Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

Watty1

Def happy birthday MSE  - especially as the forum in particular helped change my life

TallGirl

Yes it changed mine too I would never have thought about overpaying my mortgage until I found this site and as a result got an offset mortgage back in the day. I remember sitting in the bank remortgaging and them explaining our options. Offset was mentioned in passing but they said that is not ideal for you. I said why not they said you need savings I said I have an Tessa oh yes we can off set that and that is how I got it. 

Anyway my senior manager keeps changing the time we are meeting so just killing a bit of time now. I am tasked with booking hotel rooms for our team sadly I have to book them via worksite or else I would be straight to Hotels.com via Quidco. It is the same price but £11 more than the worksite if we add breakfast. We might get a discount so I am waiting as I could then get some points but lets wait and see still nice to have a night in a hotel to look forward to with the whole team. 

Need a cup of mint tea before my meeting. 

TallGirl

Morning another Wednesday but at least it is getting nearer to the weekend. 

I got a lot of praise for the frog project from the senior so that was nice and she liked what I was proposing to work with one of the newbies that is all good. 

I did make it to Combat last night and DG came !!!! She did enjoy it even if it was tough after her PT and she had started working at 6am and finished at 6pm. We did also buy a TooGoodToGo bag from M/S which was great for dinner and there is still a pack of Bau rolls in the freezer so good value. DG wanted a 7Up OMG the small bottles cost £2.25 that is insane when you can buy a big bottle for less than that. I refused to take it out of my money so it went on the joint account but I am not doing that again. I did also waste £40 myself on a casino game. I did get up to £80 but I did not cash out so I need to remove all email and temptations as that is just stupid and bordering on addiction as I just got lured back by an email from them. 

I also found a Danish company that can advice on tax for expats so emailed them to ask about my issue with the ISA and the pension because once I know how it will be taxed in Denmark I can definitely make the right decision. The stuff is so complex I am not sure the Danish Association with be covering this area so you are likely to have to pay extra for that advice so I might as well do it separately since it is now so much more to join. 

I have really been enjoying my £24 knitting box I am making a small bag (bit anoying the 2nd box is also a bag). You need to make 4 squares for the blanket and I have done 1 and in the middle of another. It is a really nice way to learn and gets me off the screen at night. I think I will keep the subscription going for next month too. 

Right back to work it is.   

TallGirl

Just had to post:

Irish Passport is here we now both have EU passports again and it feels such a relief.   

Flowers sent to colleague got us onto it in the first place via Quidco so 12% cashback and free chocolates for them. 

Also spotted in MSE news to swap BA points to Nectar before the rates change so 3600 swapped for £9 worth of Nectar so that was nice too. 

Been playing with the pension figures in readiness for the call next week I have £14,365 to add if I cashout two sets of non ISA investments one is back to what I put in (True Potential) the other Moneybox has grown by 19% since I got it. Seems a good time to move them and add another 20% from tax man without messing with the ISA already set up just in case the advice is not to move out of it. The Moneybox one was set up because of an MSE offer I think £100 free. We did one each I went medium risk DG went high. I have added £4944 and its increased £950 with £134 in fees. It is not the cheapest platform but she has far out performed me and we both put in £50 on payday and round up from our current accounts so about £75 a month for me. I will keep it going but start afresh and think she will do the same and stick hers into her pension as well before the April deadline. Or we could close it and use Monzo instead they have a similar robo investment.

Can you see I have been trying to educate DG on finance. When we met she was living on a very low wage (pre qualifying) and was often totally out of money or had to rely on her partner. He then left his job so they were living on her newly qualified wages in rented (from her mum) so no chance to save. It was not until we got together and she got better jobs she has been able to save. Luckily she never had any student loans so that is a blessing. She now has £7000 in a S&S ISA which is the one I am suggesting she moves to her pension. She also started with £50K saved when she went self employed but that is now down due to not having a lot of income until now. Still I am super proud she has managed to pay herself and contribute evenly to our household in the last two years. Right really must get on with work NOW. 


EDIT just had a reply from the Danish tax adviser, they charge £550 for the first hours meeting plus £137 VAT total £688 they did give me pointer for how a pension provider has to be approved in order to "count" in Denmark so that was helpful. Wow to the charge maybe the £9000 is not too bad but then if £688 is all I need. Subsequent meetings are £315 an hour. 

TallGirl

Morning up early as got my back to back classes this morning. Last two of the week then that is 6 done plus hopefully golf Saturday or Sunday weather dependent. I lifted heavier weights in the class last night it was good to be pushed by the instructor. Really have to get on with the packing for our golf trip this weekend we might need clothes for all seasons plus make sure it actually fits.

Spends yesterday,
£9 in Lidl top up and what Asda did not deliver plus free bread. £15 joint on something I do not know what is might be DG, £10 for me.

Credit card paid only £48 on it for this month, moved the IKEA spend on the M&S card into savings as there was £243 left in the account and the holiday pot is also looking healthy so that means we have spending money for Spain. Actually been a good low spend month as we paid for the Irish hotel out of the pot too which we are planning to pay back. 

DG put a bill in for £13K and the otherside came back with £5k including report (they are over £1000K) so she said no. This means the bill will not be paid anytime soon sadly but other cases are settling so things are moving along moneywise still frustrating when you think money is coming in and then it is not. Joys of being selfemployed. 

Off to the gym

TallGirl

Morning Friday at long last but what horrible weather the heavy rain woke me up and it is hail now. Come one Spring.

No spends yesterday very pleased. Interest arrived in Monzo today on my small savings which are no smaller due to the card being paid off and DG not paying me yet but still call clear. 

Did do the 2 classes yesterday both of us to that is 6 classes for me and 5 for DG so much better. Tonight be hope to go to the range. We need to buy a new card which is  £100 but you do get 20% extra so £120 which makes it worth buying in advance. We spend about £14 each time we go so last for quite a while. 

Spent 10min getting myself signed up for a Danish ID app so that is all sorted now then I went onto their tax pages and I am now able to log into my account. It is one step in the right direction but still loads of questions. I have found out they have a chat function on their website so that is a free thing to pursue first. I am not convinced of the need for an international pension I think you just get your pension provider to fill in a form (which I have found). I might crack this one day. 

Loads of work to do today but Happy St David's Day my exdh's mum was Welsh so remember her and exDH a little bit today. 

TallGirl

Morning had a late night after the range sat chatting and DG had a drink or two. She was talking a lot about her mum which was good as she has before really struggled to even mention her. We discussed about her uncle and his family how we do not see them but how we did try and the issues they have. I went to bed at 1am but she then decided to play music very loud at 4am so woke up again. Then the pool guy came to sort the pool out for Summer at 9am the joys. 

I am up now and I have got a return label for the golf club stickers I bought to aid practise. I used them with my pro and they really showed where you hit the ball on the club but these are just rubbish. £16 for 300 and as they do not work they are going back. That is the good thing about Amazon they are easy to return to even when they are used. 

We were meant to play golf and it was actually dry at 9am but it is raining now and the course will be so so wet. As we are leaving on Friday for Spain and golf clubs and shoes are lovely and clean we could not face going out. We have played a lot this Winter and hopefully hit the range again this weekend under cover. 

Yesterday was also a no spend day for me personally and we snuck our our beers into the range (in a water bottle). We did pay £100 for the range card but got £25 extra credit which is  nearly 200 extra free balls. We hit £150 last night and it was nice and relaxed and my golf was not too bad. We also did go to Lidl, got 2 free pastries think DG has two left. Also spent £7.32 on some soft drinks and cakes, DG paid for her own vodka. Cheap Friday night out really. 

Yesterday I got a bit further with planning for Denmark as well as my ID I also got into my Citizens page. I am still registered at my previous address and married to exDG so that does need to be changed as we do not need any issues going forward. Time to dig out the to do list and get it added. 

Today will obviously require us to pay for the opening of the pool and I am sure there will be some other spend as well. We are eating out of the freezer since we labelled it. Today is fresh as I am making fish pies but there will be some for the freezer. 

Otherwise the plan is to get packing for Friday as it is a golf trip you need so much extra stuff in case of the weather. 


-Get start date for fence work - I think it is early next week but with the rain who knows
-Paint the front door surround 
-Order hot tub cover cleaner
-Get cleaner for hot tub cover and clean cover
-Book trains in Ireland and bus to airport
-Try clothes on for Spain and pack it
- Change my address and marital status on DK site 

SuzieSue

Oh dear that is very selfish of your gf.  Doesn't she have headphones if she wants to listen to loud music?

I wasn't feeling too well last night and I was trying not to cough so that it did not wake my DH, although he would have been fine as it wasn't my fault.

Your gf needs to be much more considerate.

TallGirl

Yes it was annoying but she only does that about once a year and she did apologise she was quite drunk by then. 

I’ve made 8 small fish pies two for later rest for the fridge. I did not have any cream but some crème fraise on the turn. Also found a frozen creamed spinach that was perfect to add. More space in the freezer now and dinner for later. It’s actually a lovely sunny day but I’m ok with not having played. 

Got the bags and foodstuff down from the loft. Realised my cabin bag that fits easy jet only has 2 wheels so it’s a pain with lugging golf bags too. Found one on Vinted got £2.50 off and used the money I had earnt in there so no spend. £29 incl postage. Did I need it no but it will make travel easier and we’ve got a lot of places to go to this year. 

Think the pool guy is leaving soon I need a nap now then I’ll have some lunch and pack. DG is still asleep I think she needs it lol. 

And I won £75 on the premium bonds happy days 

TallGirl

Morning why do weekends go so fast at least this week is only a 4 days week. We did have a nice weekend did not go and play golf but practised Sunday at the club so cost £12. We did not go out and eat anywhere and last night when DG wanted a kebab I said no so she paid herself. I cannot eat heavy food at 20.30 at night gives me indigestion. I did taste it and it was very nice lol. 

We got our bags packed but my case does not arrive until Weds so cannot quite finish. Also still some washing to be done but all the golf stuff is packed. We have also emailed the hotel to find out how we get the free shuttle bus from the airport lets hope they reply or we will have to call them. It is not far so can get a taxi but free is better and MSE.

We had to buy some feet for the pool steps and the cost of opening up the pool and cleaning the surround will also have to be paid so pretty spendy really. I also spent £40 on crap. 

Gym this morning at 10am and planning on doing all 5 classes and 2 gym sessions but lets see how we get on. 

Loads of work before I go on leave as always.