Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I'm only about a quarter of the way through, Hairy, but that sounds right so far. Some of the same ideas as Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which I read years ago, except the one about Dads doesn't have dodgy Phoenician traders selling fake jewels.

Today's been a good one despite the cold developing. I feel like my normal self otherwise, not a limp, tired version of me as I did yesterday. I spent an hour and a half out of doors doing the shed and garden, and a neighbour gave me some plants which I've potted up. I did a couple of loads of washing too, so there was something to show in the way of housework. However, having started off trying to find a cheque book and getting thoroughly distracted, I haven't made any financial progress (unless you count not spending anything).

I don't understand pensions because I don't have one, but I approve of mortgage overpayments .

I have a baby one and maybe I'm being an over-ambitious parent and all it will aspire to is a quiet life and evenings in front of the telly. Mortgage overpayments are quite exciting in their own way: some of the people on the mortgage boards have enormous overpayments of more than I earn, but it's all relative: I can't aspire to match them but I don't need to as my overpayments still reduce the amount of interest payable over the life of the mortgage and should mean a few hundred extra for us in the long term.

Honeysucklelou2

Pensions confuse me....all I know is that I pay into one via work. I must remember to check up on it! The raspberry mocha sounds amazing, never seen or heard of that before.

XSpender

Well done on paying off the first sub account.

Another one here who doesn't understand pensions

WannabeFree

And another who doesn't understand!

Hope you're feeling okay

x

Cherryfudge

I'm fine thanks, W... hope you are too and can find a bit of rest and relaxation for yourself today.

MSE has a useful page on pensions but I had to go through it with a notebook and pen at a time when I felt relaxed and unhurried. I also went onto my employer's website and read a bit more about what I'm signed up to. The sums for making up payments for years without pensions are rather scary but I reckon some sort of retirement savings are a good idea, whether it be pensions, investments that keep paying you an annuity or other income, or something else.

Still can't sort out whether to prioritise pension or mortgage, though! I'm not good at things that need to me be one the ball and emotionally able to take action at any time, so I need totake this into account.

Oops, got to go - due in work in half an hour!

Cherryfudge

I logged back into the mortgage account and found my calculations were slightly awry: we owed £12.81 on the smallest subaccount and had overpaid a bit more than I thought on one of the others... long story short, I've paid off the smallest one and started on the middle-sized one!

Other than that, no spends and another glorious May day. I am working over the weekend and trying to fit in life as well: we are trying to decide whether to go to the car boot tomorrow but the parking will be horrendous and I have to be back at work for one so maybe not.

I didn't manage anything in the garden beyond watering one of the compost bins, but more laundry got done and so did some cooking, plus usual jobs that stop us from going under like washing the pots.

Spends:
Mortgage £29.41
MS stuff:
Made a batch of marmalade (which will soon disappear, creating a small amount of space that we will frame and charge people to come and see)
10th coin savings 20p

Onebrokelady

Just managed to catch up on your diary,you have been busy,I might have to go for a lie down after reading all thato:rotfl:
I hope your cold doesn't develope into anything too nasty, we have lots going round at work at the moment so I'm avoiding people like they've got the plague because I can't afford to catch another one,I'm off t9 do housey things now as you have inspired me to get up off my bum and do something :T

Cherryfudge

Very quick catch-up which I'll probably have to edit later because something will be forgotton.

5/5/18 Spends
Housekeeping £2.15
Garden £2.00
Household £5.00
MS stuff
Car boot bargain - very good quality pan for £4 and a matching lid from another stall for £1
Overtime at work 2 hours
10th coin savings 20p
6/5/18 Spends
Housekeeping £4.67
MS stuff
Favourite coffee back on half price
10th coin savings £1.01

Cherryfudge

A very muzzy-headed day today which meant my piano lesson was a waste of time I might as well not have practised or got a decent might's sleep. So frustrating when this happens.

I worked out that every sleep in shift at work is worth about three and a half days off my mortgage, which is quite nice to know. I've also checked my ISA and found it paid me about 98p from January to March, which is kind of it but definitely makes my 10th coin savings pot an out-and-out winner - it's only been going a couple of weeks and is up to £4. When it's up to a fiver I'll add it to the ISA.

I am starting to formulate a long-term savings plan. Just starting... takes a lot of reading and trying to get my head round things. Money that is currently going to mortgage overpayment could do with being spread more widely so I reckon part to pension, part to a good savings account and part somewhere else. I haven't yet decided where.

Spends:
Toiletries £4.48
Housekeeping £14.17
Piano lesson £10.00
MS stuff:
Another sleep in at work
down-shifted a brand on toiletries combined with a get 2nd half price offer
ahem... more coffee on offer
downshifted a brand on wool-washing liquid and reverted to own-brand rinse aid (this may not happen next time).
yellow-stickered pre-prepped veggies for tea - normally I do my own so not all that MS but they did look tempting.
10th coin savings £1.20
Confession time:
Coffee...
Pre-prepped veg...
Not enough time to check the £ shop before buying stuff at the supermarket.

parsniphead

That's fab news about the sleep in shift/mortgage ratio. I wish I was that good with maths.:o;)

It's worth trying the brand downshifting. You can always change back for things which don't work.