ATB's £171k quest begins.... NOW!

Luckyinlife

Aww great im 28 myself so we are very similar ages totally different financial situation by the looks of it tho

Very similar goals tho i hope you can smash that 149k ATB

Watty1

You have cleared a massive 21,373 pounds in 7 months....at this rate you will mortgage free a lot quicker than your 5 years!!! Wow!!

Karmacat

Hello ATB - I realised I'd seen you all over the place, and never checked to see if you have a diary (I'm dreadful for just using User CP to look at subscriptions I already have). And look at the speed of your progress!

Had to pop forward from your page 2 about the franking machine - what a good idea! Do you still have it? Saving money is always good, of course, but saving time as well, that's priceless - energy which is returned to you, to do whatever you want with, whether its another mse gimmick, or playing with your little ones!

I won't be able to read more today, starting work at midday, but I've subscribed now, so I'll be back

atypicalblonde

Hi guys

Thanks for your comments and kind words Lucky. It is true that we are in a different financial position to a lot of our friends and people our age. However, all of this is through choices and hard work, not by chance. We bought our first house at 21 when all our friends were still renting and thought we were bonkers to buy. We then married and had our children fairly quickly, thus requiring a move from our first house (a really cute two-up two-down) to where we are now (4 bed semi). The move also coincided with DH taking the big risk of packing in his full-time job (steady £20,000 income) to set up on his own. After I had my second child I too gave up my job (all of my income would have gone in childcare, even though I was on around £35,000 p.a.) and set up on my own.

Some months we feel flush, others we feel broke. Many people close to us, family included, assume we are loaded because I can work from home and DH has flexibility as to when he works because he is his own boss. Not so. I heard someone say once that when you have your own business you seem to be both cash and time poor - it feels very true at times.

When we have good weeks/months I use the extra money to OP whilst ensuring the tax pot is kept topped up for the next bill. A treat for us is a rib-eye steak from the butcher for dinner with a bottle of fizz I have always been frugal, my whole family is despite there being great wealth in some parts of it, I love charity shops and getting a bargain.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a witter! But I hope it explains a bit more about me and the ATB way to those of you kind enough to read my diary

Watty - thank you for the motivational words, bless you. Hope Most Handsome is well today. x

KC - Lovely to "meet" you . I adore my franking machine. It saves me money, as well as a good few hours a week faffing in the post office. My work is postage heavy, so it definitely earns its keep even factoring in the rental cost per month. Didn't you used to hang out on Hypno's diary on DFW? I did back in the day

Today I have dropped DS at nursery, been to the butchers and greengrocers, eaten some cake and now must must do some work. Oh, and I have done some laundry (using Soapnuts of course ) ahead of DH and DD's return tomorrow with no doubt a pile of laundry!


Best wishes to you all, ATB xx

hiddenshadow

Hello! Just read through your diary, very inspiring on two self-employed incomes.

DH has been employed by the same company for 15+ years (!), but I've freelanced in the past and it's a lot to juggle. I'm full-time perm at the moment (and enjoying the stability!), but could make a good amount more doing contract work. At least it's a nice fallback plan if this job goes awry, though I don't miss all the paperwork, that's for sure!

atypicalblonde

Thanks hiddenshadow - ah yes, paperwork is very much a part of the self-employed life that's for sure! x

Karmacat

atypicalblonde wrote: »

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a witter! But I hope it explains a bit more about me and the ATB way to those of you kind enough to read my diary

We like that sort of wittering

KC

Lovely to "meet" you . I adore my franking machine. It saves me money, as well as a good few hours a week faffing in the post office. My work is postage heavy, so it definitely earns its keep even factoring in the rental cost per month. Didn't you used to hang out on Hypno's diary on DFW? I did back in the day

Yep, thats me how kind to remember! It was so busy, too - you know she's got married again, right? They seem really, really happy. She had her kids early like you

Today I have dropped DS at nursery, been to the butchers and greengrocers, eaten some cake and now must must do some work. Oh, and I have done some laundry (using Soapnuts of course ) ahead of DH and DD's return tomorrow with no doubt a pile of laundry!

To my shame, I never got into soapnuts Your day sounds good tho.

atypicalblonde wrote: »

Thanks hiddenshadow - ah yes, paperwork is very much a part of the self-employed life that's for sure! x

Oh yes. Indeedy it is! The once-a-year when I can chuck out some really old tax papers is a happy day in the KC household

Luckyinlife

Thanks for taking the time to write that ATB :] Its really nice to see how others go about things in life and where they are now.
It is very true that some people think from looking from the outside your RICH because you have a nice house ect i know plenty with 100k + mortgages and are skint every month
quick example is 1 friend has 2 cars on pcp cost £800 a month and mortgage £500 crazy iv tryed to get him to get rid as you can imagine

I hate the tax pot haha :[ and payment on account grrrrr lol

I myself love a bargain and am always on the look out

All we can do is our best in life with what we can i guess and we both seem to be doing a good job :]

Watty1

atypicalblonde wrote: »

Hi guys


Some months we feel flush, others we feel broke. Many people close to us, family included, assume we are loaded because I can work from home and DH has flexibility as to when he works because he is his own boss. Not so. I heard someone say once that when you have your own business you seem to be both cash and time poor - it feels very true at times.

So true here for sure. Am in the cash poor time poor phase meself Love my franking machine for the same reason. I also have my mail collected which seems outrageous when I write the cheque for it once a year - but - it probably saves me half an hour a day I reckon - plus it is just so easy.

atypicalblonde

Hello friends, just popping in quickly to report a £601 OP made

Will be bs k to posting properly next week, take care all xx