Learning to walk before I run

Suffolk_lass

Don't forget that your years prior to 2015 in a DB pension (assuming you opted out of SERPS) count only towards the basic state pension, so be careful not to mix and match the schemes, when counting your qualifying years, and is why I intend paying VC for the four years since I stopped work

edinburgher

@Suffolk_lass - all I've been doing is logging in to gov.uk and looking at their forecast?

Suffolk_lass

I think it's a wee bit misleading, as mine says I have all my years, but omits to say I could increase my pension by making voluntary contributions for the last four years. It really depends how many years at the full contribution rate you and your employer make. And as you know, I sometimes say things to you, and on your threads that are potentially of benefit to your readers, maybe more than you.

I found and saved a really good guide at this link, when Steve Webb (the former Pensions Minister) was still at Royal London. It was in 2019-20 so the amounts are out of date, but the info remains valid

edinburgher

Thanks for the link @Suffolk_lass - looks like I'm ok.

Baileys_Babe

Thanks @Suffolk_lass link appreciated.

edinburgher

Good afternoon all, I hope you have got the sun as well?

I am having a fairly dull old time of it this weekend, taking a few minutes to centre myself with some spreadsheet updates and time out of the aforementioned sun...

Yesterday I did my strength training class in the morning and looked after DD2 for the rest of the day. I was out an about a lot and managed to walk over 30,000 steps for only the second time ever! Today has been a rather tedious day of shopping, cutting the grass in the back garden for the first time since last year and putting up a gazebo. Just to be annoying, the gazebo doesn't come with any ground anchors, so I've had to order those and a new spool of strimmer line off big river (first home maintenance spends of May). I've done 10,500 steps now and that will probably do me for exertion, the garden stuff was all in the bright mid-morning sun.

Don't really have any finance news and I have to be honest, going for a "quiet" month sans virement is boring the pants off of me No money endorphins and all I've noticed is the worrying fact that we will likely pass £1,000 on groceries this month (albeit £400 of that was food for 30 at DD2's 1st birthday party). Setting up a couple of RS to come out of your current account is super boring, although I know it's the sort of thing that grown ups do.

We are sitting at about -£1,400 but that's ok, CB, Mrs E wages and my second wage still to arrive by the end of the month, another £4,000 or so. 

Not finance news but the wonderful Mrs E has managed to identify a childminder for DD2. She has been going to a nursery that made quite a poor impression versus the private nursery we used for DD1 (DD2 should also be going there but that's a story for another day). DD2's current nursery is flaky as hell (closed on Wednesdays for 3 months straight, lack of staff and retention issues, fairly crappy rating etc., all we could find). It has been tough for us to deal with and both Mrs E and I have wasted about a week of annual leave and made changes to our working patterns to accommodate. Anyway, that should resolve itself from the end of June. Nice *slightly* older lady (young 50s) with a great reputation and 25 year's experience It won't actually save us any money (childminder is 5 miles away and DD2 will need a packed lunch every day) but will hopefully get us some stability.

Baileys_Babe

edinburgher said:

Not finance news but the wonderful Mrs E has managed to identify a childminder for DD2. She has been going to a nursery that made quite a poor impression versus the private nursery we used for DD1 (DD2 should also be going there but that's a story for another day). DD2's current nursery is flaky as hell (closed on Wednesdays for 3 months straight, lack of staff and retention issues, fairly crappy rating etc., all we could find). It has been tough for us to deal with and both Mrs E and I have wasted about a week of annual leave and made changes to our working patterns to accommodate. Anyway, that should resolve itself from the end of June. Nice *slightly* older lady (young 50s) with a great reputation and 25 year's experience It won't actually save us any money (childminder is 5 miles away and DD2 will need a packed lunch every day) but will hopefully get us some stability.

The childminder will also offer you both peace of mind, which is very important.

beanielou

Great news on the CM 

edinburgher

Put up new gazebo for the first time ever, tried to make a small adjustment and broke the damn thing I think I can find a replacement part online but man, do I loathe DIY

savingholmes

I feel for you. Given I break lamp bulbs when I try to replace them by squeezing too hard - I totally relate.