Settling in for the long haul

Dakota_Rose

Thank you both. @FootyFanDan I’ve looked into how much I’d lose just dropping one day a week (if I could even make that work) and it’s scary money at £650+. If I wanted to start something new, I’d need a plan to make a good chunk of that in a different way. Would love my own business or shop but can’t see anything making that kind of money without serious investment first. What would so many of us do for an extra £650 a month? My work isn’t that terrible that I could justify it. In fact it isn’t ‘terrible’ at all, (but it does have a high % of early deaths after retirement due to stress I believe). But of course, if my mental health starts to feel too vulnerable, I’ll need to think more carefully longer term. I’m very protective of my mental peace but can be anxious over anything in life and my hormones are hitting me hard at the moment. This is definitely my difficult week of the month.

I’m so glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did @ohdearhowdidthathappen - I’m not sure I could keep saying on here how much I was hooked on the series if you didn’t. That was the most filthy one by far 😂 🤣 🔥. Have you pre-ordered the new one? I’ve just started Throne of Glass, but I think I need a quiet weekend to give it proper headspace.

DancingInTheRain

Career changes, peri-menopause, juggling kids, reading filthy books. I've definitely found my tribe here 😂😂

On a serious note, on the career front there's no harm in exploring options and seeing what may or may not work for you. Pleased work isn't too taxing at the moment although that is a sobering thought on the post-retirement front.

Big congratulations to DS on his first job, lovely news.

Dakota_Rose

@DancingInTheRain this made me chuckle. Welcome to the tribe 🤭!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

DITR, same 😂

I’m waiting until the @mazon prime day to see if the kindle series of Throne of Glass goes down in price, if not I’ll buy the first one.

Have you read the fourth wing series? I read the first one and enjoyed it, need to go back to read the other books.

That is a big drop in pay for 1 day 😞 I usually work full time hours over 4 long days and do love my day off, I’d miss it.

Dakota_Rose

Fourth Wing is on my TBR list. I’m glad you enjoyed the first one.

I thought I’d go on to the premium bonds prize checker not expecting anything but was chuffed to see we’ve won £50 🥳. That’s our second win of the year. I have noticed it’s our larger chunks of bought bonds that have attracted the wins both times so will try to keep saving and buying in bulk each time. By bulk I mean £500-£1000.

DancingInTheRain

What a lovely surprise, congratulations!

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82156716#Comment_82156716

Thank you - it’s made my day 😊. Still feeling lurgy-fied and although have managed a full day’s work, am aching all over again tonight so will ponder how best to use the winnings tomorrow. Hoping my neck stiffness and sore legs feel better by then too 🤞.

Happy weekend all x

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Nice win! We’ve got £500 in premium bonds and haven’t won anything in 15+ years 🫠

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82156963#Comment_82156963

You’re kidding?! Are they all in one chunk of bond records or were they paid in dribs and drabs? Sorry for sharing mine then, must feel like salt in the wound 😢.

My wins came from a £600 deposit and a £1000 deposit I made so I’m thinking my little £25 ones here and there aren’t worth it at all. You can’t be selective at all though in terms of withdrawing them as they automatically take the oldest bonds out apparently. I had considered taking all my little ones out and chunking them back in together 😂. Think I’m going MSE mad!

foxgloves

There are a few myths about Premium Bonds & one of them is that large spans of newer numbers have a greater chance of winning. It might sometimes look like that, but PBs have been around for ages & many of the older numbers have been removed as the holders cash them in or die. The human mind is wired to look for patterns & meaning but each £1 bond has an equal chance of being selected however old or new it is, whether it was bought in a £25 bundle or a £2500 or 25,000 one - it's just that a person with the biggest amount has 25,000 chances of winning each month compared to the 1st person's 25 chances. I ran this past my nephew who is a maths boffin & an MPhys & he confirmed that the only factor which can increase wins is number of bonds held & this is because each number drawn is a random selection in itself & not dependent or related to the selections which came before it. So you could hold £2500's worth of bonds in £25 chunks throughout the entire sequence or all together in one run of numbers, but the chance each individual bond has of being selected is the same. It is all down to mathematical probability based on how many bonds you have & the literal luck of the draw.

We have been saving into PBs for 3 years at £100 a month, plus an occasional top-up when we are able, & have had 5 wins - 2 x £100, 1 x £50 & 2 x £25. I think hoping for a big win is part of the fun.....esp as we can withdraw our money swiftly should we need it. We always joke about being sure to answer the door to any knocks on ERNIE day in case it's Agent Millions standing there! It was interesting discussing the odds with my nephew. I thought this was the case re buying big blocks of newer bonds but as I'm very much not a mathematician, I wanted to run it buy someone who is.

Nothing for us this month. Maybe next, lol.

F x