Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

julicorn

TallGirl said:

Hello Wednesday happy hump day I do think it should be later in the week as this one feels long already. 

Same, what is it with this week? Yesterday I was convinced it was Thursday. 

TallGirl

Thanks QueenJess and Julicorn for your comments always lovely knowing someone reads my drivel. 

Shape is just a class on a Thursday like an Legs Bums and Tums with weights but we can cancelled did do spin yesterday and DG came as well. 

I heard back from Long Tall Sally and I am sending the top back for a full refund. I could have got £8 off the price and kept it but I would rather re-order and actually get the right size. I wanted another pair of Yoga pants so ordered them too then it was only £10 until you get free delivery so found a sweater in the sale that will work for work at £20 so that was £81 spent but getting around £40 back from the return. That is it now no more clothes buying. I did do it via Quidco so will have some penies back from there. Got £77 tracked in there and £10 for payout so that will be a nice one when it eventually pays. 

Julicorn I am glad I am not the only one finding it a long week I think it is because the weekend was so hectic. I have been asked do more MS in January but the two hotels I said I could do don't have any breaks or the break they do have I do not want to do. I did find one at the end of January which would work out at £71 for the two of us which would be a bargain as they also pay for some drinks and lunch one day. We can also work from the other office so no need to take any time off so surely that is MSE.

My manager is just checking it is ok for me to buy 3 weeks leave which is great news. I need to request it formally by end of December so hope they come back soon with an answer. I have two work trips next week which I have to book the trains for. Obviously as you all know more opportunity to get Costa or Nero Stamps on expenses and I will get my free Nero as it is on a Monday I should get it easily. 

Anyway enough from me be get some breakfast (slimfast) and get on with work. 

TallGirl

Just bought a pair of new trainers from Ebay £50 incl delivery, exactly the same pair as I have but was recommended I replace to fit this pair of insoles. I love wearing them and they are really comfy so hope it is the right choice. The old pair is just over a year old but I wear them all the time and my feet are bad so trying to justify it. 

Not heard back re Mystery Shop they have a Black Friday 25% off so nice if we could book now. They have had my receipts for the last stay so hopefully get the money soon. 

TallGirl

Morning trying not to get too tempted on Black Friday sales but I have not bought a single Xmas present and we do need to get some stuff. This will be the last time in 30 years I have to carry everything across on a plane. Next year is going to be so much easier although they do not have Amazon so that could be a royal pain. Still it will be nice hopefully to be so close to my sister we can stay over or just go home if we want too. Also my mum can stay too and we can host. I have never had my sisters family here for Christmas only my mum and her husband. 

I have a couple of meeting today and some work that must be done because next week is so manic. I also must book train tickets for the two work trips next week. I also need to write up a load of thoughts after a meeting I had yesterday or I will forget. 

I got the go ahead to book the MS for end of Jan, 2 nights will cost us £110 as they will pay for the travel and also pay £30 a day for lunch and some drinks. We can also work there like we did last time on the Friday so it saves money for DGs employer and she gets to go over for a bit longer so can socialise too. 

Also it is 5 years since I got the keys to this house. It was to be our forever home but do you know what  I am so glad we are moving next year not because I do not love my life here but because it is going to be so lovely to be near the family. 

Anyway I best get on with work my meeting starts at 10am and I have prep to do. 

savingholmes

Good luck with the buyers. 

Well done on the exercise.

Hope you get the answers you need on pensions.

TallGirl

Thanks SH no news on the buyers so as it’s been a week I’m guessing they’ve gone elsewhere or are not in a hurry. Could be any number of things or they cannot borrow enough. 

I’m on the train no freebie coffee yet but I will get one. Where I’m going is just around the corner from where I used to work. It’s going to be strange to see it again I might also be meeting someone I used to work with tonight. I would love to see her but I’ve got to travel again tomorrow so a bit of a pain. Let’s see what happens. 

Weekend was great golf so so wet but we came 5th which was a lovely surprise and the people I play with were so nice. 

Haven’t ordered anything in the sale but did buy some bras Saturday. DG got some new clothes too which is really needed. Got the advent calendars scratch cards which my mum is paying for. 

Not got a single present bought but trying not to stress about it. 

TallGirl

Just nipping on here very quickly although I have a train to catch very soon. 

No win on PB really need to rethink I might divert the £500 I put in there to my works pension instead as I just need some easy access cash and there is enough in there for that now. I will work through that later on properly. 

Got paid for the Mystery shop which was 3 nights and drinks package cost us £170 between us so that is not far off what we would have spend at home on food and we obviously got 3 nights out and entertainment so good value for money I think. That will come off the 0% credit card when it clears I want to bring that balance down now.

I did enjoy the trip to see the team yesterday was so much fun and I got to the a lovely person I used to work with. She has had 1 year off work and the difference is amazing on her health which was so bad as she worked so so hard for very little reward. I thought she would have a final salary pension but turns out she joined 1 year after it closed. She has no pension as she never paid in. Scary stuff indeed. I have suggested she does what DG does but she is not sure. She does need a job so I will try to encourage her. I did spend money in Greggs I cannot claim back but I needed a coffee and a sausage roll for the train home late. That was also my dinner. I did get my free octo code so will use that today hopefully.

I am catching a train and I have to walk through a huge xmas market to get to the venue later on. Should be fun and I have allowed myself an hour to do it in should normally take 10 min but it is now very busy and I will have a look at some stalls but hopefully not buy much. There will also be another coffee on expenses of course and I have a free one in Greggs and Costa now so all is good lol.

Right best get back to work before I jump on the train. DG is taking me to the station and hopefully picking me up but if she goes to the gym (I will miss gym) then I need to wait and catch a more local train to here then walk home up hill as well. Poor me makes up for missed gym for sure. 

TallGirl

Had a nice but long day yesterday travelling for work and the xmas market was nice but massive and a bit overwhelming. I ended up eating a Greggs sitting outside just so busy everywhere. I did get my Costa but I could not do the points things so that was a pain but helped the train journey. Also got my free Nero thanks to Octo and I earned more stamps at Greggs plus work paid for it. 

I am so so busy with work and I am now seriously behind. I did have a 9am meeting but the person did not turn up so might have that later. Not very helpful but something must be up.

I have not had a chance to look at finances or anything but at least today I am actually working from home and I am going to the gym so that is all back to normal. DG was at the knee specialist just now I don't think she needs the op right now but hard to hear what she was saying so will speak to her when she is back. Would be handy if she does not need it right now. 

Had a quick calculations around upping my pension contributions and I used to pay 10% but increased it to 20% in April. If I give it another 10% that should be roughly £412 so I can stop the PB payments and do that instead. That is 30% of my wages going into my pension or should I up it to more and stop other savings? Saying that I have just applied for the 1st Direct 7% saveer. 

My diary is still insane so I best crack on and catch up later. . 

TallGirl

Quick update feels so much better I have "claimed" back £174 and paid the full amount of the 0% M&S card there is now £4982 left on the card to pay and I have £3677 saved to pay it off plus I make min payments. Once the regular saver comes in I will pay off another £1000 then it should more or less match. 

I have changed the PB SO down to £25 I just could not cancel it I have a balance of £33,200 in there but as not won a lot in the last 6 months pension it is instead. 

It feels better to be back on track even if the savings will dwindle I do not like being so close to the limit of the card limits options. I am so tempted to message work about increasing my pension payments to 40% instead of 30% but in the end I went with 35%. I also won £5 on the new UK advent scratch card. 

TallGirl

And the week drags on but did go to spin and tonight is Christmas party at the club. I am not drinking as I have far too much work on tomorrow. Should be a nice night and lovely food as well. 

Have finally booked transport to airport for Christmas. We have gone with the Premier Inn again at Gatwick but taking the train up. Total cost for 2 £130 (incl £9 in points). We still need to pay for the return train but if we buy it on the day we can chose two routes depending if we get a lift. This option means we can enjoy the lounge at Copenhagen (curtesy of AMEX) and also no have that horrible drive up to Gatwick. In the morning it is just a short walk to the terminal and no taxi costs or stress. This will be the last year we need to travel at Christmas I cannot wait. Feels great having reduced the credit card balances and my 1st Direct saver has paid out which is really nice. Money shuffle coming up. 

Need to go and make my breakfast and on to work as per usual.