Prosperous soul in the making

savingholmes

Thanks Pidge and Moneyspinner

Well I woke up at 7 today. Stayed in bed and gradually came round - did a bit of journalling before getting up and making porridge. I've just transferred some money out of our main account as DH has been paid to an account where it's more 'out of sight'. Hoping to then not touch it until we've sorted the sipp.

Short term financial / mse / life goals:
1) Get an IFA at the right price to agree to the transfer
2) Get tax back on previous bank / ppi reclaims (still not done that and if don't do soon will miss the 2 year window)
3) 'Age' my personal spends rather than spending on impulse just because it's payday. Change mentality from 'what can I buy' to 'what can I save / invest in,' ' how much pension tax relief could I get (25%) etc. If I want to move at 55 - there's no point doing all the redecorating now - as it will probaby need redoing by then
4) Create decent folders for all our pensions and life insurance and mortgage docs rather than having them scattered around the house
5) Find a home for all the stuff in my study - bin / loft / storage space in house / charity - before the new double bed arrives. I pretty much cleared it in August - but the floor has got largely covered again. I will move some craft stuff to DS's room.
6) Choose a colour scheme - preferably from existing paint - fill in any holes / take down unneeded shelves - paint. Choice of magnolia, light grey, dark grey or coastal grey (blue)
7) Check if carpet needs replacing but follow point 3 if possible. The bed is due to cover most of the floor space.
8) Shop from home - the room has a fitted wardrobe and I have at least one spare bedside cabinet. I could always nick the one from DS's room if I wanted them to both match / have symmetry. Re-hang existing pictures
9) Consider changing curtains for a blackout blind - but follow point 3 if possible.
10) Return parcels to the post office - preferably on my way to work
11) Take in a packed lunch. Considering gammon, jacket spud, coleslaw and salad. May see if I have any lids so I can potentially also take in soup. If I prepared DH a salad -he would be more likely to take it.

I think that's enough for a Monday morning. I really should sort lunch and get going - especially as I owe hours on my flexi.... We will see if I conquer my inertia and leave early for me...

lucielle

Come on SH, get that lunch made and seize the day! I can see your lights still on.
L

doingitanyway

Your list is great. I am stealing your idea (number 4) on getting folders for all financial matters and house documents. I was told important documents should be in a metal folder in case of fire. I've never done it, maybe I should.

Your number 8 is something I do on a regular basis.

You've done really well to work through the issues with your pension and retiring at 55 would be an amazing outcome.

Have a good day.

[Deleted User]

Love your list, Holmes sounds very thorough and productive! x

MovingForwards

I have a solid expanding folder (about £5 on eBay) for bills / bank account / pensions / payslips / car stuff etc, means I can have everything in A-Z order and can shred items as required.

For my historical debts I have a display folder (think that was 99p) with about 25 sections.

Means everything can get organised and tucked away (under the bed or in a drawer), easy to get to when needed.

A tall filing cabinet is also used as a dumping ground til I file my papers, it's like a tall slim wooden chest of drawers, but also has a lid with a mirror and my makeup is stored in that bit. Maybe you could source something similar?

Let us know how you get on with reclaiming your PPI tax as that's on my agenda for the new tax year.

I'm not sure if you realise how much help you give to those reading your diary!

girlatplay

MovingForwards wrote: »

...
I'm not sure if you realise how much help you give to those reading your diary!

Agreed :)

savingholmes

Lucielle - I made it to work for 10.15 - so bad but could be worse. To make up for it I only had a 20 minute lunch - I did take in my salad and it was yum. Tea was leftover lamb, veg and gravy with jacket spud.

doingitanyway wrote: »

Your list is great. I am stealing your idea (number 4) on getting folders for all financial matters and house documents. I was told important documents should be in a metal folder in case of fire. I've never done it, maybe I should.

Your number 8 is something I do on a regular basis.

You've done really well to work through the issues with your pension and retiring at 55 would be an amazing outcome.

DIA - I stole 'shop from home' from other diaries - yours may well be one of them. We have a filing cabinet but only use it sporadically. It's one of the things we need to sort.

I spoke to 3 IFAs today. I managed to get one down to 2% - It was looking like 2.5% or more at one point last week. I had 'walked away' and they rang me back and offered the 2%. Shows its worth doing that. I think that saved me thousands! That particular one has dealt with my pension scheme before - and told me they rarely say no... I'm waiting to hear back from one - and I am tempted to try one more - to see if I can get down to the seemingly mythical £4K - but so far it looks unlikely. I've found 'cheap' advertised rates but they won't touch me at 49... only 55. One today said they might take me on at 50 - he was going to check with a director and call me back.

SSDD23 wrote: »

Love your list, Holmes sounds very thorough and productive! x

Thanks SSDD23

MovingForwards wrote: »

I have a solid expanding folder (about £5 on eBay) for bills / bank account / pensions / payslips / car stuff etc, means I can have everything in A-Z order and can shred items as required.

For my historical debts I have a display folder..... A tall filing cabinet is also used as a dumping ground til I file my papers....

Let us know how you get on with reclaiming your PPI tax as that's on my agenda for the new tax year..... I'm not sure if you realise how much help you give to those reading your diary!

I think I may have a display folder somewhere - will do a search. I do have a spare expanding folder somewhere - but this shows the state of my house. I've seen it in the last month or two but need to re-find it.

Thanks for the compliments MF, GAP and others. You are encouraging yourselves.

It's been a good day overall - but my leg has continued to be painful and swollen. I have now had triage over the phone and have a free physio appointment for a week on Friday. I could have had one this week but I wanted a woman so had to wait. I've seen this one before for my neck and she was great. I can have 4 sessions free I think. I may also be able to have more through another free scheme my employers set up this year. Hopefully I won't need more.

I've also checked into eye test, glasses etc -and it looks like I can do it and then just reclaim it / a portion of it.

savingholmes

I've found an expanding folder - so at least I know where that is which is a good start.

Blackcats

Hi Saving Holmes, because of the inevitable cost of the IFA, it might be worth going into the relationship with the attitude of getting as much info as possible to help you grow your pension pot to as good as it can possibly be. It might just help with the frustration you feel at the costs involved?

savingholmes

Hi Blackcats - I agree. We had been considering getting an IFA anyway however because we have been 'missold' things in the past - were reluctant - which is why I embarked on lots of my own research this time. As part of what they do to meet their legal requirements - they have to give me an investment plan - if the transfer goes ahead. It will be my choice whether i follow it or not. I've saved £3.5K overall compared to one of the quotes I received. Sadly it is still likely to cost £6.5K. I think they take it out of my pension rather than cash - but I've moving the money I was planning to invest into savings while I wait to confirm. Hopefully it will all be worth it in the end.

Resting my leg really makes a difference - but it wears off so quick. Considering taking my laptop and lying in bed tonight to see if that helps. I am really grateful I have an automatic car too.

DD wants to drop another of her subjects - she does 3 main ones - and then s doing 2 'enrichment' type courses. I will need to email the school an see what they say. It's one of the 'extra' ones I do worry though that she is avoiding 'demand' and worry how or if she will deal with the workplace. She hates the teacher and they have a test every week which she is struggling to cope with. I can't work out currently whether it is just because she's had so little recovery time between GCSEs and A levels - or whether this is likely to be a long term pattern. Either way I feel helpless.

No more debt payments due until the start of February and then again a few days before payday.