Thoughts and reflections from the past week or so from my own financial independence campaign.

Progress on my goals

I got my tax rebate from 2022-2023

Having moved from mainland UK to the Channel Islands mid-way through a year, I knew I had overpaid my income tax.

However, because I had side hustles that cleared £1k per year, I was on the self-assessment scheme with HMRC. This means that I couldn’t claim overpaid tax back until the end of the tax year.

Well, I finally got back a massive £1,400.

I mean, sure, I can’t retire and give up this life of crime over £1,400. But that’s still a chunky contribution to my financial independence campaign. No complaints from me!

I’ve instantly topped up £1,000 into the investment account on Wealthify and added £400 to my side cash account. That’s probably going to fund something like another education course, as I still have a learning credit from my previous career that I have to use up by October 2024.

Excellent news!

Update on the boat

We were told that the engine fitting is underway on our boat. The expected re-launch is at the back end of this month, so that the new engine can be trialled and adjusted.

With luck, we’ll be able to pick her up in early September, and (finally!) move out of our lodgings ready for a chilly winter aboard our floating home.

We were hoping of having the boat for summer, but c’est la vie. I guess starting off in autumn/winter will force us to adapt quite quickly. Adapt or die I suppose!

Distractions and detours

I’ve been really good with the distractions this week. Barely any detours from the plan.

This is mostly due to closing a major deal at work, so I can hardly be praised for simply having no time to go rogue.

Readers will remember that last week I had hoped to get back into coding. That hasn’t progressed, sadly. I probably should find time to do it, but I do quite a lot and at some point I need to fit sleeping into my day.

Actually, that’s a hilarious topic. We bought a second-hand IKEA bed frame when we moved to Guernsey, as a temporary fix until we’re on the boat. This week it spontaneously and spectacularly collapsed on us!

Yes, literally collapsed. No, before you ask, we weren’t doing anything naughty on it. It wasn’t the sturdiest bed, we didn’t trust it.

So the lesson this week is: buy cheap and you’ll buy twice.

As the boat is expected at the end of the month we’re just sleeping on a mattress on the floor for now. Replacing the bed isn’t a priority.

Non-FIRE goals

My guitar rock god quest (AKA learning to play)

Guitar this week is Back in Black by AC/DC. The verse and chorus are OK, but I also need to start learning the solos.

I think I’m getting better at guitar, but it’s not consistent. That’s fine, though. No-one is pressuring me to get good, I’m only learning for myself.

Fitness

Managed to get in one swim during the week and a run on Thursday evening.

This is still twice per week (plus being active on the weekend), which is better than nothing but I’m not expecting to become an athlete off the back of this. Then again, I don’t really need to be.

Final thoughts

If this week’s post looks as if I had a boring week, that’s pretty much spot on for how things went. It wasn’t a bad week, it wasn’t a good week, it was just a week.

Work was just an exercise in frustration – it took up all my time and mental capacity, leaving me useless for the things I actually wanted to do.

Key takeaway is buy cheap and you’ll buy twice. That’s a reinforced lesson and it fits in with my usual philosophy of spending intentionally. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?), the decision to buy the world’s flimsiest bed wasn’t mine, so my poor partner had had no end of teasing. Life is good.

My financial independence campaign continues!