The trials & tribulations of a 1st time landlord & investor

TallGirl

Flights booked going Friday to Tuesday nice little break, with old neighbour DG can't really take more time off.

Long day at work four interviews one more on Monday which I won't do. So interesting first candidate lovely and passionate, second one already doing the job but a kind of ticking the boxes not seeing the client person and third one perfect could do it all and had all the theory behind it unfortunately only one years experience and seen twelve clients in that time our project deals with 200 a quester between six people so we think she would crack. 4th ones definitely not right I'm hoping for no one I could so work with her.

21% cut in funding on one of my projects from end of the year and that's if we win the tender. Scary but the stats doesn't back up the workload mainly because we don't collect them. We shall see scary meeting on Friday.

Feel tired tonight didn't get to gym one time but going tomorrow instead then PT Friday.

Can't wait to go to Cape Verdi and I've got a golf break before that plus my trip to Denmark all good really.

TallGirl

Gym done just me not DG she was too tired my dinner is in the oven so hungry. Getting on top of things at work also booked lense check might as well before I go to see the eye laser specialist. Need to find out how bad I'm reading sight is feel like I cannot see my phone without keeping it at arms length.

Working tomorrow wish I wasn't though PT after work and no drinking of course.

TallGirl

Gym last night without DG that's three times this week and last week feel very good. Still no drinking which is good slightly tempted tonight but won't. Next Friday is first drink since early Jan.

Looking forward to staying with friend tomorrow and seeing my cats tomorrow if they bother being around. Also look forward to meeting with IFA and actually starting to move the money around.

Going to slowly take money out of Zopa and just use RateSetter makes more sense just to have one and RateSetter pays more. Will take a while to get it all out but if I cash it out it will cost me 1%.

Played golf today nine holes again played really well almost to my handicap. DG didn't play will but you get off days.

Not done a lot else leaving tomorrow at 4pm hope to make it to the gym first but we shall see.

So all in all life is pretty ok and I still have two more days off and I'm seeing a friend and fil on Monday. It will be good to see him been a while and I can find out why his son isn't giving me his bank details so I can pay him for the funeral.

Any going to see the lantern festival at Chiswick house at the end of Feb with DG mother should be good tickets on Quidco.

TallGirl

Busy couple of days but all good. Lovely staying with friend and his family and got lots and lots of lovely cat cuddles from my two boys which I know aren't mine. They look lovely and well kept and are also well loved even getting on better with the dog and the other cat.

Meeting with IFA interesting lots to read but investments in ISA and pension plus fund are all multi Asset and global like I wanted. I'll need to look at it properly at some point. I hadn't taken my cheque book which was annoying as it wouldn't let me pay online so need to send off two cheques but that's fine. Managed to make one payment into the fixed savings account we opened today and I'll make the second one tomorrow. Then I need to ask them to transfer my cash isa over to them Santander pays 0.1% they pay 1% not a lot but much better. Then saw friend for lunch which was nice caught up on golf club gossip then off to see FIL. He's looking so well and relaxed after his month long holiday in SA. He's taking it more easy as they've got one more full time staff and increase another ones hours. All good. No mention of my share in the business so left that one well alone. He'll chase bil for bank details thinks he's just been busy all that's a relief no worries by the sound of it. I'm paying for gravestone but he'd forgotten the catalogue but there's no rush I just need to set aside money for it.

Then hygienist at old dentist turns out I need a check up so need to plan a trip down which is fine. Hadn't had a scale and polish for a year so well overdue.

Also manage a trip to makro and Aldi so that was nice picked up lots of loo roll and kitchen roll so won't need that for a while. Also there extra strong bleach is fab.

Think that's it for today quite tired and work tomorrow. Friend has cancelled get together so will be next Tues much better need a chilled night at home.

vandanfc

Good to hear that the boys are doing well.

TallGirl

Tired tonight DG is doing some test questions for a job application I am not sure it's the right time for her to change but it's good practise if she gets to interview stage.

Managed to pay the whole amount into the tired cash account and also sent off the two cheques I needed to send. I have opened a Tesco's current account that pays 3% on £3000 will open a second one ready for when my first direct saver matures £3600 and money from Zopa can go into it as it is realised. Yes I know I should simplify things but when I read the saving board and some people have 30 current account and the same amount of regular savers my three current accounts and three regular savers aren't too bad.

Might need an account for actual spending money as there will be so many regular payments coming in and out of my current account to pensions ISAs and regular investments it might be easier so I know where I am. Maybe my Barclays one.

DG managed to upgrade her flex direct account with nationwide to a plus account so we now have breakdown cover, travel insurance for next year (out runs out 17/2) as well as gadget insurance well worth the £10 a month and she gets another regular saver at 5%.

Really tired need my sleep need to get into work early as I'm leave a little bit early to go to the gym.

TallGirl

Gym done feel better for it going again tomorrow and PT Friday then allowed beer for Friday night.

Checque to IFA was for wrong amount his fault not mine. Need to send new one, savings account fully funded and got log ins now.

Spoke to DG about having some premium bonds in her name to increase our chances of winning. Draw is tomorrow so wouldn't be until end of Feb we would need to look at that. Quite tired early night tonight. Would obviously need agreement in place that the money is mine.

TallGirl

All money has now paid out from ex Dh weird to see so much in the account but now the fun start re investments and making sure I have a secure future retirement.

£350k in total plus I obviously got the whole house so that's another £300k I really don't feel any different and it isn't really a life changing amount that you could just sit back and relax but nice it is indeed.

Updated my accounts for the house £240 bill for the pump brilliant not that bad at all. Everything is set up to save into two regular savers from the rent plus one into RateSetter the rest are for repairs and obviously tax when that is due.

I think my maturing first direct saver of £3600 will go into premium bonds we have agreed £5000 from DG from her maturing saver and I can use the rest of her allowance. We will have a written agreement and the money will come out of a joint account. She will keep her winnings and I will put mine below £500 into our joint savings account for trips away. Won £25 x 2 this first month so will buy her allowance and my own before the end of Feb that will get us in the April draw.

Going to watch a movie on sky cinema back on the beers but only cheap Lidl ones.

TallGirl

Nice chilled out day enjoyed a Round of golf with DG and got all the paper work the IFA sent me plus noted the investment funds so I can track them well two of them not the peonsion however I get log ins and six monthly statements plus yearly on the pension.

Tired but so so nice to have tomorrow off. Plan is gym and 12.15 pump class then pick up Boots order in local shopping centre. Need to clean our room and do some washing but not a lot else. Meeting friend Tues night which will be nice.

TallGirl

Enjoying my day off cleaned most of the side of the building our room is on took ages but all nice now.

Email from ex bil so finally paid funeral bill what a relief done and dusted not owing bil money is great. Just need to set aside money for headstone but shouldn't be more than a couple of grand.

Tomottow I stop wearing my lenses ready for my appointment at Moorfield on the 14/2. I'll hopefully get a price and then I can set that aside and I'll know what is what to go into premium bonds. I trying some new lenses out they are better than what I have now and only £5 a month more but as I'm paying £40 a month already laser treatment would save a bit even if I'll need reading glasses at some point.

I have promised my sister my phone so have 2 months to buy new one. I want an iPhone no debate but I've never owned the latest model but seems silly to buy 6s when 7 is £100 more. Wish it was nearer to 8 coming out. I did originally want the 5SE but my eyes are bad so need larger screen. I have a 5 but my sister is quite hard up so really want to help out.

My contract is £10 so looking to buy outright. If anyone knows of any discount or cashback please let me know.

Right gym at 12.15 need to get changed and head down there soon it's body pump so need to set up first.