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

TallGirl

Well done on the PB always nice to win. I like checking the app and it is easy access which is why I do not put in my S&S ISA. 

Annoying about the case my mum had one like that (not bought in TKMAX) but so irritating when you had to get around stairs, into cars, out of cars you name it. I think sometimes paying for quality is worth it. My carry on 4 wheel Samsonite is still going strong after 20 years it is heavy but nothing wrong with it. 

I get full european coverage with EE so do have a look at switching. Good price for the sim though. 

LadyWithAPlan

TallGirl said:

Well done on the PB always nice to win. I like checking the app and it is easy access which is why I do not put in my S&S ISA. 

Annoying about the case my mum had one like that (not bought in TKMAX) but so irritating when you had to get around stairs, into cars, out of cars you name it. I think sometimes paying for quality is worth it. My carry on 4 wheel Samsonite is still going strong after 20 years it is heavy but nothing wrong with it. 

I get full european coverage with EE so do have a look at switching. Good price for the sim though. 

I am with you on the case and quality - if I could have got cash not a gift card from TK maxx I was planning to invest in a v good quality one as I am sick of them breaking … the one I have two of is Guess - one had faulty zip, this the handle gets stuck . £79.99 reduced price  - I may try to replace on my return .. I will look at Samsonite but don’t want too heavy as I am the world’s worse packer given how often I travel you’d think I’d learn to take less .. but outfits need matching shoes and handbags. 

I tried EMS  training - don’t know if you have Tall Girl - a friend has got very lean from it - 6 months and she also does Pilates and yoga 6 times a week 
I am abroad so got a free trial and am waiting for them to call with a price for 3 sessions as you normally train only once a week / it was very fun - you have a matrix like suit on - then damp electrodes and you do simple lunges whilst getting electric muscle stimulation 
friends have said they were sore  after - even though the vibrations did feel strong  I did not wake up in pain at all - 
I will get a few sessions here if I can as cheaper 

I am on 02 so have  full European free coverage but I am further afield so £6 a day - the eSIM is great and my what’s app for my normal number is working fine etc - plus having an eSIM medd as I am also getting my uk mobile texts and calls in for free but using the eSIM data 

@skint_spice @beanielou tx on the commiserations - this is my warning to all blog readers to not buy luggage at TK Maxx 

very happy focusing on my side hustle abroad - very much enjoying myself despite being here on my own - had to do lots of printing today .. for marketing but  luckily cheaper than the UK 

dawnybabes

Ooh, we’ve just got a place opened up here with EMS training - will look into it 😀😀

debtfreewannabe321

Getting to travel to beautiful cities as part of a side hustle sounds amazing! Hope you can find a suitable case going forward...
I am liking the sound of these PB I have never opted for them before but might look into them shortly (when I'm not hastily saving like crazy for the house move). I know my mum had some years ago she never ever checked them though.

LadyWithAPlan

dawnybabes said:

Ooh, we’ve just got a place opened up here with EMS training - will look into it 😀😀

I think it is great - and definitely will do a 3 month course (its once a week) once I get home and get some cash in - the more I google it says it is great for increasing muscle endurance and good for if you have injuries - plus if you are paying £40/£50 per week it will make me focus even more on my nutrition and getting to the gym the other days.
I am determined to get back to pre covid levels of muscle strength as I have lost about 10lbs muscle according to boditrax over the past 4 years and muscle is super important for leanness, metabolism, bone density as we age and also surviving accidents, time in intensive care etc.
I did go for an 8km bike ride Saturday, doing a lot of walking here and also am carrying a lot of stuff around - as in 15lbs so effectively weight training daily!

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Getting to travel to beautiful cities as part of a side hustle sounds amazing! Hope you can find a suitable case going forward...
I am liking the sound of these PB I have never opted for them before but might look into them shortly (when I'm not hastily saving like crazy for the house move). I know my mum had some years ago she never ever checked them though.

yes @debtfreewannabe321 100% tax deductible side hustles whilst travelling  to fabulous far flung places definitely helps my budget. I do only fly in for set up and leave the day after so there is no question that its only for work but I have 3 days off mid week this week before more work at the weekend - weather has gone from the 30s to rainy though!

PB's are particularly good if you are getting taxed on your savings as they are seen as prizes so all interest  are 'wins' so are not taxed

Side hustle update
I am very happy here and its a wonderful experience, I am also heavily and happily  reminded how great I am at this side hustle  - I am getting wonderful feedback - though side hustle died during covid so I stopped pushing it - its a great way to make extra cash but I need to get back on the UK side of marketing it hard.
It is going better than I thought from the off  on sales, and people here are saying I am doing incredibly well for an unknown newcomer. Still a lot more room to make more money so fingers crossed. However the costs to get here were high,  so hoping to make a bit rather than just break even whilst doing and growing my side hustle.
Plus it helps on the global promoting of the side hustle - they even have an awards ceremony this weekend - fingers crossed as that could help push the brand..

New YNAB category - Country X side hustle
Instead of doing a spreadsheet I now have on YNAB a Country X June 24  side hustle headline category with split down sub categories of Country X Food, travel, direct work costs (including printing, postage to the tax waiver offer, and some cables I needed as they did not have the set up that was promised via all the technical forms. I can then compare to my revenue - so I can get a very clear split as food would happen anyway - just less/no eating out in London.
At present I have covered air fare and some costs...

All being well the tax forms have arrived last week to the correct places - I did speedy postage as I had already sent by efax .. but dont trust it so paid about £30 to send all the forms by post including a global tax waiver  - reading another country's tax waiver forms was a delight of last week...

Food here is cheaper than the UK and am having fabulous meals with a non alcoholic drink for £10-£15 a time. So I have given up buying groceries in the current place and having a decent meal out each day. They have an amazing traditional dish here  I have not had in 16 years since last being in this place, I have found a GF version but waiting to indulge as its very carb heavy and may need a sleep afterwards!

SHOPPING
I have been informed of 2 fabulous vintage stores - one cheap and one where she upcycles the  vintage she gets so I will definitely be going there.  I luckily have no space in my luggage but may buy one item as a memento if something is amazing and reasonable.
The only things I am buying here is food, travel, work stuff etc - I am aware I have not been paid so 

I had organised a UK work call for this morning but they have put it off to tomorrow so can focus on side hustle stuff.

Invoices /YNAB
I have been promised when cash comes in I will get paid in large tranches  - however I have a very small credit card limit and I am pushing nearer it  whilst here - so as I have to reserve 3 days accommodation at the end -  so I either need to pull money from my Cov 7% or my premium bonds.. I will go back to the cheap uni accom - a single room with shared bathroom - prob £200  I could do a room in a dorm and save another £50 and have a better bar/shared kitchen experience but would rather have my own space.

Positives on this delay on being paid are:
I am aware I need a new contract on my return, no more being chilled
I am spending cheapily on food, watching my spends and avoiding taxis etc - my travel pass for this city - about £20 covers all transport for a week and will include my bus back to the airport so I will need to get another pass Wed for the final stretch.
I have been limiting my spending for months - frugal and being fabulous
I also will be charging interest on this money
Showing how I am going backwards financially so I have to change!

So when I finally get paid I will be filling my  YNAB baskets like a merry squirrel and her nuts.
Good news is that my YNAB budget is really showing my overspending in May from last months trip and now June - overspending vs the cash I have incoming. This is why YNAB works for me as previously I allowed my slush and savings funds to take the weight of delayed invoices and my spending whereas now I can see I am having to pull from my house and life savings to keep going so I am super aware like never before i am going backwards in my savings goals.
I will have been travelling almost constantly for  5 weeks so once I get back home next week I can reset for the summer and next life phase. Declutter, learn Python software language, get a new contract, get super fit...

NEW YNAB CATEGORY TO COME -always exciting
I will set up a next months vital expenses YNAB category as soon as I get paid as I need to not be sweeping too much cash when I get it into savings, pensions and then stressing about moving money. I will see if I get paid today and if not  I do have a call anyway  tomorrow and then have to draw some PB money out  if cant squeeze money out - I did win £100 last month at least on PB

I am also chasing up Client C today as that invoice paid will cover a large portion of my CC bill and some is direct expenses I have prepaid for them which is on the CC.

Hope everyone has a great start to the week

savingholmes

Glad you are having fun - and have plenty of time to plan too.

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:
I have been informed of 2 fabulous vintage stores - one cheap and one where she upcycles the  vintage she gets so I will definitely be going there.  I luckily have no space in my luggage but may buy one item as a memento if something is amazing and reasonable.

You could always post any purchases back home....😘

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:
I have been informed of 2 fabulous vintage stores - one cheap and one where she upcycles the  vintage she gets so I will definitely be going there.  I luckily have no space in my luggage but may buy one item as a memento if something is amazing and reasonable.

You could always post any purchases back home....😘

So tempting …. 

dawnybabes

When I go to the states I buy my purchases, take the tags off and post the receipts back to myself 😉😉😉

LadyWithAPlan

dawnybabes said:

When I go to the states I buy my purchases, take the tags off and post the receipts back to myself 😉😉😉

I used to worry about what I bought abroad but I cant say it has crossed my mind in the last decade. Do the customs still worry about that? Maybe you are buying much more than I!