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Fewer Hours at Work
My current contract at work is 40 contracted hours plus 4 hours of regular overtime per week.
For over a year now, I’ve been meaning to talk to my employer about reducing my contracted hours. I came up with what I think is a great idea — at my next pay rise, I’d sacrifice part of it to cover one hour less per week.
The result? I’d cost my employer slightly less, I’d still get a small raise, and I’d get an extra hour of free time every week.
To avoid catching my boss off guard, I wrote him a message explaining my idea and sent it over.
The next day, he was oddly quiet. When I asked him about the message, he said he had read it and was still thinking about how to respond. So instead of waiting, I laid my cards on the table and told him about my long-term plan — to gradually reduce my working hours over the next three years, until I’m down to just 40 hours a week.
Now I just have to wait.
Home Insurance
This month we need to renew our home insurance. Our current provider sent us a new offer, surprisingly only a few pounds more expensive than last year.
Out of curiosity, I checked one of the big insurance comparison sites and saw only a few offers that were better than what we already have. I was about to give up when I wondered how much it would cost us to get buildings + contents insurance instead of just buildings.
To my surprise, buildings-only turned out to be more expensive than buildings + contents.
The decision was easy.
Overpaying the Mortgage?
I stumbled upon an interesting video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J2ZC9ZBZA3s?si=XJRh4ZFGkZeZ5EKb
The author explained in a way that really resonated with me whether it’s better to overpay your mortgage or invest the money instead.
He says inflation makes money lose value, so over the years your mortgage actually gets cheaper.
He also talks about how money that could’ve gone towards overpayments might be better kept aside as a safety net in case of job loss.
He touched on several other interesting points, all backed by calculations.
Worth a watch.
As for me, I’m currently splitting my spare money 50/50 — half into investments, half into mortgage overpayments (not financial advice).
I just love seeing the mortgage balance shrink each month.
One thing the author didn’t mention: what if, after paying off the mortgage early, you invested not just the extra money you would have been paying each month, but also all the monthly mortgage payments themselves too?
Spring is Here
We bought some new plants for the garden: raspberries, blueberries, grapes, and a few decorative ones to make the front yard look nicer.
I planted some tomatoes — we’ll see how that turns out.
It’s an amazing feeling to be able to grow your own food.
One day I’d love to try hydroponics — like growing my own lettuce in the middle of winter. That would be something!
Wife in Poland
My better half went to Poland to celebrate both her and her friend’s 40th birthdays.
So I’ve been solo parenting for 4 days — a great experience. I feel like I’ve really bonded with the kids. At least, that’s how I feel. 😉
Donegans
I also managed to book an event hosted by Donegans. I’m a bit nervous about it. But I know this is one of those moments where I’m stepping outside my comfort zone. It’ll be good for me, I think.
Half Term in Paris
Ever since I discovered FIRE, every trip has come with a bit of internal conflict. Every £ spent felt like a small defeat, and instead of enjoying the moment, I’d find myself calculating costs in my head.
By the time we got back home, I’d be more stressed than before — I hadn’t really enjoyed the trip, I hadn’t connected with my family, and the money was gone either way.
So in the end, I was left with neither the cash nor the time well spent.
But this time… things were different.
I made a decision before we even left: I’d fully enjoy the trip first, and only think about the money after.
And it worked.
I was present. We laughed, explored, got lost, took photos, ate way too many baguettes — and most importantly, I really felt close to my family.
The trip still cost money, sure. But this time, I brought back something more valuable: real memories.
April 2025 Mid-Month Update
Our saving rate is: 41% (includes mortgage capital and overpayments, ISA investing, and workplace pension)
This month we contributed towards our mortgage: £792.27
The remaining mortgage is: £161321.93
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