pm so that after those I can head out into the garden.

ajmoney

Today's exciting and interesting things:

1. I exist   I have managed to log in to my HMRC account and can now see what I should have been able to. I have been concerned about underpaid NI contributions due to my employer. Whether they were or they weren't, if I understand the screen correctly, I just need to make sure I pay another 8 years of full contributions to get the full state pension. I have a friend who checks his stuff regularly so I will ask him when I see him later today to ensure I have understood it correctly. Given that I expect to work for at least that amount of years I think I should be fine without needing to worry about topping anything up.

2. I have had the second decorating quote in, it is vastly different. The first was £2480 and they were going to supply everything apart from the wallpaper which I have. This one is £850, I supply the wallpaper and emulsion for the walls in the colours I want and he will supply the emulsion for the ceilings and the varnish for the window surrounds. It doesn't exactly give me an easy starting place to negotiate a price with my friend. I didn't know if £2480 was too much or not but £850 seems too low a price although I will be buying all the materials if he does it. When I saw him this week, I did say if we decide on a price and part way through he feels it isn't enough, to let me know and we can chat about it. I will try and meet up with him over the next couple of weeks to discuss a plan. It is exciting to think I might get this done soon.

ajmoney

After double checking, I only need 8 years more of NI contributions. I thought I would have a few incomplete years but there is only one nearly 30 years ago.
I got my current work pension forecast the other day so I am going to sit down next week and try and work out what I should be expecting.

ajmoney

I am tempted to pay for a one-off gardening service, it is someone I used 4 years ago. I wasn't keen on a couple of his methods but he did a really good tidy up job. I will see if he is available, when and what cost and can say what I don't want him to do as well as what I do. I didn't necessarily know any better last time but I have learned a lot along the way in my garden. I figure he will do some of these jobs a lot quicker, has the tools etc and I can then plant and enjoy looking out at my garden.

ajmoney

I am currently batch cooking for myself from scratch for the first time in I don't know how long. The rest of the time I have either resorted to fish and veg or soup. I am hoping it will give me some enthusiasm to at least restock my freezer with home cooked ready meals. Any suggestions of some meals I can cook in bulk will be greatly received as I end up sticking with the same ones. This is a new meal though, a vegan bean and vegetable chilli, I hope it is nice.

ajmoney

Decorating quote in from my friend, £1900.

Original two were £2480 and £850. The lower one was definitely too low, had no idea about the upper one. It is all for labour as I am going to get the paint etc. Not only can he start fairly soon but is also happy to work around the rest of my house afterwards. It might not be the quickest job due to circumstances but I know what his work ethic is like. I had hoped it might be a little cheaper but think I may just go for it.

Watty1

Sounds a plan.  Nice work on the batch cooking

KajiKita

Mr KK batch cooks meat based meals:
- coq au vin
- beef goulash 
- beef stroganoff - I make a mushroom vegan version of this
- Normandy pork - nice combination of cider, Dijon mustard and cream
- chicken chausseur 
-  chicken kiev - these are a it fiddly but freeze well and are completely different to shop bought
- beef / lamb stew - super easy
- cottage / shepards pie 

Or are you after more veggie options? 

KK

LadyWithAPlan

Well done on the NI organisation 

Curries freeze well plus I do a lot of bean dishes which I then batch freeze - dal, Mexican bean dishes, feijoada (Brazilian beans often with pork) etc 
soups are great too or stock 
mousakka
soffrito - so chopped onions, carrots , celery  and if you want garlic as a base 

ajmoney

Thank you for the meal suggestions. I am happy with meat meals although I am always keen to improve my meat free recipes. This week I am going to try a different stir fry recipe, unsure which yet and then next week when I have more time I will look to batch cook a different dish each day to restock the freezer.