Yeah definitely not financial advice just a personal anecdote… it’s all secured with the bank and paying large chunks monthly only two years left. Strangely from them poor decisions as a youngster I’ve ended up with a good credit score and an appreciation for taking more care in the future. I’m lucky that the company I work for have an excellent pension scheme and I’m also in the company share scheme so hopefully the right building blocks are in place.
Much like anyone else on here and in life in general.Good times and bad times,not much at the moment but stretch it well and whenever I am flush I take care of my wife,kids and grandkids. I don't spend anything on bringing in DIY 'experts'(Electrician and plumber if required on occasion).A lot of cowboys out there nowadays who charge like wounded rhino's..**** that!!Costa Coffee,bollox to that,I can buy a jar of nescafe gold and boil a kettle. I make sure the rest of the Family are O.K and when that's done I'll get myself on a train to a City game,fill myself with ale and treat myself to fish,chips and scraps... As others have rightly said,kids and grandkids can be entertained for very little if you have the time,patience and knowhow...
I’m convinced the long term benefits of natural cold water exposure are as good as anything you can do for yourself. Cayton Bay and Scarborough North Bay usually, Cayton Bay in particular is breathtaking, right on our doorstep and as good as any beach I’ve been to.
Out in the sticks (West Hull Village) We did, although most of our evenings were typically spent at Huntington or Newport as they're both pretty closer to where we were staying, so easier to get to after work. Which confused the hell out of the kids to begin with, as the Grandparents also live in Newport (just the East Yorkshire village variant).
Ha Was you in the aerospace industry? Most lads from England seemed to be when I went there Ye went round Huntington and Newport too All great places to go and so much to do
Kite surfing has been on my radar for years, just need someone else willing to put the time in to travel and get good at it. I’m all into adventure sports, mountaineering, kayaking/paddleboarding, scrambling, rock climbing etc. Best thing is after the initial purchase of equipment the ongoing cost of these sorts of hobbies is generally **** all.
Nah, that was the generation before me, but I've heard some stories! I worked for a startup that Amazon acquired back in 2017, so I was travelling at "Uncle Jeff's" pleasure and working out of one of their, ill-fated, game studios.
I chose time at work and money over spending enough time with my first born, which is one of my few regrets and carry some residual guilt about it. Scaled it back and stayed in international waters for my two younger ones as realised it was the way forward. Had a nice pension fund and some investments and was looking to retire/go into consultancy in my mid to late 50s. Took a risk in 2018, cashed in the pension and investments to start a business and ****! Covid happened... All gone, well, pennies back from the pound. Wasn't an established business, so no covid payments, but well over half a million spent on infrastructure and tech and conscience meant I covered 6 employees a year salary redundancy payment. **** happens. Like an ant, back to working and building a pile, probably lost a decade of early retirement and turned me grey.. my children being there got me through it and as Gary writes, no money worth the missed time.
You'll likely know, or at least come across, one of my friends & ex-work mates - the guy who now owns the north bay surf shop. Really good bloke who's done a great job with that business, including doing a lot for good causes.
+1. I was working 60 hour weeks when my youngest was little. 9 hours in the office, coming home, eating, doing a couple more hours in the evening by which time she was asleep. I didn't see the best part of her first 3 years. Which I regret.
I used to spend around 20% of the year outside the UK when my kids were little, but I was lucky, as I was the boss and as soon as they were old enough, I started taking them with me. I never took them on Far East buying trips, but they got to go to trade shows, New York twice a year, Vegas twice a year, regular trips to Barcelona and Berlin etc. Ironically, I'm actually working more now, than I ever have previously. I generally start work about 7.00am and finish around 6.00pm and I often do some work at weekends as well. I enjoy it though, so it's not really an issue, other than the missus nags me all the time about retiring.
I don't know about you, but I enjoy my job that much it doesn't really seem like working anyway. Bet the kids loved that growing up and seeing those places
It's a necessary evil though Chazz,we needed the money to make ends meet.We worked longer hours to provide them with everything they needed,they know and appreciate that. I missed a lot of my children's growing up years (by the time I got home they were fed, bathed and tucked up)but I've no regrets at all,I'd do it all over again if I had to.
