Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

TallGirl

Really sorry to read things have gotten so bad for him now it is all about making things as easy as possible even if it costs money. Do check if you are entitled to any support with adaptations problem is there is a long wait time for that. Take care.

LadyWithAPlan

So sorry to hear about your partner. 

Your 2024 round up was very clear and at least you have now got your own home again, though I appreciate you had to sacrifice to do it 

on the MB just take it slowly but you can make a lot - there are always at the start a lot of offers to do 
not sure if you started on low risk casino offers as yet but they become an increasingly important part of mb and can help  delay bookies from stopping you get free bets as they see you on the slots etc . 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello blustery Sunday, Its seems to the theme to weekends at the moment!

Since last diary update things have improved a bit, I must admit I was in a bit of a funk at that time but feeling a bit less 'stuck in the mud'. 

Spending wise this has been a pretty quiet frugal January so far after an expensive December. My cards were 'melting' so they have benefitted from a well earned rest

Pension 2025

I'm a bit of a pensions geek and take some pleasure in watching my pension performance on a month by month basis. My pension is made up from a small number of different pots, mainly from previous jobs. One of these pots I now use for additional contributions as my current work pension is basic. When I first started working after graduation I started adding a small amount into a simple stakeholder pension. One of the best habits this little pension got me into was the mindset of increasing my payments by 10% each year. Apart from some years when my kids were small i've been able to continue this trend and now religiously prioritise this starting in January pay along with another pattern of adding £10 extra p/m to my LISA. I wish I could add the full 4k max amount but at least am adding something. I'd like to increase my work pension contributions but it would only be a token amount atm.

I've been enjoying listening to some finance money podcasts and Damien Talks and Making Money podcasts are really good. I've been inspired to review my current pension investment plans. So in the coming weeks spend a bit of time using their guidance and check how my investment plans match against equivalent market leading ones.

Money saving Challenges 2025

This year I am following:

* Dice Friday - rolling a dice and saving that amount.

* Save 1p a day  - 3rd year on this challenge and aiming to save £780 towards a family trip to Aus.

* Reg Savers & S&S ISA -  I have a small number of these which small amounts are added. Having had the S&S ISA since 2016 I can really see the benefit of compounding!

Its been wonderful to spend a bit of time catching up on diaries, its been a nice boost.

Queen_of_the_Hive

I wrote my diary and afterwards remembered some good bits that i'd missed off.

The most exciting part first...!

I've part booked a summer break for myself and the kids (OH won't be in a position to travel sadly). We are going to have a little adventure via european trains and do a mini 'race around the world' to Italy in July. The hotel we've booked was around £400 for 5 nights for all of us in a self catering apartment in a chain of hotels we use now and again. We pay on check in so there is the opportunity to put a bit aside for it each month. The train travel won't be cheap but planning to investigate early bookings on Eurostar and whether an interrail pass may make it more cost effective. Any how something exciting to look forward to!

Last Friday was our first anniversary of owning our home! We weren't able to celebrate as such but we are 1 year down of 10 years worth of mortgage. We overpay each month by £55.34 and have chucked a bit extra in during that first year via Sprive app. Sprive app takes a minimum payment of £1 from my bank acc each month plus whatever is earned in surveys or gift cards. Its not a lot but its the pennies working. We are sitting now on 19% equity (started on 10%).

This coming week its annual review time at work (wish me luck!) and pay day tomorrow. Pay is all accounted for will bring me upto date with some of the kids activities. 

Goals for this week is to continue to tick off activities on the 'to-do' list and start back doing a bit of the side hustles. These have taken a back seat in Dec most of Jan but now trying again to make a bit of a difference. 

dawnybabes

Have you applied for PIP for your partner ? McMillan can help you with this (plus wills and other stuff) my DH got it with his cancer but hated claiming it as he ‘wasn’t disabled’ he took him ages to accept help. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

dawnybabes said:

Have you applied for PIP for your partner ? McMillan can help you with this (plus wills and other stuff) my DH got it with his cancer but hated claiming it as he ‘wasn’t disabled’ he took him ages to accept help. 

Morning @dawnybabes, no he doesn't have PIP yet. Need to look into it though. Thanks!

debtfreewannabe321

Wow well done on getting your equity up so quickly! And only nine years left on the mortgage is brilliant.

I am wondering if they do grants for adapting bathroom/home for disabilities? They do grants for all sorts of things like this I'm sure?

beanielou

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Wow well done on getting your equity up so quickly! And only nine years left on the mortgage is brilliant.

I am wondering if they do grants for adapting bathroom/home for disabilities? They do grants for all sorts of things like this I'm sure?

Yes, look into a grant.  Speak to your OT to get an assessment & take it from there.

Jessy103

Good luck with the work review! x

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday!

Its been a fairly 'dull' week in the hive. To be honest in my eyes 'dull' = good right now .

It was payday on Monday - all was allocated. Small dents were made in my debt and a bit saved. As I said previously the big 'win' of the month was upping my pension and LISA by a few pounds and starting again with saving £10 for Aus in the 1p a day challenge.Both myself and OH put £10 in the pot. We also had some interest on our savings account for this trip. It was £12 and some change. We put money each month into a regular saver for it so making the money work for us a bit.

I've made a bit more progress on summer holiday plans and bought the return flight back home. The kids have no idea about any of this but I know we have a brilliant time. Its a bit daunting with OH & his health situation but so much of normal life is not happening that a bit selfishly 'I need a bit of something', naturally we will have care sorted for my partner so if he needs anything his needs are taken care of too.

In health and fitness news, finally made it to the gym. Its a bit silly really but I really felt nervous about going but it was absolutely fine in the end. i'm not a big gym goer but like to have something to get out the house as it can be a bit much as I work from home and live too. I also need to push myself to meet & make some new friends. There is a big part of me that isn't in the mood to do so but I also know myself I need to push the boundaries.

I've woken up with a swollen gum, its at the back where I have no tooth as such. Will see how this pans out over the weekend. Hope this is not a sign of something serious. The remains of the tooth is due to come out but due to looking after my partner its been challenging to get the opportunity to get it done. Old dentist is back in my old stomping ground in the city.

Today I have quite a bit of admin to catch up on, a bit of match betting stuff and working on a bit of lego. Happy weekend everyone.