Renewed focus: the (less-than?) five-year plan to move

themadvix

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82122986#Comment_82122986

Thanks SC, that’s really helpful!

edinburgher

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82122986#Comment_82122986

@themadvix - SC's helpful link considers loads of options - I didn't realise Monevator was still a thing!

My circumstances are slightly unusual in that I can claim my AVCs free of tax as long as they're not more than a quarter of my total DB + AVC pension (something like that). Easy to avoid getting the AVCs that high because of the stonking value of DB pensions.

Long story short, you can take all of your tax free money at once or you can take a bit of each withdrawal tax free. I suppose the trick is to pay as much into a pension at higher tax rates as you can and then withdraw it at a lower tax rate or no tax rate (if you can live on your lump sum + less than the personal allowance withdrawn each year before your state pension kicks in).

debtfreewannabe321

Hey madvix I quietly followed along with you before 😊 your first post describes the position I'm in in my house. Although we have a mortgage still. But it is a relatively cheap mortgage compared to the mortgage we would have had if we'd bought a house in a quiet area, with nicer /fewer neighbours and less busy etc so I battle with do we move / do we stay as it's affordable. We're not in the position to move now I have no job anyway 🫣 so we stay for now ... looking forward to seeing your progress.

themadvix

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82124024#Comment_82124024

Hi DFW! 👋🏼 It's a really tricky decision, isn't it. I don't regret this house (we love the house), but there's definitely something to be said for location. We've tried, particularly over the last couple of years, since we paid the mortgage off, to be happy here - to acknowledge it's not perfect, but that it's good to have the financial freedom, but the niggles always reach their peak at this time of year (after a whole summer of having the windows open and being more aware that we are all right on top of each other) and I think we're both agreed that we would rather not have to deal with that forever more.

Tbh, with the quietness of my work, I'm pretty unemployed currently! Hope you manage to find something suitable soon.

themadvix

Morning all,

While others might be worrying about their energy bills, I just worry about my vets' bills!

[Non-cat people, feel free to ignore cat troubles.] Took Ginger to the vets this morning and he's to go onto a hypoallergenic diet as the first port of call for his potential IBD (the vet seemed to think he was old to develop it, despite me telling him his twin has just developed it 🙄). There seems to be no logic to the approaches taken by different vets, which is driving me slightly insane 🤯. However, I'm happy with this for now. If in 6 weeks, he's still vomiting, then it'll be bloods and ultrasound time. However, they've also changed the meds for his arthritis as being on NSAIDs and being sick frequently is not great. Have 2 weeks supply from the vets and will ring next week to get a written script for a longer period. He wanted to give me a month's worth before a prescription, but that would have been the same price as the chemo and I am pretty certain it'll be considerably cheaper online (for obvious reasons chemo can't go through the post, so we're stuck on that one). The new meds are likely to be a bit more expensive than the NSAIDs so I think we'll start claiming for them from the insurance co. B&W Cat's vet won't be back until tomorrow, so will hope to hear from her then. B&W Cat did eat all his food yesterday, eventually, so that was a win (and it wasn't all left until just before bedtime, which adds stress for me).

In the absence of work, I will be popping out to cat client shortly and then heading to mum's for a cuppa with family friends and to collect the single duvet that I gave her not long ago - might as well use it as it sit in a cupboard at hers. Bed frame is due to arrive today, so we'll see how that goes up and if all is OK, maybe order the mattress (although Mr MV is wittering about sorting the electrics first… I'm inclined to do the minimum necessary (i.e. it's been how it is for the last 5 years - on an extension lead), so let's just leave it).

MS things:
* Haggled the supply of drugs down from vet
* PA surveys
* Y Live survey (I think? It crashed, but I think it was at the end)
* Not enough milk this morning, so had a frozen hypermarket pastry instead (not a pleasure, they're definitely not worth it)

Gratitudes:
* Taking the cheaper, simpler route with Ginger Cat (and they'll both (hopefully) be on the same diet)
* Some homegrown bits in last night's dinner
* Weather is cooler, so 'catching' cats on my lap with a fleecy blanket for cuddles 🥰

Have a good day all!

themadvix

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123217#Comment_82123217

Thanks Ed, that helps. Lots to consider, but it might work for us as Mr MV doesn't want to keep working just to pay a big mortgage, but reducing his pension contributions just to overpay doesn't make sense.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Have done a couple of bits of work for main client, at last. Neither relates to the big project we are expecting, so that's still to come. Can't say I was thrilled to discover that AI had been extensively and successfully used in a prior stage of the work (by main client's client) - it makes me wonder how long it will be before I am redundant (and this was largely not a concern with this client, until now).

Further discussion with Mr MV and we have clarified that he would like us to have moved by his 45th birthday - he's 3 months away from 42 now, so definitely less than 5 years. We are both a feeling a bit frustrated currently as he (stupidly) looked on RM and we have found the perfect house - great location, all the things we want, good layout etc. etc….. except it's on for £100k more than we can afford and we're not in a position to buy yet (both we need more savings and this house isn't ready to sell). Sigh. Oh well… if it's meant to be it'll be - somehow…? (It's already been reduced so a cheeky offer isn't going to cut it.)

Dinner out last night was nice and while not cheap (when is it ever these days?), was less than either of us expected - helped I think by our entirely veggie choices (it was a tapas restaurant), me drinking tap water and none of our fellow eaters taking the mick with ordering/being too full for dessert. We're off to the pub for a quick drink this evening but I am about to go and get a daal on the go, so we'll have something quick and easy to eat when we get in. (I think there are a couple of flatbreads in the freezer, so might just stick the dal in the IP and not bother with rice.)

I also need to pop to the allotment as it's show day tomorrow and I need to see if I have 5 French beans of the same size and variety I can enter! Definitely shouldn't have been so quick to blanch the ones I picked the other day (had totally forgotten I'd entered the beans!).

The vet rang earlier and she was really helpful. She's going to prescribe some appetite stimulant for B&W Cat, which will hopefully make it easier to feed him (on an ad hoc basis - but may be especially useful on days when we aren't here all day to keep offering him food). We've started transitioning both cats to the new dry food and Ginger will start transitioning to the wet food this evening, using up some of the stuff we'd bought previously (we won't use it all up as he shouldn't keep switching, but we've decided he'll have the stuff that we have the most of in already!). I need to get their remaining tinned chicken on FBMP and then hopefully our house can stop looking like a pet shop.

Our cheapo bed frame arrived yesterday from Dr3ams - cheaper than shown as it was a BH offer. We are very pleased with it for what it is and it will do nicely. Better still, it (a king-size) actually takes up less space than our wooden-framed double. Need to order mattress now, but Mr MV is dithering a bit. We'll order from W4yfair as they have a 100 night trial - and there are a couple of concerns we have so would like to be able to return it. Hoping we might get this sorted tomorrow.

Mr MV is off away for work on Sunday lunchtime, so Mum and I have booked to see Toy Story in the afternoon, as the tickets are only £4 for National Cinema Day (it was in Martin's email). I saw it with Mr MV, but Niece didn't want to go with Mum, so I'm happy to see it again.

Sadly I heard that my great aunt died yesterday. She was 95 and had been very well up until a year ago, but had gone downhill quite rapidly recently. Sad but not unexpected, and definitely better than living for years in poor health. Depending on when it is, I would like to go to her funeral, but this is likely to cost as it will include a flight and likely hotel stay - so tbd as to the feasibility (alongside the fact that B&W Cat will be without meds for a day too).

MS things:
* Bed is good - sometimes cheap does the job
* 1P surveys, YG surveys, PA survey
* Clicks and mini HW. Likely to abandon mini HW stuff as it is just loaded against you - but have about £4 in each account, so will keep it going for a couple of weeks to see if I can reach £5 or I'll just add cash so I can withdraw what's in each account.
* Resisted temptation of the farm and baked bread for the second time this week!
* Cat sitting for the ginger ninja - who hissed at me across the room this morning - I think in complaint about the rain?! 😹

Gratitudes:
* Lovely evening out with Mr MV's colleague/ex-colleague friends and their partners last night
* It's Friday!
* New bed is good

Have a good afternoon/evening all!

TallGirl

I think you are right about having a timescale but also be able to make it sooner. We set out with a 4 to 5 year plan to move to Denmark so I could be closer to retirement age but when we lost not 1 but 2 friends at 54 (the age I was then) we just had to make it happen so did it in 3 years instead. As for getting the house ready for sale I do not think it matters too much. You just need to find the buyer that actually want it although any repairs should obviously be done. We were lucky with our buyer and we did not look until we had an offer as it was just too too tempting to tell him to stay off RM!! Also sending the best wishes for your poorly kitties I do hope they start eating soon and like the new food. Don't they know we as MSE hate wasting money!!

themadvix

Saving September not going great… we have mice 😱😭😬 Mr MV walked out into the kitchen last night and saw something run across the worktop to behind the microwave. So after some strategic placing of a plastic box, we scared it out from behind the microwave and managed to trap it. An unexpected drive later (being very grateful that Mr MV had had very little beer), we released it into the wild. My job today has been cleaning the kitchen, which has been slow progress (I did have to take Mr MV to thestation, cat sit, buy mouse traps etc, and went to the cinema this afternoon). Managed to make breakfast and a sandwich in the kitchen, but really didn’t fancy cooking dinner, so have come to the local cheap pub (not the Wetherspoons, didn’t fancy that on my own) - it was cheaper to get fish and chips here than at the chippy (which is more kebab shop, so not as nice either). No sign of mices in the traps yet… poo in lots of places it shouldn’t be though 😭 I’ll be continuing with the cleaning in the morning. It has not been joyous, especially with Mr MV now away untilTuesday evening.

B&W cat has slowed on eating the new food, but I will collect someappetite stimulant tomorrow and see if that helps.

beanielou

Eek. Poor you.