Renovations and Repayments II: New Year, New Start, New Diary.

AlexLK

Hardly any sleep last night but a glorious day today. Got the cars out and have covered over 150 miles.

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Not anymore, the Supreme Court ruled against the parent whose appeal became a test case.

Info here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/school-holiday-fines

The fine will be a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of your holiday though.

Have a nice Easter with the MrsK side of the family, good luck in the rematch!

I hadn't kept up with it, thanks.

:rotfl: Re. the rematch.

newgirly wrote: »

Not really sure I should be on here anymore.

Morning Alex, I'm slightly confused as to the above comment?[/QUOTE]

NG, I suppose I feel guilty for some of the things I'm posting on here / are on my mind when others are struggling. I know there are people on here trying hard to overpay / work towards their financial goals when I've effectively had everything handed to me. I have financial and business goals but know I would not be in this position had I been born into a different family. Some years ago I believed my position gave me superiority over others; these days I think the opposite when others work for what they have.

Karmacat wrote: »

Of course you should be on here (as long as you still want to be). For instance, learning to spend appropriately is definitely an mfw thing. And if you want to be here, you should be. I'm mortgage free, I'm retired, even, and I still need to be on here, there's a lot of financial issues I need to work through, especially in the next few years.

I do want to be on here.

Really not sure what spending appropriately is anymore. I don't want to spend money from the property business but feel guilty for reinvesting and 'hoarding' money. Been waiting for this my whole adult life but now it seems wrong.

AlexLK

beanielou wrote: »

Of course you need to be here
You are not getting rid of us that easily :rotfl:

:rotfl: Nice to hear from you beanie.

Debsnewbudget

Hi Alex
Staying on here keeps you grounded
Work out the budget you need to live on and try to stick to it. That way you will never go back to your old ways. Deal with any surplus after you have saved up 6 months emergency fund (and save it from day to day income not just say that its in the business)
Its when you spend without a plan in mind that problems occur.
Don't worry if your budget seems excessive to other people's budgets, the ones who have stuck with your diary understand your position.
The only thing I would ask is whether you regulalry give to charity.
Rutland Ospreys or RSPB ? A local food bank?
Something like PLAN sponsors a child in another country and you get photos and updates from them
Possibly something to encourage Little LK to start to think about the lives of others as he gets older. maybe when he starts to get an allowance or spending money he is encouraged to give a percentage away to a charity?
Good luck Alex x

AlexLK

Debs, thanks. We’ve let the budget get out of hand as of late, struggling to keep records of our personal finances and eating out practically all the time because I can’t find any motivation to cook. That said, I think we need a new budget. Not taken my new job into account at all, I tend to just save / overpay that wage as my experience and knowledge grows so will the potential income. At the moment, all our day to day spending is covered by my wife’s wage and a nominal amount I take as a salary for property management. All other rental income is reinvested. My parents now live from other investments which does make me think I should start to diversify. Only sticking point being if the right development project came up we’d be forced to seek finance if the money was tied up elsewhere. Parents have under no uncertain terms told me this is it until I see my inheritance. Need to take some advice as I’m only really interested in the property side, don’t think I could manage other investments really.

We have a £10,000 personal emergency fund. Could perhaps do with adding an extra £10,000 to that. The £1,500 per month savings at the moment are purely for renovations to our current house. Quite amusing how long we’ve been working on this when we’ve just completed a project in 6 months and will see a good profit as it’s already sold. Wish I’d got into this earlier but looking for another now.

Wanted to make a post about our plans / budget as I do appreciate the advice I receive on here but have thought it inappropriate.

Can’t say I regularly give to charity, definitely something to think about.

beanielou

I volunteer at my local food bank as cant afford to give.
They are always looking for donations of food

AlexLK

I make food donations when we visit the supermarket. Something I took from the time I spent teaching / training to teach was how awful some families situations are. That has really stayed with me. However, I!!!8217;m not sure giving money directly is the answer as some parents would not have spent it in a way to benefit their children.

beanielou

AlexLK wrote: »

I make food donations when we visit the supermarket. Something I took from the time I spent teaching / training to teach was how awful some families situations are. That has really stayed with me. However, I!!!8217;m not sure giving money directly is the answer as some parents would not have spent it in a way to benefit their children.

Sadly this is true. 100%

Red-Squirrel_2

AlexLK wrote: »

I make food donations when we visit the supermarket. Something I took from the time I spent teaching / training to teach was how awful some families situations are. That has really stayed with me. However, I!!!8217;m not sure giving money directly is the answer as some parents would not have spent it in a way to benefit their children.

There are a lot of great charities out there doing fantastic work helping struggling families in practical ways that you might be interested in supporting if that’s an area you care about.

Have a read of this page if you are looking for inspiration on where you would like your charitable giving to go, all sorts of different worthy causes, some you may never have thought about: https://www.facebook.com/BBCCharityAppeals?ref=hl

AlexLK

Thanks. Will have a look.

Made a stupid decision to have a coffee today. Really enjoyed it whilst I was drinking it but paid dearly for it later. Was really ill at work and felt more depressed than in a while when it was wearing off. Not sure why I have such an adverse reaction to it as it wasn't a problem for quite a few years.

Also managed to get myself involved with someone else's problem. Friend from school with the 430d is getting married (for the second time). Small ceremony planned. Best man suggested a stag weekend more suited to his old lifestyle and they managed to have a bit of a fall out as he knew how destructive that was for friend from school. I suggested a day out watching some motor racing and a meal in a restaurant. He liked that and I've somehow been asked to take the best man role. :eek: I asked about whether his parents were coming, he broke down and explained his parents have refused to acknowledge he so much as exists. Won't answer 'phone calls, know he's getting married as he sent an invite and have instructed his siblings not to attend. Anyway, I suggested we went to see them, explain how things have progressed since the last time he saw them and that he'd like them to come to his wedding. He thought this a good idea, I didn't the second after I said it. I haven't seen his family since my schooldays and being told to not come back after very drunkenly demonstrating a (rather impressive ) burnout on their grounds in my father's car. My wife thinks this is hilarious and I'm hoping beyond all hope they do not recognise me.

In other news, I have updated my personal finances spreadsheet ready for April and paid the council tax for the coming year. Dislike paying it but at least it's done now and I can think about having a better month for records than this one.

shangaijimmy

At least its not just me that talks myself into/agrees to help bizarre situations!! At least whatever the outcome it'll be a good story (in time). At work this week i found mysefl agreeing to help someone find a lake to buy, despite every voice n my head shouting NO, Stop talking, Stop Nodding!!