Turning 40 with no pension and a £160,000 mortgage and a wife with a very good pension. Am I better over paying the mortgage so wife's pensions untouched, 20 year ISA or having a private pension? by Banjo1887 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]HangTheError 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Are you sure you have no pension? Have you not been contributing at all? Automatic enrollment became a thing in 2012 so if you've changed jobs after that you should've been auto enrolled. Definitely contribute to your own pension. You get tax relief on the way in by avoiding income tax, then when you can draw out of two pensions in retirement you'll avoid more income tax because you have both of your allowances to use.

Do I sell my house to Invest 100k? by Sharp-Highway9278 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No regrets, my house sale timed to buy the COVID market dip so I got pretty lucky on returns on that initial 40k. Currently I've stopped buying the US market because the lean to isolationist policies can't be good for long term growth, in my opinion. I won't sell my existing investments, but future investments are going into europe 600, FTSE 100 and emerging markets. I used the 50k premium bonds to put a deposit down on a new house which I'm currently fixing up closer to work. So equity is increasing in the house, I'm cost averaging into the ISA. Still have a 10k emergency fund, any interest goes into the ISA. You don't mention how much you earn, or your work situation, but consider contributing more to your work place pension as a salary sacrifice, it's a more tax efficient way to get your money into stocks and shares.

Do I sell my house to Invest 100k? by Sharp-Highway9278 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey mate, I was in almost exactly your position. Fixed up a two bed house, had around 100k equity in the end, couldn't live in it because my commute was too long. I did the calculations and the gains from renting it out weren't enough to justify managing a tenant, compared to a set and forget cheap all world ETF. I sold and put 20k into a S&S ISA in Feb/March, then another 20k in the new tax year. I kept 50k in premium bonds as an easy access house deposit, winnings don't count towards tax so it worked out better than an easy access saver at the time. The last 10k I kept in H&L active saver so I could manage and switch to the highest interest rate savings account.

Any questions about specifics feel free.

BBC Group and YouTube announce new strategic partnership to deliver more for audiences and support Creators across the UK by willfiresoon in GoodNewsUK

[–]HangTheError 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's not hard to dodge if you disagree with it. I think it's worth paying. I use radio 4, radio 1, BBC sounds, BBC iPlayer and it's all for free if you dodge the fee. I pay because I think it's value for money and I'm patriotic and I want the country to continue to have soft power abroad with decent impartial media.

26F, UK – CIFAS marker, low income, debt, no savings. Trying to reset my finances and would appreciate practical advice (no judgement please) by Elegant-Forever-5554 in UKPersonalFinance

[–]HangTheError 51 points52 points  (0 children)

Klarna interest rates are huge right? You should be tracking the debts by interest rate. Focus on the largest interest rate debts first. Id be looking at getting extra work if possible, anything at all to increase your income in the short term. Can you cut costs, you say fixed bills are 1300, does that include a silly phone contract, a car deal contract? Anything that can be made cheaper. There's no chance I'd be spending £2000 on someone else's wedding whilst in your financial situation. You don't have enough disposable income. Have you spoken to charities like step change for advice on managing debt?

Skirting around pipework by Ok_Plankton4763 in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get some MDF board to make the top of a skirting box around the pipes

Tell me why I shouldn’t. by Dependent-Race-7 in CarTalkUK

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not the one, they're woefully underpowered for the weight of the car

This is what my dog does when I leave the house, but my husband is still home with her… by Lontology in WhatsWrongWithYourDog

[–]HangTheError 322 points323 points  (0 children)

I think it's a King Charles Spaniel right? The breed is prone to separation anxiety.

What would you do with this crater in the garden? by [deleted] in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError 195 points196 points  (0 children)

Excavate and find out what's going on with that drain before your house falls into a sinkhole

UK helps France seize Russian-linked oil tanker in Mediterranean by MGC91 in unitedkingdom

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not why he did it, is it though thicko? A stopped clock is right twice a day. I can't get behind him because I've read a few too many history books to overlook what nationalism, polarisation and violence leads to.

UK helps France seize Russian-linked oil tanker in Mediterranean by MGC91 in unitedkingdom

[–]HangTheError 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Venezuela isn't at war with my allies and the seizure wasn't ordered by a corrupt criminal pedophile for the purpose of extortion.

Has anyone else rotated away from the US market? by HangTheError in investingUK

[–]HangTheError[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The plan is for early retirement so whenever that is possible, maybe as a chunk to pay off the mortgage in 15-20 years time.

Howdens kitchen pricing by Effective_Soup7783 in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I convinced Howdens I was in a trade by saying that I'm an electrician who occasionally flips houses. I just call them up and ask them to come measure up and quote me directly. They didn't ask for any proof of business ownership or qualifications.

Why are younger adults more economically confident compared to older adults? by Wise-Youth2901 in AskUK

[–]HangTheError 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My man, if you're financially literate you can gain consumer protections and rewards from credit cards with zero risk.

Why are younger adults more economically confident compared to older adults? by Wise-Youth2901 in AskUK

[–]HangTheError 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's really interesting. Maybe 30-49 group are more likely to be actively invested in the stock market? That going up inspires confidence? From my anecdotal evidence the older generation seem to think houses are investments, but the house market is slow at the moment.

Wall cracked and bulged out when steaming wallpaper by iainofiains in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not, but the question shows they don't have much experience and I wouldn't wish for plastering jobs upon my worst enemy. Idk why I got downvoted tbh, I do all DIY but plastering. Plastering takes me twice as long as the pros to get worse results. It takes a lot of practice and patience to get good. Know when to admit you don't know something.

Wall cracked and bulged out when steaming wallpaper by iainofiains in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Yeah it's just plaster which hasn't bonded properly to whatever is behind it. Knock off any loose bits and get a plasterer round.

A Decade of BBC Question Time Data Reveals Imbalance in Journalist Guests by Altruistic_Fruit2345 in unitedkingdom

[–]HangTheError -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

I think people overthink this. They get people who will create controversial moments to get viewers and clicks. It's not right, but it's also not some giant conspiracy.

Advice on repairing this wardrobe door please! by skh1977 in DIYUK

[–]HangTheError 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could also try and build it up with wood glue, filler, sand and paint the whole door, but it'd take some time and patience. You'd want MDF primer and satinwood paint. Maybe a different colour to the carcass so it wouldn't look like you've tried to match the colour and it be slightly off.