What have you done to INVEST in yourself to make future SAVINGS later?

solidpro

woolly_wombat said:

1. Took out a 2 year fixed energy deal in late summer 2021.

2. Installed solar panels in spring 2022.

That’s the good news. The bad news is there is still no sign of the battery that was supposed to have been installed with the solar panels.

We would *LOVE* to have solar panels - but we live in a development that has a fairly unique shared copper roof, and we all leaseholders with a share of the freehold so if you want to do something unique it has to go through a committee etc. Really annoying...

Nebulous2

I'm not sure I've ever regarded learning a new skill as investing in myself. I have however done a lot for myself over the years that I could have paid other people for. 


When I was young I spent a lot of time working on cars, including putting a new engine in a rover and a replacement clutch in my mother-in-law's mini. Then as cars became more computerised and needed specific diagnostic tools I cut it down drastically. I haven't thought about it for a long time, but there was a sense of achievement from a set of well-adjusted points. 

We've put in a bathroom and a kitchen in a house, well-supported by Youtube videos. 

I also do all my bike maintenance and that of several other family members myself. Again Youtube has been a good help, but almost everything I try appears to take twice as long, and be twice as difficult, as portrayed online. 

Most of that I would regard as a hobby, rather than an investment. 

subjecttocontract

* Property, property & more property.
* Solar panels.
* Buy anything & everything I can sell at a profit.
* Considered crime......but didn't fancy getting caught.

Ocelot

Thumbs_Up said:

I invested in a cheap Chinese made angle grinder, my best tool ever.

I also invested in a barbers hair trimmer. Been cutting my own hair for 30 years, think of all the savings I’ve made.

 

I tried that during the lockdown, but can't do the back, so it has been back to £18 every 3 weeks for me.

I suppose I could always have a mullet!

IvanOpinion

Nebulous2 said:

When I was young I spent a lot of time working on cars, including putting a new engine in a rover and a replacement clutch in my mother-in-law's mini. Then as cars became more computerised and needed specific diagnostic tools I cut it down drastically. I haven't thought about it for a long time, but there was a sense of achievement from a set of well-adjusted points. 

Those were the days.
You thought nothing of stripping the engine out of the car on a Saturday morning, for a bit of TLC, and then putting it back in before heading off to the pub that night. No fancy jacks or rigs, just a rope over a rafter in the garage roof.

Mr.Generous

When I was a manager at B&Q and they were trying to get the numbers up on staff who did qualification I did NVQ (not very qualified) in electrics and plumbing. I later did City and Guilds in both, which was a bit more advanced. So the company paid me to get qualified and when I was made redundant I went into property renovation. Paid off big time, fitted kitchens and bathrooms, paid for ECR (and gas safe) on every job but did all the work ourselves. Good money to be made buying run down dumps a few years ago, the prices now - not so much!!  Even just doing them at home has saved me thousands.

noclaf

1. Stopped smoking, found the gym and started running though the latter has been v stop-start as I tend to go through phases. Love resistance training/weights.

2. Finding this forum, primarily for the Investments/Pensions education I've received....nearly 20 years in Financial services couldn't teach me anything close to what I gleaned from here.

3. Got married.......we will find out in time if that was an 'investment'....just kidding

Jami74

I reduced my minimum wage job to part time and went to university. It took 5 years of study before I was qualified and starting to earn properly. My numbers are miniscule compared to most on this forum but I am now earning way more than I ever could have and my forecast has changed from an old age on benefits to potentially an old age with holidays and outings.

robinwales

I made a definite decision when I was 16 to get fit and healthy and to stay that way. It has been a big effort but also enjoyable. I'm 70 now and in excellent health. No major or minor health conditions, no drugs, no hospital visits. Not sure what financial savings have come from that, but I reckon it has saved a lot of time and stress.

robinwales

Jami74 said:

I reduced my minimum wage job to part time and went to university. It took 5 years of study before I was qualified and starting to earn properly. My numbers are miniscule compared to most on this forum but I am now earning way more than I ever could have and my forecast has changed from an old age on benefits to potentially an old age with holidays and outings.

Well done. Shows it can be done.