Flying solo

twiggy86

As it's the start of a new month, I'm going to set some monthly goals - I definitely work better when I have a list to tick things off! (Or more the guilt of not ticking them off!)

Finances

• Pay £500 off debt £110 paid
• List 20 things on Vinted (this will include re-listing things that have been on there over a year, plus some new things) 10 things listed (3 sold)
• Sort out pension log-in done! 

House

• Finish painting fence! 
• Continue de-weeding front garden 
• Sort under stairs cupboard 
• Get new office all set up and finalised (can't do until I have equipment once I've actually started)

Crafting

• Finish knitting jumper finished sleeve and picked stitches back up for body
• Fix neckline on "completed" top 
• Swatch for next project (materials from stash) started project!

twiggy86

So looking at the monthly list to break down some "weekly" goals..

Finances

• List 5 things on Vinted 6 so far
• Day out with mum on Friday - keep within budget lovely day and within budget 

House - I'm busy all weekend so not much time for me to do stuff!

• Sort out under stairs cupboard not done!
• Do some weeding out the front not done!

Crafting 

• Complete second sleeve finished and blocked!
• Watch some videos on how to unpick bind off done

twiggy86

Couple more "little" updates before I actually (finally!) get on to today! 

I did list 4 pairs of trainers on Vinted yesterday (3 mine and 1 pair of bf's) and one has already sold! I also gave two pairs that were slightly damaged/ marked to my friend for her daughter - they will at least do her for a while as nothing wrong with them! One pair were white and I washed them twice and they looked fine coming out of the machine but then as they dried there were yellow marks appear! She said her daughter won't care and so good that they found some more life but are out of the house! Anyway, I posted the pair I sold on my way into work this morning, so that is another £10 that will be coming my way! I'm going to take down and re-list the bits that have been on there for ages - I think they get pushed more when they're new listings! I also have another couple of things in mind to stick on there. However, the plan is to list for a month and then take to the charity shop if they don't go, rather than having it all hanging around for another year! Bf also sold some golf clubs which were picked up yesterday - so the decluttering continues from both of us! 

I also completed the swatch for my next knitting project so I started on that last night! I want to get the jumper completed but it's quite bulky at the moment to take backwards and forwards to work - as I'm working on the second sleeve which has a ball of yarn attached, plus one still attached to the body! So plan is - new top is "work" project and jumper is "home" project! Also need to make a decision re "completed" top as to how best to fix!  

Today's bits and bobs.. 

• Pop a couple of things in the freezer - will go out of date before we get to them
• Make lunch to take to work 
• Post Vinted parcel on way to work 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on knitting at lunch 
• Food shop for the week 
• Snap receipt 
• List two things on Vinted 
• Dinner from stores 

twiggy86

One thing I confess to not understanding in as much detail as I should is pensions! I had an email to say my annual statement is ready, which I have now looked at but don't really know how well it means I'm doing! I'm currently 38 with approx £20k in there which is predicted to mean £160k come retirement or £11,600 per year of retirement... But I don't understand if that means if I left it to sit "as is" or carried on with my current level of payments! Anyway, once I'm debt free it is something to consider whether to pay higher contributions!  

However, I don't remember the password - it's saved on my work computer (meaning it automatically logs me in), so that is a job for this week to look at changing it. But of course, you need to know the password to change it! Obviously when I change jobs I won't be able to automatically log in, so needs sorting soon! 

Baileys_Babe

I'm guessing the pension figures are based on continuing to pay in at the same level.

Floss

Definitely keep payments up on your pension. Try and commit to as high a level as you can in your new job too, especially if they match it. It's tax-beneficial as your contributions are paid before you pay tax, and private pension contributions get the tax refunded into the pot by the government.

twiggy86

Thanks both on the comments re pensions. I will discuss with new employer when I start and then once I'm debt free I will look into paying more, alongside overpaying on the mortgage. However, this morning I have managed to lock myself out of my online pension account! Grr - that was going to be one of my jobs for today to reset the password and now I've made it more difficult! 

However, positive is that I completed everything on my list yesterday! Bf went to visit his mum straight from work so I went and did the food shopping on my own (bf transferred me half the cost). I was then listing 2 new items on Vinted as he got back, so then we had dinner and chilled out. I'm going to try to find 2 more "new" things to list today, but if not I will re-list some of the bits that are already on there (and delete the old listing). I also made good progress on my knitting projects - have reached the point of starting the ribbing on the second sleeve of the jumper, so will hopefully get that done this week. Plan is then to block it before I decide how much more length to add to the body, or whether to now go straight into the ribbing. 

I have also made a £5 CC payment this morning - I have it set so that one of my accounts "rounds up" and it had hit over £5 in there (you know, because we all like nice, round numbers) so I sent that over to the CC. Raining here today so at least I don't need to remember to water the plants - although I really should do the half dead indoor plant (I pulled all the dead leaves off the other week!)! I most definitely do not have green fingers and tend to fail at keeping plants alive! However my brother bought me a terrarium a couple of years ago and because I never have to touch it, it's doing fantastic so would recommend for anyone like me!  

Jobs for today...

• Take something out of freezer for dinner 
• Make lunch to take to work 
• Message friend about cutting my hair (she does it very cheaply)
• Update spreadsheet 
• Try sort out pension log in! 
• Work on knitting at lunch 
• List two things on Vinted 
• Water indoor plant
• Dinner from stores 

twiggy86

Little bit more pension chat whilst it's in my head!

Managed to reset the password so that I can get back into my account and I now actually know the password! I am currently paying 5% contributions and employer pays 3% - I also checked my job offer and new employer will also contribute 3% (although said being reviewed and likely to increase within the next year). Now the next question will be - if new employer uses a different scheme whether to keep two separate pots or transfer current pot across! However, that is a decision for future Twigs! 

Sarahwithlove

Pensions confuse me as well! I wish they would make them simpler to understand. Though I know LG pensions are generally better than most private so guess I'm lucky there. 

I like the idea with vinted of relisting older items and getting rid after one month. I think I may do the same thing. 

badmemory

As both schemes are just the legal requirement then you do need to do something.  If I remember rightly Martin said that you should be paying in half your age at the start as a percentage (so start at 22 pay in a total of 11%).  So the legal requirement is only enough if you started paying in at 16 which is lower than the legal requirement.

Autoenrolment has been very misleading for many I'm afraid.