First OP made. We're on our way!

ruby_eskimo

Ellie78 said:

Thanks @ruby_eskimo !   Well done for getting started and good luck sorting your retirement savings out.   I'm finding it difficult balancing payments into retirement/mortgage, especially when the mortgage OPs have more instant satisfaction, you can see the effects straight away.     I'll go and have a read of your diary 

I know what you mean, I check all my accounts daily just to see if any interest has been added on to make the numbers change 

My diary is relatively boring at the moment, should pick up a little around pay day when I decide where I'm going to put all the extra money I'm expecting!

Ellie78

ajmoney said:

Hi,  I have just read your diary and love the enthusiasm you have towards it all, OPs, savings, retirement.

Thanks!  I think I was blasé about money for a long time so it’s really nice to understand the workings of it all now and take control of it. 

Ellie78

ruby_eskimo said:

I know what you mean, I check all my accounts daily just to see if any interest has been added on to make the numbers change 

My diary is relatively boring at the moment, should pick up a little around pay day when I decide where I'm going to put all the extra money I'm expecting!

Better to be thorough than have no clue what’s going on in there!! 😆

ajmoney

Ellie78 said:

ajmoney said:

Hi,  I have just read your diary and love the enthusiasm you have towards it all, OPs, savings, retirement.

Thanks!  I think I was blasé about money for a long time so it’s really nice to understand the workings of it all now and take control of it. 

I learned the hardway when I was a student at 18/19, luckily in a time when tuition fees and huge loans weren't a normal part of student life.  I proudly sorted it all out without asking my parents for help even though it caused a lot of stress at times.  I don't ever want to be in that position again!

Ellie78

@ajmoney  Yeah I can understand that.   And it's great that you sorted it yourself.  I've never been massively in debt thankfully, aside from a student overdraft and a small loan years ago to buy a car (all cars since have been bought outright). I've only ever had one credit card at a time and was very aware to pay more than the minimum back each month.  But I'm still kicking myself for not starting to save earlier and opting out of a work pension (before I was self employed).   Ah well, better to start now than never start at all!

killerpeaty

You shouldn't kick yourself for decisions made when you didn't have all the information that you have now!

Ellie78

Hi MFWers!
Not much has happened mortgage wise this month.   Made a few small OPs, from bank interest/account tidying and selling an old piece of furniture.  Total for July is £117.32. 

I've realised that technically we're mortgage neutral at the moment but I'm not getting too excited about that, because - 
1. We only own half the house
2. I'm including my self assessment tax savings which are off limits

But still, it's a nice feeling!  Daily interest is now down to £2.92.   I've increased my monthly SIPP/ISA contributions as a regular saver ends next month and the rates aren't worth opening another one, I'd rather put the money into my pension pot.

The new veg patch in the garden is coming along nicely and we've harvested radishes, lettuce and spinach so far. Everything was planted quite late so still waiting for the mange tout, dwarf beans and beetroot but they're all growing well.   OH finds it hilarious how enthusiastic I am about the new compost bin. Also got a little kitchen compost caddy for veg scraps/tea/coffee/eggshells.

Organisation/jobs
- I finally got around to decorating the living room last week, using paint I bought months before lockdown.  With the lighter colour and rearranged layout it feels much nicer in there. 
- The freezer has been emptied and reorganised, batch cooked portions properly labelled with contents/dates to avoid waste.  I'm hoping this will also give me a kick up the bum to do better meal planning and bring our monthly groceries bill down.
- One bit of living room furniture has been sold, two others are listed.   Will drop the price later in the week if they're still unclaimed.
- The DVD collection has been sorted, all discs removed from their cases, put into paper sleeves and stacked into small boxes.   The empty cases have been boxed up and can hopefully be donated to the local library when they reopen, or be recycled.   You wouldn't believe the amount of space this has saved! 
- The black hole aka under stairs cupboard has been emptied (which was a much bigger job than I thought it would be!). I got some cheap stacking storage boxes and Tetris-ed everything back in so it's easier to find/reach.   Also found a load of stuff for the tip and charity shop.

Overall I'm feeling pretty productive!   Off to catch up on some of your diaries.....   TTFN

ruby_eskimo

Definitely sounds like you've been productive!  I keep thinking I need to organise things a bit better round here but I never seem to have the energy to start it when I have the time.

Ellie78

ruby_eskimo said:

Definitely sounds like you've been productive!  I keep thinking I need to organise things a bit better round here but I never seem to have the energy to start it when I have the time.

There was a point halfway through decorating when I definitely regretted starting it!    but glad I got it done.
I couldn't put off sorting the black hole any longer, there was an avalanche every time I opened the door!

ruby_eskimo

We have the same problem with the wardrobe in our spare room - we did have a plan of how to organise it but can't seem to get hold of the bits we need to build the storage units so I'll just have to try and not open the door for a while