Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

LadyWithAPlan

I am typing this by the pool in a bikini -  It is the perfect outdoor space - lots of umbrellas for shade if you want by the sun loungers, a large table area also with umbrellas so you can sit in the shade, the barbecue area and bar ... with water electricity etc plus of course the pool and the jacuzzi and views of the mountains and huge trees. large amethyst crystals every where - the 1-2 feet ones, chimes gently moving in the breeze. Its Nov but its 25 degrees here and will hot 28 I think today. London will be a shock Monday morning!


My Vivienne Westwood green bag purchase  has been delivered already to a shop locally as I was not in  

Grocery  £29.38/£130 -   no bulk added as away.

Hello Fr*sh have credited me this week's meal as a one -off - it arrives Sunday but I dont fly in til Mon morning so it would go to waste. So I will book that for next week so spend £29.38 of nov grocery.
As I am abroad and food was last week covered by work and now I am staying with a friend - I have not spent any money on groceries - I will be buying her a fabulous lunch or dinner somewhere this week as a thank you so thats probably $200 i guess.


I have decided to stay here rather than moving and spending $100 on a cheap hostel thing by the beach  ...friend has insisted -I am in a separate guest house so not in her face and waking her up before she starts moving in the morning. The amount of people needed to fix things here - the gardener, the 3x week housekeeper, the quotes for plumbers due to a drain going and the hot water tap in the kitchen is not hot! Last night an av guy came out as the main camera on the front gate is not working... The bigger the house the more work...but I am feeling v priveleged writing this then off for a swim!

l I may well go down to the beach one day anyway but its a $35 each way uber or lyft - I do have a max 2 x  $10 off lyft intro offer - I used on the way  so I will use on the way down.. I have not renewed my driving license so cant hire a car - its on my to do list.

NSD - ha! I am off to go shopping for xmas and kids bday gifts today in a large mall I have 5kg to spare in the suitcase and a bit in my cary on. I will not (repeat to myself) buy myself any shoes.. If I see a pair of flat knee length black for work that are cheap and fabulous thats the only thing I will look at if I pass a shoe shop.. However I already bought a bag £103 and I normally only put £30 a month into my clothing pot so...

PAYE issues - couldnt find a code I needed when I was packing to leave so still need to do that.

TO DO this last part of the week - largely vacation but be good to get a few hours in
Client A - see where we are at and get query list today
Client B - see where he is on some stuff and do 2 hours
client C -should be calling me but time diff is an issue so maybe next week
Nov budget - move monies when FX Transfer has gone through 
Contact HMRC for a copy of the code I need
Get my accounts fort personal and work up to date for pre Xmas filing, First year and went from SE to ltd co mid year so a bit tricksy and need to use chartered acct 
Mortgage form - fill it in
Look at my programme and see if I can get it moving for pre xmas...
Book some side hustle work pre Xmas - send 2 emails out at least

Right I am off for a swim! My apple watch is super useful as  I like to swim min 20mins.
I was looking the new apple watch 9 does a blood sugar tracking app that does not require needles or a separate attachment - but my series 7 is fine so not upgrading for that.  However I keep reading how tracking blood sugar is good for great health and nutrition not just if one is diabetics.. something for the future...

Happy Wed all 
 

savingholmes

That sounds like you are having a lovely relaxing time. Make the most of it. Wet weather will greet you on your return home no doubt.

LadyWithAPlan

Watty1 said:

Oh how the "other half" live.  Love reading and catching up, but nice doable takeaways.  2 days by the ocean sounds lovely as a complete reset and recharge too before the Winter Gloom

Indeed and I am luxuriating in it   Not sure how cold cauliflower crudites will work in the deep midwinter of the UK but at least its crunchy! 
I am going to stay here vs paying for somewhere else  instead as my friend insists - but may go have a beach day instead - at least I dont have to pack/unpack and pack again..

themadvix said:

If it’s the hostel I’m thinking of (based on your fancy description of house and then being near the beach at the hostel), it’s very nice for what it is and very safe 😊

We do have hostels for travellers in the UK LWAP and they are also perfectly safe - check out Youth Hostels (not just for the young 😉).

 The crudités sound good as long as they don’t end up in the bin. I should make some hummus today - definitely good with carrot sticks and in a sandwich.

Good to know on UK - I was chatting to someone at the US  hostel last week - I paid for a small private double room with a  sink  and a fridge   ... but shared  v clean showers /toilet .. and she was saying some of the UK hostels she had stayed in (she is Australian) seemed filled with people trying to find homes rather than travellers so less chat to random strangers which I also enjoy... however maybe YHA are different
I am not sure where you think I am but I think you are right, think fabulous, OTT, Only a couple options this warm in the States in Nov  

Cheery_Daff said:

Gosh, sounds like quite the experience you're having over there! Good call on not buying any more clothes though - although it must be hard when surrounded by such luxury!

I used to work for the Youth Hostels Association 😊 Very cheerful, although not as cheap as they used to be 😂 Always liked that they usually had a kitchen you could cook your own food in. The one I last worked in had a garden and we kept several pygmy goats 😂

Yes I have just been to the mall.. and every time I looked at anything for me I said no I have to buy a home - no matter that there are some sales on... swarowsk* now do their own lab grown diamonds which looked great .. saw a fab ring but $1500 and I have a house to buy  

I did buy some clothes in the sale for one family member at Macys - great bargains so for a bday and Xmas. I also picked up some special sauce for another  - at the 6th supermarket I have tried over the last few weeks. Looked in Sephor* I could buy the whole shop BUT I have to carry it back and the one thing I would have bought l'oreal professsional haIr conditioner I looked up online and I can get cheaper in the UK

I worked in a US hostel as a student  - it was on the beach so thats why I stay at them as they are generally v clean and safe and indeed the kitchen and fridge facilities are so useful to keep costs down. Plus lots of interesting people to talk to - often solo travellers - which is why I ended up partying Sat night as myself and another girl decided to go out for '1 drink' as it was a Sat night - we ended up in a bar, then dancing at a club, closed the club at 2am and then a house party after ...til about 4 ish when I decided to uber back as was supposed to be travelling the next day.



Spending fun £729 so far  this month
$57.03 + $30  + $6 gifts  =   £75.99  

Grocery  £50.59/130 - 
still in the States and not counting last week
but will count last Sat so extra £14.28
+ $8.50 on some DF oat milk and my fav Mission Tortilla chips  £6.93

Ent /treats £66 since Saturday 
  - been here in the US all month so far
$7.40 on a DF iced latte £6! and about £60 Sat night

I will use my Monzo card tomorrow to see if I get a better rate as 1.2629 is todays ... on my Hal clarity (0 fx fees) 

On my to do list is to complain to a US AIRLINE cos of a massive overnight delay - been beeing to do it for months so will do it now..

I cant do MB here - should restart a VPN but cant be bothered .. but do feel I am missing out a bit

House buying
Been reading a MSE mortgage guide and they saying re LTV's that if you can get to below 60% is the best interest rate plus less paperwork
400k 40% = £160k - doable in a year if I get some more work and keep costs down but markets might be going up and rates still flat I assume by then. 475k £190k seems impossible... unless I got a serious job

I am def going for sub 75% LTV - but I have amazingly achieved that  saving on the 400k mark - I really dont know how but i have  - on a £475k house I need some money paid back..then I am ok

3 years ago in Covid I decided it was time to think about buying .. but the thought of saving £33k a year for 3 years seemed impossible - somehow I have done it   - focus, frugality, the pandemic, and some MFW  helps.

Cos of my travel over the last 2 months I have not been focused on house BUT
a) I need to buy for my LWAP plan  or LaPlan  plan  as some on here call me..   it is an integral part of the next 50 years - home paid for
b) I need a garden and light filled rooms, 2 beds and ideally freehold OR a leasehold thats low and will stay low such as council,  a short walk from a tube line, london or on the edges 
c) as per Supersecret squirrel I need to keep Mortgage as low as possible to hit FI quicker. so this suggest looking around the 400k mark in a place I am happy to stay in for a while vs the £475k but lets see
d)  I am coming to the conclusion again - and this time planning to stick to it - I need an extra client or job ... as paying the first full rent this month with the £500 rent increase  hurt and hurts my saving rate.

FI% END Oct
Due to SIPPs  going down due to markets not great - these figures don't include my DB pension at 60 or SP at 67/68

V Lean fire  £12k pa so no rent (exc hse deposit) - 15.28%       with my current house deposit  51.66%
Fire  £24k pa  (exc hse deposit)                               - 7.64%       with my current house deposit  25.83%
Fire £36k inc £2k/month house (exc hse dep)       - 5.09%       with my current house deposit  17.22%

KajiKita

That is an incredible savings achievement. I am in awe, seriously 😊

Interesting list but I notice in D that there is no mention of the side hustle. How did the transcribing go?

KK

South_coast

It was mentioned very briefly further up:

LadyWithAPlan said:

Look at my programme and see if I can get it moving for pre xmas...

Come on LWAP, get that income rolling in!

LadyWithAPlan

KajiKita said:

That is an incredible savings achievement. I am in awe, seriously 😊

Interesting list but I notice in D that there is no mention of the side hustle. How did the transcribing go?

KK

It hasnt ... (transcribing) I will attempt again when I get home.. all these travels.. have me out of routine. and the big picture..

Yes when I look back I cant believe it either  all that money saved  - been super helped by having had v low rent and practically breaking even on the rent  due to the interest on my house deposit and a portion of the rent being 'use of home as office' as my 2nd bedroom is just my study. That has helped plus I rarely travel unless its a business trip.
I have been frugal for so long that once great money started coming in I have kept to a tight budget..
I used to earn a LOT post uni .. and then spent it like crazy .. so 2nd time around I now squirrel it all away.. 

TAX STUFF
Just having a quiet night in and tackling tax stuff - updating my accounts - bit more complex than normal  as I started my company mid tax year for 22 23 so have a split on Self employed and Ltd com
I realise I have paid too much pre- tax for my SE assessment  ... and some of that tax money  I paid on account actually should have gone into the ltd company tax bit  ... ah well I plan to get it filed end Nov so hopefully will all get sorted beforehand.. The hmrc will have to pay me back some se .. I know they are charging 6% if you owe them... Will they pay me interest for overpaid taxes?

I do need my PAYE sorted - but time diff is a pain for me contacting them - will do either first thing

Money back - £48.99 app + $101 hotel  - approx £80 so £130  'made' 
Just saw in my accts money taken out for an apple subs I definitely didnt want and not used - so thats coming back to me  as I just went online to them.
I also am getting $100 back from the hotel I was at due to the room being not at all what is was pictured.. so both monies can go towards my flight change.

Now need to tackle a flight transfer delay refund

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

It was mentioned very briefly further up:

LadyWithAPlan said:

Look at my programme and see if I can get it moving for pre xmas...

Come on LWAP, get that income rolling in!

Yes I know ! passive income is the goal .,. though will be lots of effort  but really way too much talk and not enough action here on my part..

TallGirl

South_coast said:

It was mentioned very briefly further up:

LadyWithAPlan said:

Look at my programme and see if I can get it moving for pre xmas...

Come on LWAP, get that income rolling in!

Yes agree we need to see this coming along it! Your trip sounds amazing for a work trip especially. 

LadyWithAPlan

TallGirl said:

South_coast said:

It was mentioned very briefly further up:

LadyWithAPlan said:

Look at my programme and see if I can get it moving for pre xmas...

Come on LWAP, get that income rolling in!

Yes agree we need to see this coming along it! Your trip sounds amazing for a work trip especially. 

I jiust extended my flight for another week and made it a vacay .. though I am doing some work here from poolside
Yes lets get taxes done then next look at this

LadyWithAPlan

So Thurs lunchtime here as I type and its hot! 26 but feels hotter.

The oat milk I bought yesterday is incredibly creamy but has so much sugar in it! Ouch - feel like my teeth should fall out - I had to decant the coffee into 2 mugs and add more coffee. 

3 more days here - I should have been flying out tomorrow eve but the booking agent on my change of flight for some reason booked me on Sunday - no idea why ... I guess I was due to fly back last Sunday .. I didnt bother to protest 
I am however an expensive uber ride away from everything .. and my friend is recovering from covid so a lot of chilling by the pool and actually I am crunching thru my taxes!! 
Sitting under an umbrella on the large table looking at the pool and on my laptop. I have one of those portable laptop stands which is so useful

So list to do for next few days around my vacay time

Reconcile and complete my SE tax to april 23 -  (I entered all entries yesterday - go me)
Add all entries, reconcile & complete Ltd co to april 23   - started yesterday 
Sort the PAYE issue out - I managed this morning to finally log in- woohoo! 
Paye also 23/24
Client B - couple hours 
Client A  - where we are at with queries and to dos
Complain to airline 
Sort out summer 2024 side hustle - need to fill in applications
Received money in FX now from Client 3 so move pots (Nov budget done yest)
Save into SIPP and taxes from monies in
Set up a HALI reg saver £250 a month 5.5%
Sort out MB balances on my return - too hard here in the US to login
Look at programme - and figure out programme I  can't transcribe here by using audio as the usb card is in London
Book 3 side hustle gigs - emailed 2 people yesterday
look at airtime rewards and use to pay down the phone bill - on £6/day as in US  EDIT transferred £10 over