Prosperous soul in the making

savingholmes

Honeysucklelou2 said:

That’s an impressive list of goals going forward SH. You are so knowledgeable about pensions and how these will affect your future plans...

Good to see that you have your writing on the list of goals, especially after all your hard work earlier this year, in getting your first book published.

Thanks HSL - I do recommend trying to get a job with a defined benefits pension - as to get the same final pension value - you would need around 25 x figure by retirement if you were self funding. I have spent quite a bit of time over the last couple of years looking at how to maximise my pension. My Ex's pension for comparison was about a third of my total entitlement - hence having to give him half of the best one of mine. I have a spreadsheet that tells me the impact of different retirement dates . There are calculators online that will help with that and let you run simulations too. The Fireside Chat thread on here is quite useful too - on the pensions board...

There are some private sector companies that will match up to 10% or similar - those are also good... Utility and train type companies are often good for pensions...

You can check your state pension entitlement easily online if you know your government gateway id.

I'm hoping once the pressure of the divorce is over - I will have spare brain capacity to write. Not planning to test it until I am on leave though as currently need that capacity to keep my job and do it well.

Well I got my piece of work leftover from last week done first thing this morning. My boss asked if I'd done delay delivery on the email... No that was the real time. Took 70 minutes to take DD to her base and 50 minutes back. Until she passes her test I can see a lot of these trips in my future... 

I paid £481 to the solicitor this week. I'll be glad when these bills are done. I'm not expecting to hear anything more from the legal people until the end of next week at the earliest. Just realised though that DD and I forgot to get her doc witnessed (she has to give up house rights) and she's away until Friday. Can't be helped really - unless I posted it to her or took it down... I don't think it will matter if we get it done this weekend as aiming for the 19/11 at the earliest to complete on the mortgage - and that's only if a judge signs the other bit off (and on time). Waiting is so hard - and for me especially - not a strength!!

Sat on my lunch break cuddling our dog but best get back to work. I took her for a brief run around last night but it started lashing it down so came back early.  Ex has gone out so nice and peaceful.

Have a good week all.

EssexHebridean

Check with your solicitor whether you can email her the document and she can then get it printed off and get it witnessed. Might well be that's perfectly acceptable, although as you say if you've got a delay before the completion of the mortgage & TofE anyway then there may not be any point. One thing to check though - allowing that I assume she has to go to a solicitor for advice on this (usually required by the mortgage company as otherwise there can be comeback afterwards) do you have a local solicitors who will be open at weekends to do this? 

As for the travel thing, if it's taking over 2 hours out of your day plus the fuel cost each time you have to take her, then she definitely needs to start contributing. Even if she had her own car there would be a cost attached. It's lovely that you're doing it to avoid causing her stress, but it sounds like she's stating to adjust really well to life now, and if she still wants the benefit of the lifts to make that side of things easier, then she must accept that comes with a price too. 

jwil

I literally am desperate just to be left alone. Family are concerned I'll be lonely - they just don't get it. I need that time alone like a drowning person needs air. I feel like I am in deficit when it comes to time alone - and it will take my solitude tank a long time to refill due to having had everyone home for so long over the last 18 months. 

I can so relate to this!  It's been the same here.  I find it so hard.

In terms of health and wellbeing, I don't have any definite plans.  I need to focus on eating better and always gravitate towards the basics of SW.  I need to move more, and I want to get stronger.  I walk a lot but don't use my upper body a lot and I can feel it.  I also want to work on flexibility, so I've been really impressed with how you've been getting on with yours.

mark55man

good work SH - this diary is so busy - yay go cheer squad.

not going to go too deep on pensions, other than to mention its really important to at least know what you are expecting from the state, and your main jobs/schemes 

savingholmes

Thanks EH. Because there's no £ involved for DD as far as I know any non family member can witness it. She hasn't shown me her letter. 

Turns out they put the wrong equity figure on Ex's form so I need to ask them to change it.

I get what you are saying on travel. I have been dropping hints that she'll need to pay soon but not enforced it yet.

I am just conscious how much more we've done for DS and she keeps reminding me!! If she had gone to uni I don't think I could have got the mortgage. So guilt trip... If I do get a pension lump sum I do want to give her some £ to make up for that if I can.

savingholmes

Jwil it's nice that someone understands. I too use SW as a base and my weight is slowly reducing. Given my weight I have been shocked at how much my flexibility has improved in a couple of months.

Mark - I agree with you on pensions. It's scary what people don't know and don't bother to find out about until they are drawing or about to draw their pension.

lucielle

I know what you mean about flexibility, I'm about as bendy as a scaffold board!!!!
L

savingholmes

lucielle said:

I know what you mean about flexibility, I'm about as bendy as a scaffold board!!!!
L

Are you still having the PT Lucielle? You sound like you are always on the go regardless. 

Just spent some time at a recently widowed neighbours showing her how to set her heating and hot water. Proud of myself for knowing how...The ironic thing is I haven't set up my own . I know how I just whack the heating on and off as I need it instead of leaving it on. 

I have managed to get a xmas slot for the grocery delivery on 22/12 so happy with that.

Tahlullah.H

Christmas slot!  Wow.  I hadn't even got there in my head yet!  I must do better.  Thanks for the kick up the proverbial SH.

savingholmes

Glad it helped Tahlullah.

Spent 9 hours in bed last night but still feel exhausted. Things should improve soon. Ex is at work so I have the house to myself which is good.

First task of the day though was get my conveyancer to send Ex the right figure on his Txfr of Equity form. [Roll eyes]. Hopefully now Ex can sign it and get it witnessed while he's at work. 

Today I have 3 meetings - so staying at home as that will be busy enough without adding travel.

Tomorrow I have my counsellor. She wants me to do an LF test. I need to pick some up. DD wandered off with ours. Not confident I'm doing them right. Glad she's trying to protect both of us though. Otherwise she suggested meeting outside or via zoom. I don't want zoom if I can avoid it. I've still not tested my webcam so not sure I can get it to work anyway.

I've found a garage within walking distance of my house that a neighbour recommended. Unfortunately they seem to be quoting £10 more than the main dealer.  However it would be a lot more convenient. Probably less than half a mile from my house... They said mileage wise it would only need it at 140000 miles - but on age 60 months. I will have had it 5 years in December.. I could push it back a few weeks then I think... He said - they recommend the water pump at the same time - as the cam belt change can cause it to fail which made sense.

I'd best finish getting ready and crack on with work.