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Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE
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Morning thank goodness it is the of the week feels so long those 3 days and I have a full 5 next week - yikes.
Bad news yesterday our favorite gym class will end in June and it looks unlikely they can get a replacement instructor. The gym is super cheap as you know but they are cancelling more and more classes or adding more at day time which is not ideal.
Interest rates back up again. Not sure we will see any more rises they say this one was predicted but wouldn't mind a little rise on Premium Bonds. I do feel sorry for those who have larger mortgages. Mine was £85K and I paid it off 9 years early. I am very grateful for that but my younger self was also a good saver. My work has rejected the pay offer so now there will be no pay rise until that is sorted most likely June but back dated to April. I heard of a charity that has gone on strike. I would never do that, we get a good wage compared to many so will just have to wait and see.
On the to do list front I did ok yesterday here is the update:
Buy final items from Lidl - done but now need loo roll and bread
Make chilli in slow cooker done just need to add kidney beans
Bake Kranse kage - not doing this
Clean pool - will be done today
Set up Garden furniture and cushions (get down from loft) - Saturday
Take bottles to bottle bank - done and there was a lot
Weather is definitely improving which is helpful for the party tomorrow. 2 friends are arriving tonight and staying over, 4 more tomorrow but just for the afternoon/evening. 1 set is going home about 8.30pm as they have a poorly dog. Not had that many people here before really looking forward to it.
Got my call with True Potential today about my finances. I need to swat up on the numbers and start making decision around if I leave them as I do not like paying the fees especially since they are coming out of my investments. I calculated a £12K loss this year but that would include the fees.
Also taking the cats to the vet for their healthy pet checkup and I am sure we will get told they are actually too fat but that is DGs fault not mine.
Anyway must crack on with work and roll on 5pm when I can clock off again. Cannot wait. Happy Friday everyone!
Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest1 -
I had my annual 10 min conversation with True Potential today. I had specifically said I wanted to discuss the fees when I booked the appointment but she asked for what I wanted to discuss. I quoted the figures and she did not contradict me she mention a 1.7% fee several times and the ongoing adviser fee of 0.5% so I felt I had done my homework right (thanks to you guys too).
She took no details from me about my current situation just asked if anything had changed. I mentioned my partner might lose her job in August and will have very little income as a reason for me wanting to look at the fees.
I asked what they gave me for my fee (I get 10 min chat once a year) to challenged her and asked if there was nothing she could tell me without me having to ask and drive the conversation. She did say my profile is still growth that has not changed and that the markets have been downwards but they are for the long term and they seem to be coming out of this. With my old IFA he would ask questions and check everything was the same but with this they seem to what to know nothing unless you come up with something. Very passive which I was no expecting but maybe it is normal.
I asked what they actually do for the fee they take to advice on my Royal London Pension and she did not answer. I am sure they have never changed anything on that one.
She has offered to compare my ISA with a passive tracker so I mentioned Vanguard and Blackrock as an example of two (all I could remember at the time. I can add others so I will go away and study and see if there are any others
Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest1 -
Afternoon had a brilliant weekend with friends. 2 of them did not come as their daughter sadly had a late miscarriage so sad. The others came at 2pm and stayed til 8pm and then we watched Euro Vision which was fun. Lots of cocktails throughout the day and lovely weather. Spent a lot on food and drink but loads left over and happy to be hosting at the house again if a lot of work.
Not really getting into work today. Struggling but must crack on. DG has gone to visit her aunt her cousin told her all visits are cancelled because she has Covid but as long as you wear PPE it is fine they say.
Strangely enough DG had a call today from company looking for someone in DGs areas of law. They are paying £50 an hour which does not sound a lot but 18 hours a week that is quite a nice salary actually. She can also still do her private work. It is a long way from her but it is remote mostly. A job like that would actually be very welcome right now but lets wait and see.
Had quite a few replies on the Pension boards and I am really leaning towards ditching the Wealth Company. I would save quite a bit of money but a lot of research is needed first.
Someone on a local group delivers compost so got 4 60L bags coming tomorrow for £24. Saves me going out to get any and I really need to top up my potatoes and also get my cucumber into its final home.
The £12 Dunelms pots arrives they are lovely will look good with Dahlias in them and if I can get the other old bedding plants to grow I can replicate the Sarah Raven mix I have had for 2 years. I love the purple colours.
Anyway best get another drink and get back to work.
Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest4 -
Planted the new £12 pots up and they do look good wish I had bought 3 but maybe they will still have them in store at the weekend.
DG has gone to court so have the office to myself. Our works really overlapped yesterday and I learnt something about hers that I cannot tell her. Slightly awkward so glad she is not here today actually.
I am now certain she will lose her part time job by the Summer but an agency contacted her via linkedin with a very nice consultancy role for 3 months possibly longer. It is part time but very well paid and remote. She wont her for 2 weeks now as the person is on leave but its all done so she just has to wait.
Finally getting a replacement for the lights I ordered last year that only worked 1 summer but were guaranteed for 2 years. I originally ordered 3 but gave one to a friend. My other set were not working last night so not looking good which is so annoying as they have been out less than 2 months. Might have to send them back too but will most likely ask for a refund if that is the case. My friends ones are very temperamental too. Why are solar lights such a pain!! We have an electrician friend down in a couple of weeks he will replace our back garden lights and I am going to ask him what it would cost to get our current uplighter lights expended to the rest of the garden.
Got a big presentation at work today at 2pm so best get an email out before that and then a late meeting from 5.30 to 7.30pm the joys. I did go to the gym Monday during the day so have already taken that time back. Did work 8am to 6pm last night that is quite long for me. Anyway best get back to it.Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest1 -
Wow where did that weekend go so quick. We played golf both Saturday and Sunday and I played really well yesterday. Not to my handicap but still a lot better so those two lessons have definitely worked.
Order a Hello Fresh box for the first time yesterday it is coming Friday as we have DGs cousin here so with working I thought it would be worth it. It came to £25 for 5 meals for 4 people with the 60% off a 1st box plus £9 cashback with Quidco. That is great I thought until we came to chose the meals. The standard ones a really not that exiting so chose two which are from their upgraded range. That added £25 just for those two meals so really not sure it is worth it but at least I have tried it.
Off to a meeting now in my own town and meeting a colleague which is really nice. Best get off.Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest2 -
So I have an actual financial update as it was payday today:
£200 left over at the end of the month but £100 of that was the bonus from Wealtify. Transferred to savings of course.
Upping my pension contributions via salary sacrifice has worked out really well. I paid an extra £197.27 into my pension exactly double of what I was paying. However I save on NI so my wages were only £134.44 less so I count that as getting £62.83 for free.
This month will be spendy as I have Dgs counselling to pay for but honestly the first two sessions have already made a big difference and I feel she has not been now for 2 weeks as she has been on leave. She is going next week though.
Both cars are due for MOT but mine is on a plan we pay for every month so no issue and the other one is a run around that does not get used so a service should be enough and MOT should be fine as it is not that old. Not sure when the insurance for the run around is up for might be this month however should be cheap.
Will be away for 2 nights so will be dinners out but will try to be good. I really wanted to lose some weight before seeing the family in June and them coming over in July. Not going well but my colleague who came yesterday was talking about the 8/16 fasting diet which I really liked. You eat for 8 hours and faste for 16. I think that could really work for me but I would have to delay breakfast.
I have paid off my credit card and only have £165 on it so far for this bill. I like to pay by credit card for hotels etc and I got £8 in Tesco vouchers which wasn't bad.
Best get on for some work as I am leaving early to go and meet DG.
Have a lovely Tuesday.Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest2 -
Morning working from a new office today had a late night but it was all fun and nice to mix with people again.
Speaking to an IFA firm today free 15 min so will see what they say. Might confuse matters more but want to know if I am on the right track increasing pensions or I should concentrate on SS ISA.
I came second in that golf competition 2 shots behind the winner and I got £9 which I am chuffed about. Feels like my golf is back on track and I have a game with DG as my partner on Monday so that is all good as long as she can play and not meltdown.
Work is busy but not too bad. My manager is stepping up so less time for me but it will be fine I am sure.
Have a lovely Wednesday enjoy the sunshine.Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest1 -
Hi, intermittent fasting is very good for the body, however if you have never done it before, it is suggested that you start with a smaller fasting window at first. So if you currently eat over 16 hours, reduce that to 12 hours and then over a few weeks work up to 16 or so fasting hours.2
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Thanks Vandafc I agree you cannot start too quickly and I need to do it gradually. Not had breakfast yet so planning on doing that at 10.30 then bigger lunch then golf this evening. I do need to do something soon. Did not make it to the gym yesterday as DG was late returning and I had to pick her up. It was a lovely location so we ended up with a take away on the beach and some donuts so you can see my struggles.
In financial news as you know I signed up to speak to another company re my pension as I am not 100% sure I want to DIY so this is a larger company but all IFA's and whole of market unlike what I have now. They will charge 1% whereas current lot charge .05% but their fees might well be lower might not. They also charge for doing the work so an extra fee to change over but thought it interesting to see what they had to say anyway.
Water in the pool is now 23 and with the good weather coming and the long weekend planning to spend some time chilling in the garden. DGs cousin will be here tomorrow morning which I am quite looking forward to but he is staying 10 days so we shall see by the end of it lol.
Best get back to work.Save £12k in 25 No 49
PB Win 21 £225, 22 £275, 23 £900, 24 £750 Balance Dec 25 £32.7K
Plan to move to Denmark for FIRE by Autumn 2025 “May your decisions reflect your hopes not your fears”
New diary aiming for fire https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6414795/mortgage-free-now-aiming-for-fire#latest1 -
I guess it depends on your mentality too. If you are an all or nothing, then you might give up if you can’t manage 8:16. However if you can do 10:14 for a few days, you can prove to yourself that you can do it. Check out Michael Mosley, he has lots of advice, including Fast 800, which might be of interest.2
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