Giving every £ a job

Blackcats

Don't panic!! 🤭 I was reminiscing about my mortgage rate in the 1980's .  I was so financially ignorant that I had no comprehension of what a huge burden that interest rate was.  

Blackcats

I had a spendy near miss at the weekend.  I was bored .... I wandered onto the M and S website and merrily filled up my virtual shopping basket with "stuff".  Then, not because I found some self control but because I was too lazy to get up and get my debit card I abandoned my shopping spree.  The next day I could see my version of Foxgloves' imaginary face scowling at me in a sad and disapproving way and I emptied that basket pretty darn quick.  

foxgloves

I'm not really a 'scowler', Blackcats, but I do give people a scary 'dead eye' when necessary, so you'd maybe have got one of those!
However, I have to admit to hanging my nose over a rather stylish galvinised metal water butt I saw in a magazine last week. We do need a water butt. I was tempted, I'll be honest. I went back to the magazine a couple of times to have another look. The thing is, Blackcats, I could afford it at the moment, but, at £200, I just couldn't justify it. It would be up behind the shed & not even on view! I am nothing like the Spendy Horror that I used to be & would thus much rather see that £200 stay in its savings pot or possibly moved to longer term savings.
Our new water butt will therefore come from Wilk*s or similar establishment & my 😇 will remain unsullied. 
F x

Blackcats

I did smile at your dead eye description foxgloves.  

I'm meal planning tomorrow as I've got a click and collect slot at the supermarket later this week.  I've got lots of tinned store cupboard ingredients but would like to top up frozen veggies and butter, cheese etc.  I seem to have a lot of cat food in stock so that will keep the felines happy and oblivious to lock down. 

savingholmes

I chuckled too. Glad you are stocked up for now. Great new on the click and collect slot. Our moggy has dried food and some wet food yet - but struggling to get its usual brand.

Blackcats

Cats don't tend to like disruption to their favourite food.  Mine will only eat a particular fish flavour from an expensive brand.  Considering they are both rescue cats they are remarkably discerning,  
a day off work today to do admin tasks.  I felt overwhelmed when I started but I've written a list in my lovely notebook and that's helped me identify dependencies and priorities.  I'm treating the financial tasks as an important part of achieving my goal of early retirement.  Savings rates are very low but every little helps.  

foxgloves

Agree, Blackcats. I think that one of the issues is that you & I can remember when interest rates on savings amounted to something. At one point in the 1980s, they hit 11% on some savings accounts, so if you could keep £1000 in an account without touching it for a year (something which wasn't really possible for naughty spenders like me), you got an amazing £110 interest. Of course the high interest rates bit people on the bum in other areas....
I was still renting back when mortgage interest rates reached a terrifying 15 or 16%, but I had friends who were affected.
Recently, my Savings Pots spreadsheet wouldn't balance with the amount in our Savings Pots bank account. Closer inspection revealed we'd received an interest payment of around £11. I was so surprised as the rates on that account (not our main savings) are pitiful. But as you say, all these little odds & ends do add up & I enjoyed deciding which Savings Pot was going to be the lucky beneficiary.
F x

savingholmes

How much longer do you plan to work before retiring Blackcats? We are trying to set things up so we could retire / semi-retire in 5 years if we chose to. Just hoping in this climate we  keep our jobs until then.

Blackcats

I'm hoping to retire in 18 months time.  My main work pension will be reduced and it will be approx 10 years before state pension but I should be ok.  The numbers add up on paper and there are a couple of other things that need to fall into place to pull the plan together.  

I'm pleased to have shopped from home today - necessity is the mother of invention.  I've nearly run out of foundation and delivery will be 7 days.  I'm squeezing every last drop out of the current tube and then remembered in my work make up bag I had an emergency sample size tube which should get me through the 7 days.  

I'm busy at work but I have to say that I'm enjoying the slower pace of life and simpler lifestyle.  I'm having another take away on Friday which I'm looking forward to.  I've waited til my new budgeting month to have the takeaway which is a far cry from the numerous meals out I used to have which cost an absolute fortune.  

savingholmes

How exciting - retirement in sight. I hope I am on a 5 year plan but who knows...  I too am enjoying the simpler life. I want my cleaner back but that is the main thing I am missing. That and I suppose days out. Our garden is looking hugely better and bigger for our efforts though - we are hoping to even reinstate the pond at some point.