Progress is...

rtandon27

@KajiKita - I desperately want to finish off my mortgage before retirement age so that I can enjoy retirement, but by the same token if the mortgage is paid off then I'm very happy to move my retirement date up or drop to part time! - or even do something I enjoy rather than something I may just happen to be good at! - It just feels like 2/3 of my efforts to wipe out 3 years of my mortgage has been unceremoniously altered.

@Cheery_Daff - somehow that is comforting to know that it's not just me that had a doubling of interest rate! I've 10 years on you there, so only 12 years to my retirement state pension age!

@edinburgher - Oh my, I do remember you feeling overwhelmed when the interest rate changed, and now I understand why - 6%?!? - that is a crime, truly & I get how 4% is a releif - I now fully understand all your micropayments!

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So today after a lovely day out with KajiKita yesterday, in the big smoke, I am playing catch-up with the usual weekend chores!

Kitchen has been mostly blitzed, paperwork has been halfway tackled, laundry is underway and the munchies have hit as the weather though seasonal and wet is dismal!

ETA - signature has now been edited - fitting for such a dismal day!

Cheery_Daff

Oh I'm so pleased you two managed to meet up! I'm quite jealous. Bit of a hike for me on this occasion but I'd love to join you another time 🙂

rtandon27

@Cherry_Daff - next time you plan to be in the big smoke pop over a PM - I'm sure we can arrange to meet up! There is a lovely place in Soho called Mildred's which is vegan and also two South Indian places in the vacinity that are oh so tasty!

We also discussed meeting up in Glastonbury or Bath next time - The former is a bit of a faff on public transport, but the later is fairly easy to get trains to from all parts of the country! Perhaps a girly spa weekend away? Emulating the Victorians? If we plan enough in advance there are bargains to be had! I'vve seen several ads for 13 pound weekend train rides!

carolbee

I’d love to come along for a day meet up in Bath, I’m not that far from there. Not sure about a weekend

rtandon27

@carolbee - sure thing! just keep and eye out for the next time we are chatting and PM me your details then!

rtandon27

Today's money-wrangling efforts included forcasting expenditures for Q4 (Oct/Nov/Dec). We will have to tighten our belts in the new year, but we'll break even for the next three months. Rather pleased to see this as I've got both mortgage overpayments and very large AVC's planned to go into my pension.

So for now everything is undercontrol but going forward in Q1 I have a few financial things to focus on.
1) Liquidating some of my OH's assets (a big toad to swallow)
2) A storecupboard challenge to use up what is in the freezer and overflowing cupboards! (lots of little tadpoles - not literally)
3) Get my head around V1nted and get a handle on my wardrobe!

rtandon27

A few more observations from forward planning for next year, looking at this past year as a starting point…

1) Taking out mortgage overpayments & one of wedding expenditures reduces our outgoings by 25%
2) Removing other one of expenses, as well as work lunches & work clothes gets rid of another 13% of our outgoings.

So 38% less going out before even starting an eat from home challenge or selling anything from the wardrobe. I'm guessing that we can attempt another 12% shaved off.

That would mean our basic living expenses for Q1 can half of what we have spent over the past year. I'm liking that there is wiggle room before we even have to start cutting back on lifestyle.

Merlin's_Beard

Those are some pretty comforting numbers to start you off!

rtandon27

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82143138#Comment_82143138

Indeed! - I'm thankful to past me for making some hard but wise decisions about finances and living well within our means!

rtandon27

Progress is…

…submitting a 13 page gievance document that took 22 hours to pull together!

A response from a Deputy Director in under 4 hours with more direction on the process. Interesting as my original request for guidance from HR took days and was a patchwork quilt of conflicting direction!