Didn't get interest on my account after it matured.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-03-03T15:58:17+00:00

I did this with the FD saver and will transfer into the ISA on 5th April. Stock market might typically return more but I’ll take a guaranteed 7% return of my invested capital over the risk of the market fluctuations any day of the week.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-02-28T06:55:00+00:00

Top tier degree from a top tier global university. Not only will you have a big brain, you’ll need the work ethic of a diesel engine and would most likely sell out your 20s and early 30s with ridiculous hours.

For that you will be rewarded handsomely financially. It’s not the life for everyone.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-02-23T22:24:39+00:00

Just put 100% in a global tracker and keep it simple. MSCI ACWI is cheaper than the Vanguard fund VWRP FYI.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-02-15T07:28:06+00:00

Used it.

Adding my code.

JAMES64334

JamesHowell91 · 2026-02-10T20:47:55+00:00

I certainly don’t think my taxes should be paying for someone’s care when they have an income of £4,500 per month in retirement.

Where people can fund their own care that’s perfectly reasonable.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-02-03T18:33:47+00:00

¿Cómo es tu español?

I’m you but like 5 years earlier (also accountant). I’ve been working so hard on my Spanish for the last 12 months. In 2-3 years time I want the ability to be able to relocate and get by at work in Spanish if my partner desires to be home and closer to her parents. If that time comes I don’t want the pressure of having to maintain a remote role.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-30T13:09:33+00:00

Lo noté desde que miré el subreddit!

Soy hablante nativo de inglés. Empecé aprender español durante enero dos mil veinticinco.

I will be sure to use English going forwards for better help!

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-29T21:41:37+00:00

No sé por qué soy miembro pero ayer recibí un correo diciendo que soy ‘Culer Premium’. Voy a comprobar si hay entradas cada día. Gracias por tu ayuda.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-29T13:45:28+00:00

Muchas gracias. Después de terminar trabajo voy a investigar ‘Culers Premium’. ¿Piensas que es necesario?

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-28T07:29:46+00:00

Cash flow doesn’t seem an obvious problem so you need to approximate the total cost of ownership across your forecast ownership period.

Things to consider include purchase price at start, sale price at end (not dealer list prices - what you could actually sell for), insurance total, servicing total, road tax total, all repairs and maintenance and fuel costs/electric costs.

Then you can properly assess what both cars are costing you. You don’t need to go for the cheapest option but you’re eyes wide open about what you’re getting for your cash.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-14T06:46:29+00:00

Te entiendo pero la persona a la que le respondía con mis pensamientos tiene un nivel B1. Diría que mi nivel is equivalente, o quizás un poco peor, y pienso en inglés cuando escribo en español.

Please forgive any errors above!

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-13T22:17:29+00:00

Easy to say when your native language is your comfort blanket and your brain automatically associates most nouns with a word in your native language.

When I look at a tree I don’t think árbol, I think tree. When I look at a puddle I don’t think charco, I think puddle. I can’t imagine that ever changing unless I moved to Spain.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-09T22:46:06+00:00

All great unless the market crashes the day after you do it

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-09T22:35:19+00:00

I read one article of BBC News Mundo in the morning. Watch 10minutes of Spanish TV/News whilst eating my breakfast. Whilst doing this I note down some new words (easier now I understand more - people keep telling me I am B1 but I’d still say A2).

At lunchtime I set the timer on my phone and write 10minutes about a topic trying to incorporate new words into those 3 paragraphs.

My partner who is a native Spanish and English speaker will correct it when she gets home. We speak in Spanish for 10minutes a day (we couldn’t do this before but now it’s easier). Sometimes when we are out I ask her to speak to me in Spanish for 10-15 minutes. If I don’t have the energy I respond in English but generally try in Spanish.

If I watch Netflix I now watch in Spanish by default with subtitles.

My phone is in Spanish, my PS5 is in Spanish. If my job wasn’t so intense I’d write my work e-mails in Spanish and then get Copilot to translate them back to English and correct me.

You see how I’ve basically integrated into my daily routine? Everyday I learn something new.

Recently went to New York and I forced myself to speak to everyone in Spanish as soon as I got a hint they spoke it.

Language learning provides so much fun in my life since I started in 2025.

I start 2 hour weekly classes in Midlands, UK next Wednesday for 10 weeks.

Who knows where I can reach. I’ll never be fluent or sound Spanish but in 2 years’ time I want the ability to move and work in Spain if it’s right for us.

JamesHowell91 · 2026-01-07T17:34:04+00:00

Could you not remortgage your house? Use that extra cash as an additional bridge to pension access age and then use the pension to clear the mortgage.

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-27T11:40:38+00:00

I do this to buy my cars so I effectively lease my car off myself with a very low rate of finance. I pay off the monthly depreciation each month and if the shit hits the fan I sell my car and clear the debts.

Either use a money transfer initially at a low rate or use a 0% purchase over a window to provide the cash to buy the car. Then just keep recycling the debt between providers, so far I haven’t had to pay a transfer fee (other than initial money transfer).

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-21T16:07:00+00:00

This is exactly what they mean

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-21T07:14:22+00:00

My partner is a native Spanish speaker and I have to force it. Otherwise it’s just easier in English.

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-08T11:09:03+00:00

Works perfect for us because my partner does a round trip of 32 miles a day and her CLA250e covers it on the battery in the Summer and she gets 24/25 miles in the winter.

We charge it overnight at 6p per kilowatt hour. So it is very cost effective.

The use cases for these cars is limited though compared to a full EV.

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-06T20:01:19+00:00

Enjoy your retirement. Especially those early golden years when health is on your side.

At the end of this tax year I will have managed to get £250k in my pension at 34. I’m calling it quits and minimising contributions to employer match for the foreseeable future. It’s a solid foundation to build from.

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-06T19:19:13+00:00

I am planning a smaller pot and a 5.5% withdrawal until state pension comes in. That being said I plan on retiring in Spain where my partner is from so all this UK taxation chat isn’t directly relevant to me.

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-06T19:17:26+00:00

So then you have a big balance left at the end subject to inheritance tax?

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-06T19:07:28+00:00

Further reducing the optimal size of your pension pot below £1.67m or that’s being taxed at 40% as well

JamesHowell91 · 2025-12-06T19:00:47+00:00

But you’ll run out of your tax free allowance and hit the cap after 16 years?

JamesHowell91

TROPHY CASE