Prosperous soul in the making

DancingInTheRain

Hope your day got better, take care.

savingholmes

Thanks all. The pre-work coffee at home break was worth it. I got to work and was called straight into a crisis meeting. It got resolved but it was that kind of day but I had support from colleagues which helped. DD came home slightly early with school's permission - and DH was home shortly after that so I was able to stay at work and focus.

Took lunch in and had leftovers for tea. Planning to defrost something for tomorrow. Just had a £24 refund from D*n..m but I am owed another £25. Hoping that goes through okay.

lucielle

Could you sell some of your crafty things you make to fund the business plans you want to do? Plus it would help free space and help the finances?
L

savingholmes

Crafts are on my list too - but not my top priority at the moment. Since switching to varifocals - I've struggled far more with doing fine detail work - and I've not found a good solution yet. I can still do decoupage - but struggled with glass painting. I have been using my 'stock' as gifts - although I forgot I had already given one sister a bottle light and gave her another and I don't think she appreciated it but hey ho. It's a shame as I loved that pattern. That one was using a stencil and peelable glass paints though so I may be able to recreate it.

DD didn't go to school today as she was feeling really whiney and unwell (it turned out to be TOM). She gets really bad cramps. I had an okay day at work and took in lunch. I got home late though - so only just sorting me tea. I have to travel a bit for work tomorrow which is good in that I can claim expenses but a pain as it may make it difficult for my fuel to last without filling up. DH has already given in and bought DD and McD's... TBF I did the same the other day as she is a very fussy eater. DH has used personal spends to buy one for himself - and I reluctantly opted out so am now sorting out leftovers. I think I will end up having gammon or turkey, jacket spud and peas and carrots so isn't too much of a hardship.

I've been doing more pension investigating. It looks like we could take a drawdown from a sipp of the tax free lump sum after age 55 - and if we didn't drawdown any further funds - if DH got another job he could continue to contribute upto £40K (current limit anyway) per year. This could then allow us to fund a move to the country and take time to look for other jobs - without committing to pension drawdown (and then being limited to a total value with tax relief of £3,600). That's encouraging as it gives us more options. Because I am planning to put an extra £4K into a sipp by 31/3/20 - it's extra important that I understand the fine print. I have been reading government websites and other sources but it is as if each time I read it I spot something different which is both reassuring and scary all at once.

Currently trying to practice delayed gratification - and trying to wait for everything possible until pay day on the 15th...

savingholmes

Really need to have a shower and get ready for work. Our cleaner is coming today so hopefully the place will soon look less like a bombsite. DD went to school today which was a relief. Even though I am starting from home and then travelling later - I am struggling to get going. Hopefully I will get in flow soon and it will all come together. If I am careful I should get to pay day without going overdrawn. Just updated my spending tracker.

I discovered one of my favourite writers has written another book in the series - I thought the character had been killed off so it was great to find he hadn't been. I had some credits left so I got it and I am hoping to listen to a couple of hours of that on my travels later. It seems a bit less overcast today which is nice too. I will be driving through rural areas later so hopefully I will get to enjoy the views.

Have a good day all

girlatplay

I personally think you are more productive than you think you are. You always seem to be on the go. Look for the positives.

I had a giggle at your DD being noisy in the morning. I had loaned wooden, foldaway chairs to my boyfriend when we had his family round for New Year's Day dinner at his house. He brought them back to mine on Sunday and left them in my hall. I didn't bother to put them away and on Monday morning at 6:15am, when it was still dark, I got up for the first day back at work, completely forgot they were there and walked straight into them. Two of them fell over. I have laminate flooring in the hall. There was such a clatter it woke Little Miss who was off that day after working a late the night before. We both keeked our pants :rotfl:

savingholmes

Thanks GAP. or should I call you noise box!:rotfl: I am glad you think well of me... our xmas decs are all still up - loud and proud - including the outdoor lights :rotfl: We love lights and don't care too much what the neighbours think... I'm debating leaving them up until next weekend when DS is due back from Oz.

Well I got through the week. I was absolutely whacked yesterday but worked from home today so now feel a little better. It's the weekend! How exciting!!! I am still struggling with the delayed gratification thing... and on not eating out / takeaways... We may have succumbed... Ask me no questions, I will tell you no lies :cool: Loads of food in the freezers - I am just struggling to make myself cook. DH is apparently having a similar issue as he's been of little help. I think he's also wiped to be fair. I had trifle for tea - it had dairy and fruit in it - that must be several food groups right?

I've been reading more about SIPPs - and if V aren't ready - have started looking into the relative costs of 2 or 3 others. I get paid next Wednesday - so we could start then!!! :eek: or I could just continue to procrastinate. In all seriousness - the sooner the money is in there - the sooner it can start earning us some dosh. So wait for V, go with II or AJB or HL... that's what I am currently looking at. The scary thing is that I'm planning to start by transferring 2 of DH's pensions into it as well as money during Jan, Feb and March. All our debt is on 0% with long deadlines so might as well.

Want to try and take pooch out this weekend - but to let her run off lead rather than me doing much as I've been limping a bit all week. I don't know what I've done but it feels as if I have sprained by right foot. In better news I found my missing K1ndl3 today. It's now charged and ready to use which is good.

Blackcats

Hello Savingholmes. I initiated the transfer of 1 of OHs pensions into a HL SIPP last week. I checked that there were no penalties from existing companies which there weren't. I spoke to HL pensions desk who talked me through the process (not advice obviously but useful information) then did the transfer online. HL will tell us when funds arrive and then we chose how to invest it. It was so easy. We started with 1 pension just to be sure of how to do it.
There are a few articles on HL website and I have to say the person I spoke to was very patient and helpful. Apparently it only takes about 10-14 days usually.

savingholmes

Thanks Blackcats. I will look into that. HL was award-winning last year.

Today I weighed myself - and weigh 3.8lb less than on New Year's Day. Really pleased with that.

I have managed to get my blog up and running without spending more money! Yay! Hoping to spend some more time on my blog today.

Still need to do some washing, cooking and perhaps some painting.

doingitanyway

Well done on the weight loss. A great start to the NY