CaptCaveMan

Has spot just dropped below 1,500...

I'm hoping it drops back into the 1400s... I've focussed too much on proofs and need to get back to some bullion Sovs this year.

Utilities, mortgages, fuel, food etc. all roughly doubled. Income and surplus fiat money...

I really struggled to find the money but managed to buy one of each of what I wanted, with help from TSF members I hasten to add! My attention moving forward will virtually be bullion as and when deals arise. The market, as with many has stagnated or dropped, imho due simply to finances being squeezed in virtually every direction. Totally agree with @Shinus73 and @SidS that it's turning into a buyer's market... if you have the cash available.

Interested in this scenario. Do costs on maintaining the car during your ownership impact on your gains i.e. you initially paid £8k, sold it for £9k but had to replace the tires and exhaust to keep it road worthy which cost £1.2k, would this mean an overall loss of £200 therefore no CGT?

No idea, I did call them regarding updates to the price list which did state would be regularly updated but nothing. Edit: To be fair, I didn't expect an annual release and believe the last publication was in 2021?

Yep and not just the 1989. All the previous modern key date designs ('89, '02, '05, '12, '16 & '17) appear to be in demand since the release of the Platinum, Memorial & Coronation collections. The Memorial may currently be a slow burner but suspect this will become one of the key dates collectors will want to add. Unfortunately I can't justify buying 3, 4 or let alone 5-coin sets (although these will be the demand/profit) as have enough trouble affording the date runs I'm currently trying to complete... (sigh)

What about Thurs? … asking for a friend.

@modofantasmais spot on. Food, fuel, utilities and taxes (council or otherwise) amongst everything else only go in one direction. We're aiming to pay off our debt (mortgage) asap as well as continue with the pension pots, then save/invest harder for the remainder of our careers until we reach our tipping point and we can then utilise our pensions keeping the savings/investments for a rainy day. When the kids have finally flown the nest we will eventually downsize (then move somewhere they can't find us 😂) for a final pot if needed or in part, gift within our lifetimes. IMHO I don't see PMs as a way to offset expenses in retirement although it could... to an extent, it's too much a moving target. For me it's the enjoyment of collecting and holding as well as being physical savings to pass on, unless an emergency arises.

Want but alas, funds 😞 GLWS and a bump for a scrumptious Piedfort Sov.

Congrats to @husseym0

@GoldDiggerDave Love it 😂

Sovs for me and some of the best prices are here on the forum, I've made my membership fees back and some compared to prices elsewhere. I'd add before deciding to sign up... If your then happy, get a membership and start the hunt 👍

0.25% hike

Yep, utilising this after getting £175 for their current account bank transfer as well…

Because using a Credit Card is using/creating debt to make your purchases on 'credit', even if you pay it off in full every month as we do. Personally I prefer to use a CC for bigger purchases including bullion due to the additional protection provided.

I'd add that I wouldn't expect prices to drop though...

This. Unfortunately it's taken me a little longer to realize, attempting to make up for it now as well as teach the kids...

We're in a VERY fortunate position @JohnA1 Totally agree with your comments and plan to join you in the not too distant future with virtually only the mortgage now to clear. Sounds like the Ramsey snowball method. We decided on a clear down ~18 months ago as I done a spreadsheet for my stack (I blame TSF 100%) and began adding to it. This included getting free money via bank switching which was used towards the plan as well as the odd Sov... it involved clearing a loan and credit agreements relating to dental work for the kids - all long gone now and expect our time frame will be similar to what yours was. Next is the CC, even though we clear it each month. I'll hopefully start a temp job in the evenings/weekends in the lead up to Xmas as I have the last couple of years. It started by helping my lad get a job to earn some cash, I ended up joining him to save the travelling. That means the CC is in the drawer by 2024, bullion, big expenses and emergencies only (payment protection), then the plan above re: mortgage. It'll give us the breathing space to save/invest in us over the next few years leading up to retirement. As you've said before, I don't know why this isn't taught from an early age... scrub that...

Cheers @GoldDiggerDave What do I want to achieve? My wife and I agree to clear the mortgage as soon as without selling everything plus the kitchen sink. Why? I consider myself very fortunate as I married my Mrs Robinson however as she's a little 'ahem' older than me, she wants to reduce her working hours which I whole heartedly support, she's earned it! Personally, I don't believe rates will go down to the recent historic lows again, at least in our mortgage lifetimes... I've been using calculators from a few sites and added the scenarios into Excel; One off, lump sum One off lump sum and monthly overpayments 10% max mortgage overpayment per annum 2-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year fixes against the above Offset mortgage We've decided on a one off lump sum prior to accepting/taking on a fixed mortgage over the term. New mortgage will be 2/3 of our existing term, still reducing the standard repayments compared to current. I'm already making overpayments but will increase these, committing the same overall per month. This reduces the remaining term by more than half so overall mortgage free in 1/3 the time.

I've been the same re: Tesco points @Earthmetalbut the fact they've watered them down to only x2 value 🤔 Even though the CC is paid off in full each month, this is now our only debt except the mortgage so I want to wean us off. As @Coverte mentions excluding bullion, bigger or emergency purchases due to the safety net with Section 75 UK consumer protection. I'll be taking on a 2nd evening/weekend job in the lead up to Xmas as I have done the last couple of years in helping my lad earn some extra, rather than buying bullion as usual, it will knock any remaining 'credit' on the head to start 2024 with a clean slate so to speak and will enable me to continue converting fiat into real savings...

@Touvex PM'd

That make's three top pop SOTDs so far from @GoldDiggerDave as I got the same result, he's knocking them out the park 😎

It's not too bad a problem to have to deal with... I've drawn a line in the concrete, it's harder to move than in the sand. Funds allocated to house, bills and family etc. first - I only use pocket money saved for 'hobbies' in a separate account. At £1,492, it's REALLY hard to resist.

I want to get some 2023 bullion Sovs with spot where it is compared to back in Feb but alas, I'm one of those people who stretched for the proof Sovs above with my bullion funds, imho at least for me, it was worth it. There are still a few months to save for some Sovs, depending on which direction we slide I may/may not get them at as good a deal... In the grand scheme of things, either direction won't impact in getting 2 or 3 for the kids this year.