watchesandwhisky

Its a tough one, but what else can I do? Rent for the rest of my life? even if I am paying a mortgage of into my 70s it has to be preferable to renting, at least I will have an asset to fund our old age care for a few years (oh what a joyfull though lol...) It does have ground rent of £100 a year, but i have looked into it, it goes upto £200 in 2029 and then £300 in 2054 - So its there but sensible and not terrible like these ones that started at £250 and double every ten years. Service charge will almost certainly increase, but the management company does at least seem to tend the gardens, clean the communal hallways ect - I would love a freehold detached property but the reality is I cant even cant even dream of that, a lease hold flat is all I can stretch too. I am awaiting LPE1 form that show plans like reserve fund, when the service charge may be reviewed, any potential major works planned ect - will have a good read before I sign a contract. I Think its the lesser of two evils, service charges suck, but should suck less than being stuck in a rental trap I cant escape. I'm sure reality will hit home but at this point I am excited to be moving into the next chapter in my life even if a lot later than I should be.

I am kind of the opposite, I dossed around during my 20s (and most of my 30s) and have to now pay the price of not being willing to accept a long standing self employed "business" never really was that. I'm nearly 39 and I'm just staring. Better late than never though. I think its tight but doable, Whisky is my luxury I guess, I cant drink often any more but I have enough supply and variety of quality aged single malt to last me for many many years - as in at least over 25 years supply Clothes is low I guess, but most of my time is spent in work uniform that is provided free - so my non work cloths get very little use and I am not fussed about fashion or trends. Shoes is my biggest cost as I wear through tread quickly - So probably do need to up this. Buildings insurance is in service charge for some things, but i also need home insurance for burst pipes ect - when i did a quote it was cheap so didnt include it - but it is a cost. I work for the Royal mail, and being a unionised company I feel I am protected better than most - our union is the CWU and they are currently doing BT pay rise and have flat out rejected a £1500 year increase for them - stating a 10% increase is needed before industrial action is taken - the royal mail should be the same, they have just had a bumper year and payed out shareholder a ton in dividends - I Believe they will want the same for us. For fun we just go for walks in nice weather really, get some sun! but I also have a top spec gaming pc that will be good for years and a nice tv and entertainment system all paid upfront, plus a sizable physical media collection. So I feel im ok for entertainment, luckily we dont go out much and when we do its cheap. Cheers for the imput and thoughts, there sure is a lot to think about!

For high tax earners SIPP does seem best for sure, I would say average ish wage- Lifetime ISA seems the best for me I think as its tax free and still get the tax relief. I do a salary sacrifice with work for pension I do 6% and they match it with 12% (or well in 8 months they will - for now im on crappy basic 6% with 3% added for the first year of employment)

20k savings in a year is awesome! so you plan to save and invest rather than overpay? Im thinking along the same lines really, each day i do 5 hours overtime im throwing £10 onto a LISA towards pension and £30 into a S&S ISA. Should add up pretty fast as i do that 4 times a week usually.

Bet that feels great! Yep I think interest is going to be a lot more by the time the ten year fix is up for sure.

Hi Roy, I think i have it mostly worked out, i did this pre mortgage application so I could show them I knew what my expenses would be. Let me know if any of these stick out as off, I think I have overestimated on some to be on the safe side. Per month Water and sewerage - £31 shopping - £140 Car maintenance, fuel ect £100 (not a lot but a 2 year old honda so reliable and cheap to run) holiday fund £50 sim contacts £14 mobile phone replacement money £10 internet £25 electricity £150 (its a 1 small bedroom, 1 open plan lounge/kitchen type flat - with electric boiler, flat is EPC - B ) clothes £20 Life insurance - £50 unexpected (prescriptions, medicine, whatever else ect ) - £50 council tax £108 ground rent/service charge £100 Mortgage repayment - £550 Total bills and everything £1400, say £1500 to give some leeway. My basic salary just about covers this, but overtime will be needed for savings or overpayments for sure! I guess a figure of £7500 would be good for a 6 month all in emergency fund.

I'm looking for ideas or tips on things I can do, and opinions on my plans. First a bit about my current situation. Ok so now mortgage approved assuming the sale completes I will have a mortgage to pay at approx. £580 a month. I have practically zero pension provision (as in about 900 pounds!) and I am 39 in June. A place to live that is my own has to take priority over pension. So i used a sizable deposit and got a loan to value of 70%. I have an emergency fund of 4 months full bills to include everything and the mortgage in cash. I have secured a ten year fix mortgage at 2.59% I plan to do overtime where possible - and use that money to long term overpay the mortgage... With a ten year fix I'm thinking I may be better served putting all overpayments into a stocks and shares ISA on some low cost index trackers - ten years is plenty of time, and if the market takes a major dip when its close to re-fixing I don't have to cash out then - I can always get a new fix... As for pensions I also need to do something, First I thought SIPP, but that is only tax free for the first 25% at 55 years old, then taxable. So I am thinking a stocks and shares Lifetime ISA, cannot get until 60 and can only pay into for the next 11 years but its completely tax free. I want to clear mortgage, but i also need to make pension provisions (I do get a workplace pension I am maxing out but as of now thats only adding £37 a week - from December i get a much better rate and it will add about £60 with no extra cost to me) So instead of making overpayments to the mortgage provider I am thinking for every £50 i clear in overtime put £35 into a stocks and shares ISA, and the other £15 into a lifetime Isa to add to pension fund. Thanks for reading, what do you think of my plans?

This is my most prized piece, weighs about 100 grams but its value (of what I am unsure) is certainly well in excess of the silver content, I just think its such a cool peice of modern military's history. Purchased from the man himself who was relocating to Australia. I have a digital copy of the citation - this was taken from that. "Royal Signals RSI silver medal awarded to SGT RH Richardson in 2016. Awarded for his role in providing close communication support during civil unrest and the conduct of flawless tactical operations to preserve sensitive material frequently whilst under direct personal threat."

Looks to me like the assay mark for Dublin.

I will sell you a 2021 sovereign cheaper than any main dealer with website by 1%

I used to do Bournemouth beach, did find a few gold bits including a heavy 18ct ring! generally i covered fuel and made a few quid lol.. Great hobby, be careful to get permission if detecting inland.

Cheers for that @FlorinCollector, they arrive tomorrow:)

Nope, called yesterday - lady said no more coins being made and should get an update soon but no other info.

Saw it on release day, was a slow seller - debated it but the muisses said no and I had to take her wishes into account. I think its a nice coin though! Bought the silver.

No to be fair its not a fair comparison. I just found the mints mintage/price point interesting compared to it. I didnt even plan to buy anything but its my day off and i just so happened to check the mint this morning 😂

WOW, what a collection, congrats!

Everyones a flipper in one way or another so you stand a good chance:) Also there is a "Rolex" style buying now happening with people spending up on all new releases to move up the mint marque membership levels - no doubt with the hope of being offered a great engravers rare coins or some other desirable hard to obtain coins. These purchases may well be let go below retail. I bought the 2 oz silver. 1000 mintage vs 3750 for the gothic, and £180 vs the gothic £260 price. I think the design is awesome and horseback queen portrait is a novelty that will help its value down the line.

mintage and price ?

do we get sent an invoice from CC? i bought a couple of coins but cant see where to pay.

bullion dealers work to way lower premium than that so you have no chance at all, would be nice but wont happen sadly.

the Perth mint, no contest for me.

10 x 2022 sovereigns

I think it was a good price but also a pretty fair market value:) That ones still available at £650 so for now the price level has been found (even if only briefly) I will gaze lovingly at that coin before it goes, its something special for sure. That said i am saving for a house deposit so have to try and not get sentimental. For sure, I value that and am willing to make sure the deal is competitive for the peace of mind:)

Shill bidding is so rife in all forms of auctions i still feel the real prices are sales here - last 2oz silver sold for £600

Damn wish i never canceled my second coin now! wasn't taking any chances though incase both were canceled.