Progress is...

rtandon27

Financial Update…

Have taken some financial advice, and in preparation for possible redundancy, I've started the process of 4 huge AVC payments totaling 10000 pounds - best to pad up my retirement pot and mitigate my higher level tax rate. Unsurprisingly, I had the quickest turn around from HR in 15 years - sent the e-mail last night at 5:50 - response back at 9:20 this morning.

I've also spoken to our medical insurance people - continuing medical insurance on a personal plan will cost me 3700 a month - which will wipe out any redunancy package in less than 6 months. I will be seeking formal HR/legal advice.

…bit of a rant…

When OH was working full time and we had two incomes, our combined income was more than i make now, BUT we were both in the regular tax bracket - I'm now full time work, full time care, manage a full time disability and am penalized through taxes. As I reminded the rotwiler receptionist at our surgery when she was being particularly condescending and difficult, my hefty taxes pay her salary!

Cherryfudge

The AVCs are a great idea. I've wondered about doing similar and living off savings while my pension gets boosted. I don't earn much and DH's salary and pension cover a lot of our costs but I pay Council Tax and some utilities so we would need to decide which fund those would then come from, but at least part of my pay could be diverted to AVCs as my pension is small at the moment and I've only a few years to pay into it! The original plan had been to continue in my previous work till retirement, take the month's break that they require then go back and work relief hours, but that idea went when I went sick the resigned, and I've not got as far as finding an alternative (though I'm still considering relief work after retirement as I enjoy it).

ETA: sorry, that ended up being about me. I do feel you should benefit from as good a retirement as possible and it seems sensible to fund it while you can get tax relief.

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - thank you for sharing Cheery! All conversation is welcome around my virtual kitchen table! I'm glad you are thinking about AVC's - for me atm it's about savings protection as much as anything else! With redundancy looming I'm making use of what is available to me immediately.

rtandon27

Happy (early) Birthday to me! The PG neighbours have put their rubbish out a day early and driven off in their car! I'm hoping this means that they will be gone tomorrow and Friday if not the entire weekend. Hooray!

Also this morning I asked our very nice grocery delivery guy to please not leave the bin on her step because she was a difficult neighbour - he said no problem, and I knew she heard as she managed to audibly lock door. OH heard it too and was laughing far too loud to be discreet 🤪

Cheery_Daff

Dare you to report the neighbours to the council for leaving rubbish in the street when it's not bin day 👿😂

greenbee

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82030285#Comment_82030285

Double dare you…

rtandon27

hahahahhahahaha - trouble makers both of you!

To be fair the is on their property - on their own drive, just where the binmen can get to it.

teapot2

I do seem to to remember hearing a big stooshie about folk being fined for leaving bins out on non bin days but can't remember where that was 🤔😊😁

rtandon27

Haha - it was too good to be true unfortunately! They were both back in the house by dinner and the compost bin taken back inside by nightfall. Probably a honest mistake.

I made a point of pruning my retaining wall plants while they were out yesterday, I did however leave an actual weed growing out of the cracks on my paved steps - it's a foot high - yes I'm tempting fate but it is on my side of the property line, and not in anyone's way but ours. I'm wickedly proving a point and know it. 😈😇

Cheery_Daff

I don't blame you for being petty at this point quite frankly!