BachSoon's mortgage mission

BachSoon

I have realised I overuse smileys. Clearly I'm pleased it's nearly the weekend!

savingholmes

BachSoon wrote: »

I have realised I overuse smileys. Clearly I'm pleased it's nearly the weekend!

Me too! Well done on the overpayments - and reclaiming for delays - they all add up

Brindlebabe

I haven't been on here for a bit. Life's a bit busy isn't it?! But caught up. Nice to see you've been getting on well and keeping up with the OPs.

BachSoon

Isn't it just, BB! Only small bits here and there. Could do better,but bring conscious to save and focus on pension too.

Pondering on my pension at the moment. Currentlyy paying in 15% as I didn't qualify on to a decent wage until 2 years ago, and would like to retire early and travel the world, volunteer etc.
I'm thinking I should increase it, but you can only change your level of contribution at one point in the year or at the happening of a 'life window'. I'm not sure when the next point is so will enquire with HR later.
I don't really know where to start with retirement planning tbh. Is there a *retirement planning for dummies* do we know??

savingholmes

Enthusiastic Saver suggested there's loads of info on the pension boards... not been there yet though...

BachSoon

Thank you savingholmes. I have had a peek over there but until I have chance/energy to really research it, im a bit out of my depth. Financial literacy should be taught in schools!
In other news, I did increase my pension contributions yesterday, as we were within one of the 'windows' when we can. I'm now making 15% contributions up from 10% and my company puts in 5%.
I only really qualified onto a decent wage in September 2017 but then went on maternity leave a few months later, so my pension pot is a lot lower than it should be. I'm almost 32 so that gives me some time for capital growth.
Still plugging away at small OPs to the mortgage. Had a decent few days on surveys, so hoping to make an op before the week is out :beer:

I have however spent £50 on the little one, bit expecting a £15 refund for the item being not entirely as described, so I shall keep an eye on that arriving.

I'm also trying to begin preparing for the *ahem, festive season to spread the cost. Plus I have quite a few birthdays between now and then - nephew, niece, both parents, friend's son, good friend so much to prepare. Am hoping that we can agree a no cost festive season with the other adults. Always do with sister and husband, but sister in law prefers to do a secret santa so will at least need to budget for that.

BachSoon

A little overpayment yesterday of £38 from surveys - a onepoll payout of £25 and the rest from Qmee.
£200 usual overpayment today, early payday for me because of the bank holiday, yay.
That's £250.50 for August. I am hoping to squeeze in another OP before the

BachSoon

Oops, posted too soon. On a side note, does anyone know why edit is greyed out?

*Before the end of August. I have one survey to be authorised on prolific then I can cash out £5. Hopefully Qmee will bump it up to £10 before next week.

savingholmes

You sound like you are doing really well - upping your pension and over-paying the mortgage.

On the greyed out edit button - sometimes it comes back to normal if you refresh the page

BachSoon

A little OP squeezed in before the end of August :beer: £25 extra due to a partial refund of an eBay purchase not being as described, bumped up with some surveys and rounded up to the nearest £5 from our bank account :rotfl:

This month's usual payment will take us firmly into the 212's.
My target of £12,000 ops over 5 years is currently behind.
So far I'm at 11.51% of this target instead of 33% where I had planned to be. We will have to reassess whether it's realistic or not.