FIRE Girls Pension Diary - Aim High & Dream Big

LL_USS

Firegirl said:

Thanks for sharing @LL_USS. Very interesting and thought provoking article.

Oh my goodness! Yes! The guilt of spending money on yourself. I’m exactly like this!  Now since contracting I have managed to shake this off a bit and have enjoyed buying a few clothes from Mint velvet.  It’s a weird feeling isn’t it? Your standing in a shop thinking, I like it but I don’t need it, do a REALLY want it, I’m not really worth it, I don’t need it, that money would be better used by a charity, I don’t need it, I’ll just leave it.😆.   But family holidays I pay for with zero guilt!

I think I want to give my kids some very specific and targeted help, not just a constant bank roll.  So your point 3 will be what I aim for.

I just feel guilty to spend on myself for buying material goods, and still (not just about money but rather my negative feeling about consumerism).
I have not skimped on having life experiences for the whole family (I used to plan travels just for the kids but I have added in what is good for me).

SouthCoastBoy

I very rarely spend anything on myself, last month it was £15 this month £27 so far. My one luxury is golf club membership which is paid in April, just over £1000

cfw1994

SouthCoastBoy said:

I very rarely spend anything on myself, last month it was £15 this month £27 so far. My one luxury is golf club membership which is paid in April, just over £1000

Last time I played golf (I'm not a golfer!) I got absolutely the best value from the game, by playing the most shots 🤪

I guess for a retiree, they can get the value by playing much, much more.  I have a couple of pals who do just that 💪

SouthCoastBoy

cfw1994 said:

SouthCoastBoy said:

I very rarely spend anything on myself, last month it was £15 this month £27 so far. My one luxury is golf club membership which is paid in April, just over £1000

Last time I played golf (I'm not a golfer!) I got absolutely the best value from the game, by playing the most shots 🤪

I guess for a retiree, they can get the value by playing much, much more.  I have a couple of pals who do just that 💪

Yes a lot of my retired golf friends play 4 times a week, currently i play about 35 times a year. That will be going up to over 100 times a year once retired. Tenner a round, not bad

Firegirl

I’m thinking most people on this forum are pretty careful with their money, or choose wisely when to spend and when not too!

Im thinking that when I eventually cut down my days in work I might join a David Lloyd gym.  There’s no point now because between work and football runs I wouldn’t get to use it enough to make it worth while. 

@SouthCoastBoy @cfw1994 loving the idea of best value per game! Hilarious! As long as you’re enjoying it.  1k is not a lot if it brings you happiness, fitness and time with friends all rolled into one. Bet if you broke it down per hour it would be even less.  Then add what you’d have spent socialising with your friend out for dinner or in a pub. Suddenly your yearly golfing cost becomes a bargain 😆

@LL_USS I’m glad you added what’s good for you to holidays too. I know what you mean about consumerism, and I always think about fast fashion.  I use Vinted a lot and have got some great bargins there. I know my sizes in favourite shops so it rarely goes wrong for me now. The key is to know what you want to buy and then look for that item, rather than browsing.
I even try on things in the shop and keep an eye on Vinted for it the following season.  My best bargain was a £200 jacket for £20! 

Happy Monday everyone! Have a good week😃

Ibrahim5

People that are careful with their money won't be going to a David Lloyd gym. They are particularly expensive and poor value for money.

Pat38493

Ibrahim5 said:

People that are careful with their money won't be going to a David Lloyd gym. They are particularly expensive and poor value for money.

I used to be in David Lloyd Gym for many years.  Recently I was looking at maybe rejoining a Gym.  David Lloyd are have the best facilities in my area as you say they are eye wateringly expensive - more than double the price of most of the other gyms around.  Only worthwhile if you make a lot of use of the swimming pool and spa facitlities and racket sports and classes - everything else you can get a lot cheaper elsewhere (and with a lesser commitment time).

Still wavering between getting a gym membership for a year as I want a few personal training sessions to get me started on later life strength workouts - I do running already but I understand the importance of strength exercises in later life seems to be seen as a big deal these days.

I might end up going the cheapo route and getting a Gymproluxe (currently half price in the BF sales) and see if that does the job for a one off cost.

Firegirl

Ha ha, your right about David Lloyd but if you go say, 4 days a week and spend a few hours with your friend that otherwise you’d meet for dinner and drinks, it could work out a bargain by comparison and also a healthier option. So far I’ve had free passes from my friend so that’s been great.  I’m gonna join gym group which is £20ish a month and closer to my house while I’m still working. Also you can cancel any time!

Nice to have a wee dream even if I never do David Lloyd. The one near me is brand new and soooooo fancy. The spa is amazing and I’d do 3 classes a week.

What do you want to do in retirement @Ibrahim5? The other thing I’d like to do is learn photography. I used to print black and white photos in a darkroom when I was in my 20s, as well as colour prints.  Also printed on watercolour paper and painted photos. I enjoyed it. Def want to do some arty stuff of some description.

Firegirl

Hope you’re all doing well. Popped in to post a quick update.

My total is now £423, 500, I’ve hit over Age 47 target at the age of 45! Delighted with that!

I start my permanent job next year so the contracting days have come to an end.  Next target is £478, 542.  I will have a company pension to add to my breakdown.

————

Targets from my first post:

Age 47 - 2026 - £420,061

Age 48 - 2027 - £478, 542

barnstar2077

Firegirl said:

Hope you’re all doing well. Popped in to post a quick update.

My total is now £423, 500, I’ve hit over Age 47 target at the age of 45! Delighted with that!

I start my permanent job next year so the contracting days have come to an end.  Next target is £478, 542.  I will have a company pension to add to my breakdown.

————

Targets from my first post:

Age 47 - 2026 - £420,061

Age 48 - 2027 - £478, 542

My funds are also doing better than expected at the moment, but I feel like it will adjust itself down a bit by the end of financial year when I update my spreadsheet.  I think the end of the presidential race has given it a temporary uplift.  We will see!