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Yarp. Still got a decent amount leftover from inheritance, which isn’t Just For Fun.

Only dated equipment in the house is the boiler, and even then it’s only a few years old. So, whilst I don’t expect to have to replace anything any time soon, repairs are of course a different matter.

Might be worth getting the boiler serviced in the next couple of weeks mind you. Get it done before the poor weather kicks in.

I signed up for a plan where I get one inspection/service a year for both my AC and furnace, discount on parts, and priority scheduling if something happens. For basically the same cost as one service call. Might be worth looking into.

Not sure how your taxes are, but here in the USA we have school taxes, property taxes, etc. get sent out a few times a year for homeowners. Big chonky bills, which if you didn’t plan for them could hit you at a bad time. I’ve got an escrow account tied to my mortgage where they are spread out throughout the year into monthly payment. So I just get letters like “thanks for paying your $3,000 tax bill” and not the actual bill I’d need to find the cash for.

Once when I was refinanceing my home a number of years ago I was shocked how much of my monthly payments were for taxes. Even if we could have paid off the house and owned it outright, we’d still have been on the hook for all of them each year.

Funnily enough, I checked my account on the Council Website, and paid my council tax for the year. Next trick is speaking with them to arrange the refund of that which I paid for the flat.

Looking to the future, I’m hoping to always have enough cash on hand to just nuke that bill every year, up front. We do have the option to pay it monthly, but I prefer to Just Get It Done.

I pay all my bills annually where it's an option, as always amounts to at least 10% cheaper. Stick what would have been the monthly payment in the ISA for following year and then get the (admittedly small) interest as well. Bonus if you can get the payment reduced the following year.

Also, plan on your car failing it's MOT in the most expensive way possible. The gak will always hit the fan one way or another, all the harder if you're not prepared for it.

Of course, if it passes, then you have a large pot of money to be silly with

Indeed.

I’m definitely in an enviable and privileged situation, as with plenty of time before retirement, I’m not weighed down by what is, for most people, their greatest monthly expense.

Whilst there is of course temptation to just go a bit daft and continuously spoil myself, there’s a lot to be said for behaving myself and just letting it build up. Whilst I can now comfortably afford a Pretty Nice Holiday every year? I don’t need to spend all of it on said Holiday.

Also looking at giving up Vaping. Like regular smoking, it’s a very silly addiction at the end of the day.

Definitely taking a leaf out of Dad’s book. If you’re buying a new appliance? Do your research. The most expensive can be just paying for the label. The cheapest probably won’t last. So look for the right mix of price and quality and you can probably avoid false economy.

I make use of my Dad's Which account for any appliance replacements. It's not perfect but it helps weed out the real stinkers.

Found a used bookstore near me with a really solid manga collection, with barely any defects other than mild yellowing on the outside. Some are even still in their original wrapping but with 50% discount, and they even have the more nsfw manga for sale in their own adult manga shelf so it’s easier to find. Sadly no warhammer stuff but apparently that’s because that stuff gets bought instantly.

Managed to get some stuff done for Blood and Spectacles over the weekend.

I’m so, so close to having all my stuff sensibly unpacked.

Two new bookcases arriving tomorrow. Foot stool for the Fancy Library Chairs arriving soon.

I’m gonna feel so much better once all the books are unpacked and properly shelved, the decks are cleared and I can properly address the Hobby/Crafting room space, and decide how I want to properly furnish it.

Also, it should mean I finally get to find my Hellraiser trainers. So that’s nice.

And Beetlejuice The Musical opening in the West End, May 2026.

Just in time for my birthday! I am summoning the nerds as I type.

For my third retirement. I'm so tempted to drop a resume for a position in USCIS. Being my wife is an Adjudicator for Citizenship in USCIS. That freaking 50K bonus on hiring is tempted as Heck.

Being a government worker in the US right now is..... politically hazardous. As of this writing the Federal government is shutdown.

 Easy E wrote:
Being a government worker in the US right now is..... politically hazardous. As of this writing the Federal government is shutdown.

Yeah... governments are fun. I have a Christmas gift sitting in a mail room in Ontario... where it will be for a while... as the Canadian Postal Workers are striking... again.

But at least I ordered it early!

Don’t think I’ve done this one before?

But I now get a regular parking space more or less right outside my front door.

Last road I lived on was comprised of Victorian/Edwardian town houses, split up into flats. With no driveways. It was also close to the centre of town. I’d often have to park two or three streets away, especially when we became one of just two streets without permit parking.

It’s…genuinely a lovely experience! Having to hunt for a parking space after a crappy day was often the straw that broke the camel’s back in terms of whether I was going to have a relaxing evening.

Worry free parking is one of those little things that just makes life a little but better.

Do you need to keep it clear of snow or maintain the space? Or move your car for plows?

I really enjoy having a garage these days. Sure, I need to clear the driveway, but not needing to shovel out my car before work is so nice. Less of an issue now that I work from home, but the concept holds.

It’s a public road, so in case of snow I’ll just stay home.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
It’s a public road, so in case of snow I’ll just stay home.

I know around here we have alternate side parking in the winter. So you need to move your car to the other side every day so the plows can keep the road clear. Kind of a PITA, but needed with the amount of snow we get. If not you get roads where the plows have to plow around parked cars, so even when the cars move, you end up with packed berms of snow all over the place where they were. Plus the joy of digging your car out from where it was plowed in.

But we get a lot of snow.

I’m right on the Kent Coast - closer to Calais than London. We do get the odd snow shower, but with the air being generally saltier than normal, it never seems to settle.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
I’m right on the Kent Coast - closer to Calais than London. We do get the odd snow shower, but with the air being generally saltier than normal, it never seems to settle.

Ahh... salt air... the reason why Floridians avoid elevators on the coast.

As for today... a really little win... I found a used bookstore that sells all the old rulebooks, battle tomes and codexes for around 8 bucks a piece.

That’s sizeable win!

Everything but the Warhammer Fantasy Battles were decently priced.

I was tempted to buy the old Sigmar core for the art alone.

Today?

Today I move toward working part time.

I’m 45 now. Five day weeks are a real drag. So I’m exploring a move to a four day weeks, working Monday to Thursday. Every weekend a long weekend. As close to a 50/50 balance as I can afford.

I probably could afford a three day week, but I genuinely fear boredom.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Today?

Today I move toward working part time.

I’m 45 now. Five day weeks are a real drag. So I’m exploring a move to a four day weeks, working Monday to Thursday. Every weekend a long weekend. As close to a 50/50 balance as I can afford.

I probably could afford a three day week, but I genuinely fear boredom.

Work three, volunteer regularly somewhere of your choosing on the 4th and then have the rest off.

Too mercenary. If I’m tipping out my fart sack early, I’m wanting payment.

I don't think I've annoyed or angered anyone in the past 72 hours...

Finally, after roughly a month & a half + of hassle, I'm now all set up with a new local cancer Dr.
My previous local one retired at the end of July & it turns out my referral to the new one got caught up in a paperwork snafu caused by one of the centers staff going on vacation.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Today?

Today I move toward working part time.

I’m 45 now. Five day weeks are a real drag. So I’m exploring a move to a four day weeks, working Monday to Thursday. Every weekend a long weekend. As close to a 50/50 balance as I can afford.

I probably could afford a three day week, but I genuinely fear boredom.

I work for a company that has 4-day weeks (majority of the time, fieldwork and deadlines mean some weeks are normal) on a regular salary. It's both great, a whole day to do all those chores that can be difficult on the weekend (Post office, looking at you), and difficult - the boredom can be real. Or not even boredom, just feeling antsy and a bit useless? Very easy to feel like it's a wasted day, even though I think it is genuinely great.

ccs wrote:
Finally, after roughly a month & a half + of hassle, I'm now all set up with a new local cancer Dr.
My previous local one retired at the end of July & it turns out my referral to the new one got caught up in a paperwork snafu caused by one of the centers staff going on vacation.

I hope that the doctor works their butt off for care!
And I hope that, whatever treatments are done, work well!

 Farseer Anath'lan wrote:


the boredom can be real. Or not even boredom, just feeling antsy and a bit useless? Very easy to feel like it's a wasted day, even though I think it is genuinely great.

That's the only thing stopping me reducing my hours, I get it often at weekends and holidays as it is. That feeling that I should be doing something, which would mean that I wouldn't be able to relax or enjoy the time. I don't spend half of my income really, so it just goes into savings/off the mortgage, so going down to 3-4 days is affordable. The time to get the house tidied would be nice, and my etsy shop would grow if it got more time, but not enough to compete with my salary. Another 4-5 years and I'll reconsider maybe.