julicorn's journey 3 - The House on the Hill

julicorn

It's been such a wonderful weekend! Mr julicorn and I both had Friday off, and we made the most of it. Highlights from the last few days:
- I had a lovely early Christmas do with my choir
- We got a beautiful IKEA glass unit delivered, for the 'gardening corner' in our living room, and assembled that to some Christmas music
- We went to the new Sostrene Grene on opening day and bought some lovely little things
- Went to see Wicked in the cinema and enjoyed it greatly
- Treated ourselves to some takeout
- Had that bottle of champagne to celebrate the savings milestone, and read each other Christmas stories (what a fabulous night in)
- Went to the allotment to discover that we've finally managed to grow a broccoli! We also picked some other tasty bits, not bad at all for December. 

Mr julicorn is currently out for a classical concert at the Dome, and I might take the opportunity to wrap some of the Christmas presents I got for him. 

I've also (after not doing all that much matched betting last few weeks) made £50 on offers this morning, and thereby surpassed £500 in matched betting profit. I don't put in as much time as some people and don't squeeze it for all its potential, but it's a nice little side income for sure. 

Tonight we have the allotment Christmas party as well, with mulled wine and mulled cider - don't mind if I do!

Will post the end-of-November finance update shortly  

julicorn

julicorn said:

Current figures:

Investment ISAs: £71,836.96

Mortgage: £213,005.57

% of being mortgage neutral: 33.7%

Total pot: £196,449.09

% of early retirement savings: 21.1%

A fair bit up for the month without any further contributions. 

End of November update:

Current figures:

Investment ISAs: £74,454.31

Mortgage: £213,005.57

% towards being mortgage neutral: 35.0%

Total retirement pot: £201,061.05

% of early retirement savings: 21.6%

julicorn

We just decorated our Christmas tree and burned some incense from the German incense advent calendar without setting off the smoke alarm - success! 
Mr julicorn is currently cooking dinner (a curry with some of the chard we picked yesterday), and I ordered the freezer we've been meaning to get for ages. We've got a bit of a small walk-in cupboard room that it will fit in as long as we manage to clear out some of the other stuff that's in there... I guess the clock is ticking now!

Tomorrow we're going to London again (what is it with London this autumn?), to see another opera while we're still young enough to qualify for cheap tickets. It's called The Elixir of Love or something like that. I'm really looking forward, it'll be nice to see some Christmas lights too hopefully. 

I hope you're all having a good start to the week  

LadyWithAPlan

London Xmas lights are lovely this year - Cov Garden in particular.
I plan to get my decorations up this week

Well done on your £200k landmark (yes to the champagne) and your MB profit - I have made easily £25k over the last few years and I dont spend that much time doing it - 

I actually have a lovely bottle rose champagne in - maybe I will save it for me hitting £200k in sipp/savings - when I finally get fully paid up I should only be £10-13k away I think.. Definitely a goal for 2025 (before I buy and  see my savings plummet)

julicorn

@LadyWithAPlan Yes to the £200k champagne, maybe this should become a thing!  
Thanks so much, I'm really looking forward to seeing the Covent Garden lights this evening. Got a bit of a stressy work day ahead, so that will be a nice treat I'm sure. 

LadyWithAPlan

Have a great trip London Transport Museum is always good for random gifts and on the CG Piazza!

Maybe every £30k per champagne bottle?.. £200k seems a bit too long to wait!

julicorn

Thanks so much @LadyWithAPlan ! Mr julicorn was running extremely late after work and made some questionable public transport decisions, meaning we didn't really get to see any lights. In fact, we ended up making it so that we had our bums in the (very nice, stalls 3rd row, but still reasonably priced because we're just about still under 35 ) seats exactly 1 minute before it started. Eeeeeek! What a stress, but I'm so glad we got there on time. 

We saw the Elixir of Love it and it was FANTASTIC, really really fun. We both enjoyed every minute of it. 

Trains back were mostly cancelled (what's new), but we found a 3-change connection that got us home just in time to hop on the last bus home. Hurrah. Treated ourselves to a little lie-in this morning and only got up at 6.45, I know, what a luxury!

We'll be back in London for a gig on the 20th, this time we might see if Mr julicorn can take the afternoon off as well so we have a bit of time to see London rather than just running between trains. 

Trying to have a chill one today, and I have a massage booked (at work) this afternoon.  

julicorn

I'm also with you on the 'champagne for every £30k' suggestion, although might need to vary the type to keep it interesting  

LadyWithAPlan

julicorn said:

I'm also with you on the 'champagne for every £30k' suggestion, although might need to vary the type to keep it interesting  

Bolly, then rose veuve cliquot, then Krug for each £100k   I am inspiring myself !! Quite like some Tattinger as well

South_coast

I'm just enjoying the positive thinking that the £30k's will come round so soon that you'll still be able to taste the last one 😀😀😀