Hurrah, my MFW quest has started

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

It's funny how these little things are so frustrating. It seems much easier to handle the big problems - I was wrestling with spreadsheets today with something not making sense - it took hours but I found it eventually - have a good week.

Best wishes Tilly x

abouttimetoo

lulabelle1 wrote: »

Ooooh, first class on Eurostar is lovely.....
I was fortunate to experience this on a trip to Paris a couple of years ago and I agree - it really adds to the overall experience. Just makes everything so much nicer and more enjoyable.

I travel a fair bit with work and for all of my short haul flights I'm very much an Easyjet girl. But when it comes to the long haul trips to the States, Premium Economy/World Traveller Plus is a must, even if it's just for the night flight home. It makes such a difference and I truly appreciate it.

I shall be demonstrating my allegiance to Easyjet with a flight tomorrow. Does Speedy boarding count as First class? haha.... Actually, the thing that really makes me laugh about speedy boarding is the looks that you get from all of the "non speedy boarding" people when you walk to the front of the queue. They often look as though they really ant to kill you and give various huffs and puffs as you walk past. I think it's hilarious and it just adds to my enjoyment of the whole thing!

Good luck with the spare cash, fingers crossed that it doesn't disappear before the end of the month!

Best, L

Hi Lullabelle, how lovely of you to stop by and great to hear that you can recommend the Eurostar first class, if I ever get round to booking it I will definately look forward to it. I've got a tonne of Novotel and Marriott points so was thinking I could try and use some of them either for the Paris or Bruges trip or both if I'm lucky.

I remember when Speedy Boarding first came in and it wasn't so popular then. It then seemed to go a bit mad and was really badly managed (in the airports I use anyway) whereby they didn't call the SB'ers through first, or, if they did and you had to get a bus to the plane it was then just a free for all off the bus and many of the SB'ers didn't get a look in.

I don't know about you but I could write a book about all my travel 'adventures' My heart sinks when I know I have to use certain airlines as they always seem to be chaotic and unrelaible

Have you reached the point yet where you have favourite areas/coffee shops in the airports where you know you can get a bit of peace and quiet, the other saddo thing I do is know where to be best placed in order to be closest to the flight gate to then be in pole position to board the plane

abouttimetoo

So, in other news...

A job opportunity has come up in Europe, I don't know much about it yet and I'm waiting for a call to-morrow. It's fair to say that I'm interested but how much is the million dollar question. From what I can gather its a weekly commute with the majority of the week on site. If it's a permanent position and that's non-negotiable I won't persue it but if there is say a 6-12 month secondment available I'll look into it further; hmm, more travel and being away from home is exactly the opposite of what I'm trying to achieve

lulabelle1

Laughing at your post.....

Yes, I remember the chaotic SB days with EJ - thankfully it is all a little more organised nowadays. I've been travelling with business now for around 6 years, so I dread to think how many flights I must have taken.

Thankfully in recent years I have become the owner of a Priority Pass which allows me access to the lounges in most of the airports. Also, with the various airline memberships I've built up various points and have access to their lounges too. When my "boss" at the time gave me the priority pass I laughed and thought it was pointless but over the years it's become invaluable. It's just so nice to get away from the crowds, the shops etc etc.

Before the priority pass I would always be found at Starbucks and loitering around the various duty free shops.

I'm sad too, I always have an idea of which gate I will need before it is announced and some of the cabin crew are starting to look familiar.

I dont travel as much as I used to, perhaps once every three weeks. I tend to avoid mid jul through August as its unbearable.

My business partner has some sort of marriot vouchers which we use every now and then - it gives us massive discounts on their hotels and subsidiaries. I wonder if this will be the same as the points that you have. I remember that he used some when he took his daughter to Paris a few years ago. So, fingers crossed that you can find yourself a bargain with them.

Ive subscribed to your thread and look forward to hearing about a wonderful trip to Paris or Bruge!

Best, L

abouttimetoo

Ooh, you've subscribed Lulabelle, I'm trying to get back into posting more regularly as I had a good while just updating twice a month though I always try to have a quick lurk every day if poss even if it's just 5 mins on my 'phone before bed.

I've though before about getting a priortiy lounge pass but I wouldn't be able to claim back from my company and there are so many things I've put my hand in my pocket for over the years that I try not to do it these days. I do however, regret not taking up a heavily discounted offer of one that I had via a credit card.

My best travel experience was Business Class to America, it really was great and particulalry as you say when you come back through the night and you can get snugged up in your bed with the duvet and pillow :rotfl:

I do find it interesting how the standards can vary so much so what is standard on one airline can feel like h*ll and standard on another can be a great experience

Re the Marriott points, in my opionion they offer the best scheme by far, although I stay in just about every chain you can think of I only collect Marriott and Novotel. I couldn't speak highly enough of the Marriott scheme and the points build up quickly and you get lots for it. Many of the hotels have exec lounges with 24 hour service and I appreciate that if I fancy a 'posh' coffee or a snack at odd hours when I'm working, they also do proper meals in them and wine and other alcohol if you are so inclined

I do kick myself sometimes as I missed out on loads of Marriott before I started to collect them. I was also considering looking into a Marriott credit card as the extra points for spending look to be good

Blimey, this is turning into a Hotel/Plane/Train Wannabe free :rotfl:

Regards
ATT

abouttimetoo

Can't remember if I posted this in the last month but my tenant has now given notice, that said he is now staying at least another month.

I'll be sad to see him go in terms of no bother at all and popular with the neighbours. Viewings are progressing though and they are happy to move out before they need to if someone else wants it.

The BTL account is looking the most healthy it has for a long time. I must try and get in thoguh to see what odd jobs may need doing but it shouldn't be too much as he is not there very often!

abouttimetoo

abouttimetoo wrote: »

I spent £20 in the supermarket yesterday and that will keep me going for at least a week. Today has been a NSD and I think the rest of the working week will be the same

Well as hoped I've had a no spend week after the above £20 was spent. That said my car is now in the garage with a couple of minor niggles so I hope the bill turns out to be minor too Oops, that reminds me, it wasn't a no spend week after all then as had to pay £4 for a taxi this morning with having no car, hey ho, i don't think £24 is too bad. I've not checked my diary for the weekend though yet so may have some extra spending there.

I've just seen an email pop in saying my quarterly gas and electric bill is ready so must have a look at that. They will be the last quarterly bill as I'm now on a new tariff with monthly bills and I think I'm going to prefer that.

I've already been paid last weeks work expenses so the money has already been paid to the Amex card and I can see that the next bill is due with only £86 owing so that is good. I know it's not very MSE to send the expenses straight to the credit card, I've only been doing it this way for about two months and I must say I do prefer it rather than the way I was doing it. I've also got £161 on my Tesco card which is my back-up card for places that don't take Amex

I've also received a letter from my BT/MBNA CC saying that as the card has not been used for some time and a current card isn't even issued they are closing the card. When I looked at the account on-line I could see that i last used it in 2009 and yes, i didn't even have a valid card any longer. I'm fine with it being closed and the limit was £8500. Not that I need any credit but I do wonder somgetimes how it looks when you have so much available credit, I've been meaning to work it out for a lonnnnnnng time how much cc available credit I have as it must be in the region of £50k which is madness isn't it, good job I'm sensible

abouttimetoo

Having used my small profit from my share sale the £5500 capital I got back is burning a hole in my pocket I'm so torn as to what to do with it e.g. do I pay parents back (when they will be fully repaid in September anyway) and clear the credit card or keep it back and buy more shares

Any thoughts anyone?

Sandstone

Hmm I see that you're all very well travelled indeed!

I probably just don't know what I'm missing out on, huh..
Well, I guess I'm happy to keep it that way so long as I get to focus on the savings.

*~cheapest class [STRIKE]forever[/STRIKE] for now~*

lulabelle1

wish i could help with the money dilemmas...... I'm having a few of my own too and have arranged to see a IFA tomorrow on Wednesday to get some advice in regards to pensions, savings, investments etc etc as at the moment I'm just throwing everything at the mortgage and I'm not sure thats the best thing to be doing....

Best of luck, L