Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

TO DO
- Sort will out to include civil partnership - postponed as solicitor is on maternity leave 
- Wait for death certificate, get witness to sign and last ID proofs for Land registry forms (still waiting for death cert)
- Get cheque for £90 from a bank and then post forms for land registry - DONE will take 10 days
- Look into international pensions - started but it is so complicated
- Do CP invites incl asking friends to do bits on the day (photo's music etc) DONE but not printed yet
- Empty pool a bit due to the rain DONE

House stuff
- Paint the 2 back fence panels 
- Repoint worst bits of patio - materials and tools READY to do needs to get done asap - still not done annoyingly
- Get the leaking gutter fixed
- Repaint the gates and back fence cream before re-listing house

TallGirl

Mystery shopping company has come back with an offer to pay 65% for our stay. They originally would not pay for more than 2 nights but if they agree to 3 nights it would cost us between £174 to £200 for a 3 night stay. DG could go and work at her new office and I could also work from there for the day so no time off. They also pay for your ferry and some lunch so could be worth a go. Dinner and some drinks are included plus entertainment. 

Going down to have some lunch now. Need a break from work. 

They have now come back and offered a 2 night break Mon to Weds just before Christmas I have said no I cannot justify the time off work. They must be desperate! 

TallGirl

Turned out they were desperate I got the 3 nights and ferry tickets as I wanted on the date I wanted. It is ideal as DG does need to visit overthere. It will cost us £174 for 3 nights for dinner and breakfast for 2 people with entertainment on 2 nights. Should be a laugh but lets hope it goes better than my last Mystery shop where I could not load the pictures. This is a different company luckily. 

They wanted me to book it last night but I missed that bit as DG bought me a drink at the club and we shared a panini it was such glorious weather. I got an offer from Mastercard and booked an online cocktail night you get all the stuff in the post and make 3 cocktails each with their instructions. £30 for 6 cocktails and 2 hours online is cheap in my eyes as we would have to add travel if we were to do a night like that out. It will also be nice to use our pool bar. 

Stitch was a bad boy yesterday I brought in a live mouse first thing and I managed to get him off it but the mouse died. Then last night he brought in another live on which he dropped and it ran under the fridge. It is still alive so we left the door open all night. I really do not want another dead one and all the flies like we had about a month ago.

I have found someone to look at the guttering, he is either coming today or tomorrow (I have a long call this afternoon so I said only before 4pm). 

We tried to change a light blub in the office today but failed it just does not want to twist so annoying and it is right over dg. Why do they make them so difficult! Really hope we do not need an electrician to change it. 

Busy day at work I have 5 calls and I have to book the mystery shop. 

Done my first call so thought I would get the questionnaire done re the booking and that is now done which is fab.  

TallGirl

Roofer came and gone again it was blocked guttering which they cleared and also did the other side so hopefully that will sort the issue out. It does make sense as we never had mould like this before so fingers crossed that is it now it has all been painted etc I really do not want it back. Cost £80 which I know would have been cheaper if I had booked a gutter clean but I did not know what the problem was so this is great. 

Booked the holiday stay and the ferry all in one. Looks like you get wine with dinner incl in the price so that is helpful. They do pay £70 for lunch and a couple of drinks and it looks like there is a long list of things to do and pictures to take but that is all fine I quite look forward to it. Weather might be rubbish but there you go. 

No sign of mouse so that is good news. DG has gone to the hair dressers I was due to go but cancelled as mine does not need it. I also typed a medical request to our GP for DG her knee is really bad and she is still putting on weight. 

Waiting for a call with the most senior in our team strangely nervous but I am sure it will be fine

TallGirl

Another mouse this morning please can this stop.

Did not go to the gym last night did not finish working until it was too late to get up there. Managed to get the light changed the neighbour helped so that was very kind. The one that popped in is related to the ones next door that have their house up for sale. He was saying they are testing the market as they all want to go to Scotland and live. I do not think he is super keen to up sticks as they have all moved here to be with next door that includes her day. So we could have 4 houses up for sale in a close of 12 houses. He also said the one that has been up for sale since April has not had any viewings. It is a semi 

I did book the parking yesterday for the trip in March it was £66 but I added £2 to cover for any delays and your flight being cancelled. I think that is cheap for 7 days parking meet and greet right walking distance from the terminal at Gatwick. It did go on the interest free credit card so did the mystery shop but I can pay that off when they pay me it does not have to stay on there. 

Got an email to say I had not paid for the renewal of the home insurance so quick chat and that is all done my card had expired. 

We have had the call with the estate agent we have had 18 booked viewings with 4 cancelled so he is super pleased with the for August. He does not think we need to reduce the price yet he wants to see what happens in the new few weeks. We know it is a limited market but he said he was pleased we were getting so many different types of people viewing. The pool is being closed 7th October so it wont look as nice but we shall see. 

Booked to play golf after work today and the rest of the week hoping to make the most of the nice weather we are having.

TallGirl

Thought I would do a financial update:

My cash ISA has grown by £124 since April (5.16% apr)  it only has £6K in it but now I am not putting money aside to clear the 0% credit card I am adding £25 a week to it 

The 0% credit card fund is a lower interest rate at 4.75% apr . Started that one in May and was paying £25 p/w into now it is just £2 a week. Grown by £61 which is free money as I pay 0% on the credit card.

The S&S ISA has grown by £15K since I moved to the other FA company I cannot remember when that was but I think it was during Covid. It goes up and down but on the whole doing tine. It has grown by 8.47% so that is nice. 

I also checked my SIPP that is going back up again I am not adding anything to that one but it is growing steadily. I do not pay any adviser fees on that one it is just on my S&S ISA.

My final S&S ISA is tiny £285 but it has grown 2.02% since I took it out in April. I pay £50 a month into this and do the round ups so it will grow.

Finally my play stocks and shares which I started with cashback from other platforms has £242 in it plus £7 cash I get 2% interest on. I have 10 different holdings and only 2 are down Vodafone 6.85% and BP 22.53% but obviously small amounts. I love looking at the dividends and the movements but view it more as a punt than actual investing as there is no plan to it. 

I get paid on Monday so should be ok this month but next will be tight as I need to pay my credit card which has my dentist bill on it from when my crown fell off plus to change our civil ceremony date. Next month will be even more as it has our March flights (hoping DG can pay her share by then) and the home insurance. We are also due to pay for my car insurance in October. 

My regular savings do mature early December so that is £3600 to come in so that will help. We do have lots of fun things booked and nights out coming up so some money will be spent on that. 

October
Comedy night (2x£7) staying overnight with friends
Cocktail night at home (£30) 

November
Morocco all inclusive £799 (1 week) trains booked to airport will have free airport lounge too
Mystery Hotel stay 3 nights £170

December 
Xmas in Denmark flights booked need to book parking
Trip to London to see friend and go to Cuban bar again for happy hour, train £84 for both. 

On top of that a lot of golf as I have just been asked to play in the next two matches for the club they are both at home so no travel just pay for lunch £12. 

Is that a lot, are we spoilt and not thinking of our retirement and FIRE journey!

savingholmes

You are fortunate to be able to have so many trips abroad - but you also have a paid for house which helps a lot. Only you know if you are getting the balance right between future self and now. It's good you are having fun though.

TallGirl

Thanks Savingsholmes I am very grateful I just feel like adding things like travel to the airport added like an extra flight cost which is annoying but then again we stay with family in Denmark so no hotel costs. I am now not going to book anymore social stuff although my cousins' in Denmark have invited me to what would have been my uncle's 90th birthday which I do want to attend its 1/2/25 so another trip potentially plus my niece is 18 in June (this is our big one not 21) and my sister is 50 in July. I best buy 2 weeks leave next year maybe even 3!

We did go and play golf last night got 9 holes in just before it got dark. The evening was so lovely and warn it was so tempting to stay and sit outside as they had lit a fire pit plus has outdoor heaters. We did not went home and went in the hottub. Sadly could not see the red moon from it but saw the end of the sunset which was just as lovely and free obviously. 

Today I have dentist check up and we have booked a tea time this evening again. Lunch is planned and is healthy and breakfast is slimfast. We have the engineer coming out to look at the broadband and I have no meetings today yeah!!.

Got sent some more houses to look at this one has the private beach but is way over what we want to spend. This one does not but it is close to a beach and nearer town and the golf club. That one is £224K so well within budget as it looks like nothing needs doing to it. 

Have a lovely Thursday cannot wait for the weekend!

TallGirl

OMG the Virgin guy found a fault with our cabling and replaced it everything should now finally work after 4 1/2 years. A lot less stress for DG for sure and a telly that does not cut out. Happy days if that is it finally. Not been able to do much work so best get on just wanted to share the happy news. 

TO DO
- Sort will out to include civil partnership - postponed as solicitor is on maternity leave 
- Wait for death certificate, get witness to sign and last ID proofs for Land registry forms (still waiting for death cert)
- Get cheque for £90 from a bank and then post forms for land registry - DONE will take 10 days
- Look into international pensions - started but it is so complicated
- Do CP invites incl asking friends to do bits on the day (photo's music etc) DONE but not printed yet

House stuff
- Paint the 2 back fence panels 
- Repoint worst bits of patio - materials and tools READY to do needs to get done asap - still not done annoyingly
- Get the leaking gutter fixed DONE
- Repaint the gates and back fence cream before re-listing house

daisy_1571

Both lovely houses. 

Our TV every so often goes black.  Sometimes programme comes back on straight away.  Sometimes takes a bit.  Sometimes mr d has to fiddle and switch everything off.  Some nights does it 3 times then it won't do it again for a few weeks,  Sometimes does it once a night for a few days.  It only happens on one TV which is attached to the main box.  We can't work out if its cables, the box or the tv.  😕