Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Morning slept ok but still not 100% as I had a coughing fit just as I was about to get up. Wash in the machine and should be dry and put away before the 5.30 viewing tonight. Annoyingly the one last night never turned up so that was a waste of time getting the house ready and spending £8.60 on ice cream and parking at a local beauty spot. Still that was the first no show and the agent said we had done the staging really nice. 

DG mention again this morning about cancelling the civil ceremony. I would be happy to postpone it to be honest. We have not even sent out the invites, DG has not got a dress and does not want to look at one before she loses weight but its 6 weeks away. We are going to postpone until February and then work on becoming more of a couple again. We both feel we have drifted off and the intimacy is not the same. I know it has not helped being off sick and going on a family holiday but at least this gives us a breather. We had not even done the invites or anything so I think it said to both of us we did not really want to get on with it for some reason. I feel relief actually and it is only £75 to move the date which is quite good really. 

I have also cancelled the 2 days leave I had booked off for the ceremony in September as we obviously do not need them now. We do want to do something as a couple so that is still an option for this autumn or later in the year as long as they are taken before the 1st Jan 25. 

Feels like I have just gotten a lot of time back but I cannot be complacent and I still want to get the civil ceremony invites done and dusted sooner rather than later. 

TallGirl

Morning was up early but only just made it to my desk. Still not feeling great not sure the antibiotics are doing that much. Not coughing at much lying down so easier to sleep at least. 

Joint finances are a bit tight but all CC bills are paid and there is a bit left in the fun fund for holiday in November and without the civil ceremony its only usual expenses which we will have. It is annoying the car insurance, tax tax and house insurance is all in two months but cannot be helped. At least the servicing and MOT is on a plan which helps. DG wants to take all of September off so she might be tight on paying into joint account but I would rather she had some time off instead of over doing it and getting more stressed out. 

I put in my expenses for June and July so that will be some £62 coming back to me as I stayed over in July. I will need to do a site visit in September and I would really like to drive so DG can come as well. Work hates that as it is so much cheaper to take the train which I always do but on this occasion I might just not take the train. 

Speaking of trains looks like we can take the train to the airport for our November holiday. That would be £42 instead of the £155 we paid to park this time. We might need to get a different train back so I have not booked those tickets but knowing we can get up there is a great help. We might have DG's cousin here which would be helpful as he could pick us up. He is very unreliable but we shall see. 

I signed up for the free hour of Octopus energy I am not sure we need any washing doing but I could stick the dishwasher on. I think need breakfast now been up a while. DG wanted egg and toast which would be nice. 

TallGirl

Morning booked the trains yesterday will have to work out how to get back probably by train but might be with another company to another station. 

Also put in an order with Superdrug for shampoo and conditioner plus slimfast. I have a local Superdrug but it annoys me they only every have 1 tin of the flavour I like and it is a quite a discount to buy 2. Well I think £11 instead of £16 is a big saving. £25 ordered incl a 2 for 3 on the shampoo. 

We have a set date now for the Civil Ceremony 21st Feb 25. It will be a week after our 10th anniversary I cannot believe how long we have known each other. This now gives us time to actually do the invites and plan things plus lose the weight too.  

Has been nice not having any viewings this week only got 1 tomorrow then no more booked. I think it will pick up in September so we shall see. This was only a test and if the prices continue to rise due to rate cuts etc it is fine to list it again next Spring.  

I am still not 100% but I really hope I feel better too as I have a golf match tomorrow so would be good to feel a bit stronger. 

They forgot to take the extra payment for the extra holiday payment from June so that will now be split over the next few months at least they took the normal payment. I have enjoyed having the extra payment and still have 7.5 days left now until January to take off. 

Right on with work now no more distractions. 

savingholmes

How are you feeling now about delaying the ceremony?

Hope you have a good weekend. Sounds good that your pool is now resolved.

TallGirl

Thanks Savingholmes I feel fine I wanted to enjoy the prep for it and getting the 4 friends involved properly. As it happens one set prefers the new date so that is all good. I also wanted to delay as DG has not lost the weight she wanted and I know clothes shopping would be really traumatic and make her feel down. Also not going clothes shopping but doing it last minute is not good either. This way we can have the relaxing holiday in Morocco and DG can take September off work too. I have 7 days leave left so I can also take some time out so we can do something as a couple. I think she really is close to burnout with clients. I got it myself which is when I moved into another role (luckily at the time I was headhunted) and then after that I have always been in management so no clients. 

A lot of hers have mental health issues and she is brilliant with them but it is taking it toll. She does have a new 3 day a week job to start that only requires travel once a month. They pay for that and the money will cover her parts of the bills. 

We had a chat over the weekend about how we would organise finances in Denmark. We each wants to have our own money as DG does not really have any savings yet it needs to be the right balance. I suggested putting the money from the house sale into a joint point. That will then be for buying a new property and doing it up. It will also act as a buffer for all annual large bills and maintenance that cannot be covered by what we each put in jointly. Then if we out of the joint work we do make enough money to pay for the bills DG will have her 3 day a week job to pay todays her expenses and I can pick up some other work (hopefully) or live off my savings etc if needed. My financial adviser did work out that I can afford to retire at 57 on what I have got so even with moving countries and the fact I have put more into my work pension I think it will be fine until we reach state pension age. 

The weekend was not good diet or spendwise. Ended up eating out twice because we were not organised. We did play golf twice which was good fun and I got in the pool. We did have a viewing Saturday but I missed the call as I was on the golf course. No more viewings booked but do need a break. 

Downstairs loo still broken but plumber is coming this morning to fit new valve so that will be fixed. So pleased about that really irritating having to listen to it and turn it on and off. 

This morning we did make it out for our first couch to 5K run. We set the alarm for 6.45 and were out by 7.15am. Took a bit longer as needed to sort out the phones, headphones Garmin etc but we did it. I felt fine doing it so I must be getting better. DG struggled but remain positive. We are going to go Mon, Weds and Fri 7am. Then 2 gym classes Tues evening, golf practise and gym class Weds evening and then maybe a couple of more gym classes maybe not see how we go. We have each picked two items of clothes to get into. A long term goal (a dotty dress for me and pink trousers for DG) inter mediate shorts for me and new trousers I bought DG in Denmark. Fingers crossed we se results soon. I have been lucky my appetite is still not back so I dont get as hungry but today is back on track with Slimfast for breakfast and then homemade chicken wrap for lunch. Not sure about this evening but hopefully stay on track and turn a bit of a corner. 

Happy Monday everyone!!

TallGirl

Feeling a bit blue today wifi is playing up and that sets off DG majorly. We had a new router and that caused the printer to play up and it has not fixed the intermittent issues we have always had. 

DG is taking our new trolley into the club today as there is a problem with it. Also the scorecard holder has broken on the other one it is so annoying but hopefully this time it will be fixed. 

We have a viewing at 5pm but going to the gym for 6pm so that is fine. We did get feedback that the person who saw it on Saturday was very interested but needed to sell their house first. Obviously that suits us they had apparently had 6 viewings in one day so that all sounds positive. 

I am still a bit behind on work but catching up. Motivation is still low I think getting over this chest infection is part of it. Got a meeting at 9.30 so will be nice to see the team after missing last week's meeting. 

The plumber cost £100 well worth it and all fixed now really pleased as it was so annoying.

The home insurance is due for renewal it has doubled but we did make a claim on it. I could save about £10 on switching to the same provider so I think I will leave it. Hopefully it will only be this year and this time next year we are moving with a bit of luck. 

Happy Tuesday everyone.

savingholmes

Feel free to ignore me - ominous words I'm sorry...

But I wouldn't put the house sale money into a joint pot in case you ever split up. It was money that was clearly yours before you got together and would potentially be treated as such later in life if the worst happened. I would hate for you to go from being comfortable to having the financial rug pulled out from under you later in life. I had to give my Ex half of one of my pensions as well as equity but we had been married that whole period... Personally if I ever have another serious relationship I'd consider a pre-nup

TallGirl

Thank you Savingsholmes you make a very good point yes that money is purely mine from my house sale. Obviously the new house will be in my name and that pot will pay for the renovations so it is anything left after that that will be joint. Makes more sense to make it joint after the renovations and purchase or it could get really complicated. I recon there will be about £80K left after that (well I hope) and I think that would just give us a nice cushion and feel like our money to use for maintenance, bigger expenses etc. as well as paying for the actual move. DG has paid half the bills at this house and mostly half the maintenance so I would not be too worried about her having some money in joint names but as you say you never know. 

Thinking back I could actually have fallen into the trap someone else on here did of paying off the mortgage instead of putting money into pensions. I did that but when I split from my husband we were married so I was protected whereas had we not I would only have got half the house and not all his pensions (his personal company continued to top those up whereas I put all my spare cash into being mortgage free). Thank goodness we did get married and obviously for long term readers you know how it ended with me nearly selling my half of the marital home to BIL and then DH dying weeks later. I did inherit the whole house and all the pensions which was very fortunate but I do want to sort out the business side and get out of that in the cleanest possible way. 

Back to present day did not get up and run this morning but did do two classes last night while we had a viewing. DG saw them arrive and said they had a child but he was about 7 so that is not too bad with our steps. Let's hope they do not have a younger one too. 


Today I really need to get on with work and then go to practise tonight before body pump. I have not done that class for a long time so it will be hard but also good to get back into it. Diet was not great last night a packet of crisps and some biscuits that DG had bought. I also had a caramel eclair and pulled by crown out that is going to be expensive unless they can put it back on again. I need to call them when they open. So annoying!!

I have a meeting with the person I met on the course last year in a minute we set ourselves 12 week goals and I did ok last time and I have set myself more goals this time so will be good to catch up.

Wages goes in on Friday about £100 less than last month due to no back pay and it looks like the holiday pay is still a month behind but that is no biggie.

Update I got emergency appoint at dentist this afternoon and got manager to move a meeting to work better for the time. I can also see the estate agent and drop off my ID and forms. They are quite close to there. Might go and get a free coffee too thanks to Octo+.

Good catch up but made me to grateful that I have an alternative plan for when this job changed next autumn. Her role has disappeared so she has to apply internally against all the others. She does have a plan for something longer term but it is the uncertainty that is the killer. I am grateful I am not in that position. 

Also forgot to say I got selected for some market research its a call next week and I get £50 for it so that is a nice little earner. DG got £95 cashback from £co mainly from our Irish trip. We want to get an echo for upstairs. Finally I have enquired about the cost of taking two cats to Denmark they can also put me in touch with an international shipping company would be helpful to know the costs. 

TallGirl

Feeling very energised I have been out for my run this morning and I did golf practise and Pump yesterday which was the plan. I got my tooth fixed just had the crown reattached cost me £214 so that was a relief could have been a lot worse. No more caramel sweets for me!! It did have to go on the credit card so did the fee for changing the civil ceremony but still really low. 

I am also catching up on work so that is really good. I have my 2 new projects and I might even be allowed to travel to one of them which would be quite fun. DG is going away next week to see her friends and they are still coming down here as planned in September when the civil ceremony should have been so that is all good. I have 7.5 days leave left until 1st Jan so I do need to take some of it. I was thinking of taking a few Thursdays off so I can play in some ladies competitions. If not maybe DG and I can do something together for the day. I think it is really good she is taking the time off from clients. She spoke to a company last night she might do consultancy with they let you set your own price which would be really helpful. This would be the work DG and I would do together when living in Denmark plus they help with marketing. 


I did my 12 week plan yesterday and looked at the last 12 weeks. Obviously I was on leave and off sick a lot but still I am happy with what I achieved. One areas was really red so I want to improve that for this 12 week period and that was to log all personal expenses like I used to as I found I saved so much money. So will try to do that daily and also post on here to make myself accountable. 

This week so far:
Superdrug £43.69 
Plumber £100
Dentist £214
Parking Town £1

Lets hope the rest of the week is less expensive. 

I do need to get further with the pension understanding and also get the premises registered. I have all the documents I just need DG to go through them and work out the price. It is more her area of work than mine so might have to wait until she is off work. 

Right need to get to work myself. Have a lovely Thursday. 

Quick update sorted the paperwork for the estate agent, parking £1 but got my free Oct**pus coffee which was lovely. I did not realise it was weekly so need to take more advantage of that for sure. 

TallGirl

No run this morning but I will go tomorrow instead leaving a days rest and my legs are a bit sore from Pump. Golf tonight anyway so will get out. I got a call last night asking if I would play in the first away match for the golf team. I said yes but now I have to shuffle my diary around as there is also a practise round. DG has also been selected but for the home game which is good as that is an easier tasks. I think she is really nervous about it but she is so far up for it.It does mean I need to take 2 days off work but as I had cancelled the other two it kind of makes up for it. 

It is payday today which is nice but I do not usually touch the money until the 1st when things gets moved around. Good news is yesterday was a no spend day although we did go to Lidl and got a few bits plus free bread and then 2 free items from the bakery free spins. Diet is still going well even with the temptation of the free spins. 

DG is doing some work tomorrow so I will go for a run but also try to see if I can do the grouting that needs doing on the patio. We have no viewings so that is quite nice too. Weather is looking ok so that is good as lots of golf as well.

This is the spend so far this week:
This week so far:
Superdrug £43.69 
Plumber £100
Dentist £214
Parking Town £1
Train to London next Sat £72 (this should really come out of joint funds)  

Update Premium bond forms done for DG for both her mums and hers.

I have also manged to do the form to swap out £15 worth of old stamps so that is really cool you can always use stamps.