Giving every £ a job

savingholmes

How exciting to bring your retirement date forward. Shows your careful planning and money management is paying off. 

[Deleted User]

OMG this is amazing news blackcats - how lovely to be able to retire earlier than expected!  And you are so good on the saving money front.

Sun_Addict

Great news about bringing the retirement date forward.

Blackcats

Thank you SH, SA and Rebecca.  I've moved the date forward because of a fit of pique and a "life's too short" moment but it does feel exciting.  I am imagining how nice it will be to have the whole of the summer off - no booking leave and fitting dates in around other people.
not so sure about being good at money saving but I've got plenty of motivation to stay on track.
Its chilly tonight but I'm not putting the heating on yet - socks, blankets and hot tea should be sufficient.
shopping around for broadband at the moment as my provider glibly notify that they are increasing the price by what works out to be 50% which is outrageous.  The MSE newsletter was very timely with its focus on broadband.  The old me wouldn't have bothered - actually the old me wouldn't even have noticed the price hike 🤷‍♀️

savingholmes

Good that your MSE ways are now engrained. I got really excited this week as apparently we are about to have a broadband upgrade in the area. 

[Deleted User]

I love a fit of pique moment!  And yes, the idea of a glorious summer off is fabulous.  Well done on the MSE thoughts - we are "lucky" (you know our situation here) in that our flat is sandwiched between flats of 2 old ladies so it's actually blinking roasting.  I suspect heating will not be required for quite some time.  That said, it was a little chilly when we got up so I put pj's on DC1 (he had been sleeping in just a nappy it's that warm in his room) to warm him up and now he's fine.

I get SO irritated when providers just decide to put the price up.  Glad you are voting with your feet!  Have a lovely day

Blackcats

Oh yes SH - the excitement of broadband - providers, speeds, blah blah.  Trouble is it has become an essential and is a monthly expense which we do have some control over.  

Rebecca, had to laugh about the neighbours heating your flat for you.  My dad's neighbour tells me that he does the same for them.  I went to visit him last night and it was sweltering in his house - since last winter I'd forgotten that I definitely shouldn't wear warm clothes when I visit.  I do love putting little ones in snuggly pyjamas and tucking them up in their cots or beds.  Don't forget you bought those bargain Christmas pj's in the sale and put them in a "safe place". 

Glad the week is over but I did make an effort for some self care and relaxation which helped.  My dad gave me some money to go out for a meal, so completely spontaneously OH and I ditched our dinner plan of corned beef hash patties and salad and had a 3 course Italian meal with wine and spent the lot 🤣 old habits die hard!  However, it was a lovely evening and we enjoyed ourselves and the spend doesn't need to come out of any of my pots which is a bonus.  

[Deleted User]

Your dad sounds like my parents - they've always got the heating on!  My mum says she likes it "tropical".  Yes, I found those the other day when I was sorting DC1's clothes out so have put them in view ready!

Your evening sounds lovely!  I think Italian is the best cuisine.  I love your life!

savingholmes

Glad you got to have a guilt free night out. Sounds wonderful

Love the idea of others heating your property too Rebecca.

Blackcats

Thanks SH and Rebecca - yes it was a lovely evening but we do smile that less than 3 hours after the cash was in my hand it moved almost seamlessly into someone else's hands 😂
39 weeks to go ...
money spending to money saving -
I bought a dress, kind of liked it then worked out when I would actually wear it mostly to the office and as I don't go to the office now and won't be going at all in 39 weeks 🥳 I'm going to send it back for a refund.
a family member who owes me some money paid some of it back - I'd almost given up on getting it back so that feels like a bonus (will try to avoid lending money to them again but they had a compelling sob story that whilst I probably didn't actually believe it I found it hard to say no to them)

planning ahead - I bought 2 Christmas presents that were in a sale and went through £co and got a discount for signing up to a newsletter 

shopping - I've signed up for October grocery challenge which keeps me focussed and accountable.  Doing ok so far.  Will do a "big" shop at the end of the week but I have absolutely no room in my freezer so must not buy anything to go in there and must start using things up from there.  Mind you even when I get things out it never frees up any space - that freezer is a tardis in disguise,