Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

What a lovely sunny day today really feels like spring. Got the drive way sorted out with the stones and slabs I think it looks really nice and no weeds which is the best thing. Lots of weed on the lawn however but hopefully I can get that sorted as it would look at lot better.  The small perineal plants I got from the MSE offer are still looking great should start flowing before too long. Need to see what colour they are before I can add them to the garden. 

Coffee machine is making a very nasty noise when grinding but there is two years warranty so will check with customer service.  

Also finally got the £50 from Wealthify here is what the account looks like after 1 year. Sorry I can make it any smaller. Might just close the account and transfer it to the CMC one. 

Need to hang up some washing and need dinner hope you're all getting some sunshine wherever you are, 

TallGirl

Afternoon (just) so Premium Bond day today but sadly no win  I am very sad about that actually. 

Bought the two memberships for the club saving £160 so that is done before the offer ran out. I bet there will be another one but last time it was a week after ours ran out. 

Booked to have a golf lesson with out old pro on Friday and then spend the day there havings brunch and going to our favorite golf range. Will also do a trip to the local Asda which is the only place you can get course bulgur lol. Otherwise not many plans for Easter.

DG is away with work which is a right mess up but I am quite enjoying the peace at home. I am going to have a look at the Counselling options I think that would help right now especially over her golf strangely enough. 

I cant remember if I said about the sage with my bent glasses. I have really light frames and one day they were out of shape on my desk. I do usually put them in the case but didnt that day. Specsavers could not promise they wouldnt break when they tried to fix them as they are so fragile (really pretty but very useless really if you need to take them on and off a lot). It turned out they could fix them however I did ask for the prescription so I can get a cheap pair online. Typically the prescription is all blank bar the name and the signature and when they called them and they promised to email it that did not happen. So another trip into town is needed. So annoying but gives me time to save up a bit for the glasses.

Seriously I am going to have to revise my savings goals in order to pay for everything going forward. I want to pay for DGs counselling it is important to me and she is very willing to give it another go. She has been selfemployed now for 18 months and depleted all her savings as no income has come in so far. There will soon be earnings and larger ones but just not yet. I believe in what she is doing and she will get paid for all the hard work she has done so far but that is the game of no win no fee. 

I am also going to have to pay for her golf membership which will be £1200-£1400 each. It is a lot but if she plays I am more likely to play and it is our social life so it cuts her out if she does not play or at least makes it more difficult for her to feel included.

The £120 gym membership was not a lot really but hopefully that is the last of the expenses with obviously the counselling to come. 

Right need some lunch so best end it here.

PS has anyone switched to RBS are they any good?

Thanks

TallGirl

Guilty bought some more stuff for the garden £23 off Amazon plus £20 for weedkiller but felt it was much needed. The plants were a bit of a nice to have two blueberries as I could not get mine to grow last year but I only had one and they do not like that. I had two once and I got loads of fruit and as I have acid soil at least I save a bit. I must stop ordering plants now as I do have enough for the space but the fence is being fitted today and it looks fab painted black. I am going to have to paint the other 3 panels over Easter so it all looks the same. 

Contacted Bean Coffee Club and I am getting by discount applied. The decaf is so much better than Pact which I used before. Saving £8 but every little helps.

Went online and checked by defined benefit pension from my time with a local authority. At 60 it would pay out £3801 a year plus £11.4K lump sum. That is not bad for 7.5 year and I am sure I can take it from 55 but then it will be less obviously. 

It is interesting as defined contributions are so much worse but I am glad I did not stay with the local authority as I would probably still be doing the stressful job I had and there was no career progression. My manager is still in her job and it is 17 years since I left. For comparison between final salary I have a defined contribution company pension with my current employer and as it was the same company my previous one was with I just combined them. I have a pension pot of £26K after 5 years of contributions from myself and my employer. That really is not amazing as it would pay out about £300 a year (if I bought an annuity) when the above £3801 pa was accrued when I was paid at least 25% less than I am now. 

People who work in the public sector do have a nice things to look forward to when they retire. I am glad DG does have one too but she only paid into her scheme for 5 years but it is still something to come. Her mum who was a nurse never paid into her NHS pension she was still working when she died aged aged 74. So sad to have lost out of all of that but she could not afford it when she was younger due to being a single parent. To anyone out there please please pay into your pension or you will lose out on your employers contributions. It is so so important I would say more important than paying off your mortgage early but obviously do both if you can. 

Finally increased by gas and electric DDs to £250 again. We are £500 in credit but with a hot tub we do use a lot so do not want to get into arrears for next Winter. 

TallGirl

Had a wonderful Easter and still the spending continues but it is garden season and everything is so tempting and feels like it is needed. 

B&Q £38 on paint at least same price for 2 x 2.5L as 5L so that helped. Was going to do it yesterday but it rained. Handy for the weedkiller but now need more as did not cover the whole lawn (£10) and a lawn rake (£26) had to match my others that has attachable handle but they do last forever. 

Friday we got up early and drove all the way to our old golf club to have a lesson with our old pro. It was amazing gave DG lots of confidence back as she now knows what she was doing wrong and more importantly knows how to fix it. We then had breakfast in McD (did not like the club house offering and cheap at least) before shopping in ASDA which is so amazing. They have a huge selection of world foods so stocked up on all our favorites plus got lebanese flat bread yummy. 

Then we went onto the driving range and I got my clubs regripped £190 but had not been done for 10+ years. Also got to try some new clubs which was fun.

Saturday I went to the gym for the Les Mills launch and Sunday was golf and then gym yesterday. Trip into town £22 spent on a sports bra (only have 1). Lots of time to chill and a few jobs done around the house. 

No gym tonight but will be going tomorrow morning. Diet is not going well but trying to get it back on track. At least you can now dry outside helps costs a little bit as well. 

TallGirl

Almost afternoon taking a break from work there is a lot to do but time to do it at least. So windy and rainy still here quite depressing but at least it is a week day.

Going to the gym tonight hopefully two classes but instructor might still be off sick for the second one. 

Had to dry a load indoors so annoying but it keeps raining. 

My new CMC investment portfolio is now in profit £1.34 but every little helps. I do like seeing the different shares and how they track. 

TallGirl

Morning so my NS&I Income bond matured and I reinvested it. The last 3 years it has paid 1.7% which was roughly £57 a year but now it is transferred to the next one it is 4.2% which is really nice. On my calculations that is £141 the first year on £3368 saved. Depends what interest rates do but nice lock in for the next 3 years. Just be nice with a Premium Bond win next month after a month of nothing. 

DG has now messaged a counsellor to start sessions I think I shall have to stop my £200 a month savings as the rest of the £1000 I save is locked away (£500 Premium Bond and £300 First Direct). It is important and I know she would do the same for me if I was in the same situation. 

I did spend more money on plants but I blame MSE for the Thompson and Morgan offer. I did add some seeds I needed so I would have had to buy them anyway and now I definitely do not need to go to a garden centre they are dangerous places anyway. 

Tonight we are meeting with friends to go and hit some golf balls on the range and then eat afterwards. I am not sure if she is cooking or we are going out for a curry. We plan to get the train back if it is going out and if it is staying home it will be Uber. They did offer us to stay over but it is a really small house. Yes more spending but you have to socialise. 

Hope you have a nice Friday it is so so wet here. 

 

TallGirl

Golf didn't happen but we did get the train so only needed a taxi from the station back £11 and we could have walked. Pub crawl then a curry so expensive to eat out now but fab to see friends and I really value their friendship. Been invited on a camping holiday Aug bank holiday staying in a static and they also have a beach hut. Should be fun including some golf. 

Walked down to get the car from the  Lidl then pottering about in the garden sowing seeds from Gardeners World and cucumber and courgettes I bought. Also got some poles for my cucumber planing on growing it by the door with a tomato plant too. 

I think it might have to start taking some lawn up and making it into a flower bed. Next door has fixed our fence where the kids hit it with their football saves getting a new panel which I am glad about. 

My posh coffee machine is not well. Did not realise the tablets it came with was for cleaning one descaling so now it's blocked.  I went onto their chat got 15% off so ordered both sanitiser and descaler. Hopefully it will work but if not will need to send it back. Luckily still in warranty and also lucky I always use filtered water. 

Horrible that I now cannot have a latte at home. Did buy a costa from Tesco needed caffeine as we stayed up chatting until 3am. 

Golf tomorrow so no painting this weekend but sometimes you just need to chill a bit. 

Need to go down and start dinner soon enjoy your Saturday evening. 

TallGirl

Weekend was good but hungover Saturday so not great and played rubbish golf Sunday in the mud and got it wrong with how to record the scored due to the format. I did meet a nice new lady and DG played 9 at least. 

Did get some gardening done planted out the foxgloves in the garden (going for cottage garden vibes) and potted on more seedlings. The grass was cut yesterday and I think I am winning over the weeds. 

My descaling tablets arrived and it worked so I now have a fully functioning coffee machine again. Very happy and will keep it descaled regularly. Also went to the vets and got the cats flea treatment and wormer. One more thing ticked off the list. 

DG went to see the new counsellor yesterday she is going to go once a week and we are both hopeful it will help. It is really local (walking distance) and they got on well. Fingers crossed it help and the anxiety calms down and she can relax a bit.

Work is still busy but I managed to take a look at my works pension. I am doing 3% salary sacrifice and my employer is paying 6.5%. I have now upped my contributions to 10% so that is an extra £450 from me. It will be tight but we are getting a pay rise I think about 5% so should even out. I always used to increase my mortgage payments in line with any pay rises so this makes sense now. 

Got a trip away next week overnight so will be a few more expenses well bonus beans from Costa lol.

Today is a late meeting which means missing gym which is annoying but work is work and I can take some time back tomorrow.

TallGirl

Went to a beginners workshop on learn to crochet. I was going with a friend but she was still recovering from treatment so DG kindly came along even though it is definitely not her thing. I really enjoyed it and I am going to make the bag they gave us in the kit. Dg was rubbish but she has not got the patience but did enjoy it. I used to be able to crochet as my mum was really good but I had to quickly switch to right handed as the instructors struggled to show me. It cost £15 for the kit and tickets plus money spent on wine, snacks and latte. I did not drink but it was a nice evening out. All came out of the joint fund which did help. 

Here are the fees are pay for my financial advice I have posted it on the pensions boards too and asked some questions. It is basically £2000 a year for the advice so that would be saved if I went DIY. As in my last post I upped my pension contributions but next year I only have £8K to pay into my ISA so will need to find £12K. Lets see how I get on at least I have topped up this year so in effect I have 2 years to find it. Maybe a savings challenge coming up to save that and then not spend it lol.

Have a lovely Friday. 

Royal London Pension
Value £254,798 

Fees Feb 22 to Feb 23
RL charges £991.33 (equivalent to 0.40%)
Transaction costs £240.09

Adviser Charges £1240.45
Total Cost £2471.84

True Potential GIA
Value £27,025

Service Costs 0.83% £348.50
Product Cost 0,78% £325.91
Total cost £747.41

Breakdown of Service Cost
Ongoing Advice Charge 0.50% £193.61
Platform Charge - percentage 0.40% £154.89

Breakdown of Product Cost
Ongoing charges 0.75% £314.94
Transaction Charges 0.01% 5.45
Performance fees 0.01% £5.52

True Potential ISA
Value £153,051

Service Costs 0.84% £1166.65
Product Cost 0.81% £1127.52
Total cost £2294.17

Breakdown of Service Cost
Ongoing Advice Charge 0.50% £648.12
Platform Charge - percentage 0.40% £518.53

Breakdown of Product Cost
Ongoing charges 0.78% £1078.97
Transaction Charges 0.01% 17.27
Performance fees 0.02% £31.28

TallGirl

Sorry for the silence been away with work and actually spent time with my team and managers which was really nice. Feel quite energised about my work now even if there is a lot of it. Even ended up dialing into a work meeting at 7.30pm on the train last night. Not very successfully mind you due to the connections. 

Got home to a bit of a bomb shell they are stopping the work DG is involved with for her part time role so redundant in a month but could be as long as August best case scenario we do not know. It is a real blow but it is what it is and she got a year out of it. She can now concentrate fully on her consultancy cases and get them moving along plus take on new ones. She has no savings so I would have to pay her share of the bills £950 plus she would need to stop her share of the holiday savings £150. We can drop our energy bills down as we are in credit and obviously it is Summer. She would still need spending money but her other work does bring in some money but she usually revest it into the "business" in order to take on new cases (pays for reports etc). 

She is not ready to go into an office job again but her skills are in demand and she could easily demand a £50K salary however for now I think it is best she just sees what happens when she is given notice. 

She did have her first counselling session yesterday which she found really good and the woman picked up lots of stuff already that can be worked on. They are meeting weekly and she charges £80 her session so that is another expense however I do have some money in an old account that will help with this but going forward I shall have to stop all my savings once I know what DG will be doing. Real shame but maybe it is what is needed to make me spend less and not waste money.

I do like saving £1K a month for the £12K challenge but this will be impossible especially if the job ends next month. 

Closed the Wealthify account so £100 winging is way to me soon. I will invest £50 of it into CMC and I can play with the shares buying. Still not sorted the IFA out but will need to book a meeting with them soon. I am paying £200 a month for that service and honestly that money could sit better in my pocket or grow in the investment as that is where it is being taken from. I will call them now and book that call. Needed more than ever that money for retirement. 

Best get back to work enjoy your Thursday!!