Statement of intent

SmlSave

Welcome back Stu, glad you got back safe and sound.

StuartGMC

Taka
Seems company is not yet issuing blanket rules (that'll teach me for even mentioning it!).

Regarding mortgage balance we are bouncing between positive and negative on the offset depending upon the timing (i.e. positive until the credit card bill arrives, which is where all are spend is placed). Things will be extra positive next week when I can submit my expenses for two weeks away of about £2500. We'll drop back negative in a week or two when we pay the balance on the holiday to..... Mexico :rotfl:

We've heard some operators are offering alternatives to customers rather than Mexico but, they seem very poor value (lower grade accommodation but still at the same price) and of course they cut back on the number of holidays they were selling to keep prices up - hence no stock of unsold ones either. I think for now we'll have to pay up and review with them in June.

Meanwhile OH has seen a consultant whose interest is high in this "unusual" case, on a different inhaler now (smaller particulate/droplet size) which seems to be helping a bit, and OH is due for a CT scan later. We're advised to let insurers know it is asthma for their purposes. Hoping we get some answers over next 3-4months

Today the standard mortgage payment and OP (total £450) is going to the mortgage plus the extra OP (£200) so the mortgage balance will be £16713.13 tonight :dance:
Hopefully the interest charged this month will be about £3.00

Having made a great saving contribution last month, I'm not sure we'll be able to put much away this month, but will endeavour to do so as that target of £912 per month is there for a reason!

I see the markets have dipped a little since yesterday so ISAs have lost a few hundred pounds vs yesterday's position, but I'm keeping in there even if it is a bear rally, although to be honest I guess I should be wishing for a flat market so I can continue pound cost averaging at low prices for the next 18months.

I'll try to catch up on the threads I've yet to read through in the next week.

Have a great weekend everyone, for once the weather looks to be set fair whilst I'm here :j:j:j

Just remembered to read the meters (every two weeks):
Gas now averaging 24kWh per day
Day rate electricity 9.28kWh per day this period
Night rate electricity 2.28kWh per day this period

Rolling averages since October 2008:
Gas 48.32kWh per day
Electricity Day rate 13.95kWh per day
Electricity Night rate 2.28kWh per day

So all are drifting downwards much as expected at this time of year and we've now got the summer to come which will then allow us to get annual consumption figures again.

Forgot to note that I'm also waiting on £11.36 to clear from my TopCashBack account with a further £17.22 in a further month's time. We've only used it for a year but it's earned about £69 in that time although I think now we'll improve on this as we do remember to check for retailers there first.

StuartGMC

My copy of MoneyObserver arrived whilst I was away. I took up the three issues for £1 and the subscription offer thereafter as I think I need to be more aware of the options in the broader sense for the future. It's not that we'll be rolling in cash but, I do want to understand the options out there for tax-free returns beyond ISAs, the general options available and also the best moves to make as we get older and need to move the sums in the S&S ISAs to lower risk. It will help in any discussions with IFAs and when we reach retirement too.

However, with the new £10200 limit each for ISAs from 2010, we'll not have much more available than £20k between us each year to save long-term/invest anyway, but I guess the critical aspect will be whether all should be in these wrappers or spread out. Also, it does occur to me that within say, 8-9 years each S&S ISA could be worth more than £50k and therefore I need also to understand how then to have cover for the fund supermarket going bust; need to re-read a bit in the mag and check our fineprint on the holdings (nominee or not).

Finally, have also been looking at the replacement of the car as I've lost some confidence in the electrical side. However, looking at what is available, we'd need to spend a minimum of £12k from savings as the 03 S-Type will likely only get £5k trade-in. Thus the XF is out of reach unless we take a loan of about £20k :eek: for the new low CO2 and high economy 3.0 diesel, or £12-15k for the older 2.7diesel. I haven't had a car loan since I bought my second car in 1990 and do not wish to get one ever again....

Alternatives using trade-in and savings are the Lexus GS300 but this is only available in the petrol version or a BMW (5 or 7 series) or Mercedes (E-class) which do have diesel variants. So, having spent a long time looking through the options, availability etc, I think provided we can get by with only £2-3k additional costs above normal running and maintenance then sticking with the S-Type is the logical choice. Fingers crossed that it lasts then...

evab_2

I hope your car lasts until you're ready for it, ours it gradually wearing away too, had to get it repaired this week and could have cost £300 if they had to remove the gear box! (clutch and gear problem) Luckily it only cost £34 but I hope the money from the will comes sooner rather than later so we can change it.

setmefree2

Our x reg Scenic is still chugging along......one day we will have to replace it but fingers crossed not too soon

StuartGMC

One small effort to reduce energy consumption now we have good weather is to not use the extractor over the hob, but, open two windows in kitchen which as it is on the corner of the house should on breezy days carry most of the steam away. Obviously if there is too much condensation then it has to be turned on but every little helps.

Regarding vehicles and when to replace them, you know I try to balance being MSE but also like a nice vehicle (my weakness but not too the extent of a sportscar (yet?)), but, more importantly having had a major accident in 1992 I am more than aware of the issues of improved vehicle safety as models improve (roll cage, side impact, additional airbags) so this also is always in my mind. OH has a V plate Focus estate, and that will need to be replaced in the next couple of years but generally it is only used on shorter runs rather than motorway etc. I would always recommend consideration of such factors having escaped from a car with a roof crushed down and flattening the seats inside, simply due to me having been thrown sideways....

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

having escaped from a car with a roof crushed down and flattening the seats inside, simply due to me having been thrown sideways....

Jeeze that sounds horrible....:o

StuartGMC

SMF2
Yes, black ice on dual carriageway, 55mph, 20ft drop down embankment into 5ft ditch with car pointing opposite to direction of travel and lying on passenger side.... you can see why the safety of a vehicle is important to me.

Onto better thoughts, the markets are up again :j:j:j

OH has spoken to insurers about travel insurance now due to her health; our inclusive cover in the buildings & contents insurance for annual travel cannot be "augmented" so she needs separate cover which would be about £106 single trip as she has been in hospital this year, future years about £58. They would offer, however, as it is Mexico they can't quote cover with the FCO recommending no travel there presently... Thomas Cook are only acting on holidays this week and through 22 May.

So we're caught a bit as the balance has to be paid on Saturday.

I think we'll go ahead and of course pay with credit card - if FCO lift ban, we can get OH insured and go; if not then we can't go there and need then to look at alternative (not likely to be the 5* we are booked into from what we hear) or get all refunded. Anticipating this may be an issue we'll look to insurer/credit card to assist.

...as if we didn't have enough to think about!

Have modified my signature but the +/- is missing; how to express when it is +0.5% now but will be -0.3% later?

gallygirl

Yikes Stuart, awful accident. A colleague was in a smash yesterday, he was in work today :rolleyes:, car a write off, he was unscathed fortunately, despite being shoved by an artic a long way - sideways :eek:. And he only had a (new) Fiesta - fortunately the safety of most new cars is excellent :T.

Good news for us all on markets picking up ssshhhh, those little green things might be appearing

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

Yikes Stuart, awful accident. A colleague was in a smash yesterday, he was in work today :rolleyes:, car a write off, he was unscathed fortunately, despite being shoved by an artic a long way - sideways :eek:. And he only had a (new) Fiesta - fortunately the safety of most new cars is excellent :T.

Ouch, yes consider what would have happened in a 15yr old car.... but my accident was in 1992 in a 4yr old Escort and the roof on most vehicles is now much stronger. This may also let you see why I don't yearn for a cabriolet!

Good news for us all on markets picking up ssshhhh, those little green things might be appearing

Now, I don't mind the roots spreading but no green bits yet please otherwise everyone will be jumping in to the markets again; need to get more invested BEFORE they really rise a lot.