FIRE Girls Pension Diary - Aim High & Dream Big

Firegirl

So next thing I’m looking into is my ISA.

Next tax year I want to open an ISA and I’m looking at Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap Index Fund and Life Strategy.

Wonder if you have any tips or other providers I should consider.

MallyGirl

Vanguard is one option.
Personally I feel more comfortable with the HSBC Global Strategy (Balanced and Dynamic) - targeting a risk level as opposed to an equity:bond split.

Firegirl

Thanks @MallyGirl

I’ll have a look into that one too.

Fox40

Firegirl said:

@Fox40

I went with Paystream in the end…..

went round the houses a bit as the pension provider I was with said they would only accept a fixed amount but when I got through to the new business department they agreed to accept a variable amount each month. 

There were only 3 umberellas that my agency would engage with and Paystream were the one I’ve heard of before. 

Others were Danbro and Focused.  Focused is the same group as paystream so not much difference in them and I’ve never heard of Danbro.

calcs weren’t very different so went with Paystream.

Thanks again! 

Great minds think alike. I am however a bit sceptical about the variable monthly amount. I pay a fixed portion of my day rate and I'm not allowed to change that except if there has been a significant life event or at the start of the new tax year. I seem to remember this is an HMRC requirement to stop people varying how they are remunerated, but could be wrong.

Firegirl

@Fox40

Yes I’m the same it’s a fixed portion of my day rate that goes to the pension.  As it’s paid Monthly to the pension provider, a different amount goes to them each month.  4/5 week month and if you take a holiday it’s less.

Yes I’m aware of the significant life event and also glad i can change it at TYE if I feel I’ve pushed my contributions to far!

Firegirl

I’ve compared Vanguard and HSBC. Used the Hargreaves Lansdown sight to compare last 5 years and Vanguard preformed better. 

I know past preformance doesn’t predict future performance but sure, the future is anyone’s guess

Pat38493

Firegirl said:

I’ve compared Vanguard and HSBC. Used the Hargreaves Lansdown sight to compare last 5 years and Vanguard preformed better. 

I know past preformance doesn’t predict future performance but sure, the future is anyone’s guess

If so that’s the other way round from their global equity tracker funds - the HSBC one performed better historically.

Firegirl

@Pat38493 we need a crystal ball 

LL_USS

Do FIRE people get tired sometimes? I've just looked at my spreadsheet to see that over the past 12 years plus I've been non-stop working many different ways to maximise income and saving and I am proud of myself. We do have decent short and long-haul holidays mostly for the sake of the children and we live in a nice house and eat at home well as a family. Yet it feels I am too harsh on myself: not spending on me, taking on lodgers, however lovely most of them have been, means I lose quite a bit of flexibility, checking deals to reduce utility unit costs and other living costs, checking where best to put spare money - all making me feel stretched most of the time. Perhaps I should treat myself a little bit here and there? Or would that be a slippy slope ?

michaels

LL_USS said:

Do FIRE people get tired sometimes? I've just looked at my spreadsheet to see that over the past 12 years plus I've been non-stop working many different ways to maximise income and saving and I am proud of myself. We do have decent short and long-haul holidays mostly for the sake of the children and we live in a nice house and eat at home well as a family. Yet it feels I am too harsh on myself: not spending on me, taking on lodgers, however lovely most of them have been, means I lose quite a bit of flexibility, checking deals to reduce utility unit costs and other living costs, checking where best to put spare money - all making me feel stretched most of the time. Perhaps I should treat myself a little bit here and there? Or would that be a slippy slope ?

I strongly dislike working so anything that saves me a day or a weeks worth of income (or even an hours worth) and doesn't take too long is well worth it for me