Part 253: It’s a Trap!

Hello and welcome back to Mortgage Advisor on FIRE.  This week I discuss paying for TempFI.  Also, some major updates and progress regarding my BTL sale.  Finally, a few ways you can help support the site.

Weekly Update

Walks

On the bank holiday Monday, we went for a walk up a hill near to us.  It’s a walk we’ve done before which takes a couple of hours and it’s nice and peaceful.  We normally see a few dozen people along the route but it was strangely quiet this time as we encountered less than five other people.  It was refreshing being out in the fresh air and I need to give a shoutout to the amazing bagel Oana packed for me; sesame seed bagel, Emmental cheese, ham, red onion, and mustard.  I could have eaten a hundred.

We had another walk after work on Friday going around some of the old streets in, and around, Kelham Island and the city centre.  When you stop and look at the old buildings there are so many details that can easily go unnoticed.  We also paid a visit back to where Oana had her accident a few weeks ago.  A solicitor is considering taking the case on and they needed some more evidence.  We took some more photos and videos of the area to show just how bad the hole in the ground is.    

Poutine

On Wednesday Oana and I went for an impromptu meal at a local place that does Poutine.  I fucking love Poutine.  It’s fries, cheese curds, gravy, and can be complemented with other bits and pieces.  The version I had also came with candied bacon, BBQ shredded chicken, sour cream, and paprika.  It was great.  This was my treat for eating well for a few days, and there’s nothing wrong with a cheat meal here and there.  

Oana had a fried chicken burger but it tasted a bit weird.  It was one of those where the fried chicken batter pulled away from the chicken completely.  It had an almost soapy aftertaste.  I would go back for the Poutine but I would avoid the burgers.

Psychologist

I also had another session with my psychologist this week.  She’s been great and I owe much of my improved mental health to her efforts and support.  I had low expectations going in, because of previous experiences with therapists, but she has been amazing.

“It’s a Trap!”

“When a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin. One side greatness, the other madness.”

The above quote could easily apply to the films of M. Night Shyamalan.  For every Signs, there’s The Happening.  For every The Sixth Sense, there is Trap.

On Saturday evening we took advantage of some cheap cinema tickets to go and see the new MNS film, Trap.  The concept seemed interesting in that a concert takes place to trap a serial killer.  The execution was lacking.  As the film went on it became increasingly, unintentionally, funny.  Somewhere in this film is a great idea, but it just wasn’t enough to support a whole film.  

Gousto and Hello Fresh

We’ve recently signed back up with these meal delivery companies.  Now that I’ll have more time to spend cooking, we thought we’d start trying some new recipes.  If you’d like to sign up and want to use my referral codes we will both receive discounts.

Gousto:

www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=DAVID44749879

Hello Fresh:

https://www.hellofresh.co.uk/freebox/RGF2aWQtMjcyNjI2NjAxLTAtNC0xMS1HQg

Diabetes

For the last few weeks, I’ve been monitoring my blood sugar levels more closely.  I’m trying to only eat when my levels are below a certain point and to be more active when they are above a certain point.  It’s been difficult but I’m getting into a new routine.  It’s also helped with my night eating, which I’ve struggled with for a few years.  At night I would wake up and feel like I needed food, so I’d go to the kitchen and get something.  I’ve hardly done that since monitoring my blood sugar.  

Since starting this new routine I’ve lost 3kg.  I want to get into decent shape in time for our cruise next year, and I’ve got ten months or so to achieve that.  

The only annoying part of all this is having to stab myself with a small needle several times a day.  There are other types of continuous monitors available but they cost a small fortune and need replacing after just a few weeks.

I have now crossed the 500,000 steps mark in my Diabetes UK Step Challenge.  If you’d like to donate to this charity challenge, you can visit my page here or on the link below.

Diabetes UK Step Challenge

From July 1st until September 30th Diabetes UK is running a step challenge to raise money for their cause.  There are three step targets to choose from; 500k, 1m, or 1.7m.  I had originally gone for the 1.7m steps, but it’s become clear I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.  I’m now aiming for the 1m target.  

If you’d like to follow my progress or make a donation, it can be done here.

https://step.diabetes.org.uk/fundraising/david4047

Letters to Oana

If you missed it, Part 2 of the series Letters to Oana is now live.

Looking Back

Part 15 of the Looking Back series is also live.

What I’m Doing

Listening: The Dark Spring by Brandon Q. Morris.

Watching: Celebrity MasterChef.

I’ve got just one more book to go in the Brandon Q. Morris Solar System series.  It’s been a mixed bag with some real highs and lows.  I would read other books by the author, but I’m not sure I’d commit to a lengthy series by him again.  I’m one of those people who, if I start a book, film, show, etc, I have to finish it once I get into it, even if it’s awful.

Website Stuff

It’s getting to that time of year when I need to pay to renew my domain and plan with my site host.  I will probably never make money from this blog but I would like to reduce what it costs me to run.  There are a couple of ways you can help and it will not cost you anything.

Sharing

If you share my blog posts on your social media you are helping me get more traffic.  The more traffic I get, the more ads the site serves, and the more ads served the more revenue I get.  It’s a few seconds of your time, but it will make a big difference for me.

Interactions

Liking and commenting on posts will help boost the site and attract more traffic.  

Subscribe

You can sign up to receive emails when I publish a new post.  

Donations

This is the one that involves paying something.  I’ll never put the site behind a paywall.  However, should you wish to donate to the running costs of the site it would be greatly appreciated.  You can do this via the form below.  You can select one of the suggested amounts or choose your own.

Supporting Mortgage Advisor on FIRE

Financial Update

Assets

Premium Bonds: £14,050.00.

Stocks and Shares ISA: £79,066.77.

Fuck It Fund: £596.75.

Pensions: £83,009.27.

Residential Property Value: £234,044.00. 

BTL Property Value: £151,029.00.

Total Assets: £561,795.79.

Debts

Residential Mortgage: £185,958.33. 

BTL Mortgage: £104,787.85.

Total Debts: £290,746.18.

Total Wealth: £271,049.61.

This may be the last part of the blog where I have my BTL figures included, as I have a major update on the sale below.

My pension has been growing nicely for a while now and I’m going to have an important decision to make when I leave my job at the end of the year.  My pension pot is split between my SIPP and my workplace pension.  I need to decide whether the leave the workplace pension where it is or to move it to a provider of my choosing. 

There are pros and cons to each approach.  The fees will be higher if I move the workplace pension but I will have more choice in terms of possible investment funds.  I’m leaning more towards moving the pension, but I need to do some more research on it.  

BTL Update

You may remember that we set a deadline for this deal, whereby we had to have a completion date in place by the 30th of August.  Well, it seems as though our pressure paid off as we agreed on a completion date of the 29th.  The sale is now scheduled to be completed this coming week.  It’s been a long road getting from there to here, and I can’t believe I just typed out that song lyric.  

Anyway, it has taken a long time to get this deal sorted and I’ll be glad to wash my hands of the property.  BTL is not for me, and I’ll relax once I see the money hit my account.  I hope the property brings happiness to the new owners, but they’ve dragged this whole process out.

On Friday we went to the solicitors to sign the contracts.  The exchange of contracts should take place early next week and completion is pencilled in for September 4th.  

When the money comes through I’m planning to max out my ISA for the year, and I should have a few thousand left over.  I may treat myself to some more Lego, like the Titanic or Millenium Falcon.  One thing is for sure, there will be a celebration.

Funding TempFI

£1,500.  That’s what I need to have a comfortable time and to pay my bills each month once I leave work.  I plan to take almost nine months off; mid-December through to August (I’ll start looking for another job at the start of July).  To cover this period I’ll need £13,500, which I’ll round up to £14,000 to account for Christmas.  

I have a few sources of income to take into consideration.  I’ll receive two dividends from stock I own during this time, which will bring in approximately £1,500.  I’ll also receive an end-of-year dividend from a fund I invest in.  This will likely be at least £1,200.  I’m also going to receive some free shares which I will sell immediately.  Assuming no major changes in the share price, this will bring in approximately £2,500.  So, between these payments, I’m up to £5,200.

In addition to the above payments, I’ll also receive a monthly dividend from one of my investment funds.  This pays £250 each month.  Eight months of this payment brings in another £2,000.  So, between all those payments I’m over halfway to covering my day-to-day costs.  

During this period away from paid employment I will be spending more time writing.  There are things that my readers can do to help.  The more support I get, the more content I can produce.  Here are a few thoughts on supporting this site:

Your Engagement Matters

Standing out requires more than just quality – it needs a community. If you’re reading this, you’re already a part of mine, and I couldn’t be more grateful. But today, I’m asking for your help to take my platform to the next level. Here’s why your support matters and how you can make a real difference.

Why Your Support Matters

Running a site like this isn’t just about creating content.  it’s about building a space where a community can grow. None of this happens in a vacuum; I’m a real person behind this site. I’m working hard to bring you fresh, engaging content that adds value to your life.  Every click, share, and comment you make isn’t just engagement; it’s the power that keeps the lights of Mortgage Advisor on FIRE running.

The Impact of Traffic

Traffic is the lifeblood of any online platform. The more visitors I have, the more resources I can dedicate to improving the content, design, and features. If you find value in what I’m doing, please take a moment to share my posts with your friends, family, and followers. Whether it’s through social media, email, or even word of mouth, every bit of traffic helps me grow and reach more people who might benefit from what I offer.

Why Sharing Matters

When you share my posts, you’re not just spreading the word.  You are growing the community. You’re helping me reach people who may not have found this site otherwise. Plus, shares are a signal to search engines that my content is worth reading, which in turn boosts my visibility. So, if something resonates with you, don’t keep it to yourself.  Please spread the word.

The Impact of Comments and Interaction

I try to respond to every comment I receive in good time.  Comments are a great boost to me because it shows people are reading and engaging with what I have to say.  When you engage with my posts, you’re helping to create a vibrant, dynamic community.  When you leave a comment on my blog, you are signalling to others that this content is worth sticking around for. 

Future Career

Assuming that I don’t make millions from this site and my other writing projects, I’ll need to find another job eventually.  I don’t think I am suited for customer interaction.  It’s mentally exhausting.  I know that what I’m about to say is not actually possible, but it’s the best way I can easily explain it.  As I get older I feel I’m becoming more autistic, or that I’m becoming more aware of what I can comfortably tolerate without draining my mental resources to breaking point.  

I will need something that allows me to work on my own, and without having to discuss things over the phone with people.  Some sort of administrative role, or perhaps being involved in some project or data work.  Between my work as a mortgage advisor, a banking consultant, a claims assessor in the health insurance industry, and an assortment of retail/customer service jobs when I was younger, I’ve done over twenty years of employment with the general public.  For an autistic person, it’s difficult.

That’s all for this week.  Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a great week ahead.  

Disclaimer

The views and opinions in this blog are my own, and do not represent the views or opinions of my employer, nor should they be considered advice.  

If you want personalised financial advice, seek an appropriate professional.  If you are in financial difficulty, seek advice via the resources below:

StepChange

MoneyHelper

Biolink 

You can now find all my social media pages by checking out my Biolink:

bio.link/davidscothern.