First Steps to Solvency

warby68

@alt80 What have you got against husband's X6? . I don't really drive it much although it is a nice drive, lots of oomph even when fully loaded. We probably will start going electric next year - just getting rid of the mortgage first (hopefully). More immediate problem is husband needs some new(er) vans - they're rarer than rocking horse poo. Considering electric there for a couple, will need to rethink some of the business model to make the limited range work though.

I find Christmas hard work sometimes. We've done all kinds of family combinations. There always seems to be someone not completely happy with the plan whatever it is. Thankfully, husband (and now sons) usually take the driving on as everything else is up to me. I absolutely love Christmas morning when its just us 4 though. I'm dreading the first year when they want or are under pressure to be elsewhere.

alt80

@warby68 It just cracks me up every time I think about it lol. Fwiw I can’t see why you’d buy the X6 over a Range Rover Sport, ultimately up to you but I just can’t get my head around a bmw 4x4 mate when there’s the Range Rover Sport sorry lol. Re vans - I’ve got a mate waiting for a defender 90 van and fml now being quoted 2023 for delivery, !!!!!! shocking thought it was just those but seems to be vans generally. 

Re going electric not sure how it affects your mortgage repayment tbh - it will have slight effect on net profit but will help cut your corp tax liability a bit, 50% of vat and cut your personal liability for cars: unless you are taking all of the profits from your business in the first place; it’s a no brainer mate - the BIK is practically nothing. Get yourself down to Mercedes 100% guarantee you’ll love it - they aren’t weird like a lot of electric cars. It’s car like. Salesman said to us it’s a Mercedes with an electric motor rather than these !!!!!! weird things a lot of manufacturers are bringing out and he’s 100% right. 

Christmas 100% lost any of its magic here. My Mrs used to love it - started shopping from July/ August right up until the day. Big weekend in London end of November/ start of December and a ride on the Northern Belle train all that gone now. I don’t think we’d bother at all this year if not for son. No gifts etc, no weekend in London, train ride, nights out all gone just like lockdown again but with inconvenience of having to have more people round to my house. 

warby68

@alt80 all the private vehicles (5 of them !!) are currently paid for so any change will involve new payments for a while or a lump sum. We're using the 'spare' to clear the mortgage instead - we're another of those who want that freedom/security - and deferring vehicles is part of that. They're in good nick too and we're not doing a lot of travelling plus wanted to wait for electric to be more established/greater choice.

RRS - husband wanted one for years, by the time he could afford it it had dawned that the reputation of RR drivers round here is mud. Honestly, might be a local thing but its not an image most want. As for full fat RR that's for silver foxes who live in the golf club and can't park. He has a soft spot for BMW, gradually going for one of each I think although very disappointed with the 'looks' of their electric offering. I'm not a great fan of either TBH. Mercs have always been dismissed as 'old man' cars but he's coming round - electric seems to be shaking a few images up. If it were all my choice, it would be different.

theoretica

I am confident that Christmas will find a different magic - as so many other things have in your life!  But at this time in advance you mainly see all the spending you are removing, and not the things that will be new this year.

alt80

Day 177

Had a bit of a spend; food again, lunch out and takeaway dinner. Tomorrow we are also going out for dinner. No other plans to spend and I take off my budget for the month. Definitely struggling a bit at the moment tbh I'm battling a bit with my addiction that voice telling me I shouldn't be boring, it's Christmas etc. It's why I'm aiming to not drink for the whole month - I know what drinking leads to and I know what relapse leads to. I don't want it in my life anymore and what using does to me and the hurt it causes my family. I am having a few triggers with spending too, time of year everyone spends and I can't - still limited access to business card only. Need to trust myself at some point I know because it's a bit silly but now not the right time. Spoiling Christmas for my Mrs, worse this year than last really as things are open again. If I could chose to lose a month of my life and wake up tomorrow morning being 1st January 2022, I would be very happy with that. 

@warby68 5 fml hope there's a few toys there. Good luck with mortgage I can't say I really understand it tbh. Don't get me wrong would like to think one day I might not have a res mortgage and might not have the PGs. Latter to me more important to rid myself off than the former iirc you said you have some other property tbh I think that's where you should look first; getting rid of PG. I've some more growth years in me and another res home upgrade maybe 2 yet before I start thinking about PG. I had my way I'd be on the i/o for my res home and looking at a very significant upgrade, refinance portfolio to pay the home loan off when time comes but it really upsets my wife and she's !!!!!! insistent it is repaid in the normal repayment type way because her dad sees it as being 'too risky'. My FIL sees crossing the !!!!!! road as 'too risky' though lol. Point is look at your options - is paying your res mortgage early really going to net the best return for you or are you better using the equity elsewhere/ would you like to upgrade etc. etc. If you were born 1968 (assumption there ha), you've plenty of working years left. Tbf if I'm right about your age and if it were me in my ideal scenario, I think I'd be looking at my last 3/4 growth years before starting to heavily reduce leverage in readiness to get rid of PG and later refinance to pay home loan. I'm not saying that's the right thing for you either but you've got options mate.

Re Range Rover Sport haha yeah they've an 'image' lol but I loved mine, it was a great car. Had to laugh re FFRR tbf I am !!!!!! at parking have 2 spaces at the office lol, still working on the other two though ha old before my time. I used to say I could never see a time I didn't own a BMW but they've really changed as a manufacturer over the years and my 440i was just a bit numb not really what I'd expect from a performance BMW at all. Current offerings are !!!!!! shocking in the looks dept I'll def agree there but X6 not exactly a looker either imo. Mercedes has always had the old man offerings but also always had the C63s / other AMG / G-Wagen etc. Young lad I know through work has got a satin C63AMG not to my taste tbh but it's def not an old man car. Curious what you would choose ideal world if no Range Rover or BMW? Ideal world 4x4 for me would still be a Bentayga, not very pretty on the outside but inside they are lovely. One on the config with Mulliner spec wheels and metallic BRG paint with the BRG/ tan interior I love that spec not a chance I'd have gone for that type of spec even a year ago but it's starting to appeal now def getting old before my time lol.

@theoretica I hope you're right mate especially for my wife it's not that important to me tbh but is to her.

stymied

I really don’t think you’re spoiling Christmas @alt80 but why not give your Mrs a bit of extra spending money to treat herself? It wouldn’t make much difference in the long run on the payback (I’m thinking £500 not 25K) but could be a lovely surprise.

Sun_Addict

You could do some non alcoholic cocktails at Christmas to make the drinks feel a bit special. Some of the better quality AF spirits are pretty decent (eg Clean Spirit Co and Lyre). Serve them in nice glasses with fruit, Rosemary twigs, mint etc they might not even notice the lack of alcohol. 

You’re still doing great, well done. 

warby68

No toys, just one each plus the comedy van

I like Audi for my sins but would also love a Porsche and the Maserati Levante up the road keeps catching my eye. Car dreams and car reality don't always tie up though. We usually end up being a bit sensible instead. No idea on trims etc. Just something I like the look of and goes when you put your foot down. Had a Golf V5 years ago that was lovely for looking slow but being fast. A few boy racers got a little surprise.

Christmas will be fine. You (and wife) are working it out and reinventing what's important. Loved Spirograph. Do they still do Etch A Sketch? I think all bigger families have a few givers and a few takers. Wife's parents are givers and so are you, don't worry about the others. Alcohol is easy to manage without drawing attention if you prefer. You just have a glass and carry it around. Wife's spending cravings might be fewer now life is better in other areas. That's a good thing. You could do surprise gifts for each other up to a certain amount if you feel too much of a killjoy.

alt80

@stymied It’s more the restriction than anything tbh not just gifts but other things we used to enjoy in the lead up to Christmas. I’ll be very glad when it’s over and rn def got the not good enough demons but hopefully all that will !!!!!! come new year. 

@Sun_Addict thank you. I’ll work something out wife has ordered the F&M sparking tea really quite nice and worth a try. Idk about cocktails can think of a couple who would appreciate tbf and others who are more wine drinkers. Do have wine to give them which is decent but if they are expecting me buying something particularly special though it’s not happening this year. 

@warby68 comedy van lol fml 😆. You must be counting you boys’ cars reminds me when my wife said not too long ago something about will I buy our boy an electric car for his first car I said to her he can work for it and I’ll double his budget but can think I’m not haha. Had to work for mine and I don’t think that’s something my parents got wrong tbh. 

Nope, don’t get Audi one bit but have owned a few Porsche and used to like them not really that interested in them anymore though. I don’t mind those Maserati to look at tbf but the interiors are lacking a little imo. Yeah I know what you mean ideal world I’d def have a Bentayga for day to day, wife would have a G-Wagen fml lol and still in plans to buy an XJS V12. Tbh I want to buy and keep the little MG you can laugh but it’s got a lot of character and first car we’ve had that’s really put a smile on my Mrs’ face so I don’t want to lose it.

I think they do still make etch a sketch fml you’re bringing some memories back lol and so is Mrs haha I’ll have to have a look out for one. Bought a Lego Land Rover defender on the back of reading another diary on here passed onto Mrs with intention of building with son over Christmas and looks like we’re going to be fighting over who builds it with him ha tbf I’ll just let her do it lol. 

Re surprise gifts it’s not something I can achieve I’m not touching personal money until into next year and then idk life better without it really none of the pain and regrets. 

Never really thought of myself as a giver lol probably stretching it there mate but wife’s parents def are. They want some framed family photos for Christmas have some really nice ones of son and wife in Greece which I think they’ll like. No one more guilty than I am only giving them that after the support they’ve given to me over the past year or so but I know they won’t appreciate anything else so best thing is to give them something they’ll actually want imo. 

RelievedSheff

I think they would appreciate a photo with all three of you in it rather than just your wife and son.

I like the AF cocktails idea.