Prosperous soul in the making

in_need_of_direction

you you only get the sticker if you remembered to switch it on in between times

Tahlullah.H

in_need_of_direction said:

you you only get the sticker if you remembered to switch it on in between times

It's the small things...

savingholmes

LOL -  I did miss. Do I get a sticker then?
DS packed the dishwasher last night and put it on - it all helps. 

I have a tiredness hangover today - hoping it will sort. Planning to work - and then if the weather is kind later this afternoon walk with DH and puppy to local park and have a wander. It will be our first time there since lockdown began although DS goes nearly every day. DH has got this afternoon off - and thought I still had Fridays off.... I haven't for over a month now???? Men!

Another £79 paid off CC today. Progress. 

savingholmes

Had a productive day so far. Taking a late lunch break. Need to make myself do some more. Any plans for going out to the park have been washed away in the almost non-stop rain today. It may improve slightly at the weekend. I'm looking forward to being allowed to travel more widely again - although whether we will I am not sure. 

savingholmes

Today both kids have an optician appointment. This will be only my second time in any kind of shop since lockdown. I'm nervous but we've all been asked to wear masks hopefully it will be okay. DH has taken some of our cash and has gone out on his motorbike to meet with a couple of friends at an outdoor cafe. DH and I managed a short walk yesterday with pooch. I may try do so some work later and get a head start on Monday. I have a load of deadlines frontloaded at the beginning of next week. I still owe 3 hours flexi so will start with clearing that. It's due to rain here a lot of the day anyway.

MovingForwards

Just take it slowly and it will be ok. Independent / small shops are doing really well with social distancing etc so maybe try and find a few and pop in once a week to get used to it.

Do take advantage of the not so good weather to bank hours, your future self will thank you 🤗

savingholmes

Thanks for the future self reminder. Well the pension transfer is a bust - they won't touch me until I am 55 so I am just going to have to suck it up. They suggest getting life insurance to cover the gap. I managed to avoid paying and they avoided advice by giving me a case study of someone in an identical situation.... So I will put that money towards my target CC - but I won't pay the full amount as I was due to empty the EF a bit too much this month (due to the chairs)...  so will work out what to pay later. I'm gutted though. I know they are trying to protect me but still frustrated. Hopefully - in 5 years time I will be able to post about a successful transfer at an even higher rate of money!! If we are then in a position to move and retire flexibly - hopefully they won't be able to say no..;.

Tahlullah.H

Sorry to hear about the pension.  I looked into this and decided in the end it was easier to do what I am doing, which is leave it alone and claim it when 55 (2 months!).  I don't know if I am losing out, but I have accepted.  You never know, in 5 years time, you may be happy you haven't transferred.  I put all my other pensions into one pot, and left this one alone.  Hopefully, by the time I am able to claim on the others, they will have grown enough for me not to be concerned about the DB pension which I will have been claiming for 10 years already.

The great news is that you didn't have to pay the fee for the non-advice!

savingholmes

Thanks Tahlullah - hopefully I will be able to access it at 55. I went out for a drive by myself and bought steak, mushroom, onion and chips. I took £32 of stuff back to W1ck3s but then went to the B that ends with Q with DH and we bought some flags so he can lay the base for the shed at the back. I also got another 100 litres of compost and 3 Astilbe plants (think white feather style flowers) for the back border and 2 flowering Strawberry plants. Just picked a couple of strawberries from the garden too. Came back and DD is helping! To earn money but still.. Kitchen is looking better and she's cooking. A nice change from the rest of the week. She is going to do some of our washing too.  Every little helps.

I texted our cleaner too today and said I was missing her! Here's hoping she comes back - we really need her!!  I am planning to sit in the garden for a bit with a coffee and just chill. It has stopped raining for a bit. 

MovingForwards

I'm so sorry about the pension, I know you were hoping for a yes and had big plans.
Try and hang on for the 5 years, then go full steam ahead.
Use the time to do your house and make it sale ready. You will be debt free, your pensions will be bigger, you'll have more savings. DD may be more settled and not so wobbly. DD will be established in his life. 
The flexi-retirement will be one you and DH can throw yourselves into and embrace it with both arms.