Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

Blackcats

I had e e broadband and it was so variable - some days ok, others not.  When I was out of contract I was all set up to go with vxxgin and I got a text at 10pm the night before installation saying there was a problem and installation would be scheduled for 23 days later.  I cancelled, signed up for a portable hub type thingymabob with vodaxxxx and touch wood it's been ok so far.  

You are very focussed on bringing in extra money/saving money - well done!  I'm limping through to the end of the year, getting through first Christmas without my mum, having 4 days by the sea after new year and then I'll take my inspiration from you and boost the coffers.  

savingholmes

Hi Blackcats - I hope it improves soon - as otherwise - I'd be better off with an unlimited data package on my phone and use that as a hub spot!! Let's hope it picks up. 

I can understand how with losing your mum - your focus has been on dealing with your loss and comforting your father. Plenty of time to deal with the money for you afterwards. Glad you have a holiday planned. 

My oven hob has a timer thing which keeps stopping working and then burning my food by carrying on - breaking the whole point of having it. Really irritating. It also hasn't been great recently in other ways with it not seeming to give constant high heat. I've bought a new pan in case the latter was the pan's fault but wondering whether going cheap when we put it in a year or so ago was a mistake. Of course with it being fitted and the counter cut to its size it wouldn't be cheap or easy to replace if needed.

savingholmes

 I read a book a while ago called the £ or your life. Some argue it birthed the F1r3 movement. It suggests working out your true hourly wage and weighing up every purchase against it. So you would take your net wage - and then take off any costs of working e.g. desk, chair, commute, clothes etc, time for said things including doing makeup, all the extras you buy due to work like coffees, work lunches, takeaways etc and then recalculate your hourly wage accordingly.

For my purpose - I'm WFH currently so my costs are lower than they were before. Plus I think her equation misses out that we can get a lot from work - it isn't all just take on the employer's part. I've taken the paid holidays off my working time - ignored pension contributions etc and focused purely on my net pay. So to keep things simple  - I'm using £20 as a 'proxy' for my hourly rate. This will help me consider whether my current or planned spends were worth the time it took to earn the money.

I love journalling. My costs per journal used to be around the £10 mark but now they are closer to £13+ etc. It helps keep me sane - and compared to the cost of a counsellor at more like 3 x the price is still good value for £. During my divorce I went through 2-3 a month - so expensive. My journal cost per month had gone up to 2 hours worth of life force time - is that justifiable?In the last month - with writing more on here instead - it has settled down to 1 a month. Pre-crisis a journal could last 2-3 months. There are cheaper journals available and I have a stack of others in random sizes that I could use and save  £ but they are heavier, bigger and harder to carry - and not as neat on a shelf... So I talk myself into sticking with the more expensive brand but what about other things?

I have a tendency to over-buy and then struggle to take things back - working on the basis it will come in useful one day. How much life force are all those things costing me? Particularly now I have worked out that per £20 consistently invested in my mortgage or an equivalent - I could be mortgage free 6 months earlier. 'Fritter' spend is my biggest remaining saboteur for my wealth creation dreams - that and procrastination.Clutter is not fun. I need to tackle spend on things that I don't immediately use. Examples from the shed and garage include a £16 lighting kit for underneath cupboards that I should have returned a year or more ago... New in box curtain rail £20, blinds plural, 1k3a cupboards and shelving (again older than a year) etc. Unused paper log maker £16-20? I will put these on FB at some point.

I need to create a system - where I stop myself buying these things (draught proof stuff or insulation tape anyone?) or if I do buy them - promptly return them if unused. (Tile or magnolia or grey paint anyone?) This would free up space and money to clear debt, the mortgage and boost my pensions.

Looking at my forecast pension figures If I was mortgage free - I could live off my main pension by about age 64 (13 years) and live comfortably until state pension kicked in - where upon I could live very well. I could hit mortgage free at 64 by a combination of overpaying / investing in pension and downsizing  or by relocating to a cheaper area or if I manage to transfer my first DB pension as I've already mentioned.

Right... off to make the kitchen look respectable again... See you again soon. 

savingholmes

My wifi is still playing up - so back on mobile hotspot currently. If it doesn't resolve soon I will give them a call if I can as this is ridiculous. 

Still need to get dressed. I have hopefully got an easy day. I have a bit of a journey and am then meeting someone for a semi-working lunch and then travel back. Not seen them I don't think since before the pandemic other than on video chat so looking forward to that. 

I need to build more exercise into my daily routine - been hibernating a little recently - using the weather and the dark nights as an excuse. Later I need to go and pick up prescriptions.

I managed to move money on Friday from a different account to the one where my mortgage needs to go out of on Wednesday. I reckon my interest is £10.18 per day - and the amount I repay each month of capital is roughly £626 before the £20 OP. Given I was on interest only before - I'm celebrating that portion too as well as the OP.

Still hoping and praying my energy bill when it comes isn't too high (awaiting first bill due to previous company going bust). Hoping my solicitor's bill this month is minute. Neither are in my control. Gift voucher from work should arrive this week... 

I still need to package my Am**** items into 3 boxes ready for return and then actually do it!

EssexHebridean

One thing I LOVED when we were clearing our mortgage was watching the interest payable drop each month - such a boost! There were definitely some mini celebrations when we went through another "landmark" point on interest being charged per month, too!

That thinking around the "real" cost of things is interesting isn't it. I've got a lot better at analysing the "real value" I'll get from purchases I think and that helps me to pause and decided whether I really want to spend the money. 

why don't you drop the Solicitor an email and just ask them how much the final bill will be? At least you'll know then! (And no, they shouldn't charge you for that!) 

savingholmes

My impression is an email to them is £25 and their response is £25 so just going to wait. I have already been stung...

Had to use hotspot for personal and work WiFi. They got my speed tests and they say there is an external fault on the line. Engineer may come Wednesday if I am lucky. 72p per day compensation from Friday.

My lunch out got cancelled. I have had better starts to a week. 

Yes, I look forward to seeing monthly interest charges decrease.

Updated some cards for reward sites. Will see what happens there too.

DD returns today

savingholmes

Nipped to the shop and picked up my prescriptions. Got YS bread for 10p - so having cheese and onion on toast.

DD is back safe - exhausted after a lovely weekend. She stayed with friend's family rather than a hotel so saved £.

Life admin

1. I got accepted for the CC I applied for - so have 23 months 0% on purchases if there were any disasters - and more importantly - should get a £40 gift voucher that I can use towards xmas / clothes / food - depending on when it arrives.
2. I also used a whole 7p of points at the C00p. It all helps.
3. My life insurance policy is now in my name only - Next I plan to set that up as a flexible trust like my other policy (that operates outside the will so no IHT). Every time I think I've finished there's another layer. 
4. Chased my will. 
5. £co confirmed today that my claim for car insurance cashback was successful so due to get £42 early Feb.

Still to do

• Am**** returns
• Xmas decs
• Decluttering etc....

SandyShores

Hi saving, I'm the same with taking things back.  But I took back a roll of unused insulation tape to B&Q a few months ago - no receipt as the inlaws let me have it as they are the same with returning things, then I found I already had a half-used roll at home.  I returned it and got a credit note so was able to buy some diy stuff we actually needed.  Worth a try - depends what store I guess and whether they still stock the item.

girlatplay

That's interesting Sandy.  I have two tins of paint that I bought from BandQ to decorate the hall.  Don't think we're going to use them now but we're past the return date.  I do have the receipt.  A credit note would be fine.  I'll have a think about it but useful to know so thanks for sharing.

savingholmes

Thanks GAP and Sandy.
BnQ tend to be good at credit notes. W1lk0s said no last time I tried there. I have stuff from BnM - don't know whether they allow returns without proof of purchase - but it's literally stamped on the price of the item the name of their store...