Snapshot for 2026 - 100k milestone for Pension & back!
Hi peeps, I posted a year or so ago with my portfolio and just wanted to touch base and thank you all for your kind advices.
37F. Still disabled & soloing with my doggo happily :)
- Pension: £60-> £134k
- Employer 108, I did 25k (pension transferred from other places)
- ISA + GIA : 40k -> 74k
- Stock & Cash ISA 61k
- LISA 11k
- GIA 2k
- Salary: 123k -> 128k (not too pleased but hey ho)
- Outgoings: now sums up to about 2k-2.5k due to the house renov debts
- House: don't think it's gone up in any shape or form. don't plan to sell it as I still want to stay in the area for wellbeing/support network until otherwise.
- done the kitchen for about 20k + tiny loo for 15k
- done the boiler for 8k
- still paying this with instalments & no interest credit card & money taken from ISA
Your advices were incredibly helpful: (https://www.reddit.com/r/FIREUK/comments/1hrr929/newbie_to_fire_want_to_retire_in_15_years/)
- didn't buy a BTL - thank god!
- salary sacrificed as much as I can
- upskill or move - didnt quite manage this but have a pre-rev start up now (not sure where this is gona go lol)
I've got two questions:
- SIPP - is everyone on SIPP?
if anyone is not, what are you on & happy with the return? what's your average? I currently have work pension and I can't exactly calculate the return percentage as im being a numpty lol
If you are on SIPP and happy, what platform are you using and what's your portfolio like?
This is my charge atm.
2. small mortgage
now that I've decided to be here for sometime and my partner potentially moving in next year to make use of the house together, I'd like to do some more stuff to the house as i've discovered more issues & make it into mine. This means I'm debating taking a small mortage for 100k
I've had two leaks from my main bathroom so really want to get that remodelled to make sure all the pipe works are up to good standards
I'd also like to add a bathroom on the top floor (Currently none) for guests + air bnb or short lets for extra income.
Having done some calculations, it would probably put me back in terms of FIRE by 5 years or so and a bit gutted about it.
Would you advise I take the mortgage and get the house done or wait? don't know if it's the right time to take out the mortgage when the rates have gone up yet again but wondered what your thoughts are. It would it be prudent to do it now than later to get it done and over with as itll give us comfort, potentially higher rent and higher price when I do sell later.
FYI im not position to sell the property for the next 10 years or so, would be to rent if I dont live here.
3. Startup loan
I'm bootstrapping the buisness. fortunately I prob won't invest much more than 10k for now as we are pre-revenue and will prob put it under a no interest credit card or start up loan. Has anyone taken a startup loan? if anyone did bootstrap, what did you do?
Thanks again for the advices!