Mr and Mrs K's New Journey to a Debt Free Life.

*Robin*

AlexLK wrote: »

I doubt my mother has borderline personality disorder, more just is a strong willed person in the first place.

Alex, you are obviously used to it. Whatever kids grow up with is their 'normal' - but please believe me, what you describe is certainly out-with the bounds of being merely a strong-willed woman.

fc123

AlexLK wrote: »

Mara: I don't know what to say to this but my wife thought it amusing, not going to tell her off this time.



Glad to here even you city dwellers are not buying EVERYTHING from the supermarkets.

We don't "do" intensive / battery products either (OK apart from the guilty takeaways ), I mean for our own cooking and I believe I can taste the difference. However, I am very lucky to live where I do so far as food is concerned.



.

...of course we don't, in fact I run my 'Power of One' campaign....I do the 'lowest margin shop' in all the big supermarkets.;) The aim is to get the products that we like but with least amount of profit to the SM.

We buy certain branded items and I wait until they are on special in one or another (and they always rotate between the big 4 ) and bulk buy....and online so I don't get tempted to buy anything else.
I know it's usually the supplier that takes the hit but it makes me feel better.
We have a Macro card for loo roll and stuff but it's a bit of a PITA going there.

Our son doesn't ever go in a SM (nor buy Nestle and another big brand, can't recall which, for 'ethical' reasons) and shops entirely in street markets and indie food shops.

He is an amazing cook though (can't work out how) @ aged 26 and his housemates love it as they eat incredibly well on a small budget.

Iwillsucceed_2

Their duty all over again Alex? You have not asked them to help you, have you? You would never contemplate to think about might be if would have been better to have had later little K? You would never change a bit because he means the world to you! I hope you would never say that to little K would you? Would you say if only? I had you later, you would have had as much as me? Better things, more things, money, money .. Bl&&& money! To be honest!
You are kind to your mother, you understand where her frustrations might be coming from! Why then she cannot understand you and accept you for who you are? She did not Buy you! She spen lots of lots of money yes, but surely she wanted you! Does she think you were a bad investment?? A bad asset that only brought her shame? Does she only thinks about money?? Agh!

fc123

AlexLK wrote: »

She's not joking. The topic of her retiring "in five years" (her words) from managing the BTLs they have (father wants to hand over responsibility to an agent, mother doesn't like the thought of them taking fees for the pleasure) came up and she basically hit the roof that I "couldn't be trusted" with the BTL properties because I'd end up "bankrupting" them.

That of course opened up the can of worms regarding my previous "irresponsible behaviour" and onto my latest "endeavours".

...well maybe explain that you were younger then and have wised up now.
The snag with managing their BTL's is I do wonder how you would fit it all in plus she probably would want to overlook a quote for a repair say, and not 'leave you to it' at all but 'meddle'.

She could negotiate an 8% fee with 12 properties I would have thought.....wonder what she was quoted.
How much rent comes in each week roughly? Maybe £1800 - 2k? Sounds worth it to me for peace of mind

AlexLK

*Robin* wrote: »

Alex, you are obviously used to it. Whatever kids grow up with is their 'normal' - but please believe me, what you describe is certainly out-with the bounds of being merely a strong-willed woman.

I would not want to be the one to tell her that. :rotfl:

fc123 wrote: »

...of course we don't, in fact I run my 'Power of One' campaign....I do the 'lowest margin shop' in all the big supermarkets.;) The aim is to get the products that we like but with least amount of profit to the SM.

We buy certain branded items and I wait until they are on special in one or another (and they always rotate between the big 4 ) and bulk buy....and online so I don't get tempted to buy anything else.
I know it's usually the supplier that takes the hit but it makes me feel better.
We have a Macro card for loo roll and stuff but it's a bit of a PITA going there.

Our son doesn't ever go in a SM (nor buy Nestle and another big brand, can't recall which, for 'ethical' reasons) and shops entirely in street markets and indie food shops.

He is an amazing cook though (can't work out how) @ aged 26 and his housemates love it as they eat incredibly well on a small budget.

Wow, sounds like you've got the whole supermarket / food thing sorted. Care to visit and show us how it's done?

We've got a Parfeits cash and carry card and buy quite a few things there (not food) , did try Booker and Costco once but they're expensive.

This is rather embarrassing but I didn't really realise you had market days in London.

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

Their duty all over again Alex? You have not asked them to help you, have you? You would never contemplate to think about might be if would have been better to have had later little K? You would never change a bit because he means the world to you! I hope you would never say that to little K would you? Would you say if only? I had you later, you would have had as much as me? Better things, more things, money, money .. Bl&&& money! To be honest!
You are kind to your mother, you understand where her frustrations might be coming from! Why then she cannot understand you and accept you for who you are? She did not Buy you! She spen lots of lots of money yes, but surely she wanted you! Does she think you were a bad investment?? A bad asset that only brought her shame? Does she only thinks about money?? Agh!

I have done in the past (re. school fees) but no, I don't regret having our son when we did at all, nor would I say anything of the sort.

I was a very wanted child but then I grew up. :rotfl: As for the whole bad investment thing, I suppose she does because of how I've turned out.

fc123 wrote: »

...well maybe explain that you were younger then and have wised up now.
The snag with managing their BTL's is I do wonder how you would fit it all in plus she probably would want to overlook a quote for a repair say, and not 'leave you to it' at all but 'meddle'.

She could negotiate an 8% fee with 12 properties I would have thought.....wonder what she was quoted.
How much rent comes in each week roughly? Maybe £1800 - 2k? Sounds worth it to me for peace of mind

I already have but I also don't want the BTL management job at the moment either, it's just something for her to say. They are quite lonely and whilst father is the type who enjoys quiet time reading or sitting in the garden, she doesn't.

The total rent comes to about £1,500 each week I believe (most let out for about £500 per month). She likes to get out and it's my father trying to tell her to retire properly after she fell down a loft ladder in one of the properties, she sees it as almost a bit of a social outlet - going to inspect the properties.

Iwillsucceed_2

And how have you turned out Alex?

AlexLK

Iwillsucceed wrote: »

And how have you turned out Alex?

Making bad financial decisions for the most part.

fc123

AlexLK wrote: »

I would not want to be the one to tell her that. :rotfl:



Wow, sounds like you've got the whole supermarket / food thing sorted. Care to visit and show us how it's done?

We've got a Parfeits cash and carry card and buy quite a few things there (not food) , did try Booker and Costco once but they're expensive.

This is rather embarrassing but I didn't really realise you had market days in London.

There are all types from traditional cheap ones like Whitechapel to swishy foody ones like Borough Market. Both run everyday.

I don't think we have 'market days' where people sell live animals and stuff ....actually I know we don't.;)


The one I go to is in Blackheath and you could be in deepest Dorset if you ignored the accents. Mind you, the market has a reputation of being expensive as you have artisan cheese stalls, artisan ready meals (is there such a thing?), very expensive fish (but worth it as a treat) and so on but the basics like veg are cheaper or the same as SM non-organic prices.

AlexLK wrote: »

I already have but I also don't want the BTL management job at the moment either, it's just something for her to say. They are quite lonely and whilst father is the type who enjoys quiet time reading or sitting in the garden, she doesn't.

The total rent comes to about £1,500 each week I believe (most let out for about £500 per month). She likes to get out and it's my father trying to tell her to retire properly after she fell down a loft ladder in one of the properties, she sees it as almost a bit of a social outlet - going to inspect the properties.

So in one breath she wants you to run them then in the next she says you can't as you'd be cra9 at it?
Then turns out she likes to go check them out and natter to the tenants sometimes. Mmmm, mixed messages Alex.

She is going to have to be clearer about what she really wants.

Could she join their local 'Rotary' club? She would enjoy it I am sure. Lots of charity work, fundraising social events, people like herself?

Iwillsucceed_2

Hahaha! Just like me! Haha ha

I guess that is just one aspect and does not shape who we are because as we can see, we all have potential for change! You are working on your debts right? You can see the light at the end of the tunnel, you have set a goal to be a DF by 2014! Then save some money and perhaps invest in BTLs! So tell me who is got the will? Who is the one with the strong will? You!!!