Mortgage free by 45

Allotrope

gallygirl wrote: »

I second the suggestion to start a second pension - though that still limits you to retiring at 55 - and that may/will increase, so maybe consider splitting between a pension and a SIPP?

With regards to your Costas - how much do they cost each? What is the daily interest on your mortgage? Every coffee = x hours you have to work longer - is it really worth it, especially if you can get a 30p Waitrose alternative? If you can make online overpayments on your mortgage maybe pay that saved coffee money off your mortgage every day. That would make small inroads into your mortgage whilst the big payments go automatically elsewhere. Same with the £7 off your grocery, future 30p's off tea etc. Fun to do and keeps you engaged in what you are doing.

Personally I'm with you on the cleaner - that was my one luxury :T.

I know! It's ridiculous spending so much money on a milky coffee drink! I'm definitely working on this one!

Allotrope

Today has been another good scrimping day..

I have spent a grand total of £4.70 (£2 each on lunch for me and one of my DDs) and 70p on 2 lidls cookies for the girls.

Things I'm pleased with:
- I put on the slow cooker this morning for a sweet potato & bean chilli, enough left over for lunch tomorrow.
- I dodged costa all day (had a free Waitrose latte instead)
- 3 receipts in receipthog
- 147 points on swagbucks

All in all a good day

Allotrope

I have decided to keep an extra money total to tot up any extra money I find or earn..

December extra money total so far: £7 (unexpected Waitrose money off voucher)

gallygirl

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Did you mean a SIPP and an ISA?

Yes, sorry, have corrected it.

I retain the right to know what I mean even if it's not necessarily what I say .

genieuk

I work part time not much of a pension pot as career put on hold following the hubby around whilst he was in the forces.
Have had a LGPS for the last 4yrs I pay 5.5% not sure on the councils contritbutions.
OH has a good army pension and has been paying into a work scheme for past 3yrs I think he also pays 5.5% and his work pays around 10%.
As he is a higher rate tax payer I was thinking is it better for him to pay more and get tax relief.
I will enquire about my scheme .
We may be in the position to do all 3 overpay mortgage, save and contribute to pensions.

Its a bit of a minefield will apply for Tesco current accounts today

Allotrope

A quiet day on the money saving front...

I paid out nearly £10 for drinks, snacks and lunches for the family, but also got a free dinner at a friends, so not too bad.

It's a horrible last week of work so I'm caving a little bit with treats.

Did manage 263 swagbucks and to scan 5 receipts into receipt hog

MinnieCooper

Hi again,

Gosh, how old were you when you went into teaching and what did you do before? It would be interesting to see what a career changer did. I am impressed that you are head of department so quickly. Is that at the same school where you started? Did you have to do any extra qualifications? I am stuck on £35K as I am at the top of the NHS band 6 scale. As the Government likes to make cutbacks many hospitals have centralised services and this means less places to get promotion. I have worked part time for 10 years but also studied a Masters degree and other qualifications so I am quite capable of moving up but even the next pay band only goes up to £41K. I don't want to leave the area either so that stops me moving.

We work shifts like this: 8am-4pm (I have to leave home at 7.15 and drop the youngest (8) at the childminder unless hubby is at home (he also works shifts)). Then 12pm-8pm (hate these as my youngest is usually in bed by the time I get in) and, finally killer 13 hour nights (if they clash with the hubby's working hours he stays off but we lose money and I am not sure his employer will allow him to do that forever). Then there are the weekends. The NHS wants a 7 day service without taking on extra staff so, apart from NHS management (who seem immune to working these days), we are working a LOT of weekends. Add in a husband who also works weekends and we have very little time together as a family. Hubby also has fixed, allocated holidays that add to the problem. So, I really need to change direction. I am bored too!

I am looking at teaching but also using my current skills to train as an epidemiologist/something to do with public health so I don't have to do the nights/weekends/shifts. I have seen a Masters degree at a local university that is only £4K (not bad for a Masters degree these days) so I am pondering with that.

Yes, big decisions for me but I am anxiously awaiting our endowment pay out in March. I am so worried Brexit will have lost us money. We do get statements each year and we have always looked at the lowest prediction so that if there is any extra then that is a bonus!

My eldest child (boy) will be 13 in March. He is growing up so fast! I have to buy him new school trousers already this academic year as he has grown so much since the summer! I must remember to get the waist adjustable ones as he is skinny, but tall!

I think you have done a fantastic job so far!

genieuk

Minnie cooper
Have you thought of Health Visitor I only mention this as my friend made the move from A&E nurse to Health visitor, she works p/t

MinnieCooper

Hi Genie,

I'm not a nurse though so that wouldn't work. I am going to spend the next couple of months thinking things through. One of my colleagues finally cracked this week and has gone on long term sick, plus another leaves next week (hasn't got a job to go to either) - I have worked with both of them for many years (I went to university with one of them).

I definitely want to stay in the science field though :-)

Allotrope

Hi MC sorry I disappeared! End of term always knackering...

I was lucky with the Head of Dept role...I got on very well with my boss when he was head of chem, and he helped me apply etc. when he got a new job. It came up when I'd been teaching 3 years. A lot of it is down to right place, right time...it's a lovely school to work at so head of Chem job not coming up again for a while!

Before that I project managed website builds from home. Paid well but I hated working from home, it drove me nuts! But was great when the kids were young.

I didn't want to go into teaching but as im a single mum, I didn't see another way round the school hols. So I tried it and loved it and never looked back! You can trial teaching....I got a two week placement in a school.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do x