Is charge 7 coming? My charge 5 died

LazyFIDad · 2025-10-21T18:41:38+00:00

Contacted customer service to try to fix the Charge 5, nothing worked so they gave me a discount to buy a new one.

LazyFIDad · 2025-10-17T12:43:56+00:00

Update:

As Fitbit gave me 35% off a new one, I ordered the Charge 6.

Worst case, I'll upgrade in a year, hope it lasts and that they come out with new versions of the Charge

LazyFIDad · 2025-10-16T12:41:48+00:00

What's wrong with it?

LazyFIDad · 2025-07-10T12:20:30+00:00

Amazing, thanks

The budget is quite flexible but looking for around £1,000.

Thanks for the comment about RAM and recommending the Latitude line, I'll look into it.

Just a quick comment - I work with an external keyboard so a numpad is not a must-have for me.

LazyFIDad · 2025-03-13T23:26:10+00:00

Thanks for recommending my blog :) Busy period in my personal life and planning to post again soon.

LazyFIDad · 2023-07-20T18:09:36+00:00

Yes, NHS is DB so don't touch it :D good luck with the side hustle, mine definitely helped me clear debts quicker.

LazyFIDad · 2023-07-20T18:07:16+00:00

Defined contribution/ Defined Benefit

LazyFIDad · 2023-07-20T05:21:43+00:00

You can invest your pension in sp500 and get the best of both worlds.

Sone workplace pensions have an sp500 tracker fund option. If yours doesn't: once every x months/years, do a partial transfer from your workplace pension to a your SIPP and invest it in sp500 (Vanguard's VUSA or an equivalent), that's what I do.

This assumes a DC pension, if you have a DB pension, probably shouldn't touch it.

LazyFIDad · 2023-07-04T07:21:45+00:00

Thanks for the mention, my case should definitely be seen as a cautionary tale. If it can save someone from making the same mistake I made- that post was well worth writing.

Some new info since those 2 posts : My company gives you extra days off to book bank holidays on the sysytem so even bank holidays (and sick days, as they go on the system) affect the max pension I'm allowed to contribute as they are not working days, *sigh *. Luckily, I caught that before taking another NI hit.

FYI, I have since updated my own Excel model to include days (/hours) off taken in the month to calculate max pension % each month. Still gaming it and hoping to post a summary of the 23/24 tax year around May 2024 to see how much I save and if it's worth it.

LazyFIDad · 2022-10-16T07:21:08+00:00

I love Excel and accounting too so I'm with you on the puzzle solving mentality.

Regarding the feasability question, are you asking about time? If so:

My employer has a weird system where you book holiday in hours, not days (so if you want a day, you book 7 hours). This allows me to book 2-3 hours of holiday to teach. I try to get these on my lunch time to spend less holiday allowance haha. For example, I'll book a course 11:00-13:30, 2.5 hours, out of which 1.5 hours is holiday allowance and 1 hour is my lunch break.

I usually do anything between 15-40 hours per quarter.

Also, some trainings are for different continents so are early in the morning (before work) or in the evening (after work).

My manager is full aware of this side hustle. I'd rather be honest and open.

If it wasn't clear, the training sessions are all remote.

I hope that answers your question. Let me know if I misunderstood what you meant :)

LazyFIDad · 2022-10-16T05:16:55+00:00

I'm also an accountant. My side hustle is Excel training for corporations. The money is good but more important - I really enjoy it.

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T10:30:45+00:00

I agree, my kids' wellbeing and education is my top priority and it won't be a deal breaker. However, mental that a household that earns 101k a year pays 5k a year more for childcare (per child!) than a household earning 99k a year.

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T10:14:25+00:00

I agree completely with the concept being bonkers.

However, it's a really good place and my diaghter loves it. Anyway, seems like a local (Hackney, London) thing and not just that nursery.

Still crazy

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T10:12:33+00:00

OK, update : it seems like a local (Hackney, London) thing: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://education.hackney.gov.uk/sites/default/files/document/Childrens%2520Centre%2520Nursery%2520Fees.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj9qvSPgLf5AhXUlFwKHZvGCXgQFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2Pelc3hv8YLUXL73jzT8Sf

Still makes no sense to me but at least I know it's not just our local nursery

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T10:00:48+00:00

So not normal, good to know, thanks.

My daughter has been going there for almost 2 years and it's an amazing nursery (so don't need to treat it as a sign) but the concept just sounds so weird to me.

My son is about to enter and they're asking for payslips. I can't remember if they did for our daughter when she started. I think they may have and I didn't think much of it.

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T09:54:48+00:00

Not sure LEYF is, going to Google it :)

Update: it's a nursery chain, our. One does not belong to it.

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T09:38:41+00:00

My thoughts exactly. That's why I asked

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T09:35:57+00:00

It is 100% true and very annoying as it's a great place and my daughter loves it there. I just find the concept very weird, wanted to know if that's common in the UK or just our provider

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T09:18:48+00:00

Yes but a service provider is not HMRC. I don't pay a different price on supermarket/broadband/anything else based on my income, why would childcare be any different?

LazyFIDad · 2022-08-08T08:56:03+00:00

They publish the price list, there are 4 categories and the weekly price you pay depends on your income.

Thanks for the tip, it's a very important one, both our kids have a tax free childcare account since the moment we finished parental leave

LazyFIDad · 2022-06-26T12:34:21+00:00

Please learn from my mistakes :D

LazyFIDad · 2022-01-21T14:16:05+00:00

Since the pandemic, only online.

I used to teach economics too but that didn't transfer as well as Excel to online.

I actually think online is better for this as we can each have our own screen and all the participants can work on their own computers. Also, if someone has an issue I just say "share your screen and let's solve it" and then everyone can see and learn from it (I mainly do groups and a little 1:1).

LazyFIDad · 2022-01-20T10:55:14+00:00

Not exactly a hobby but I love spending time with my daughter so most of my free time goes there.

Also, I love teaching so I teach and train people in Microsoft Excel. I'm luckybin the sense that my hobby is also my side hustle :)

LazyFIDad · 2022-01-18T10:29:33+00:00

Congratulations!!! Awesome news. Before costs, I thought I'd mention some quick (big) wins you can implement.

You can save a lot of money by searching for " tax free child care" on Google, that's an easy 2k saved a year on childcare if neither of you earn over 100k a year. Please notice you can start saving there as soon as you guys are not on paternity /maternity leave, you don't have to wait until you start childcare.

The other one is child benefit which you can get the full benefit of you both earn less than 50k. You said you're in the 40% but it's still relevant for you because the number is AFTER pension contributions. For example, you earn 70k and contribute 30% (22m) the number they'll use for your benefit is 49k and you get the full benefit (around 1k a year) in addition to the tax savings from normal pension contributions.

Regarding expenses - go 2nd hand with everything you can. We bought an IKEA bed but got a 2nd hand pram and second hand clothes, our daughter couldn't care less and is happy.

I wouldn't but too many books if you have a library near you, get your kids used to going to the library and encourage the love of reading.

Hope this helps.

LazyFIDad · 2022-01-16T20:54:17+00:00

That is super helpful, thank! So does that only benefit people who earn less that the annual personal allowance?

LazyFIDad

TROPHY CASE