Moving forward and upwards

Irenadler

Well, all I can say is Tombo will have to sharpen his machete to get through that lot next year, it sounds like you are getting the balance right, growing what you can, saving when you can, and plugging on with the next jobs...

I am expecting the video clip next of you and Tombo standing next to your plot of veggies, on Gardener's World, (Tombo dressed in green of course, and standing to attention with his machete, before saluting the God that is Monty Don....he he)...

Skint_yet_Again

Coal shed sounds great. What sort of things will you hang from the washing line ? 

MovingForwards

Thanks SW, Ren and Skinty.

Just tumbling toms, in a couple of hanging baskets. Will need to wrap the chain around the star part of the washing line post and down the post a bit, that way it's secure and cabled tied.

TomBo is keeping a look out for surplus pipes while he's out and about. I will be pushing them upright into the ground and have holes cut out. It will be like a plastic pipe strawberry pot. 

The growing section is starting to take shape. Some more of the monster tree stump has been cut off; think that's going to take a while.

I have done the kitchen and the washing is on. 

Other exciting news, as I'm a bit ahead of where I thought I would be financially this year, I opened my SIPP yesterday!

So far I've started the transfer of one pension and added £10 to the SIPP, from payday I will be putting more in and will also start the transfer of a second pension. October I will move a third pension in.
I've picked out what I want to buy with the money and have gone for a mix of low, medium and high risk funds, spread across the world. Plus a larger pot which the SIPP company manage the shares within.

That will leave me with my small N pension, as that seems to be the go to one for companies, and A which looks after itself; I thought it was best to keep a couple of small pots as they can get cashed in on retirement.

I fully expect SPA to get raised at least once more before I'm due to retire.

Although I don't earn a lot, I'm now planning "early retirement" as that will all fall inline with my "good life" plans and clearing the mortgage before I hit 55, potentially retiring at 65 😁

I'm relaxing today due to pain levels, so it's feet up and reading.

Irenadler

Hey Babs
Now that is real 'adulting', I will have to see what my future prospects look like.... At the moment I am working on the theory that I will still be working until I am 88....
  

savingholmes

Glad things are going so well. Good that you are sorting your pension. The earlier you do it - the more time it has to grow - and it helps cushion you later. 

MovingForwards

I know Ren, scary huh!

Thank you SH, I've got so fed up with a few of my pots not doing good and thought what's the worst that can happen, I pick a few wrong funds along the way.

I have run a S&S ISA for a few years now, added pots, left some pots to stagnate and then added a little more. 

I've enough confidence to pick, stagnate, change and add others as required. As time goes on I will learn more, it's not as if I'm doing single company shares (contemplated it, but can't be doing with faffing with CGT).

Soon I will have consolidated 3 pensions, get some more pots within my SIPP to spread the balanced risk over the duration. I'm starting with £50pm, then it will be doubled in a few months.

I've enough 'spare' money to make O/Ps, save and do the SIPP. Any future payrises, present gifts etc will be split ¹/3 into each.

Next thing on my to do list is check my current SP position and see if I'm on track for a full one, or if I need to make up missing payments.

MovingForwards

Started to plan for Winterville 🙈 

Our sofas were previously loved when purchased for the rental, I'm guessing we were not the second owner at that point!
Anyhow, I suggested we don't buy gifts for each other, or for my birthday, and buy the sofa and armchair we want from 1k3a instead (3k3nas3t) and that was agreed. Admittedly £529 for the two is a lot more than we would normally spend on each other, but a lot less than we could spend if I found the original versions.
Other places do the same style, but I'm unsure about quality.
-- means I've 3 months to get the lounge sanded and painted.

I'm also looking out for a chair / sofa bed for the second bedroom. I am still having problems sleeping, but not to the extent it was.

As always, I won't know where we will be until a week or two before. That makes food planning very difficult and causes me a lot of stress in general. 

Had beef stew last night, with beetroot from the garden; it was nearly as big as a swede. I've got several in the garden still. 
My spuds are now starting to flower. The ones I planted are white, the ones which randomly popped up are purple.
Tomatoes are starting to ripen too, plus new ones are still growing. Decided to make a tomato sauce and chutney with them.
The packet mint has settled into their pots outside and are growing well. I may have to look up a mint sauce recipe.
Sadly, my peppers keep getting eaten.

It's very windy up here and OH is working later. A potter round the garden, do the bathroom and feet up reading my gardening magazines is all I've got planned today. 

I'm making spicy lentil soup for my lunch, haven't had one since moving and will batch cook to put some in the freezer 🤗 

Doing a roast pork dinner for tea.

MoneyWorry

Good news on the pension. I think the majority of people are not keen on working up to the new state pension ages, but for many financial necessity will mean they will  have to. I think also for certain age groups, the age they can claim their state pension will rise again. It’s going to be a hard slog for many. 

MovingForwards

Thank you MM. If my health was fine, I probably wouldn't bat an eyelid at the new SPA, but if I'm struggling FT now, I've got no chance when I'm approaching SPA. I know I'm one of the few lucky ones where only having the full SP wouldn't cause me any financial difficulty, but that's because I've not got an expensive home to run and I live a simple life.

Irenadler

Hey MF
I think you have nailed it - you are living a simple life, in a place which is just right for you, and you know you can maintain it, come what may. Plus all the vegetable growing - you are now making it not just simple, but 'the good life'. I can see you becoming a dab hand at growing, preserving, cooking and having the best life!  Long may it continue!