Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

Not having a good day today. I'd planned to get all the record keeping done for the business which I've neglected, instead spending my morning thinking about the public not really knowing what they're voting for. I don't like how politicians dodge answering the concerns of the public and how politics is all too often a personality contest. Obviously that hasn't helped to get the work done, consequently no money has been made.

Not really sure how people clear their minds enough to get on with work most days.

edinburgher wrote: »

Oh yes - I judge the mark of adulthood to be having the money to book a fortnight in the New York Four Seasons leaving tonight - but choosing not to!

I think I'd rather just sign out of adulthood.

AlexLK

Well, I've started reading the Millionaire Next Door book. It's rather interesting but I do question it's relevance to the UK as America has quite a different culture.

edinburgher

Not really sure how people clear their minds enough to get on with work most days.

I've found it's perfectly possible to sustain a white collar job in autopilot most days :rotfl:

I think I'd rather just sign out of adulthood.

I love being an adult, responsibilities aside, you can pick up interests at the drop of a hat, choose what you eat, where you live, when you sleep, who you want to spend time with. Childhood is overrated!

America has quite a different culture.

I have to say that if we're talking about the narrow bandings of 'upper'/'middle'/'working' class, I find quite a lot of similarities these days. Can't really explain myself without resorting to pop culture examples that you probably won't be familiar with (I'm very low brow!), but I get the impression that rich and poor aren't so very different.

AlexLK

edinburgher wrote: »

I've found it's perfectly possible to sustain a white collar job in autopilot most days :rotfl:

Lucky you. Some mornings when I start thinking about things I find getting out of bed too much, never mind going to work.

edinburgher wrote: »

I love being an adult, responsibilities aside, you can pick up interests at the drop of a hat, choose what you eat, where you live, when you sleep, who you want to spend time with. Childhood is overrated!

I think everyone takes so many things for granted when they are young. If I could go back and change many decisions I made, I think I could enjoy my life now, too.

edinburgher wrote: »

I have to say that if we're talking about the narrow bandings of 'upper'/'middle'/'working' class, I find quite a lot of similarities these days. Can't really explain myself without resorting to pop culture examples that you probably won't be familiar with (I'm very low brow!), but I get the impression that rich and poor aren't so very different.

English upper class vs. American are two very different entities. Middle / working class likely share more similarities. However, I don't really believe truly self made people fit into any of the predefined class brackets. Nor do I think there is a "typical" self made person.

I've only read the very start of the book and plan to read a little more tonight. There were certain things I agreed with, like the self made not spending an awful lot of money on cars. Do you know what sample size of self made people they interviewed?

edinburgher wrote: »

Can't really explain myself without resorting to pop culture examples that you probably won't be familiar with (I'm very low brow!)

That reminds me of when I asked a music pupil what he liked to listen to and he automatically responded with "you wouldn't like it". I asked how he knew what I liked and disliked without me ever telling him, only for him to tell me he thought me to be "too posh" to like "his" music. :rotfl: In reality, I have a fairly eclectic record collection with everything from Mahler to Marley.

Did you ever look into learning the piano?

AlexLK

Saturday 16th May, 2015.

Dear Diary,

Well, I'm a bit further into the Millionaire Next Door book and so far, apart from the American specific bits, I reckon it's as accurate as it could be. However, whilst I think it's great for somebody wishing to be self made, I do fail to see it's relevance to my situation? I have no goals for financial independence as that will come from inheritance. Something I found interesting were the statements about children losing their inheritance, wealth only lasting a couple of generations and how self made people want their children to do "better" - my parents certainly fell into that category even though they didn't get their wish.

On the house front, operation tidy up has begun and I'm also doing some business related work whilst my head is clear enough to do so. Mrs. K. is unfortunately not very well and our son has gone to the seaside for the day with my brother-in-law, his wife and their children. We are also going to be getting a family dog soon as my cousin's Labrador is pregnant and my son is so excited about this. Though he doesn't know one of the puppies will be ours yet. However, he is certainly not getting his wish to have a horse, no matter how persuasive cousin is!

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

AlexLK

Saturday 23rd May, 2015.

Dear Diary,

Today has mostly been spent working on the house and garden, instead of enjoying our cars. We have another completed window and a painted kitchen. Not a lot done to the garden, just tidied slightly.

Over these past few months I cannot say I've been particularly well and at the moment my savings are suffering as I'm really struggling to find motivation. When things are like this, I can see why many people prefer passive investments, something I do intend to eventually look into. Unfortunately, every time I read a book relating to investing, it all seems so very complicated and I don't believe I really have enough to warrant paying an IFA.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

AlexLK

Sunday 24th May, 2015.

Dear Diary,

I've had absolutely no motivation to do anything to the house today and am starting to wonder if those choosing to employ tradesmen have the right idea. Despite putting the usual £30 away, I am once again failing to see the point in this exercise. Even if I were to pay off the mortgage tomorrow, it wouldn't change my life, all it would mean is an extra £750 per month to spend on more pointless things.

Earlier I listened to a programme on Radio 4 about the NHS and mental illness, it was interesting to find out how the government fund such an organisation but rather disconcerting to hear how dismissive senior staff were over the patients they were meant to be caring for. Anyone would think they were being interviewed about trivial matters, not lives and lives lost due to their incompetence. The more I listen and read about how this country is governed and by whom, the more I realise just how insignificant the individual is and how irrelevant each of our little lives are.

Another Bank Holiday tomorrow and the last one before the end of August, I'm quite pleased about that as I don't like them because the two closest towns to where I live get very busy.

Yours Faithfully,
Alex.

edinburgher

I use tradesmen because they can do a better job than I can, faster than I can and if they make a mess, they will be fixing it

AlexLK

I like the idea of the job being done in a shorter time frame and them clearing the mess. I don't like the idea of paying them a lot of money to do something I can do myself to a good standard. Besides, certain jobs are often an excuse to buy new [STRIKE]toys[/STRIKE] tools and learn how to do something new.

edinburgher

I don't like the idea of paying them a lot of money to do something I can do myself to a good standard.

Neither do I, I save the jobs for contractors that I can't do (plastering etc.) or am obliged not to do (various electrical and gas jobs). Beyond the usual drill, hammer and a few screwdrivers, I don't really own any tools. They always seem a bit superfluous when you live in a flat.