It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

zagfles

Sea_Shell said:

Steve_PL_too said:

Sea_Shell

We're looking at putting £10k in a 1 year savings bond (1.7%)

You could do 10 x Virgin M plus accounts @ 2% each, and the cash wouldn’t be tied up either.  It’s a bit of a faff to set up, but maybe worth it? Once the first one is done, I’ve found that subsequent ones take no more than 2 minutes each to do.

I've been a rate tart in the past. Looking at simpler solutions these days.

No new log-ins/accounts required 😎

We use HL active savings, then you can be a "rate tart" with just one account/log-in. They usually have good fixed rates, generally slightly below the best buys, for instance we've just done a 2 year fix at 2.1%, best buy on MSE for a 2 year fix is 2.12%. They're not so good for easy access.

sheslookinhot

Sea_Shell said:

sheslookinhot said:

Sea_Shell said:

HMRC Cheque received!!!

Matches what we were expecting, to the penny.

Handy, as we're popping to town on Wednesday already.


And we put in a request to sell £15k of our premium bonds too.

Now to find a home(s) for it all 😉

What was total time from first application please ?

It's all here in my other thread... https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78615360/#Comment_78615360

6 months in total, but that includes them wanting confirmation of taxable interest earned during 20/21, so that slowed it down a bit (not by us, we had the information to them by return of post!)

Ok, thanks. 9 months I have been waiting, including responding twice to requests for more information.

DT2001

pensionpawn said:

MallyGirl said:

Retireinten said:

DT2001 said:

Retireinten said:

We're thinking of buying a bit of kit that will redirect our excess solar to heat our water via the immersion heater so we could potentially run the house without gas in the warmer months.

Highly recommend - we bought one about 3 years ago as we have an unvented system with a large hot water tank. I reckon it paid for itself in about 2 years, even then. Minimal gas consumption from April to Oct.

Installed it at the weekend, it works a treat. I was ever so slightly hungover on Saturday but even this did not affect the excitement at seeing the immersion heater ramp up to 2.8kwh when we switched it on. It wasn't the best day weather wise yesterday and it still produced enough hot water for a couple of showers.

Really pleased with it, expect to use very little gas now over the next 6 months or so. 

OH has raised the question of using some cash (liberated by early crystallisation of some of his pension) to maybe look at solar panels. It's a big SW facing roof but is in a conservation area so there might be constraints. A long time ago we saw a system that looked like slate - no idea how much the technology has moved on since then. It would also help to keep the temperature down in the attic room which is his office. Cutting down our fuel bills would make a big difference in our outgoings 

Our panels (installed just over 6 years ago) reduce our electrical import by 25% - 33% over the year and eliminate the need to use gas for H/W from April - Oct inc, if you also install a solar divert. The FiT is now much lower than it used to be (I presently receive 17p / kWhr) and that now pays over £1k pa tax free, however I still will not have paid off my install for another 12 - 18 months. After that it's 12 years of tax free solar cash point to offset the ever increasing energy bills. I've also eventually ordered a Tesla Powerwall to store some / most of the energy that I export (around 2.5 Mwhrs pa) and eliminate import from March to October inc and timeshift E7 from Nov - Feb. This was all part of my pension planning. Do the sums (I spent ages modelling the potential generation / returns etc) to determine the RoI and whether it's worth it. It's not a quick win. The Powerwall will not pay for itself in less than 8 years, unless the tariff's continue to soar, however it will allow me to be electrically independent, which if rationing is imposed from the end of the year (the government said they won't do it, which means they expect to) will keep us warm, illuminated, clean and connected to the outside world. I'm also engineering the central heating to work off water heated by the panels to save on gas from Feb - April and Oct - Nov. Hammer down the outgoings (without compromising on lifestyle) and the rest will look after itself.

FIT has been replaced by SEG. You can get paid for energy you export and the amount per unit is set by the SEG licence holder.

Returning to Mallygirl’s question re panels or tiles we are in an ANOB and we’re allowed panels after a quick check with planning - so best to just ask. If not this link https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/solar_roof_tiles/ gives a lowdown on roof tiles, less efficient, costlier but the only option for some and definitely less intrusive.

We put in 4kw system 9.5 years ago. Took about 8 years of FIT to cover cost of installing as 3 as expensive than now. It still produces pretty much the same as day one so looking good to meet it’s guarantee of 85% output even after 25 years. 

I am holding fire on installing batteries as I hope their development/cost/efficiency will take another leap in the next 2 to 3 years.

Sea_Shell

HMRC Cheque banked.
Driving licences renewed in the post office (no current passport).
Premium bond money received.
Paragon (Raisin) account applied for and test payment sent (as recommended), balance to follow once arrives ok.
Transfer to Loanpad done.


So once that cheque clears, then tot up what needs leaving behind, move rest to Marcus, update all my spreadsheets...and relax!😎

michaels

Is there still a bonus from going via raisin?

Sea_Shell

michaels said:

Is there still a bonus from going via raisin?

Yes, there is for new customers, I believe.   We're not new...we had the bonus out of them a couple of years ago!


Oh and the initial transfer has now landed, so have sent the rest.   

michaels

Sea_Shell said:

michaels said:

Is there still a bonus from going via raisin?

Yes, there is for new customers, I believe.   We're not new...we had the bonus out of them a couple of years ago!


Oh and the initial transfer has now landed, so have sent the rest.   

I opened a Chase this PM, pretty painless although I do hate apps rather than a nice web interface.

Sea_Shell

From what I've read on the Chase thread, it's doubtful my phone would be compatible anyway.   I don't hate apps, I'm just not quite ready to upgrade my phone to facilitate them just yet.    I'll probably be forced to in due course!!

Oh and in any event, I can't apply now if I wanted to, until my new licence comes back!

Sea_Shell

I appear to be falling down the rabbit hole of savings rates again......

Once you start looking....they're like Pringles, you can't stop!!!

Stubod

...I gave up chasing rates when they dropped below 1%. I quite fancied moving some dosh to Chase, but apparently my phone is now "obsolete"?

...won't bother changing until rates in general go over 1.5%?