Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

savingholmes

Glad you were safe. It's sad that they have to hide their allegiances.

TallGirl

Thanks we had a fab day yesterday the Orbit was really excellent and it stayed dry just long enough to enjoy the views. We got soaked walking to a bar but it was excellent value for money lunch and bottle of wine (£40) Then walked to the show and got another bottle of wine (£30). Great seats and enjoyed the experience even if a bit strange. It’s live music and obviously their real voices but the eyes are not quite right a bit dead like a hollow gram. Very good experience so highly recommend it. 

Then we tried to get to the Scandi Cafe for Xmas beers but they did not have any and did not serve food that late. Very disappointing but got some sweets so that was nice. Feels like home seeing all the food. Then we needed dinner so ended up at Bella Italia. Signed up to get free main course but didn’t get email in time. £50 so not bad no alcohol though. 

Then off to a gay bar which was really fun before walking back to Waterloo.  Walked from station home dg was a bit drunk by now well we both were as we had vodka on the train which was also delayed. Great day our expensive but could have been a lot more. Sometimes you have to have fun. 

Been for mc d breakfast and picked up my Vinted parcel so plan is now to get my own stuff listed and see my sister table cloth. Golf cancelled its just too wet. 

Hope you enjoy your Sunday.  

LadyWithAPlan

Yes London gets expensive especially on a big night out but I still love Soho - though I am also ouching at how much I spent last night - it all adds up. it was a lot of fun though. I can afford it but it’s less towards my house deposit 

Glad you managed to cut costs by vodka on the train I rarely eat out in London as drinks are so expensive so that’s how I manage some kind of entertainment budget 

TallGirl

Yes it’s a fun place to be LWAP I do hope you get to buy somewhere soon rents are only going up. We were lucky to live in Guardian properties when we lived in London. 

Sold my first item on Vinted they offered £3 for a £5 item we settled on £4. Now ready to sew the table cloth but might need to zigzag the edges first. Painful but needs must. 

TallGirl

second item sold 

TallGirl

Posted both items so much easier than Ebay. I had to collect mine at the Inpost which has just opened at our local BP well handy but all boxes was full until I collected mine so that was very handy. Hopefully the items gets to the recipients and they are happy with them. I did sell them really cheap but the one I got is really lovely perfect for golf. 

Been to the gym and had the garden person out of look to see what she can do. I need some advice as it is all a bit too big now and it was originally designed so I want to keep that vibe. Not very MSE but it is something I enjoy doing and I learn from her too. Filled up my garden bin as it is empty time tomorrow so it is ready for when she comes back Monday. 

Yesterday we did not do anything it was really nice I must say but I did finish the table cloth so that is good ready as a present for my sisters family to use for Christmas Eve. Next project will be some sort of bag but I need to wash the fabric first. 

Need to get on with some work hope it is not too wet where every you are. 

TallGirl

Been missing in action come down with a really horrible cold which I sincerely hope is not COVID. It started off with the same sore throat but I am feeling better today after spending 12 hours in bed per night plus sleep during the day. 

We have the neighbours coming for drinks and nibble tomorrow so a trip to Lidl's is needed if not Aldi and Tesco in that order. We did have a nice Halloween night Tuesday with loads of kids coming to the pool bar and we were serving small cups of hot chocolate with alcohol to the adults. It was really nice and we both enjoy it felt sorry for all the wet people. 

Today I have two meeting at work I need to sit and listen to so not too bad. I should have been at a late board meeting but not been asked so that is fine. 

Not heard from the bank account switch yet I am guessing the have a backlog of MSE folks. I have topped up my Monzo and my 1stDirect has enough to pay the bills. The linked 1st Direct saver is full now so should mature early December. I was pleased to see £5.90 in interest from a Monzo pot makes a nice difference. Credit card bill which comes out on the 5th should be about £300 so that can be paid after I get paid as per normal DD. Should not need to spend anything on the card other than for Christmas presents. 

I do have a lot of work on today which I did not get done yesterday as I had to go sick in the afternoon. Best crack on with it but I hope you did not have too much storm damage where ever you are. 

Just edited to say I forgot the most important news I won £100 on the premium bonds. Happy days finally. 

TallGirl

Got a txt to say by bank switch will be 16th Nov so all still going ahead happy days. I have printed the details from MSE just to make sure I get the full benefits. I will need to move by Monzo savings over to have £1500 to put in there but it says you can withdraw straight away so I am likely to do this. 

Thought I would update on my small investments with CIIIC Invest which was the MSE offer a while back. I think I got £50 free for opening it. I have a total of £200 in there which are now worth £202.21 as of today. 

I have 9 different holdings with £15 in each (roughly) and then I put £60 into Vanguard FTSE 250 but that has dropped to £55 or a drop of 6.8% so not great at the moment. The individual ones are doing well in particular Sage Group Plc that has gone up by £4.82 that is 32.91% so worth £19.55 right now. Wish I had put more in that one!!

Another one that is doing well is Tesco up 8% to £11.04 (I must had only got £10 in that one). I do also have European Property Yield Fund that is up 12.33% worth £22.41 now. Biggest loose apart from Vanguard is Vodafone with 12.98% but in real terms only £2.54. 

I know most stocks and shares are down currently and this is just a bit of fun. My MoneyBox is down too from what is was so is my pension and ISA but they are obviously a lot bigger. 

Will need to think about what I do with the bank bonus if I invest it in the CIIIM or stick it in by highest paying savings account for now. 

Got offered a space on a 6 week course to empower women via my work. I jumped on it as some really cool people are on it plus many others in my sector. It is online but I hope it will be interesting and worthwhile. 

Did get told I will have a new line manager from January which might actually be a good thing. I really like her and she only works 3 days so I would be left at peace like I am now. She is also very experienced so that is only a good thing. Feels like a fresh start so I am up for it. Best stop this as have a meeting with my current manager in 20 min. Have a nice Friday enjoy your weekend. 

TallGirl

Just a quick check in for a Sunday while my dinner is in the oven. Roasted veg with chicken. Home made humus hopefully be nice. 

We did find the mouse eventually. Lots of flies suddenly appeared so had to search it all and found the body and other things. I’ll leave it at that but all cleaned and no lasting damage. 

The gardener is coming tomorrow to get in with the heavy work so looking forward to that. 

Watching the last episode of Monty in Gardeners World. I’ll miss it but my magazine is on until Feb. It I’m more sure I’ll buy again I get too many seeds Ava not enough space. 

Had the neighbours over Saturday nice evening but felt a bit rough yesterday. Golf trolleys were off this morning so we cancelled and went a practiced this afternoon. 

Chilling this evening all chores done. 

savingholmes

Glad you got rid of the mouse. 

Sounds like a positive course at work - and that planned changes of management could work in your favour.