The trials & tribulations of a 1st time landlord & investor

TallGirl

Back home secret cinema yesterday cold and wet did spoil it a bit but a nice treat and would go again but with a different film I knew a bit better.

Not done a lot today been to Lidl big stock up shop £76 but it's of meat. Also dropped in at the rubbish gym across the road. It doesn't do classes but we could run there in the monrning it's so close. I think after bootcamp we are motivated to work out on our own so signed up for three day pass. Cost is £43 a month for six months and £15 joining fee expensive but dg can use the one near her work and I will get it for £36 a month as I'm a student. Happy days! Not been for a run for at least a month so time to get back into it.

Bouthg by Christmas fligths just over £200 but will only get more expensive. Think I've spent over £1000 on flights this month bu I have been back twice and I'm glad I did it. Also bought IMac so £1500 on that plus £1500 on course but hey all good I've got a plan.

My really close friend who has my old cats finally got a jog but it's in Hackney so he's moving up here week days. Hopefully he can stay with his friend if not he can crash here but a bit small. We arent going to move now as were joining the gym but might get bigger flat would make it easier to study etc. We shall see.

Golf tonight on the range them game tomorrow. Also booked Monday but need to study and done some work work I didn't do Friday.

Hope you're all enjoying the long weekend

TallGirl

More spending £50 on two cables for MacBook but I resisted the £40 cover and bought one from Amazon for £12.99 plus some other stuff I needed to get free delivery so just over£20 on that order.

Cancelled golf Sunday just playing Sunday and I'm going to study all day so catch up if I want to do two exams in January. My webinar now isn't until end of September but I booked the wrong one so that didn't help.

Work is a bit frustrating I need to stick with my own job and taking over those new cases that's it really not get involved with crap and just annoys me.

Can't wait for holiday one week today and we're off. Need to order currency or just use my Halifax card not sure what's best. Dg gets free airport lounge with Amex and as it's late afternoon should be nice. No mystery shop for me like I usually do just chill out instead.

Used our free pass for the gym last night good to be back only did 30 min but enjoyed it if small and overpriced. It's £15 joining Half price as were both joining but I'll get it monthly for £36.99 as I'm a student ordered my NUS card very handy. Dg won't get that but I hope we can negotiate as were joining together. There are no classes which is a big downside but we both have the same chain gyms near work so we can use those after one month so that's not too bad I don't think.

Hopefully stop spending soon getting quite boring.

TallGirl

Done three sessions at the gym signing up after holiday they will accept dg and give her a discount too so that's cool. She's going tomorrow I've got haircut but she didn't go today.

Work ok only one more day ceo away for two weeks so cannot cause me any hassle which is nice. Shouldn't be too bad tomorrow but migth be last minute things to do who knows.

Felt really old today member of my team is 24 acts much older and was talking about her mum having a mid life crisis she's 54 omg that's me in a few years scary.

Signed up for a Monzo card tonight been thinking about it for ages will get joint one easier to see spending immediately should be good.

Sorted a few bits out for holiday but will pack Wednesday don't need to leave until 12. Dg has an American Express card she pays for so using her free lounge passes. Cannot wait to go will be good.

Golf Saturday was good but we lost 5/1 but mu team one. Only ones obovusly. Dg was upset she played badly don't care about her dramas really I enjoyed myself. Free day out meal and green fee nice people too from both clubs.

Sunday dg working and I studied got two chapters done now 41% complete of the first of five modules. It's a lot about the EU which I did at Uni but a very long time ago and a lot has changed since then.

That's it for tonight dg getting up silly early tomorrow I'm not dont need to be in until 9.

TallGirl

Wow it's been a while since I posted we've just come back from Benidorm it was fab parties everything with Pride and then one day without where we went on a Segway tour. Really funny times people dressing up and good music would recommend it. Loved staying in the old town almost on the beach with walking distance to everything but away from most of the Brit abroad things. Did spot several of the people's features in Bargain loving brits in Benidorm so funny that programme got us to visit in the first place. Trip cost us each just over £500 and we spent £600 between us out there so all in all a cheap trip for us.

Back now hectic work as taking over the cases from person leaving. She's left excellent notes and I'll be fine just a bit daunting. Some of the clients are very demanding so not looking forward to that but actually I don't tend to play up to that anyway too long in the game I am.

Got some cool meetings lined up with all the right people in the next few weeks so that's quite exciting still hate commuting etc. Flat getting cold now and remember dg had talked about an heated airer before we moved in. Then saw it on Eagerlearners diary (just spotted that tonight) and ordered one from Lakeland's with all the assessories £200 a lot but room is so cold if it works as an extra heater that is a bonus.

Got my Monzo card looks fab for budgeting I'm going to try and us it for all spending but keep my normal payments out of my current account due to the linked saver. We might get a joint one as well to track where our money goes.

Haven't joined the gym yet will do tomorrow and then it's three mornings a week at the gym Monday and Fridays off. Will be tough as it takes me so long to get to work might need to travel on 8am train which waits 10min extra at the next station but 7.30 is a bit early if I'm doing gym as well. Thinking about getting a scooter (no engine) to get to station and at the other end. Really hate this location for work but we're not moving so end of will just have to cope.

Need to do some study at the weekend no games booked just practice for us and lesson Sunday late. I think that's it for now.

vandanfc

Sounds like life is going in the right direction for you TG. Long may it continue.

TallGirl

Thanks VandaFC yes all good busy at work this week as my team member left and there's so much to do with meetings on top. Getting into the swing of seeing clients they are quite demanding but I'm getting help from CEO of all people.

Heated airer came wow it's great and it warms up the room nicely. Worked a treat today managed to get both golf bags in there as we got wet playing golf.

Golf competition tomorrow it's a team one but weather will be foul. I really wanted to play with dg but we will be split but it will be fine still get to play and get wet.

Been eating so badly today but did do gym four times so not all bad.

Not done any study this weekend yet but migth tomorrow need to get moving as exams etc needs to be booked soon. Might go and see DGs mum next weekend staying in a hotel as she's got some medical issues so is off work usually she works weekend so can't always see her due to this.

Tired early night for me tonight though.

TallGirl

Did get out to play rain was awful went to indoor range instead. Bought two blue golf tops doe £10 each bargain down from £29 one will be for mum doe Christmas she'll love it.

Also got £8 top for dg again reduced massively. Dg got rain gear just needed the trousers down from £79 to £54 I can wear the top as I have no rain jacket for work. I'll it her a Golf brolly instead. The we're giving away the wooden hangers for free got three nice as I needed them. Put my summer clothes away really don't have enough room for everything. Need a new pair of black trousers can't fit into my only pair and the others a way too big. Think I fall between two sizes so not worth getting any right now.

Done some study changed the bed and will go to the gym tomorrow I've for later start due to training course. Best check start time before I go to bed.

New airer is wonderful trying bedding on it tonight. Have had the heating on a last few days but it works well to heat up the room that thing.

Going to see DGs mum next weekend she's got health problems really need to do some bulk cooking but it can wait a week. Lunches and dinners all planned this week and tons of shopping in fridges so no need for anything else.

Early night is definitely needed.

TallGirl

Wow time fly working from home today bliss not having to commute.

Didn't go away in the end able to cancel hotel so dg went on her own Saturday just for the day so I could watch Ryder Cup and do some study at home. Sunday was just Ryder Cup watching and indoor range in the evening.

Started using Monzo for both joint spending and my own on two cards. £350 for personal spend and £450 for joint should be ok but we shall se I love the categories and that you can set budgets. Bought a birthday present and a Christmas present this is where savings are handy but I'll see how I get on without pots for now.

Heating has been on a lot of evenings this flat isn't great as you know reason it is being pulled down. Heated airer is great though love that and it warms up the room. Still cannot wait to move back home and live in a normal house with a garden and everything normal that goes with it.

Gym is going well down twice this week already skipped this morning but will go Friday so that's ok. Still not quite lost my holiday weight yet 1.5 kilo to get rid off.

Work is ok I can't remember if I updated we got funding for another person to replace the one who left. That will mean less casework for me but that could change come March when another post ends as it will then be a team of three so a lot smaller. We shall see I want to do other things so that is fine.

My mum and I spoke last night really sad news my uncle has been taken I'll in Spain sounds like a stroke. He was found by the neighbour and is incoherent and in hospital. He wanted to go even though he has just come out of hospital so we don't think his travel insurance will cover him and he hasn't got any money to pay for convalescence home as he cannot get care in his own home no one will drive down there it is in the steep mountains. Sad but as my mum said it is what he wanted. He has three sons but only one actually cares so no much help from them I should suspect. Very sad if he does pass away no idea what happens to funeral etc my mum will want to go.

She's ok actually really busy just got her self to be part of the ladies committee at the golf club even though she didn't want to. Also busy with her charity work and golf so all good. She's clearing his clothes out I know how hard that is but she's doing well.

I think that is it better get on with some work as I have avoided that commute this morning.

Moneyfordreams

sorry to hear about your uncle

TallGirl

Moneyfordreams wrote: »

sorry to hear about your uncle

Thank you no update my mum is busy busy which is good.

Last Friday I went to see a guardian property in a rather posh part of Surrey. It has river views and was a huge tow bedroom one. There was no parking around major minus and commute to work not good either but easy to get to play golf at least. Problem then was when I viewed it the kitchen was to be shared with at least 8 others so hardly self containeded.

I didn't take it and saw tonight it was still advertised as self contained so sent email to company just pointing this out. They want people who work but it's a waste of time to take time off when there are errors like that.

Really not ideal living here with the commute but only area we really like she where we were and only Guardian places are with that awful guardian company we were with before remember the cut off gas meter :mad: so not going back to them obviously :eek:.

Work is really busy but good and I'm still enjoying the casework lots to get to grips with. Got a client £1500 back dated benefit and £57 a week ongoing and today I realised he'll get about the same again on top he'll be really pleased. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

Managed to write all the blurb for the recruitment so that's done still two sets of stats waiting to be done but hopefully I'll get some done tomorrow even with looking after my student.

Tired early night as went to gym this morning and going again tomorrow really early. Done lunch for tomorrow and prepped breakfast.