So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

debtfreeoneday

Life goes on and you only get one life so spend, save - do whatever works. I love reading diaries of all whatever their mindset and financial habits. 

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks DFOD!

This morning I'm finishing up the big task (client finally got back to me about queries and they're easily sortable), doing another little job for my UK-based client and generally getting everything up to date. Expecting deliveries of a suitcase and currency today! I've also confirmed our chauffeur-service booking with Addison Lee (clearly this is who Virgin use). It's beginning to feel real now! I've decided to take my Starling card with me for case withdrawals - Mr MV has a Curve card for them, but just in case we get separated or he loses it, it'll be good to have a back-up.

I must do washing today too - weather should be good for drying and we need to get the last washing done. This afternoon I'm taking my seedlings (and greenhouse, it's ridiculous really!) down to my friend's house. I've warned her I'll be treating her as if she has the plague - unfortunately she doesn't have side access, so it'll be an FFP2 mask to get through the house. Not that she's likely to have it - she's very careful!

I have got some bread out of the freezer for lunch and sausages for Mr MV for dinner - sausage and mash is on the cards for today. (It might yet be for tomorrow too, looking at the bag of potatoes!)

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Food from stores
* Sorted out a weird payment situation with a client - glad I persisted because what they were telling me really wasn't right! Turns out it was an error on their part, but I wonder when it would have been sorted otherwise.

Gratitudes:
* Mum - I'm pinching an onion from her later as we're out and I'm thinking veggie shepherds pie tomorrow might be a good idea!
* People I trust completely to look after my furry friends while we're away - I'm going to miss them but I know they'll be in good hands (and spoilt rotten!)
* Straightforward answers from clients, so I can get this work finished relatively quickly - although I'm having issues with their system, which is annoying!

Have a good day all!

Baileys_Babe

Taking a second card from a different provider is very sensible for a number of reasons including, one card being stolen or damaged.

Have a great time.

Karmacat

It really is real, not a 🦄 woo hoo.  And yes, treat everyone you can as if they've got the plague.  Rates are down, but so what?  That doesn't mean anything if you're the one that picks it up right before your lovely, well-deserved holiday!  This is going to be great!

themadvix

Baileys_Babe said:

Taking a second card from a different provider is very sensible for a number of reasons including, one card being stolen or damaged.

Have a great time.

We've both got fee-free credit cards to use too - this would just be for cash back up. 

Thank you!

themadvix

Karmacat said:

It really is real, not a 🦄 woo hoo.  And yes, treat everyone you can as if they've got the plague.  Rates are down, but so what?  That doesn't mean anything if you're the one that picks it up right before your lovely, well-deserved holiday!  This is going to be great!

It'll be really real when the damn LFT is done and passed on Saturday - until then, we can only hope! We have just selected our main courses for the Upper Class flight out I'm looking forward to garlic and ginger prawns with thai green curry 😋

Cash and suitcase have arrived. All work is done (I think I told some of my clients I won't be here tomorrow - not the end of the world, although I may be bored! Washing is all done.... eek!!! Now I need to back up my computer, delete the sensitive data and say goodbye to it tomorrow.

themadvix

Morning all,

Last update from laptop while it hopefully finishes syncing before the courier arrives. A little bit of work done this morning, and I have a big to-do list for today... Later I need to get down to the allotment and get everything sorted there - still some protection needs putting in place and I need to feed the strawbs.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Smaller dinner last night to eke out the mashed potato for tonight's dinner

Gratitudes:
* A cuppa in mum's garden - I took a mug, teabag and teaspoon and she provided the water and milk. No hug though. I may hug her tomorrow after the test - I think she's in need!
* A lovely chat with my friend who is looking after the plants - she and her husband were telling me about their adventures in the US, 20-30 years ago.
* The courier was not here at 8am! (DPD though and I've not had a collection slot mentioned, which is annoying)

Have a good day y'all.... I don't know if I'll post again until I'm back, so have a great May! (Don't be silly, I'll no doubt post again later today after all that!)

Mickyh-s

Have a fantastic time - you so deserve it!

Busy_Mee

Have a great time MadVix. Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.

Very jealous of your Virgin flights. I need to look at their points scheme.

We've been using up Avios points from an old CC but I am not a fan of BA and we always need to get down to Heathrow to take advantage of their scheme. I much prefer Virgin and they do fly direct from Manchester to a number of places.

themadvix

It took us a long time to save enough points but we also converted Amex points and did the gold card for a year to get bonuses (notably we paid for our kitchen with Amex to fulfill spending requirements) and had at least one referral. Obviously fewer points are needed for economy flights though! I stopped using my virgin card when we had enough (Although I still have 5k points on there?), and just use Amex now (with an MBNA legacy cash back card for non-Amex spends and foreign fee-free spends). Amex points are more flexible to spend without losing value. Headforpoints is a great website for UK cc deals for travel.

 Not sure if I mentioned, but Mr MV got a platinum Amex for while we’re away - annual fee works out at £47/month 😮 but is prorated so you only pay for the months you have it. Gets us access to airport lounges and  car insurance for hire cars (and should save on paying for me to be additional driver, but we’ve yet to test that as we’ve booked through a third party). Plus you get £100 to spend at Harvey Nick’s per year (in two £50 tranches- Jan-June and July-Dec, so we’ve timed it well!), as well as some other benefits. We’ll hang onto it until July for the HN and any airport lounges if we get away for our anniversary, and then cancel (as long as Mr MV doesn’t get too attached!!).