Put away your purse & become debt-averse

Baileys_Babe

A couple of years ago a family member looked into paying extra NI contributions to make up the shortfall. In about a year her pension had paid out more than the extra she had paid in.
I need to look into my contributions and see if I have anything to make up. 

Blackcats

I need to check my state pension forecast too. I feel like I've been working forever but last time I checked I was still a few years short on my contributions so I harrumphed and didn't do anything about it 🤷‍♀️

emma1868

Hi foxgloves, delurking to say definitely look in to paying voluntary NI contributions as you might find you get your money back quite quickly once you start receiving your state pension.  Also, if you're not a tax payer look in to getting a SIPP (Self Invested Personal Pension), if you don't already have one, as you can currently invest £2880 each tax year and receive £720 in tax relief and then repeat this each tax year.   Check out the pensions board for more information and to make sure you are eligible.  Voluntary contributions are currently £15.30 per week - around £800 per tax year.
Great diary.
Emma

foxgloves

Thanks all of you for your helpful comments re pensions. I will certainly do some investigations. One thing I have thought of, which might be worthy of consideration is that of the lump sum I ring-fenced for our ongoing home improvements project, there should be a chunk left after the final work is done. I had thought to add this to savings, but as we all know, interest rates are poor atm. When I am in a position to be able to estimate how much the leftover money might be, I could see what it could theoretically 'buy back' in terms of NI contributions. I think this would definitely be worth looking at. I should add that I will not be reliant solely on state pension as I also have a local authority pension. I stopped paying into it when I took VR, but receive annual statements & it has still been slowly increasing (which surprised me, as interest rates are so poor), so I will receive a lump sum, as well as the annual amount. I do have all the facts & figures concerning that. Mr F will also get a local authority pension - a full one in his case, if he manages to dodge future rounds of spending cuts as well as he has done so far.
Thanks for your comments. Doubtless this won't be the last you hear from me on this subject!
F x

foxgloves

Hello m'dears,
I would love to have something exciting to tell you, but the simple truth of life at the moment, is that every day we manage to stay well, warm & reasonably positive is a bonus, isn't it? Add to that for me at the moment, that any day I haven't disappeared in an orgy of cake or walnut whip consumption & thus have another successful weigh-in at the end of this month is also a significant plus!
The snow has receded on our garden but it is still there & the ice Mr F removed from the pond & bird bath this morning were a good few inches thick. Town first thing for our fresh fruit & veg plus a bulk purchase of mealworms for my feathery visitors, then home to do the cleaning I couldn't be faffed to do yesterday. Made space for our grocery order which is arriving late tonight & dealt with a few bendy carrots while they were still usable. Prepped, blanched & froze. Defo enough to accompany a meal. I'd have been annoyed to discover them next week & find them only fit for composting. Have had a peaceful afternoon just doing my own thing while Mr F watched a film. Am shortly heading off for a soak in the bath, then I shall light some candles & the stove ready to snuggle down for the evening.
It occurred to me today that with so many shops being closed, I have really spent very little of my 'Personal Spends' money. I did buy a card today for an elderly relative who is taking a long time to recover from Covid & a tiny diary for recording daily wildlife sightings in our garden, but that was it. Never mind, it will mean that when I am able to go shopping properly (maybe even to a city centre, heaven forfend!) then I shall have some money to spend if I see anything a bit special.
Enjoy your evening, everyone,
Peace, love & general encouragement
 F xx
P.S Weigh-Day today - Another 0.5kg off. 

marionmgcars

Well done with the weight loss.  It is difficult when we are not going out to distract ourselves from the obsession about our next meal.  🤣. My knitting is my saviour on an evening 👍. Love reading the posts, especially helpful to keep in touch with like minded people when we cannot go out.  Xx

foxgloves

Thanks, marionmgcars, Yes I think Lockdown will have added to many people's weght loss woes. I've struggled with mine ever since losing 6 stones several years ago. I have yo-yo'd up & down ever since. This past year, I have re-gained noticeably more, however, so am redoubling my efforts.
F x

foxgloves

Morning all, 
Just hopping on while my semolina cake is in the oven to post the recipe for CLF, as promised:
SEMOLINA CAKE
4oz semolina
4oz self raising flour
4oz butter
4oz caster sugar
1egg, beaten
1tsp almond extract
About 5tbsp raspberry jam (or whatever you fancy, blackberry works well)
Pre-heat oven to Gas 4. Grease & base line a standard sandwich tin. Sift flour into bowl, stir in semolina & rub in butter till mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in caster sugar. Add the beaten egg & almond extract & mix until you have a firm dough. If you have used a smallish egg, you may need a splash of milk but only a tiny one as the dough should be much more like biscuit dough than cake batter.
Divide in two & press half of it over the base of the tin. Spread with the jam. Carefully press over the remaining dough any way that works for you, to cover the jam. Bake for 30-35 mins at Gas 4. Remove & leave to cool in tin sufficiently long enough to be able to turn it out. Cut into wedges & sift witj icing sugar before serving warm.
This is quite an old recipe - can't recall where it came from, but I only have it in Imperial measurements which is unusual for me. It is a very simple cake, lovely warm with coffee. It wouldn't win any beauty contests, it's not that kind of cake, but it does the job.... & a snowy sifting of icing sugar works wonders!
F x

Honeysucklelou2

Sounds delicious, thank you for sharing the recipe. I like the recipes in lbs and oz😉

Onebrokelady

Thanks for the recipe Foxgloves it sounds yummy, I mainly still work in lbs and ozs 😀