Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

So we sadly now have confirmation that DG paid job ends 31st August which is really sad but she was getting fed up with the manager and the team not running things in the most efficient way which is also why the project kind of failed. We are going to write her a list of things she can support with in this type of work and email it to other similar projects and hopefully they might employ her on a 0 hour contract at something adhoc. It is sad and her confidence is not the best but we have a plan and her skills are in high demand if she wanted a paid full time role based in a an office which she absolutely does not. 

We got a new pay offer from work I would get an increase of 4.5% which is not bad I think about £180 a month before tax. Will help but they are increasing the lower paid more and I just fall into the higher paid side which is a shame but I do like my job. Speaking of jobs I got approached via linked in for a paid role in a Council. It was right up my skills set and most likely very well paid but I just do not want to change jobs right now with 4 years to go I am happy doing what I do and I can just learn this role.

Attending a webinar later as I have got the opportunity to do a level 5 coaching course which I quite fancy but then I am also too lazy to spend my own time on it. Sounds bad doesn't it. I know I am only 52 but I feel I have done the career stuff and applied for so many jobs while I was on fixed contracts I am now where I belong but having coaching skills would actually really help my current job. We shall see I need to know the commitment needed etc. 

Forgot to say we finally did the hot air balloon ride yesterday morning and it was amazing. Had to get up at 3am but to fly on a perfectly still day and see from the Isle of wight right into London was spectacular. I would highly recommend Virgin Experiences if you can cope with having to book several times in order to get there. 

Money is going to be so right with DGs contribution to our joint funds. I am not quite sure how I am going to do it. We do have the Premium Bonds as the emergency fund so we will be ok I am just sad to stop payments let alone having to spend that money. As I said her skills are in huge demand so lets get those emails out we have 2 it can go to we know are looking for permanent staff who can travel out so should get something I hope. 

Work first then soring roof rack out this evening before 9 holes of golf. Also need to clean the pool and obviously get on with upcycling that table lol.  

TallGirl

Busy weekend prepping for family visit, golf, visiting DGs aunt and also have my BIL and SIL over from South Africa. They were last over in October so it was nice to see them and we are also seeing them Thursday before they go back. Impacts on gym but hey ho you have to prioritise family obviously. They were complaining about the cost of things here the Rand has really dropped and when I looked at the exchange rate yes indeed it has. Oh well we said we would go out to a local pub which has a cheap curry night so they cannot moan about that.

Played ok in the golf competition still got some practise to do but shame that DG pulled out on the morning I think the anxiety got the better of her again. It is so hard to see but hopefully she will get there.

Almost finished upcycling the garden table. Did order another can of paint which I do not actually think we need so will see how easy it is the return and might do that. Its cost £25 so far but worth it. 

Booking loads of train tickets at the moment for work and family trip. I am so paranoid I get the dates or times wrong. First trip is over the Wales tomorrow which means dinner with a colleague which I really look forward to.  Obviously there will be some more coffee stamps if I can find the right shops. I have also still got my free Greggs coffee with Confused.com to use still. 

Had confirmation that the adviser charges has been removed from my SIPP so that is £2000 saved a year no bad for making a bit of a fuss. DGs free upgraded printer arrived it is a long story but we have the HP subscription (DG pays for this as part of her consultancy). A while back it started to ask for upgrades but then could not do it. She spoke to the helpline and they did a temporary fix but said it was some file download they had had to remove and now it kept looking for it. Most people had had to have new printers. She then got fed up with the temp fix not working so googled the email of the CEO which passed her to another CEO I think in this country. He was very condescending and said there was no issues with downloads it was down to her having slow internet and she needed to sort that out. Clearly he did not check his facts so DG got to work and offered to put his and the other CEO's email address on all her social media so other people who are also affected could tell him all about it. Well he caved in offered her a full refund (printer is 2 years old I think). She asked for an upgraded printer which has arrived no extra cost and free 6 months print subscription is incl with that. They will now collect the old one. Good result I was impressed. 

To do list:
Reclaim of Gatwick tickets plus taxi 1/2 done
2nd bedroom wash bedding
Check if enough duvet for guests 3 x single
Put stuff in loft
Check for chlorine in pool 
Rent roof box for trip to Devon - sorted roof bars being fitted Friday.
Brush rush of garden table, masks up the glass and spray paint it - just need to be put together after being painted
Cat sitter booked - done 

Anyway must be on with some work 

TallGirl

Not sure I have got the hang of the new forum seems more tricky to find your threads plus I had to reset my password but I am back.

Had a fab work trip seeing lovely people in a lovely capital city. We went out for dinner which was lush and on expenses. Also managed to get in 2 stamps from Costa very nice so now have a freebie just in time for it to increase to 10 stamps for a freebie. I will get my free Birthday cake next month so can really treat myself. 

Had to buy a t-shirt as forgot to pack one but luckily there was a Next across the road. £8.50 and resisted buying two which would have saved 50p. 

There is really good course being offered at work but it is 14 months and quite a big commitment so I am going to decline and do it next time. I think there will become opportunities to become more senior in our team so having that would be an advantage I just cannot face doing it right now too much going on. 

DG and I are still plugging away with our Danish and Spanish respectively and not missing our stupid game. There is a kind of game in there so that is quite good but you still learn.

Seeing BIL and SIL tonight going out for the cheap curry night at our local so that should be nice. I know he will bring up selling the business premises I know what I am going to say so all is good. If I was to sell that would be a nice top up for FIRE for sure. 

Still got quite a bit of work to do but now I do not have to do the application for that course I can do it. 

To do list update  
Reclaim of Gatwick tickets plus taxi 1/2 done
Put stuff in loft
Rent roof box for trip to Devon -pick up box tonight
Brush rush of garden table, masks up the glass and spray paint it - just need to be put together after being painted

Just shopping and meal prepping to do but have Saturday for that at least. 

TallGirl

On the train to my first call appointment and already train issues. I so hate Southern it’s always them. I’m going to get a cab from the station that will get me my list time back if there are any mind you.  

I’ve had confirmation they will run that course again so that’s really good news. Just not the right time now. 

Had a nice meal with BIL and SIL it was good food lots of it and only £10. Going to take the family there for sure. 

He want to do a dividend from the company so that’s £5k before tax. Nice and unexpected so very pleased about that. Much needed as I want to have some pots for house maintenance and car stuff that is tight when covered from normal income. Also DGs job is ending in August. 

Got the roof box fitted so to do list looking fine. 

TallGirl

So everyone has now gone back after 11 days. It was been amazing having them but hectic too. DG coped really well despite having all those people for so long. We had a nice time playing golf and the kids (well teenagers) enjoyed all the activities down there. DG then had a bombshell from her part time job which has totally imploded and she is so stressed having worked on it on her holiday and even Sunday. It is really stressful but can be resolved if she could just take a bit of time out from it. Having IT issues on top really does not help either. 

I am fine missing my family already but they are safely home and that is really good. I hate saying goodbye but the idea that in less than 5 years I might not have to is very nice to think about. 

House is totally upside down but will get there slowly. Lots of work to do but dealt with the most urgent stuff. 

  

TallGirl

Really struggling to get started today. DG is back to her own self almost partly thanks to a friend who spoke to her yesterday and also the counsellor. I am so grateful for that women £80 well spent. 

Weather is horrible and we had one load of washing left after the family visit but it has had to go on the airer. Annoying indeed. 

Week off has been expensive but mum paid for most of it and is sending money over to my UK account to pay for it. We paid for booze and food but that is only fair as we always come for Christmas and summer to theirs. 

We have finally been able to advertise the senior roles in our team which they fought so hard for. We are two newer members of the team who have been using the more experienced team members for support and these roles are for them and they pay about £5k more. One person has left so there is a spare role as one person left plus a spare role at my rate. The other newer member and I spoke about this last night and we both feel we should not be going for the higher role but then what if someone from outside jumps straight in and gets it. Anyway lots to think about but I might just leave it well alone and enjoy my stressfree role. 

TallGirl

Yeah it is Friday so pleased about that. Been to physio £45 but if my shoulder can become more mobile I shall be pleased about that. Must do my exercises otherwise pointless. Bootcamp in 2 weeks really need to get back into the gym and build up again. Put on 2 kilos which is also poor but hopefully bootcamp can kickstart things so we see results by Christmas.

Moneywise I think I am really going to have to cancel my £500 that is going into Premium Bond each month. I have very little readily available cash savings apart from PB so need a bit of a rethink as DG will not get a new job by end of Aug but she has signed up for another consultancy firm that gives her regular work but she has to pay a larger fee to them. This work is easy and stress free so if she can make enough this way that would be much much better for her. 

I have taken the last week of August off to go down and see my two friends in Cornwall on my own. I think I need a bit of me time and although it is a long journey I have not been for so long and I miss them both. My Danish friend is coming over with her daughter in a week so will get to spend a long weekend with her which will be amazing. We usually only get a few hours when I am in DK so this will be soo good. I also want to get to know her daughter better. I do want to build back up that friendship as it will be nice for when we move back.

DG and I are still doing out DuoLingo. Found out that the O2 priority app gives you 3 free months of the premium that would have been handy but we did not know. So annoying but worth having the premium as you get so much more and no adverts. I can already feel my Spanish has improved so so much. You get O2 priority if you have with Virgin and it has a free Greggs coffee each morning for those who do not know.

Made some Coldbrew yesterday morning OMG it is lush I love it. Much better than doing it in the coffee machine warm. I need something to strain it though so I can make bigger batch. Might need a little shop on Amazon.

My mum is paying me back for the money spent while they were here that will definitely help the finances quite a bit. She did so well at 80 keeping up with everything and everyone. She is getting tired more easily and she is sometimes not as sharp as she used to be but if I am anything like her at that age I will be well happy. We still need to take her to Ireland as her 80th birthday present. 
Right now I really must get on with work. 

Moneyfordreams

I'm envious of your social life - I need to invest more into mine. Work and family have definitely taken over. Glad to hear DG is doing better - good she has options though.  

TallGirl

Moneyfordreams said:

I'm envious of your social life - I need to invest more into mine. Work and family have definitely taken over.   

I agree you do need to look after yourself no one else is going to. 

Been a nice weekend with pants weather chilled Saturday getting all the jobs done we have had outstanding also did some decluttering. Kitchen is now much clearer and when we have visitor we won't have to have things sitting on the worktops and the cupboards are less packed. 

Sunday was men vs ladies at the club I had a lovely partner and we won't against two men I know well and really enjoy spending time with so that was great. Ladies won which was really nice and we won last year too. 

Been to gym for the first time in two weeks did two classes it was so hard nearly gave up but DG insisted which spurred me along. 

Work will be busy this week with at least 1 evening meeting perhaps two but I hope not. It is my birthday tomorrow as I am taking so much time off in August I am just going out for some lunch with DG at a nearly cafe we have never managed to get to and DG really wanted to go too. My friend arrives on Friday so we can do some birthday then too. 

Had a little go and adding up everything I have got saved and invested and this is how the things spread out 

			Without property
Total Cash		5%	8%
Total S&S non Tax Free		1%	2%
Total S&S tax free		19%	34%
Total Pensions		30%	55%
Property		45%

It is very tight on cash and that is exclusively my Premium Bonds. I will move the non tax fee S&S stuff next April so it will all be tax free. If I get the money from exBIL and the expected payrise I will definitely have to pay more tax. 

Anyway best get back to work. 

TallGirl

It my birthday today! I am working but it is ok been out for lunch with DG which was nice and trying to work this afternoon not very effectively I must say. (No alcohol lol). 

Won a cute little LOccitane set from from the Post Code Lottery. Not sure if I entered it or if I just won it as a prize. Premium Bonds are tomorrow I really hope I am lucky again but then again it was a big won last time. Well big for me £250.

Work is fine got good feedback from manager and do not feel I have to apply for the senior role but one might come up sooner than I think ( I assume someone will retire). Also will get our backdated pay increase in August pay which will be nice. 

My mum has now sent the money over she owed me from the trip but I think she forget to add my present. Shame really but she might just stick it in my Danish account. 

Bought a cute cat bed in Lidl for the big cat. He loves little hidey places so this is perfect. He went straight in there which was sweet. Usually cats are rubbish at beds they prefer human beds. 

Anyway best go DGs job that is closing down is kicking off again and she is not coping that well.