How much to live on

helensbiggestfan

Louby. That looks lovely, gorgeous sunset.  I agree with your sentiments about having a sunshine break in the winter. It's nice to get away from the grey gloomy skies and get some winter warmth. I wont manage this year though because of wanting to get the house purchase finalised asap. Aiming for Feb/March. 

Today we had our annual family visit to Chatsworth. It was a glorious bright sunny day and surprisingly warm, alas not 26 but very pleasant. 

Some great gifts there LM.  Sounds like the dishwasher is earning its keep.  Lol.  I had a lovely Christmas.  I have been spoilt rotten, beautiful gifts and waited on hand and foot.  A right pampered princess. 😁.  As I expected the karaoke machine went down a storm....

On Christmas Eve I received a load of paperwork appertaining to my house purchase so I will need to crack on with that now.  I don't want to hold things up.  I've already done some decluttering with a view to starting the packing early in the new year. 

Really looking forward to 2025.  Exciting times.  

Organgrinder

Well yesterday I opened another 0% card and am moving £9000 to it (no balance transfer fee). Come April that will be 4 years this debt has been moved around (give or take the odd £1000). At an average of probably 4% pa that will equate to £1420 in free money over the 4 years.

( In total my 0% deals on stoozing and balance transfers are now over £25000, generating interest of over £1,000 a year - in tax free ISAs of course).

On another note, Mrs O is projected to have approx £80k in her pension pot come 61 in addition to her occupational pensions of about £5k.

She wants an after tax income equivalent to what will be her post SPA income which will be £16k. Lots of ways of doing this but the good news is it can be done in ways that minimise or even eliminate any tax and still leave a little bit of rainy day money behind!

Pat38493

Organgrinder said:

Well yesterday I opened another 0% card and am moving £9000 to it (no balance transfer fee). Come April that will be 4 years this debt has been moved around (give or take the odd £1000). At an average of probably 4% pa that will equate to £1420 in free money over the 4 years.

( In total my 0% deals on stoozing and balance transfers are now over £25000, generating interest of over £1,000 a year - in tax free ISAs of course).

On another note, Mrs O is projected to have approx £80k in her pension pot come 61 in addition to her occupational pensions of about £5k.

She wants an after tax income equivalent to what will be her post SPA income which will be £16k. Lots of ways of doing this but the good news is it can be done in ways that minimise or even eliminate any tax and still leave a little bit of rainy day money behind!

Out of interest - once you have finished with a stoozing card and the deal has finished, do you close it down completely or just leave it dormant?

Organgrinder

Good question! A bit of both to be honest. I sometimes forget though but eventually get round to closing them down.

Organgrinder

louby40 said:

Great Christmas Eve and Day spent with family.

Now in glorious Morocco for the next 10 days in a truly luxurious adult only hotel. This is the second time we have come away for some Christmas/New Year sun and I'd highly recommend it. last nights sunset was stunning.

Temperature was 26 today. Finished my first book and now on my second. 

Hope everyone had a great time celebrating with friends and family. 

Spot the difference......

kempiejon

[Deleted User] said:

Apart from contributions to 4 online forums and occasional online shopping I will only use the internet for information gathering. I have closed all social media accounts apart from one messaging service  the family use. I am also going ration my access to the news.

I am also avoiding setting targets for anything, but rather will step back and instead observe how things develop over time. 

Overall, I am going  to be happy in my own world and keep out the toxic influences of the bigger world. 

I had a chat with the SO last year. They are always connected, the only topics of conversation were doom from around the world and the fear of political instability getting worse. With an effort for much of 2024 they've reduced time connected. We only have news from TV for an hour between 6.30 and 7.30pm BBC or Channel 4. No more twitter, facebook nor instagram. I noticed an improvement in mood. - However recently Bsky has become a thing.

MarzipanCrumble

I have esckewed social media unless absolutely essential for something I need to do/see/interact with.  After sorted issue will turn it off.  I disliked FaceBook from the start because all you could do was 'like' and not 'dislike'.

Social media has been proven to embrace 'fake news' - to promote it to those who embrace it or even maybe 50/50 towards it for profit!  

Social media has its uses - exploit them yourself i.e. on a complaint to a company or asking for advice.

Jimbobdibob

[Deleted User] said:

Apart from contributions to 4 online forums and occasional online shopping I will only use the internet for information gathering. I have closed all social media.

Admire your outlook and (a little bit envious :-):smile: ) your financial position. None of my business but what are the other three forums?

Jimbobdibob

PS other than family WhatsApp I don't do any Social media 

Jimbobdibob

@[Deleted User], I retired from a very stressful (high paying) job at the beginning of the year, handed  in notice  the first work day in January, was immediately put on gardening leave for 3 months.

Lasted until April.I retired from something rather than to something.

Now working the best job of my life on minimum wage ish giving back to society.