Ok, not so late with this post as I’m feeling better and more organised. Life feels back in my control again.
Perhaps I feel more uplifted now that spring has sprung, seeds I have planted have germinated so fingers crossed for a nice little crop of veggies later in the year. Plus some big sunflowers!
A spendy month, with a couple of birthday outings and I had the fascias, soffits and guttering on my house replaced. This was done by my builder neighbour who has replaced the fascias on many of the houses on the estate so he came highly recommended and all can see his handiwork!
Also attended the Manchester FIRE meet up, which was a good, interesting session (I have a story at the end of the post) at a new venue since our old one (BrewDog) has closed down.
Work is still really busy and I got an annual (performance based) pay rise, so will increase my savings/investments accordingly.
Anyway, how did I get on in April?
I saved 25.7% of my net salary. The above includes £39.24 from Prolific surveys.
Shares and Investment Trusts
Topped up existing holdings, no new investments.
Current share/IT portfolio can be found here.
(Entire portfolio here)
Future FundÂ
The rocket is back! I have to be honest, I didn’t think it would make a reappearance so soon but really, who knows what is going on with the markets? My index trackers hold oil companies which is probably pushing things up, I guess.
At the end of April, my FF was up, at £389,242.68.
Whilst I am happy that my FF is marching towards its next milestone, I’m still a little uneasy about the rapid gains I’ve made so far this year.
Dividends and Other Income
An average month for dividends:
I received £541.58, of which £276.52 was from my ISAs, the rest from my SIPPs. All dividends were reinvested.
Next month should be a bumper one so let’s hope they do come in on time, or my graph will be spoiled, haha!
Goals Update
Goals are ticking along nicely, other than the non-fiction one so I will be making a start on this soon.
I think I may move the goal posts for the dividend income goal and increase it to £6k. More of a stretch yes, but I like the idea of aiming for average £500/month in dividend income.
What do you mean by FIRE?
At the Manchester FIRE meet ups, we occasionally get people who randomly turn up, not because they are interested in FIRE or investing, but they just want to meet people.
They got guts, I would never just turn up at an organised event not knowing what it was all about – I mean, what if it was for swingers or something, lol!
Anyway, here’s a conversation I had that Friday:
Me: “Hi, your first time here? My name’s [my real name]”
Guy: “Yes, hi, I’m [some name]”
Me, after some chit chat about the weather: “So where are you on your FIRE journey?”
Guy:Â “FIRE?”
Me, pointing at the Manchester FIRE flyer pinned next to our table: “FIRE, as in Financially Independent, Retire Early?”
Guy, dismissively: “Retire early? Hah, that would be nice!”
Less than one minute into my explanation of what FIRE was all about, it was obvious from his facial expression and his one question “What if you die before you retire?” that he was a non-believer! (I answered his question with my own “What if you don’t die?”)
He didn’t hang around for a second pint in any case!
Anyway, I had some great chats with other true FIRE believers (are we a cult, haha?), including some who had been following their own FIRE paths but never had the chance to talk to anyone about it and they felt enlightened!
Hope you all had a great April, and also a great May bank holiday!
Good to see the Rocket moving towards £400k and even better news about your health.
Yes, it’s hard to discuss FIRE with non-believers (the majority).
Also, less people to discuss it with as highlighted by your now out of date recommended blogs with TFS, Banker on FIRE and now Indeedably leaving the writing arena. Many of the other recommendations have not posted in 2026. Luckily will still have The Ermine albeit he’s been to Somerset and back!
I was up in your woods the other week enjoying a sunny long weekend at Salford Quays and a visit to Manchester City Centre.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks Lee.
I am really behind on my blog reading so fell out of touch with many but yes, not many of us around on this medium.
At some point, I’ll update my list of blogs and see if I can find any new ones.
I am kind of between the Quays and City Centre – hope you enjoyed your visit!
I’ve never been to a FIRE meeting in person, so it’s good to hear what goes on, but it’s always been on my bucket list. I do attend Ian Shadrack’s retirement online meetups they’re really good.
I’m in the same boat, a bit nervous about the stocks rocketing when so many are waiting for the dip, I still invest every month as it makes new highs every months, better to be time in the market rather than timing the market.
Hi Sean
I always find FIRE meetings liberating, to be able to talk about investing for the future, pensions, other financial stuff with people who are interested. Nobody mentions numbers – I have been to lots of such meetings and not once has there been someone mentioning the size of their portfolio. There’s always a mix of people at various stages of their FIRE journeys and I find that I learn something from everyone I chat to.
Am still nervous and continue to invest…
I’m a scaredypants. I fear higher inflation and, eventually, a market crash perhaps followed by a depression. If a government is incompetent enough it might even run an inflation and a depression simultaneously, at least for a while.
How to buy protection? Gold? Commodities? Index-linked gilts?
You’re surely too young to abandon equities altogether? We’re not though.
Would an “avoid the dogs” policy be promising e.g. never own airlines, car manufacturers, AI companies, …? Does anyone offer a passive global ETF based on everything-but-the-dogs?
Hey dearieme
No, I wouldn’t abandon equities completely, even in retirement I think I will still be invested. I do need to build a bigger cash pot to shield me from big market drops.
I’m tempted by AI companies but only in a fun sort of way, same with SpaceX’s IPO but none of those would form part of my retirement plans.
I don’t think there is such an ETF, just hope that ones I’ve invested in have fewer dogs!
Your comment about the random person at the FIRE meet, reminded me of the Bradley Cooper film, “The Wedding Crashers”. I admire the front of anyone willing to “crash” an event. Maybe, just maybe, something you said stuck with him and he might get on track to early retirement. I mean he saved money on that second pint 😉
Hey Starla
I don’t have the guts to crash an event. I think in my youth/student days, we’ve crashed events in clubs but nothing as organised as a wedding! Yes, I hope something I said stuck with him – I don’t expect to see him at the next meeting!