23-01-15

Hi, everyone!  Hope everyone's doing well.  It's a dull, still morning here but things are forecast to liven up considerable as the day progresses and into the night and I think, given the info available, I will spend some time clearing the decks a bit in the garden - getting things secured, etc.  Just in case.

Yesterday was interesting.

First of all, it was that review.  For the record, I'm not really financially savvy, not really, but I have a reasonable dollop of common sense (I think) and know when the responsible thing is to take professional advice.

Hence Dave and Kay's involvement and the whole investments thing.

So - all's good, things have done well this year which is satisfying.  Kay will be moving the dollop of money into my ISA for this year and then, in April, another dollop for the new year.  She explained why it would be good to get it done early and it went over my head but Dave got it and agreed and that is good enough for me!  The aim is to get everything into the ISA eventually (I think it will take another couple of years) and then it is all tax free - or is under current rules -  but you never know, do you?

Then I got the annual ticking off (joke) regarding spending a bit more!  Not because there's anything wrong but because I can and how about treating myself a bit more?

I'm smiling because both Beth and Dave say I should not have any aim of increasing my 'inheritance' to them but enjoy what I have (i.e. spend it).
My response is firstly that I already have a good old life as a homebody who loves the quieter and simpler thing after a very busy career.   

Secondly, I don't go short!  Far from it!  Coach trips, fitness classes (several each week), holidays at Center Parcs and Potters, cruises (well, one and one this year, fingers crossed), having the place redecorated. . .  not to mention yarn, patterns, projects . . . I could go on.

Thirdly, continuing to save rather than spend seems, to me, a responsibility and it is also a personal security thing, knowing that I can help family out, should it be needed, not to mention affording any possible future care or medical needs - I'm a single and don't have any plans to change that so I am responsible for me.  

And, lastly, I LIKE the thought that I have stuff to leave to the family when I pop off.  So there, Beth and Dave!!
What's your own take on this subject?

Moving on after that mini-rant . . .

Possibly motivated by the above, I drove across town to Lathcoats.  I've been meaning to pay them a visit for a little while as their scoop and bag frozen fruit is so very good.   They didn't have any raspberries but I got some blackberries, some blueberries and a nice sort of Caribbean mix of all sorts - grapes, melon, mango, pineapple, and so on.  They had a wide range of apples too so I stocked up as I do eat a lot of apples.  And they had some semolina which Morrisons doesn't seem to stock.  Yes, their stuff is a bit more expensive but it is such good quality.

And I managed to side step all the half price Christmas goodies - go, me!!

At Personal Training, Lindsey finished off with a bit of massage which felt very good.  I'm still this morning but nothing worse.

And that is all yesterday's excitements.

Today, the teacher's pension has landed so now I can work out the rest of the month and get the Needs Only savings shifted across a bit earlier than I usually do.  Another plus about avoiding random splashing the cash is that I know exactly where I am!  I might leave that until the weekend, I'll see.  

I'll be hearing soon how much things are going up by - water, rates, etc.  

Unusually, there's absolutely nothing in the diary today.  I can't do the usual meet up with Chris because she has family commitments so I think I might do the weekly food shop this morning, given that the weather is supposed to be pretty wild tomorrow.  And I do need to visit B&Q and get a nut and bolt to replace one on the egg chair that seems to have gone walkabout so, perhaps, just perhaps I will stop off at Longacres and Hobbycraft too, just for fun.

Anyway, that's the end of today's rambles.  Time to get on the the routine daily stuff.  Have a good one and, seriously, I hope that this nasty weather heading our way doesn't impact too much on things for you.
Take care and stay safe!  xx