2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

Thanks SH and Alt

All seems to be going OK at the moment, under our new administration.

Sat at home watching the Tennis, with the Tour de France recording in the background so I can watch them all struggle over the Pyrenees after the tennis has finished.  Then going out with my bestie for the football at our local.

Finances squeezing tight a little with no income and some unexpected demands from my darling little cost centres. but still good for a few months more.  OH is making some of her SIPP funds available but I am trying not to need them as next year they can be taken within her personal allowance (hence tax free) -

My steps average heading down now all my leafletting is done so nearly at 1million for the year bit averaging only 4000 a day  

doingitanyway

Sounding active Mark!
Will be good if SIPP can be taken within tax free allowance...
'cost centres' 

savingholmes

Little cost centres need to learn to be independent... I like the millionaire nxt dr for that - they called it Ec outpatient care - and said for most people it robs them of learning to earn more themselves. I could see a lot of truth in it when I looked back at our lives and help from Ex-MIL etc. Just a thought. I succumb to this too occasionally but trying to set firmer boundaries.

mark55man

Thanks SH and DIA

So have started back at the Gym - watching all those healthy footballers, tennisers, and cyclists must have triggered some guilt reflex so am trying to get fit before the Olympics starts on Friday.  

Am doing well on my weight finally got to 14lbs - now at 243 from 257.  About a kilo a month - dreadfully slow really but I'll take that if I can keep on until XMAS I will be back at 16 Stone something which feels better 

Have began to regain control of budgeting etc which went a little awry as I transitioned into the sabbatical and have recovered from holidays and elections.  Have decided to head back to work for my final stint in late November as we are a bit behind schedule on what we had planned house and garden.

I need to start exploiting 60+ discounts in my day to day, but have booked a few city break weekends (one a month to see if I can cope with that level of enjoyment (I'm quite a home body really) so Glasgow in August (at my FILs flat), Bruges in September (AirBNB), Paris in October (cheap Eurostar deal - hotel not so cheap but OK) and London in November.  So will need to keep the spends down, but was nice to take advantage finally of off season pricing and have the time to get good deals.

Stupid and Lazy Tax -  well readers, I have been both stupid and lazy - stupid first (a good motto in life) I mistimed a pension contribution and went over a limit so that means I will have to repay some of a rebate so not a loss, but I won't be able to replicate this year so a lost opportunity.  Annoying, I pride myself on being good at this stuff. 

Lazy - I owe some money to the organisation helping my youngest get back to work - I resent paying for it as it was marketed as a government service who then changed their minds and the org have been slack in invoicing.  So I need to pull my finger out and get it sorted, however as its now nearly £5K I don't want to disrupt or diminish my sabbatical planning so I have reenergised CC1 and got a 2% fee 0%rate advance to cover the cost - this will cost £100 extra in fees but will delay the debt until 2026 when I will use my pension lump sum to clear - I think its worth doing this.  But feels like backsliding into where I was at the start of the diary, Ho hum 

Humboldt

Well done on the weight loss and gym attendance @mark55man.  Great destination choices for your weekend breaks.  I particularly like Bruges, but have not visited for a while.  When on such breaks, we often buy breakfast and/or lunch from a local bakery, and then eat whatever we bought whilst sitting on a bench just people watching, or enjoying a lovely view. If you are not too bothered about the time that you eat, many decent restaurants in London offer a set lunch menu, or pre-show evening meal at a good price.  

mark55man

Thank you @Humboldt

Generally we tend to go for B&B and make the most of the hotel breakfast , then rely on tea/coffee and cake to see us through to supper time where we try for theatre and dinner deals.  (Although to be fair they don't seem great value, but are better than just turning up).

I've never been to Bruges although enjoyed Brussels when I was there for a fortnight for work (was 30 years ago though).  The others are a little more familiar but more for day trips/family business than an out an out holiday so excited about them.  We love people watching!

doingitanyway

A kilo a month is slow and steady. I did it that way and the weight has stayed off (mostly)
I find myself thinking in terms of lazy tax now. It is surprising how often I pay it!
I love people watching too. And hearing snatches of random conversations 

alt80

Nothing wrong with your approach to the weightloss mate, you'll get there. Glad to hear you're back at the gym too, strength training is really important especially from 40 onwards as my Mrs keeps reminding me.

I understand where @savingholmes is coming from re your kids, equally I think I am likely to be far too soft on my son. I was thrown quite brutally into the deep end as soon as I went to uni and it did motivate me to earn but I have suffered for it. I know that won't be the case for everyone. 

savingholmes

Hi Mark - that's some bill on the back to work support for the kids. Good if it's working but seems very dear. Many local councils offer support too if disabled etc but sure you've explored that already.

Well done on the sustained weight loss and on getting back to the gym. Your holidays sound lovely.

mark55man

You are not entirely off the mark SH, but there is a lot more to it than I am happy to share and we are pleased with results just not the financial shenanigans.  Yes holidays are a luxury and I always feel a bit awkward mentioning them on a Debt Free diary, where many forumites are in dire straits or unable to have such adventures, but it is what it is and for me and many of my readers we are now nearly at the end of a 5 year journey and these are the fruits of my labours.