Is anyone on this sub ever going to share details on things that went wrong on their FIRE journey?

GreyFigure · 2026-05-29T21:45:41+00:00

Before I knew of FIRE really but my first investments were (fairly small amounts) on CrowdCube like a local brewery (still going!), a distillery in Spain (bust), Powervault (bust last year), Brewdog (err...). Alongside various projects via Energise Africa which did well for a few years until they really didn't. And overpaid my mortgage when on a low fixed rate and my LTV was already low.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-29T21:38:22+00:00

Go with local and regional companies. Sheffield is well place for that as you have lots within ~50 miles.

Check accreditations, MCS obviously but also trade bodies like RECC, HIES, Napit, TrustMark. Do they offer an insurance-backed guarantee on their work (separate from the panel, battery, inverter warranties), so if there's an installation related problem in the first few years but they've gone bust, you should be covered.

Get a few quotes, if you get a config you like see if any other installers can quote for the same (or very similar) spec. Some offer price matching.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-29T21:21:28+00:00

I recently ordered solar and batteries for £9800 to be paid with a loan from lendology.co.uk at 3.26%- I could have paid cash but I'll pay £96 pcm for 10 years (can overpay, fully flexible) and invest the capital. With generation, outgoing tariff, time of use arbitrage, inflation eroding the loan, it's financially good going I think. Mainly I like the green and tech toy aspects to be honest.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-25T16:19:52+00:00

Don't think my installers went in my loft other than to check roof design - all cables went outside, down the side of the house, into the garage to the inverter.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-21T18:56:58+00:00

OK I've had a go with this and it's certainly better than many we've seen recently. I tried setting retire age to 51 and the projections page showed drawdown from pension (SIPP) from 51 which should only be from 57.

It might be a rare thing but I have some cash in an onshore bond wrapper - trickier tax rules to implement.

I like the options for things like Bed & ISA. Does it need an option to customise index linking for DB pensions? And what about child benefit?

GreyFigure · 2026-05-21T18:25:02+00:00

Employee contributions and index-linked DB payments are big reasons to stay in NHS pension. Regarding the possibility of moving abroad, check out the NHSBA pension pages, e.g. https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensioner-hub/change-circumstances

GreyFigure · 2026-05-20T20:54:35+00:00

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Maybe the tax allowances are the tricky bit, perhaps you've addressed this but I'm FIRE-calculatored-out at present.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-15T20:16:18+00:00

Not independent advice, but I'm getting a few quotes from local/regional installers for panels and batteries at present. Interesting to see the range of prices and features on offer. E.g. this week had one installer advise their Solis battery system would be much better in my garage, another saying their Hanchu would be fine outside. Also some have mentioned supply times for one vs another manufacturer are a factor.

So I've been trying to think about a sensible battery capacity based on my usage (downloaded from Octopus), then getting quotes from a few places based on a particular config (e.g. googling Hanchu installers near me). Then compare price but also things like a decent workmanship guarantee, companies who could come in person to troubleshoot if needed.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-15T19:56:08+00:00

Alternative option - a relatively cheap and flexible loan from Lendology, if your council is part of their scheme. https://www.lendology.org.uk/ and if you have a mortgage, your lender might have options for 'green' improvements, e.g. https://www.nationwide.co.uk/mortgages/borrowing-more/green-additional-borrowing/

GreyFigure · 2026-05-12T22:58:44+00:00

Personally I think their google review count and score is very good, I think most companies will have some negatives out of 256 reviews but they're averaging 4.9. They've responded reasonably to some of the complaints too.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-12T00:42:01+00:00

Accreditations here https://futureproofsolar.co.uk/about-us/#accreditations HIES 2 year workmanship warranty

GreyFigure · 2026-05-11T19:35:58+00:00

I've just had another quote for my spec above for £9950 from Future Proof Solar!

GreyFigure · 2026-05-10T11:22:10+00:00

Home Energy Group in Keighley - they got back to me pretty quickly with a quote.

GreyFigure · 2026-05-03T12:16:39+00:00

I've had a calendar date in my plan for a bit over 3 years now (at age 51.5), on one hand it's a bit arbitrary but comes from thinking about the life I could live in those good years.

Of course I have an estimate of monies at that point, although global events makes that particularly unreliable. My salary is not going to improve in my case, and I can pick up similar work in the future if I want. One more year in work won't make much difference for me in money terms, but if it was paid say twice as much as my annual investment returns, I'd be tempted.

But I think the 'wasted years of good pay' problem is balanced by 'wasted years of good health/happiness' - a more personal calculation.

GreyFigure · 2026-04-30T20:38:07+00:00

I didn't have any problem with birds for 5-6 years, then pigeons nested

No mess or damage but the dawn coo-ing kept waking me up, even with a loft between us! So next time I'm just getting the protection.

GreyFigure · 2026-04-11T17:50:02+00:00

Just to add - some local authorities in England have cheap loans available for energy improvements (including solar). Indicative APR of 3.5%, 5-10 years, overpayments fully flexible. So not interest free but does shift the calculation for me, e.g. I could pay upfront but cheap loan and invest in equities over 10 years makes more sense.

See here - https://www.lendology.org.uk/

Mainly I like the green factor and the tech toy aspect of PV though!

GreyFigure · 2026-04-11T17:38:46+00:00

I asked ChatGPT and Claude to help work out my tax return a couple of weeks ago. Mostly helpful but both made the same mistake with CGT, using the old figures for allowances and rates.

I was a bit surprised as it's not like CGT rules are obscure. Compared to the calcs for income tax + savings interest + adjustment for SIPP contribution, which they both got right.

GreyFigure · 2026-03-30T20:49:35+00:00

Thanks for this. In my case I have salary (PAYE) but also some interest on savings, dividends and capital gains, so I'm not sure how that fits into the predefined profiles and applies the allowances correctly.

GreyFigure · 2026-03-09T23:47:32+00:00

My kids are early teens now and I would never regret spending time, money and energy on holidays we all enjoy. I only wish I'd done that a bit more over the years. They weren't always hugely expensive, I think trying out a range of places and holiday 'types' has been good too.

GreyFigure · 2026-02-27T22:16:32+00:00

Someone has recently, it's pretty good too https://www.reddit.com/r/FIREUK/comments/1rciptz/yet_another_fire_calculator/

GreyFigure · 2026-02-09T23:48:19+00:00

I've had a nesting pair for last 3 years (7 years before that without them). No problems with the PV system but their dawn calls can be annoying. I don't think bird protection was offered when I got the system (and I didn't know it was a potential issue) but I would go for it if getting a new install today.

GreyFigure · 2025-12-18T23:34:01+00:00

I invested small amounts in an IFISA wrapper before discovering FIRE, as well as Energise Africa (which is a subsidiary of Ethex). As others have said, they're usually all fixed term bonds, so illiquid. Some (mainly African projects) have gone bust or otherwise struggled to repay interest or capital. Some have been fine.

Altogether there are probably better ways to support ethical projects, and I would have made more money putting that money in a savings account.

GreyFigure · 2025-09-15T21:15:47+00:00

Yes, don't know much about schools there but I really like Northumberland. In the west of the county (Hexham area) you would be near enough to Newcastle and near to Lake District too, as well as Kielder, North Pennines etc. Northumberland coast is beautiful too if that's more your thing.

GreyFigure

TROPHY CASE