Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Just a quick check in as I am off to the gym early hoping not to be stuck in traffic. Doing two classes but worth getting there in time. This is my old gym so it is not as far into the traffic chaos but still not fun if you are later.

Spends today:
Ordered a t-shirt on A**zon to replace DGs xmas present that was rubbish and I got a full refund for. 
Also DG has been told by counsellor she does not have to go regularly now just going next at the end of the month to deal with one specific slightly OCD issue that should be it so will save me £80 a time and I am very pleased she is so much more stable now. Still freaks out at IT issues but the company with the cyber attack at rubbish so understandable. 

Counsellor also told her to make sure she does step by step things for the big move such as clearing the loft, looking through photos so things do not have to be done last minute. I agree she needs to do this and I want to do it too. She is bad though as she has avoided doing the photos for the new passport for a week now but says will do it this weekend. 

Foodwise not been terrible slimfast for breakfast with frozen berries, tuna pitta with lots of salad for main meal and some raisins, nuts and dark chocolate mix for snack. Did not have any sweets even when I got the box down to get some for DGs counsellor. 

Moved £200 over from joint account so now have £500 to pay towards the Christmas flights so will pay my credit card down tomorrow. It is a bit high which is not good when my next pay hits. Next month should be easier only two nights in hotel to book still and no Council Tax next months. 

Hope you have a nice evening. 

savingholmes

Well done on keeping on top of all the finance stuff. Your gym motivation seems really positive at the moment. 

TallGirl

Afternoon all feeling good as I got up and did my two gym classes DG did not go. Had to leave a little bit early as I had a call with the new team members.

They seem very experienced so that is great and I am glad I did not go for the level it was the right decision. 

Work is really busy but manageable which is where I want it to stay. I do get to work with so many lovely people which is always a plus. Need to do my PDR's am I the only one who forget to shout about my worth lol.

DG was just telling me of some cases she has now settled and the money will soon be coming in a lump sum once they agree the figures. Finally it is paying off going self employed with 2 cases basically paying 1 years wages. 

Got my call with the IFA company tomorrow will be interesting. I was reading that the latest figures for a luxury retirement is £54,500 now I am going to aim for that when I speak to him. Obviously there is higher taxes in Denmark but hopefully not too bad. 

Need some lunch now only had Slimfast with berries and it did not fill me up as it was 11.30 by the time I had it. 

 

TallGirl

Quick check in before my call(and to avoid doing any work lol). A bit gutted about Premium Bonds dropping again that is not great. I do have a Santa account at 5.08% which I can use or I might withdraw some to top up a S&S ISA next year to full £20K. 

No spends yesterday only went to the gym so not that difficult plus I really do not need anything. The trip to Ireland is now a go for May so will look at some flights etc but quite complex as mum is flying from Denmark obviously. Diet still ok but DG is not on track and she got garlic bread and a pasta salad last night. I only had 1 slice and a small amount of pasta. I do find I feel better not eating break and too many carbs. We are going out tomorrow so will be drinking but not planning to have a hangover Sunday plus we have to drive back. I wont be a late night either which is really handy. 

Almost finished my beanie which is looking really good. A few mistakes but so fun to make I am definitely more of a knitter than a crochet. I have just spent £5 on a knitting box subscription but I do plan to cancel when I get it as I do not need anymore projects. 

Dug the to do list back out 

To do list:
Buy new cover for firepit it flew off NYE
Get new door handle for back door and fit it - done
Take decorations up into the loft - DG just spilled her drink on it so will need new snow next year - done finally
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Empty and refill hot tub
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - can now be booked
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. 
Photos for DG
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama***
Paint the front door surround 

My current wishlist:
Less expensive New yoga pants (has to be Long Tall Sally or make myself so not cheap) 
Expensive golf bag second hand will do 

Right back to work!

TallGirl

The conversation with the IFA was really interesting and I did actually like him. They do offer a service where you money stays in the UK and they advice you on an ongoing basis. 

The fees are a bit crazy 2.99% for the first £300K that is £9K then 0.5 on the rest so a sizable sum but I can actually see the benefits especially as ones I am with now are not able to advice so cannot help plan anything for the move over to Denmark. 

It does sound like ISA's are not the best way to move money it is actually pensions which I can get from 55 as I am just old enough not to come under the new legislation where you have to be 57. It would also benefit me to take out the full 25% of my pension before I move as it is tax free so when taking it over the Denmark I would not pay tax on it. They do not have all the answers in terms of taxation in Denmark but they can get advice so that is quite handy. I am getting the next stage end of Jan early Feb I will also get the full fees at that time. 

I have done my PDRs so that is one frog out of the way but still another frog email to write. Come on the weekend I cannot wait. 

savingholmes

Good luck with your finance decisions whatever you decide

TallGirl

That weekend just flew past but it was good and we did achieve a little of the list. 

We played golf Saturday again no meltdowns and it was lovely seeing the ladies again even if we did not stay for a coffee afterwards. It did save us money but actually we still only have a heated tent to sit in and it is freezing so not worth it. Went home and had lunch instead. We decided to get flowers for the hostesses as we were staying over. M&S (BP) is nearer but OMG £30 for a bunch the cheapest were £10 and tine. Now I do not mind paying for quality but Lidls (5 min down the road) was £5 for a lovely bunch of tulips which she really liked it so nice saving there. 

She had made a lovely home made dinner (She is a chef) and we have  cheese too. The scales have gone up 0.7 this week which is not good despite me doing 5 gym classes and 18 holes of golf. Our other friends where there which was lovely as we had not seen them since September. They want to come to Spain and might do the 2 extra nights in Portugal. If they do we might book the hotel which helps with our Hotels.com free nights (cheeky I know). I am there for going to hold off until I know if they are also going. 

Sunday we went back home via MacDonald's that was bad but much needed as a little bit tired. We got the hot tub emptied, DGs passport done. The photos we paid £10 for were not acceptable but I managed to take one that was ok (Well I hope it is). It was quite tricky getting all the forms done but it is now and we are seeing our other friends tonight who will signs as witness. We might still need to get the passport copy certified as she does not want to send off her actual passport what if we do not get it back before March. 

Woke up this morning to having sold a dress on Vinted so that is one more out of the door not cluttering up here. Gym at 10am for LBT and then we have our gym inductions at 4pm then off to see friends to have passport papers done. I do need to do some work in between but I never took the time back for the late meeting last week. 

DG owes me £900 for the Spanish trip but good news is that she can pay me back when she gets her bigger payout so that will help. I have also paid £400 off the credit card as I felt it was a bit high. 

To do list:
Buy new cover for firepit it flew off NYE - bought one and then the neighbours put our old one over the fence so it must have landed over in their garden. It never did fit and the new one was only £8. At least I can now use the old one for something else.
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Empty and refill hot tub - done and it was a cold horrid job just need to balance the chemicals now. 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - can now be booked
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. 
Photos for DG - done and she has applied for the Irish passport   
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama***
Paint the front door surround
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Post Vinted parcel. 

TallGirl

Gym class done and a quick trip into the little village to get eggs and a coconut. There is a lovely indian supermarket and they get fresh stock of them on a Monday. Eggs we decided on Iceland. It is just so much cheaper than the little Tesco and I actually think they do decent stuff such as breaded fish and other frozen stuff. We did have to go to Tesco £3.90 for a side salad for our lunch today but we need it to keep full until our late dinner after gym induction.

I should have taken my parcel with me to drop off but I can do that later when we go out again. I am thinking to encourage me to do more Vinted the money I make from that could be spent on the things I really want to buy but cannot justify. I have £13 at the moment so a while to go. 

Forgot to say I watched my Danish Queen abdicate the her son take over on Sunday. Very moving and I actually think it is a good idea so the son gets a chance to do the job he was born to and also the queen can step back after a job well done. I think we will see the other Scandi countries follow suit. A bit strange not to have a queen but it is the same as her now. Right need to get some work done.  

SuzieSue

Do you think that it is true that she did it to save his marriage because he had an affair?  

TallGirl

Hi SuzieSue I had heard that too but do not know if it is true or not. He was known as the party prince and he did his military service in the same time I did my A-levels. Him and his brother was often in the local night clubs and some of my friends met them and their security guards. There was a press blanket ban on them to they could do what they wanted back then without being reported. There were also really strong rumours that the Queens husband was actually gay and was regularly seen in all the gay bars when he was younger. The younger son is divorced and has more children with his new wife those are the ones she stripped of their titles. I do agree with that bit you do not need so many hanger on. 

Not much work being done here we need to leave for the gym at 3ish due to the awful traffic but I will get up early tomorrow and get some more stuff done as I have several meetings tomorrow. 

Got caught at the door earlier so now have someone coming out to work out if solar panels are worth it. I cannot see that it will be as we are pure east and west. Still it is free so lets see with our hot tub the electric bill is quite high obviously.