Countdown from £28k...

Onebrokelady

I've been reading along and just caught up with your diary, I was so worried you wouldn't be able to move because of tier four 😂but I'm relieved to see you can. I would give the relatives an itemised list of all the things you have paid for and all the things you have done for them while you have been there, they would definitely not be getting a log burner from me that's for sure 😡

Sarahwithlove

If you are used to faster speeds then fibre probably is best. Have you done the broadband comparison on MSE? I think they also tell what you what speeds to to for depending on what you use it for. Mine is quite fast at the moment so will be a shock when I change it 🙈

alt80

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

That's great news if you can move on 2nd - new year, new start. 2021 going to be your year mate, no debt, earning more, great flat in a super location. Not gonna lie I'm a bit envious, you've got it made now - right attitude going to see you go far, don't let the family grind you down 100 not worth it now.

Great news re the work. Liked your assessment of the next level work wise, that's what running my business is like these days - could do no fee earners if I chose but do like to keep my hand in and would miss it if I never went out on a job but have started to see I was doing a bit too much working 11/12 hour days and every weekend until recently. Been my life for 15 years, just realising now that working 8/9 hour days doesn't mean everything going to go to !!!!!!. Have got a new fee earning member of staff now so that's helping too. Know it's harder when you're working for someone else but having reassessed an awful lot of stuff myself, I do think you need some balance. Know you've been working long hours recently, sometimes things are like that but don't make it your whole life especially not when its not your business.

Haha, not sure about made but things are looking up and I have plans on the career front, which is good.

Agreed on the balance, it’s been a welcome distraction of late but things should be much quieter going forward. Though busy times will come again no doubt. The dream would be working for myself but it’s not something I could see myself doing in my industry and that’s not a confidence thing, I’m just not quite sure how it would work. Maybe I’ll change my mind. But the small time contractors get paid a pittance as far as I could tell but then maybe they have loads of small contracts on the go. 

Good that you’re learning to cede control a bit and get a bit of balance, can understand why you’d be wanting to get your hands dirty though, particularly if you get a kick out of it. I guess things are helped in your industry by the fact that it’s clear when people aren’t performing as they aren’t bringing money in, so lots of incentive there.

Still think I’d rather do law but I also now see that at this point in my life I can be happy in what I’m doing and live a decent life. Just need to keep progressing and pushing.

Had a couple of glasses of wine tonight, don’t know why but I always wake up in the night after a bit of wine. Doesn’t seem to agree with my insides... Woke up at 2.30am. Hopefully nod off soon.

Been thinking about bills etc. Looks like Internet might be slightly pricier than budgeted depending on whether I go for fibre. How do you decide speed? Basically all I do is stream music and tv, browse the internet and work... Not really a gamer...

Plan for the second looks a goer. 

Not long now until you’re back to London then, pleased for you mate think you need out of there now tbh. 

Things are definitely looking up for you mate, from what I’ve read, you’ve definitely got it made compared to where you were less than two years ago. 

Can’t drink like I used to either mate. Probably was early thirties when I started feeling a lot worse after drinking. The waking up definitely worse when I’ve had a drink too but mainly think its the amount of coffee I drink tbh but def worse after alcohol too ha.

I know quite a few people (some work for me) who say they’d love to have their own business but for whatever reason not right for them. No right or wrong way to go about life mate. I never saw any other option than being in business tbf, different strokes and all that. My industry generally you’re right in terms of fee earners. I find staff generally want to work and get on. Always the odd one who doesn’t, same with tenants just a part of life but that doesn’t stress me.

Re internet we find the mid range fibre is fine. Our usage pretty much the same too. Currently with vodafone but on a business plan £20+VAT/m including line rental.

ryanm8655

Onebrokelady said:

I've been reading along and just caught up with your diary, I was so worried you wouldn't be able to move because of tier four 😂but I'm relieved to see you can. I would give the relatives an itemised list of all the things you have paid for and all the things you have done for them while you have been there, they would definitely not be getting a log burner from me that's for sure 😡

Yeah, it’s tempting for sure. I was feeling a bit bad about leaving earlier yesterday as one of the relatives got a bit sad about it but then getting back on here reminded me why and how pushed out/unappreciated I’ve felt. So don’t feel so bad now, has helped me feel a bit less annoyed/bitter about things though. Now feel like I can rise above and not let things get to me so much. Just try and enjoy Christmas, help out where I can but don’t be a doormat. And hopefully we can go back to appreciating each other some more in the future.

Sarahwithlove said:

If you are used to faster speeds then fibre probably is best. Have you done the broadband comparison on MSE? I think they also tell what you what speeds to to for depending on what you use it for. Mine is quite fast at the moment so will be a shock when I change it 🙈

Looks like I can get 30mb fibre for £20ish (plus £34 cash back on Quidco). Never heard of the company (hyperoptic). I stream a lot of tv, plus will likely carry on working from home. Mate reckons it will make a difference to the speed of my laptop as I’m working off of work server (I have no idea). His point was also that at times when they limit speed the more headroom you have, the less impactful it will be. MSE option is hotspot the work phone

alt80 said:

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

That's great news if you can move on 2nd - new year, new start. 2021 going to be your year mate, no debt, earning more, great flat in a super location. Not gonna lie I'm a bit envious, you've got it made now - right attitude going to see you go far, don't let the family grind you down 100 not worth it now.

Great news re the work. Liked your assessment of the next level work wise, that's what running my business is like these days - could do no fee earners if I chose but do like to keep my hand in and would miss it if I never went out on a job but have started to see I was doing a bit too much working 11/12 hour days and every weekend until recently. Been my life for 15 years, just realising now that working 8/9 hour days doesn't mean everything going to go to !!!!!!. Have got a new fee earning member of staff now so that's helping too. Know it's harder when you're working for someone else but having reassessed an awful lot of stuff myself, I do think you need some balance. Know you've been working long hours recently, sometimes things are like that but don't make it your whole life especially not when its not your business.

Haha, not sure about made but things are looking up and I have plans on the career front, which is good.

Agreed on the balance, it’s been a welcome distraction of late but things should be much quieter going forward. Though busy times will come again no doubt. The dream would be working for myself but it’s not something I could see myself doing in my industry and that’s not a confidence thing, I’m just not quite sure how it would work. Maybe I’ll change my mind. But the small time contractors get paid a pittance as far as I could tell but then maybe they have loads of small contracts on the go. 

Good that you’re learning to cede control a bit and get a bit of balance, can understand why you’d be wanting to get your hands dirty though, particularly if you get a kick out of it. I guess things are helped in your industry by the fact that it’s clear when people aren’t performing as they aren’t bringing money in, so lots of incentive there.

Still think I’d rather do law but I also now see that at this point in my life I can be happy in what I’m doing and live a decent life. Just need to keep progressing and pushing.

Had a couple of glasses of wine tonight, don’t know why but I always wake up in the night after a bit of wine. Doesn’t seem to agree with my insides... Woke up at 2.30am. Hopefully nod off soon.

Been thinking about bills etc. Looks like Internet might be slightly pricier than budgeted depending on whether I go for fibre. How do you decide speed? Basically all I do is stream music and tv, browse the internet and work... Not really a gamer...

Plan for the second looks a goer. 

Not long now until you’re back to London then, pleased for you mate think you need out of there now tbh. 

Things are definitely looking up for you mate, from what I’ve read, you’ve definitely got it made compared to where you were less than two years ago. 

Can’t drink like I used to either mate. Probably was early thirties when I started feeling a lot worse after drinking. The waking up definitely worse when I’ve had a drink too but mainly think its the amount of coffee I drink tbh but def worse after alcohol too ha.

I know quite a few people (some work for me) who say they’d love to have their own business but for whatever reason not right for them. No right or wrong way to go about life mate. I never saw any other option than being in business tbf, different strokes and all that. My industry generally you’re right in terms of fee earners. I find staff generally want to work and get on. Always the odd one who doesn’t, same with tenants just a part of life but that doesn’t stress me.

Re internet we find the mid range fibre is fine. Our usage pretty much the same too. Currently with vodafone but on a business plan £20+VAT/m including line rental.

Yeah a very good point! Owning a home seemed an impossible dream then and now it’s on the cards in a few years (or less if I really wanted to but the point is I have options). I was also miserable at work (even though I didn’t need to do much) but feel like I’m back to me on that front. Not been driven and hardworking in years, while I didn’t work hard at school I have worked since 12 (paper round and labouring on a building site) and have always grafted. Even when I got a job at Waitrose I was known for working hard (running around like a madman to keep the shelves stacked used to treat it as a challenge) and I’ve missed that. Work sort of became an extension of education, where I’ve always been lazy and got away with the bare minimum. I’ve now fixed that mindset, which is probably my biggest victory of 2020 tbh. There are people better than me as economists but at least I’m willing to graft and the best economists don’t necessarily make the best leaders/managers.

Starting to worry about myself on the drink front, maybe it’s the lidl wine. 1.5 glasses of wine and a glass of port last night, same issues with stomach cramps. Did sleep until 5 this time at least. 

Yeah, I do see myself making a good business person to be honest. Why I’d love to be in the private sector and can see me having my own business one day, though haven’t figured out in what yet. Have the head for the figures side of things and can think quickly in terms of figuring out the impact of changes in my head (do it a lot in current role when policy ask about impacts of changing assumptions in a model, have a good memory for the numbers and understanding what costs will be impacted by particular assumptions and by what magnitude so can spit out rough - but fairly accurate - calculations quickly for complex changes) but that’s a bit wasted in my current role to be honest. I don’t ever see myself heading up my own consultancy, could see myself leading one but it’d be the getting to that point, unless I had enough start up capital to bring a team with me or did it with mates. I suppose I could start with one niche and as things grow look to diversify and bring on other people e.g. I could just focus on economic impact assessments initially and then bring on a junior social researcher to expand into evaluations etc. Hmm...either way I need to develop the skillset some more first. 

Good to hear on internet. Sounds like the 30mb is the best option.

General update:

Christmas is certainly here as I feel like I’m haemorrhaging money a bit. Even small things like eating out a bit more (had a McDonald’s on the way back from uncles last week and also got myself fish and chips one eve, plus have had a few coffees at the gym etc. All minor but it adds up. The major things us I’ve also spent £230 on fragrances (some deals that were too good to turn down), so I suspect that’s where the underlying guilty feeling is coming from ha as it was unplanned. Do plan to sell one immediately for a tidy profit and the other is some “vintage” aventus I think I’ll keep but sell my newer bottle (which will sell for more). But it’s just the hole in the funds and the fact fragrances are taking ages to sell at the moment. 

Spent about £60-£65 on general shopping this week and said I’ll go out and do a bit of an Xmas food shop (just the snacky stuff like cheese/chutneys/crackers/crisps etc. plus some port and maybe some beers - only 2 of us drink and already have wine/bubbles). Imagine that’ll come to a further £80. Need to get uncle’s kids amazon vouchers (2x£20) and uncle wants a decent knife sharpener (any recommendations?). Was going to get the kids a few stocking filler type bits but already spent £50x3 on go ape vouchers and they’ve got so much stuff under the tree already...Then there is the log burner, ha. They’ve actually ordered the one they want now so was just going to wrap up the cash and get some port plus something non-alcoholic to wrap up with it but haemorrhaging so much money...I guess I could do that in lieu of some of the Xmas food shop (I.e. gift the port).

ryanm8655

Well that was hell on earth...£80 later the Xmas snacks are sorted...quite depressing when you go to Asda for the bits you couldn’t find in M&S and realise it’s about half the price

Usually at Christmas I just buy without thinking, it’s kind of painful being money conscious and when you haven’t had long to plan moving expenses ha. But I guess it’s a good thing to be conscious of it.

Things left to buy:
2x£20 amazon vouchers
Knife sharpener (£20?)
Cousins birthday (£50)
A few small stocking fillers (£25)
Xmas cash for family (£400)

Have about £3k stashed and have paid
my credit card bill already for this month. Need about £2700 for deposit and rent (as already paid a few hundred holding deposit) and also have pay day to come on the 31st, which will be a bit depleted because of tax overpayment last month.

On the plus side I’m not going to need the £800 entertainment budget for a few months so can use that to build up a savings pot, though will need to buy a few house related things. Not been through and worked out properly but will buy in my head I’m thinking a few hundred for hoover etc. I’d also like to buy a Sonos Beam for the living room when funds allow (about £300).

Sarahwithlove

ryanm8655 said:

Well that was hell on earth...£80 later the Xmas snacks are sorted...quite depressing when you go to Asda for the bits you couldn’t find in M&S and realise it’s about half the price

Usually at Christmas I just buy without thinking, it’s kind of painful being money conscious and when you haven’t had long to plan moving expenses ha. But I guess it’s a good thing to be conscious of it.

Things left to buy:
2x£20 amazon vouchers
Knife sharpener (£20?)
Cousins birthday (£50)
A few small stocking fillers (£25)
Xmas cash for family (£400)

Have about £3k stashed and have paid
my credit card bill already for this month. Need about £2700 for deposit and rent (as already paid a few hundred holding deposit) and also have pay day to come on the 31st, which will be a bit depleted because of tax overpayment last month.

On the plus side I’m not going to need the £800 entertainment budget for a few months so can use that to build up a savings pot, though will need to buy a few house related things. Not been through and worked out properly but will buy in my head I’m thinking a few hundred for hoover etc. I’d also like to buy a Sonos Beam for the living room when funds allow (about £300).

Henry hoover or vax pet max (good even if don't have pet) are both under £200 but post Xmas sales should get you good value for money. 

ryanm8655

Sarahwithlove said:

ryanm8655 said:

Well that was hell on earth...£80 later the Xmas snacks are sorted...quite depressing when you go to Asda for the bits you couldn’t find in M&S and realise it’s about half the price

Usually at Christmas I just buy without thinking, it’s kind of painful being money conscious and when you haven’t had long to plan moving expenses ha. But I guess it’s a good thing to be conscious of it.

Things left to buy:
2x£20 amazon vouchers
Knife sharpener (£20?)
Cousins birthday (£50)
A few small stocking fillers (£25)
Xmas cash for family (£400)

Have about £3k stashed and have paid
my credit card bill already for this month. Need about £2700 for deposit and rent (as already paid a few hundred holding deposit) and also have pay day to come on the 31st, which will be a bit depleted because of tax overpayment last month.

On the plus side I’m not going to need the £800 entertainment budget for a few months so can use that to build up a savings pot, though will need to buy a few house related things. Not been through and worked out properly but will buy in my head I’m thinking a few hundred for hoover etc. I’d also like to buy a Sonos Beam for the living room when funds allow (about £300).

Henry hoover or vax pet max (good even if don't have pet) are both under £200 but post Xmas sales should get you good value for money. 

Thanks! Just goes to show how long it’s been since I’ve bought a vacuum...I used to have a Henry and sure I paid £49.99 brand new from tesco...£200 :O Hoping one has been left behind or I can nab a family members old one...

ryanm8655

Expensive day...

£40 on lunch (Nandos plus one of the adults came so paid for three of us). £40 on clothes shopping. Overall quite a bit over the budget.On the plus side I "only" owe £2692.28 for deposit and rent. Also virtually finished my Christmas shopping now. Just the cash for family and one other small gift to get. £40 on amazon vouchers, tenner on knife sharpener, a couple of books at £16. Got the kids a couple of small things from John Lewis for £6x3. £154 total spend. Not enjoying the spending money ha. Used to love shopping but now I just wince as I pay, it's a bit weird. Not sure if I am going too far

Finished work today, back on the 4th. Also signed contract for Flat, move in on the 2nd...must be the only person moving into a tier 4 ha.

Getting quite fed up of this corona business now ha...sure everyone else is too.

enthusiasticsaver

Great news you can get into your new flat early.  I actually think it is a good thing that you are finding it painful to spend now as going from paying a large percentage of your income to debt to suddenly having lots of disposable income can be a little tempting to fall back into bad habits. 

ryanm8655

enthusiasticsaver said:

Great news you can get into your new flat early.  I actually think it is a good thing that you are finding it painful to spend now as going from paying a large percentage of your income to debt to suddenly having lots of disposable income can be a little tempting to fall back into bad habits. 

Thanks! Yeah very true! I hope things will be a bit better when I’ve had more time to save and actually set up budget pots. At the moment I sort of fear I’ve become the sort of person I used to never want to be, a penny pincher

A few things made me wince inside...firstly an additional adult making lunch 50% more expensive. Then both going for a double chicken burger at £3 more each I’ve always been polite when other people are paying, choose something reasonable rather than the priciest thing on the menu (see what I mean, I’ve become tight ) Then as we’re approaching the till in a second clothes shop, unsure whether they’re expecting me to pay for the mound of clothes in their arms, having already bought a load ha. Absolutely think this is down to the the budget being tight and uncertain over the next couple of months though.

I think it’s partly because I know I’ve got to fork out for deposit and rent, plus am going to need to buy some flat stuff, which could be pricey (who knew hoovers are so bloody expensive...though maybe it’s because I’m looking at pricey ones but sure they used to be about £50).

Overall though, I guess it’s better than just not thinking about it and sticking it on the never never. But it actually feels a bit like when the credit lines are running out and you’re stressed about money But I guess it is like that right now as I’ve got lots of uncertain spends and a hefty amount to fork out on rent and deposit, so it is a good thing. In the past I’ve just stuck life on credit card when I’ve got an expensive move coming up.

No interest in my fragrances even at bargain prices so I guess I just need to wait until after Christmas.

Payday on the 31st, may have a bonus but looks like it’ll likely be paid in January.