Statement of intent

StuartGMC

MrsNut wrote: »

It may not be a popular view, but honesty does help (I also tend to find that days when I think everyone's nice and helpful they tend to be, and days when I think everyone's against me they usually are - and if I can change my viewpoint to the former, life tends to be pleasanter)

So keep up the good work on being mortgage free - I've thoroughly enjoyed your contributions to the forum - but not at the expense of your self-respect

My conscience would not allow me; but it was because I'd estimated the amount it stood out; in fact the bill had been checked by a manager prior to it being run so I wouldn't even have put the young lady in trouble either... it's in the category of honesty as you say and "bank error in your favour" never sits well with me.

Regarding the reversed situation, it does happen in the business I'm in for consultancy and failure investigations with the client stating "you should have considered that issue" if we need to get a variation in contract value. Here it can then be difficult to clear with commercial groups etc so not all is easily transferable from one's personal attitude to that of business-2-business.

Thanks for the comment on my musings too and best wishes in your plans.

StuartGMC

george_jetson wrote: »

No.

I did a biggish shop a couple of weeks ago and wasn't charged for about £50 worth of wine that I'd bought. (The cashier had swiped the bottles, but I assume she had mistakenly cancelled the purchase each time "Refer to Manager" came up on the till.) I wrestled with my conscience but told her what had happened and paid up.

I know I wouldn't have enjoyed that wine knowing I had to all intents and purposes nicked it. I'm sure you'd have felt the same - that "hey I've saved £90" wouldn't have lasted long before the guilt kicked in…

Indeed, I agree

BTW I'm not at all into cars but that Jag looks fantastic!

Ahh, so now we have something else other than those casinos in Las Vegas to consider for your MF disposable income eh?

How about the Jag and then driving it to Monaco for the casinos there instead of the trans-Atlantic haul?

....can we tempt George folks?

george_jetson

StuartGMC wrote: »

How about the Jag and then driving it to Monaco for the casinos there instead of the trans-Atlantic haul?

Tempting but wouldn't I have to forgo flight attendants bringing me g&ts? (Unless I missed that possibility on the Jag's options list )

Hate to admit it but I've just booked another Vegas trip. (Solo this time, sadly O.H. has run out of leave.) Virgin flights and five nights in a hotel for £500 which I think is a bit of a bargain…

StuartGMC

Could OH drive and you take G&T on the way?

Mind you, I'd hate not to have the fun of driving through the Alps, just a pity I prefer to be in left-hand drive cars in Europe.

StuartGMC

Quarterly offset summary received today for 17 June to 16 September.

Interest paid on the mortgage in the quarter £4.13 less the £0.62 earned on the offset savings i.e. £3.51

Without offset it would be £148.95 interest charged and £5.53 interest earned or £143.42

Thus saved £139.91 in the quarter and £1914.09 since offsetting

The upshot of this of course is that virtually every penny we pay into the mortgage reduces the capital owing, which is a great incentive.

StuartGMC

Just did some quick checks on progress in investments since January; you recall I rebalanced the portfolio and started four new funds, well, these are up a total of 7.80% over that 9 months which is nice and better than any savings offerings

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

Just did some quick checks on progress in investments since January; you recall I rebalanced the portfolio and started four new funds, well, these are up a total of 7.80% over that 9 months which is nice and better than any savings offerings

good news :T

RosieTiger

Stuart,
great to see the progress continuing, I can just see the sales staff i the jag dealer rubbing their hands !

StuartGMC

RT
I think in front of them is my OH with her list of new furniture etc needed in the house

Money Observer Oct issue arrived today so will be reading it soon, but one article is an interview with Peter Spiller who thinks we're far from out of the worse yet.... the question is will it change my strategy? Present ISAs position is now a total loss of 0.89% or -£107.75 which was running at -£1398 on 2 September, so it's tricky to decide not to stay in the market. The latest graph is below:


My pay will be in the current a/c on Friday, then it will be a matter of review as we run through to the same point in October with a need to have minimal outgoings. That said, clothing from Next account from earlier in the summer is now on the credit card (just after the last bill was run on 18 Sept) at £233 plus £241 for the hotel costs whilst away for the wedding last weekend; add to that OH has MOT and service due on her car and it looks like a steep challenge indeed!

I'll need to chat to OH and maybe we'll compromise and pay down a few thousand as an interim step. Watch this space.

setmefree2

Never heard of Peter Spiller - who's he? Plenty off bears around at the moment predicting sharp falls in equities (10% to 15%) before end of October. They haven't convinced me FWIW (which is probably nothing - ). I'm staying in the game - though I might bail if I saw the beginnings of a sell off;) Tee hee what fun:D