Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Thanks both  I did try to apply for the balance transfer but it said there was an error and I had to start again so who knows I will wait and see if it did go through as I got right to the end. I did set up a DD for the credit card so that should be covered. I also told DG she is waiting for two invoices to come in so the big amounts are on their way (the people paying are quasi government so they will get paid or she can inforce. She thought it was a good idea we could pay the golf membership monthly without the fees so we will both set up DDs to cover those payments. Do not worry I am not likely to slip into debt I was a debt adviser for many years and have seen too many cases. 

I also wanted to update to say the charm arrived and it is so so cute I am so pleased with the engraving I really think she will like it. Our Anniversary is on a Monday and we do not do Valentines as they are so close so we have planned to use our BP points on a Valentines meal for two from M&S on Friday week and that is when I am going to pop the question if the mood is right obviously. Quite excited about it thinking about it. We have been together 9 years now!

No gym happen as I wanted to do some work and the weather is really horrible just cannot face going out.  

Also got the quote for the fence including pictures so will send that off now to the insurers. 

TallGirl

Updated to do list.

- Await written quote from fence company DONE
- Make claim on the insurance. DONE
- Send email to DK with screenshots DONE
- Finish my knitting project before the next parcel arrives then cancel it. DONE
 -Paint the front door surround 
-Order hot tub cover cleaner
-Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  Not cleaned but new cover fitted 
-Sort freezer and label stuff.
-Book trains in Ireland and bus to airport. 

SuzieSue

That's a shame.  RBS do the same card and I applied for both on the same day and got both.  If you do get a bt card, and  if you have enough credit, you can spend on your M&S card for the points and then do a bt to your bt card.   I am not sure how long you have to do the bts, sometimes it is only a few months from opening.

TallGirl

Thanks Suzie it would have been handy but to be honest this way I can clear the Irish trip with the part of savings that would have covered my membership and then I have already set up a DD for £200 to clear it over the year. I think that will work well. 

We did have a really nice afternoon yesterday. We had our hair cut by our friend so lovely to catch up with her and hear her news. He son is finally able to buy her mums old house (she passed) he is selfemployed so been hard to get a mortgage. He is a carpenter and helped with our renovations and found all the amazing trades we had to do the work. 

We then went to see DGs aunt which was nice as I had not seen her since January and DG not since pre Christmas. The carer turned up so we arranged that we can call her around the time she gets her evening meal. Her phone downstairs does work but she is always upstairs in her tiny bedroom so never get to pick it up. 

We had only had a slimfast for breakfast so by 4.30 we were starving. Decided to stop at the local pup to us and have their curry meal. It is such a good deal and so nice with home made onion bhaji, poppadum's chutneys the whole lot incl a glass of wine or pint of larger for £12.50. It is £10 without the drink so seemed rude not to. We had a nice chat and it was good to spend time together just talking. We used to go to this pub when we first got together sneaking around actually. Funnily enough it is the same pub I used to go to a lot with my exdh. Food and drinks came out of the joint budget but that is doing ok thanks to no Council Tax.

When we got back I ordered a ToGoodToGo from M&S. Not good for the diet but such a good bag. I got 3 mini cheeses, a small fresh mango juice drink, a large pasta salad, 4 chocolate donuts and a hummus. All stuff we like and actually eat. Not good for the diet mind you. 

Speaking of diet I am getting my second freebie session with the posh gym PT on Thursday 

I have sent off the quotes for the wall work to the insurance company. Lets hope they accept the quotes and I can get it all done for £375 and soon. 

I had a good meeting yesterday and I finally got a way forward for this piece of work that had been hanging over me. Now I have a tight deadline of Weds for it but that is good as it needs to be done and quickly now I know what we need from it. 

LadyWithAPlan

Lots of positive focus over here and that pub sounds awesome ! It also sounds like it’s a local date night spot  

I love a TGTG but being GF it’s often not worth it so 

SuzieSue

Yes, it is a lot of effort doing bts etc.  We started doing it around 20 years ago and at first my husband would moan about how much time it all took, but I persevered with it and when he saw that we could make thousands of pounds a year in interest (I put a lot of work expenses on the cards), he stopped moaning.

At one time, we had 15 cards between us and it was difficult to manage, but worth it for the money.

But it is much more difficult now as there are so few bt cards with no transfer fee, whereas 2 years ago most were.  Also the deals are for much shorter periods now.

I remember once I got at 31 months bt deal from Halifax for a very low fee that it was well worth doing as interest rates were higher than the fee.

TallGirl

SuezieSue that does sound very complicated and I am not sure I could be that disciplined not to spend well DG is not good in the first place.

We did have a nice day with friend and the cathedral was lovely and now we have a years pass. We did spend more or less the whole day in pubs and bars but I only had a few alcoholic drink and we did not do any shopping. DG sneaked a bottle of vodka in her bag so we topped up some drinks with that which I know is naughty but we did buy food and sat outside so did not take any space up inside. 

Got home about 7pm and DG as per usually wanted to carry on drinking so after a nice chill in the hottub and some crap telly we both went to bed early. I feel fine this morning DG not so much. Obviously with my past experience on someone close to me drinking I get a bit twitchy. She does not have a problem that I am sure off in terms of having to have a drink it is more when she has had that first drink she struggles to stop. That is a massive pain for me but it is her choice she is never aggressive, horrible or anything like that when drink.

Our friend went to Morocco last November and raved about it. We have been thinking about a chill out holiday in Oct/Nov as we are not doing Gambia this year. Spain would be cheap but not really that warm however sounds like Morocco would fit the bill. We are going to look at deals and if we want to book stick it on the credit card and then set up DD's to pay it off. 

DG told her about the civil partnership and the wedding in Denmark and she is up for coming which is really nice. As DG had brought that up I said and she proposed by text. I could see she found that odd as well and even after DG explained about the txt in the past I think she was on my side. When DG left the room I told her what I had planned and she thought it was really nice. DG then continued to hint the whole evening that I still had to propose and it would have to be extraordinary as I had criticised her way. She did also say (while quite merry) that she would not want anything done in public she would say no then. Well I am going ahead with my plan for Friday we are now playing golf on the Saturday and Sunday so no drinking all weekend which is actually really good.  

It is a lovely day here today so going to get some washing done but otherwise just chill. I should really do some sewing or something I shall see what I feel like later. Got so much salad and stuff to eat up so healthy chicken wraps later after McD for breakfast. Seriously I do need to shift this 5 kilo I have gained so I will not fit into any of my golf clothes and that is not possible to replace before we go to Spain in 4 weeks (minus 2 days). 

Just looked up the holidays to Morocco and we could get a week all inclusive for £551 if we went first week of December. It is slightly colder then and more change of rain but it would be lovely to go away then. 

I also sold an item on Vinted had it up for £8 for ages but accepted £6 for it. I never wore it more of a corporate look which I do not need anymore. I will get it packed up and sent off now. Might even list the Grant leather jacket I have of exDH I have never been able to part with. 

TallGirl

I got my solar power quote a bit strange as they cancelled the appointment and I never rebooked it but here it is. I have never looked into any of this and our roof faces pure east and west. They have according to the pictures (from google) shown the panels as going on the east side facing the neighbours. It would take 6 years and 5 months to payback so as we are moving and you would have to take that money out of savings I cannot see it being worth it. I do believe in solar power very much but at the right house and this is not it the way it is facing. Obviously I do not know what I am talking about but here are some more bits of the quote in case it is useful. 




Got my jacket listed on Vinted for quite a high price but you never know. It is well used but I do not want to give it away either. 

I have also checked to see if there is an update on the insurance claim but there is not. I had to send the pictures several times as the bounced back so not sure they have got them. I also need to drop off the Vinted parcel but it is packed ready to go. 
 

savingholmes

If you think you will move before payback on the solar that doesn't sound worth it.

Well done on listing things. It all helps. 

You sound like you really enjoy your trips away.

TallGirl

Morning very lazy day yesterday cancelled golf and basically did very little. I did get some weeding done in the garden which was nice. Still annoying to see the state of that wall but hopefully the insurance company will get back to me soon. 

We did go down to the beach as well and I did a bit of a mooch around the charity shops but I did not buy anything. DG wanted some chips so got those and I fancied a coffee so went to Tesco. Then I attempted to get it as part of a meal deal which wasn't so £6.90 spent there which was not needed. 

Later on DG got another M&S bag which was good but we froze most of it (bagels, pastries, sausage rolls) and kept the tuna salad for today and hopefully have the pasta salad tomorrow. 

I have now earned a free £5 off my coffee order that is a nice and I might order some non decaf so people who visit can get to try my fancy machine as well. 

We are going to the gym for 10am this is the week I am going to start losing that weight so I can fit back into my clothes.  

Work will be busy again as I have that deadline of Wednesday for the big piece of frog work. Hopefully that will come together today as I have a lot of time to work on it. Nothing done from my to do list we do need to get on with the coving and the painting of the front door. Still no passport from Ireland would be good to have it soon so at least we know. How nice would it be if it arrived on Friday in time for our anniversary meal.

Best get on with that frog project the joys. Hope you have an OK Monday it is lovely and sunny here long may it last.