Escape to the country & living off savings

badmemory

My water rates haven't come yet.  I wouldn't mind a rise too much if only they would use that rise to fix the pollution & leak problems.  But we all know that they won't.

Skint_yet_Again

Thank you so much for taking the time to do the sums and suggestions Time2count and Suze. 😊 I will dig out my paperwork and look again. I do have plans for the interest this year (£1k emergency fund, £1k for DS wedding no date set yet, £2k to finish house decorating and garden/ fence). I can’t see me working again but would use interest and rebuild any savings after 67. 

I agree with your comments about water bills Suze and badmemory. Just waiting for new water amount and council tax increase now. Aquafit/ leisure centre is price for life with membership so should not increase. 

Skint_yet_Again

Very quiet day today, mostly relaxing and reading/ watching tv. I have another health screening appointment tomorrow. No aquafit now until feb as they are closed for heating repairs. On Wed I will be going to see Niece and little one & going out to dinner with DF. Thursday I am out with my friend for lunch. 

I also need to renew my house insurance and inform V Money of my decision on what to do with my maturing bond & interest. 

Skint_yet_Again

Still feeling not myself & didn’t sleep well last night. Off for breast screening this morning. 

I have renewed my house insurance this morning. When I get back I need to submit meter readings and update V money to reinvest the 1 year bond and the interest for another year at 4.52%. I will use the interest for any increase needed in my monthly budget up to age 67. I will reinvest the 2 year bond capital-only once it matures and will use the interest in 2 years time to go towards any shortfall in my monthly budget. Hopefully it should be at least 4k total from both bonds by then. 

SuzeQStan

Sorry to hear you a bit out of sorts SYA - everything 🤞🏻 you feeling better very soon xx

sounds like good plans for the interest - and very exciting to have DS wedding to plan for 🥰

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Suze. Went to gregs with DF for a hot sausage roll and cup of tea. Home again and have submitted my meter readings. There is a giant creature living in my meter cupboard outside eek. Chicken casserole in my slow cooker for later. 

Time2count

A giant creature?! This type of thing? 🪳
Ooh yuk!

That's good plans to use the interest to top yourself up. The longer it remains in bonds etc, you can get interest on the interest so might get a bit more than you anticipate.

Feel better soon

MovingForwards

Start charging the creature rent for sole use of the cupboard!

Can't say I blame you wanting to stay retired, it would be a massive shock to your system and quite restrictive for your lifestyle. 

Have a look to see if there's any 3 year bonds, try to hedge financial bets. Not sure if NW's fix is better than V's.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Time2count and MF 😊

The creature in the cupboard is a large 8 legged arachnid 😱🫣 can’t even say the S word or look at pictures eeek. 

My energy bill has now been produced. 
18 Oct - 13 Jan
gas £125.98 standing charge £26.14
electric £64.25 standing charge £56.25 😳
vat £13.63 total £286.23

It wasn’t as high as I expected. I have refused to be cold this winter. Today is much warmer. Recently it’s been 11 degrees in my bedroom in the mornings but it was 14 degrees this morning, positively tropical 😆

I pay £77 a month & had a credit of £139.69. Credit remaining £84.46. Will be interesting to see what the unit charges will be on any “no standing charge” tariffs when they come out. 

Feeling a bit more like myself today. Slept well last night. I’m going to aldee for grocery shop later. 

Skint_yet_Again

Today’s shop £39.63 including meat, fish, eggs, bread, fruit & veg, nuts, tea bags, milk & cheese. 

Menu this week 

Leftover chicken casserole x 3 (in freezer) 
fish stew & broccoli 
pulled pork, roasted veg, butternut squash chips
pulled pork courgette & pepper wraps & cheese
goose & courgette “lasagne”
”pizza” mushrooms, garlic and herb dip & butternut squash chips

Any leftovers will be frozen. Will be out to dinner with DF tomorrow and out to lunch with friend on thursday.