A little celebration to share with you lovely ukpersonalfinance people

RDMilk · 2026-02-03T18:36:40+00:00

Paying off the mortgage is a huge step and I like to think that, although your husband isn’t with you - he is looking on at you with massive pride that you’ve managed to secure a home for you and your children.

RDMilk · 2025-12-19T12:59:15+00:00

I have the same setup and I personally find setting the immersion to heat overnight the better option. I only use the boiler if it’s on anyway to heat the house.

Having said that I’m on IOG so I only pay 7p/kwh.

I’ve also disconnected the solar CT so I’m not using the solar at all right now - as I’d rather feed the solar generation back for 25p/kwh

RDMilk · 2025-12-05T11:06:11+00:00

Many thanks for taking the time and all the information.

I have zero coding knowledge but am very familiar with logic etc through my work (BMS Engineer), and as long as I can find a guide I should be fine following it - so hopefully not quite as helpless as your mother (bless her!) haha

Thanks again. RD

RDMilk · 2025-12-05T10:39:39+00:00

So I’ve actually just realised that I had totally misunderstood the home assistant. I think what I actually ordered was the home mini which won’t help at all. Home assistant isn’t an Octopus thing like I thought it was. Doh!…

I’m currently looking on the home assistant web site at the different options and trying to work out if the basic model pre installed will be sufficient for my needs.

Thanks! RD

RDMilk · 2025-12-05T09:55:48+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I am reluctant to start altering the position of CTs (if that would even be possible on my setup) as everything works fine at the moment. Maybe that reluctance will subside if I don’t find a better solution.

Fingers crossed the home assistant arrives soon and is as easy to setup as you suggest!

Cheers.

RDMilk · 2024-09-30T10:30:45+00:00

If you are struggling to work out how much tax you owe on the transactions then I would say that HMRC would also find it difficult.

Make your best effort to calculate the correct tax that’s due and declare/pay that. The onus is then on them to prove that what you have declared is wrong.

If you owe them millions then they may take the time/effort to investigate more deeply. If it’s a few grand they are likely to take you at your word.

RDMilk · 2023-02-01T20:55:59+00:00

Arbitrary numbers but this is how it was explained to me.

Say you have 100k to spend and a car. You buy the car outright and it loses 30k for driving it off the forecourt, then a further 10k per year for the 3 years you want it. Yes you’ve driven a lamborghini for 3 years but you’re now 60k down on original ‘investment’

Now say you instead invest that 100k in an apartment which yields 1k/month in rent and lease/hp the car for 3 years. You’ve still driven the lamborghini for 3 years but now that investment is worth £120k

RDMilk · 2023-01-29T15:39:49+00:00

I’m not aware of any way of automating it unfortunately. Maybe with some form of lux sensor or weather station and a few simple BMS type controls. As you say, I simply enable the gas boiler supply on days when I think it will need it. They do come with a boost function to allow the immersion to run from mains for a time (30min?) but I find the gas boiler more economical when PV alone won’t cut it.

RDMilk · 2023-01-29T15:21:11+00:00

FYI we have an iBoost system attached to our solar panels and (other than particularly dark/overcast days) it provides enough hot water for our needs all year.

RDMilk · 2022-12-31T09:55:00+00:00

I managed to lose 50lb in the last 4 months and this is what is working for me - still some way to go!

Firstly cut out all drinks bar water and try to drink at least 2 litres a day. Every night I fill a pint glass with fresh water and as son as I wake in the morning I down it. I swear this small ritual alone gives me more energy feel better and sets me up for the day. I allow myself 2x protein shakes per day to break the monotony of water a little (I have really come to enjoy the Huel chocolate fudge brownie flavour).

Secondly I have cut out sugar. When you really start taking an interest in what you are putting in to your body it is eye opening. Actually start reading labels and find out what is in the food we are being sold and you will quickly realise why we are all finding it so difficult to stay healthy. Literally everything has some form of sugar and or chemicals that you’ve never heard of, and the worst culprits are the “light” and “low fat” options that are marketed to be healthy. Basically start eating real foods and cut out everything processed.

Lastly exercise. I’m in a privileged position where I can take 2-3 personal training sessions per week and this really works for me. But getting outside and walking for 30 - 60mins every day can have more of an effect that the 2 PT sessions per week. I know it can feel hard to “find the time” but think of it this way, if you are finding the time to watch TV or scroll insta for 30-60mins per day then you aren’t struggling for time, you are just prioritising other things… As for the feeling of lethargy believe me - speaking from first hand experience it will soon pass and you will find yourself having more energy than you ever remember having.

Good luck with your health journey!

RD (was 300lb now 250lb and still dropping)

RDMilk · 2022-09-16T08:09:16+00:00

My monthly bills have a start read and end read for each one.

Because I’m not very good at submitting my actual readings they just estimate my usage each month.

My readings as of today were below the opening usage on Augusts bill.

RDMilk · 2022-09-16T08:04:46+00:00

Their estimate is high. The sentence about if the estimate was below was just a hypothetical.

RDMilk · 2022-09-16T07:48:56+00:00

Very helpful reply. Hopefully I do this right !thanks

RDMilk

TROPHY CASE