Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

beanielou

Skye is lovely as is Arran

milann

Beanie you’re so lucky living where you do - as I’ve said before we travelled hundreds of miles to visit around the corner from your door.....

beanielou

milann wrote: »

Beanie you’re so lucky living where you do - as I’ve said before we travelled hundreds of miles to visit around the corner from your door.....

I know.
I suppose you dont always appreciate whats on your doorstep.

Seasidegal58

Thanks guys. Hopefully I'll see more of rural Scotland over the coming years - especially the islands!:)

I had a three-quarters of an hour delay at Inverness airport on Saturday, but other than that the journey was fine and I got home about 5.30pm. Unpacked, did some washing and caught up in the evening on the TV with some of the Christmas/New Year programmes I had recorded (Dracula was fab!).:)

On Sunday I took down all the Christmas decorations. I already did the housework before I went away so I just had to dust and hoover up the sparkly bits on the floor!

Back to work yesterday – I did find getting up at 6.00am again a shock to the system! I was quite busy in work reading all the emails that had arrived and generally catching up. Ended up going to bed around 9pm.

Today the workload has eased, but it will all kick off again next week as we hit one of our busiest periods.

SCRIMPY SPENDS

I ended up paying £10 at Inverness airport on locks for my suitcase! I realised when I got to DD's last Saturday that I forgotten to put a lock on my suitcase, so I had to splash out on the way back.:mad: As I could only buy a pack of two it doubled the price! Also spent out on a falafel wrap and coffee at the airport cafe for lunch and there was also my car ride home from the airport which is dear, but essential for me as I don't drive and dragging a heavy suitcase to and across London and then to the airport on various trains/tubes holds no pleasure for me any more. And it least the average cost over the year for the rides works out cheaper than running a car!:D

Also spent out just under £11 for food supplies since I got back.

Cash in since I returned was £28.89 monthly interest/cashback from my Santander current account and £20.53 cashed in today from Topcashback.

I have my dental hygentist appointment tomorrow – this is covered by my dental insurance though. Also nails which are also budgeted for.

I've been working out a rough estimate of my retirement income using the current tax allowances. In addition, I won't be paying any NI when I hit State Pension age (unless the Government decides to tinker with this too!).

As I've already been putting a slice of my income into my workplace pension each month over the last months, there is not too much disparity between what I've been living on at the moment and what I estimate I will receive pension-wisein the future – which is a pleasant surprise, though I course my figures aren't final.

However, I receive certain perks that are deducted from my work flexi-benefits – health insurance and BUPA yearly check-up being the most important. These will not be covered when I retire. I'm still going to have a good look through all my spending pots though to see what can be tinkered with.

Sun_Addict

Glad you're back safely.

The pension calculations sound like good news and you'll be able to live reasonably well. I daren't do mine yet, I've got another 7 years to go and I'm aiming to get another promotion before then which will add to the final pot.

I have heard it said that it's actually cheaper to take taxis when you need them than running a car. When Mr SA was driving it used to cost a fortune, one thing I don't miss.

Seasidegal58

Thanks SA. I hope you get your promotion. It can make quite a difference to your final Pension pot. Some years ago I worked with a woman who was promoted to a manager status. She then was moved onto the 'Executive' pension scheme and couldn't believe how much her pension was boosted!

Re taxis - I've used quite a few of these over the years, but I still think I'm quids in than if I'd run a car!:eek:

Seasidegal58

That's another day over with!

I went to the hygienist first thing this morning - all ok there so don't have to see her for another six months. Quite a busy day today work wise collating documents required for boss's client meetings this week.

I'm off to have my nails done later then relax with supper in front of the box!:D

SCRIMPY SPENDS

Booked two for one Odeon tickets today, £10.25 - my friend and I are off to see 'Little Women' at the weekend. Plus nail money this evening - all taken from the budgeted pots.

Sunshine_girl2

Can recommend Little Women, mum and I enjoyed it. Sounds like your back in the swing of life after Christmas.

doingitanyway

All sounding upbeat and good SSG58

milann

All sounding good SSG:T:T