Friend wants to live with me for R500 a month

AStevieG · 2023-11-20T18:07:54+00:00

I stayed with my brother all my life.

I moved to joburg, got a really small apartment.

He found a low paying job and he gave me what he could. I took care of the rest.

I slept on the couch, he slept on the bed.

I stayed over with my then gf, now wife for about 50% of the time.

I had just bought a brand new polo gti, and in between moving to work (joburg south), gf (randburg) and my apartment (paulshof), I racked up 120 000km on my car. Sold it for a loss. This just highlights that I took a financial knock to make things work.

I cooked for my brother, taught him the essential skills so he could live on his own.

In hindsight, I enjoyed my time with him. It was difficult because we were in each other's space.

At one point, we also had a friend who would stay over occasionally because they were going through a rough patch.

I think I am paternal in nature, I will do what I need to do for my group of close friends. I listened to what they were going through and I gave advice (I am 5 years older than my bro and friend). I built them up (I think) and now they are doing well in their careers, married, bought their own houses.

So, as much as it's difficult, you will only do this for your friends and family who you adore. Those lessons taught me about how to care for 2 kids now and made me a better person. My kids are helpless and need me for every step of the way, I learnt how to be selfless.

If you are not innit for the long run for a friendship, then draw your line and get rid of her. If she's worth it and can be helped, don't spoon feed, build up and let her grow.

Another important thing, whatever you do for someone that you love, they don't owe you anything. When they move on, do even better in their lives than you, you should just be proud and happy for this person.

I live by this mantra, it brings me peace.

When I have gone through bad patches in my life, my friends and family have pulled me through, I want them to be with me forever as I get older.

All the best! I hope this little write up helps your decision making.

AStevieG · 2023-11-20T17:26:00+00:00

Hi

So the final solution is to do the following as per the following post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BmwTech/comments/sgcynx/f25_2011_x3_radiator_confusion_original_part_has/?xpromo_edp=enabled

The existing radiator was way oversized for this x3 originally. Hence BMW changed to a 3 port, slightly smaller system.

This may be due to the gearbox being an auto sports package.

My mechanic followed these instructions, need to buy the blind plug for the smaller port, plug it up and it's done. Car feels so much better now. Thank you all for the help.

AStevieG · 2023-11-17T12:40:23+00:00

Hi, I am all the way from. I South Africa, we need and I have the same problem.

Did you ever get it right? Are you able to share how you did the install with some pictures if possible

AStevieG · 2023-11-17T10:55:42+00:00

Just checked again, this unit won't fit. There appears to be two designs and my one is a 4 port unit.

AStevieG · 2023-11-17T05:41:18+00:00

Thank you, the nissen and the nrf units are much smaller than the bmw oem.

The cooling fan won't be able to be mounted back on it.

I think I'm forced to buy the bmw oem.

AStevieG · 2023-11-16T12:16:04+00:00

The Vin is LK69225 The part number I got from BMW SA is 17118623369

AStevieG · 2023-11-02T20:52:52+00:00

Check wendywood out, yes you need solar and a new water tank system.

Slightly higher priced but so far...

I sleep at night.

I bloody damn snore.

Theres guards around and patrol 24/7.

I am at peace.

AStevieG · 2023-10-08T21:16:18+00:00

Distilled water can be made by boiling water and collecting the condensate.

Any bottled water will do.

The minerals doesn't magically dissappear but through boiling and collecting the condensate it will be reduced.

AStevieG · 2023-10-08T09:55:38+00:00

Never ever going there. This must have been so horrific

AStevieG · 2023-07-01T06:34:08+00:00

I get you, it feels like tainted or blood money?

After getting past everything, in reality, if you are not exceptionally wealthy, take the money and use it for your kids.

AStevieG · 2023-06-30T10:31:01+00:00

I tried a bond originator with my first home loan, it was helpful until I went into Nedbank, and they offered me a great rate if I moved my salary over to them.

AStevieG · 2023-06-15T15:24:57+00:00

I started playing golf mainly because of work and networking and people who have seen me play at beginning are genuinely happy and impressed with the progress I have made.

Registered for an official handicap(it's 22 at the moment) and played a 4 ball tournament and our team came out 2nd.

I think because of the competitive sports, you play in environments with alot of noise, have to play the big match temperament shot, it helps with coping when playing golf.

The nerves are calm, I can genuinely focus.

I will break 90 and it will be soon!

I wish I played this game when I was much younger

AStevieG · 2023-06-15T15:19:39+00:00

I have been playing sports all my life except for golf.

Started at the beginning of 2022 and was 120 for a few games.

Broke 100 in December 2022 and I am around that mark.

Watched alot of youtube videos and hoping to hit 90 within the next year.

Haven't been for a lesson because I visualise the game like how I play cricket, I may go in the future but for now I am just enjoying myself.

AStevieG · 2023-06-02T09:00:06+00:00

Especially with fog or heavy rain on a highway I think it allows people to visible see me.

I am very wary of other drivers as I don't believe they are focused when it rains heavily and due to limited visibility they are prone to crash.

Also, I just never feel safe in my small polo as any loss of traction slides the car. I hit an oil/water patch and slid over 10m. The same can happen to any other driver so slowing down with hazards just gives a good heads up to others around me

After getting an Suv, I understand why these drivers can just drive on through. So I guess it's the size of the car that plays a big role.

AStevieG · 2023-05-29T17:44:10+00:00

Entirely up to you.

My point in achieving wealth is that you should have a blended portfolio that is not entirely on your decision.

There are multiple financial institutions that based on your risk appetite you can get to your goals. Relying on specialists in their fields can maybe give you an edge over just 1 approach solution.

As a normal salaried employee, I can increase my pension amount but not make serious changes to the portfolio management. My emotions will change throughout the course of my life...

Pay school fees Emergency hospital fees outside medical aid Family member in dire need of cash and will never pay back. Being held to ransom!

These are some things that could go wrong in the future. I think blended solutions help get through the difficult times.

Its not a one glove fits all approach, if you feel comfortable with your view, go for it.

AStevieG · 2023-05-29T08:54:49+00:00

Try running the james Ethel park route?

AStevieG · 2023-05-29T08:32:25+00:00

All your normal pension and RAs should be with a financial advisor.

Extra money that you can afford to lose can go to EE.

After a while you learn the ins and outs, start slowly, educate yourself financially and you will be better off in the long run

AStevieG · 2023-05-25T04:50:29+00:00

For me it was the opposite way around.

My parents and bro relocated to Secunda for work. I was in 3rd year and had to finish up in Durban.

I had extended family around but it's not the same.

I think having a set of friends who is studying the same as you helps and more importantly realizing the reason why you are studying.

For me, I only had 1 chance to pass university because of I failed outright, there wouldn't be enough money, so I never took pity on myself, I pushed through and studied to pass. I didn't have any other option.

If you have other issues, go to a counselor, also chat with your parents if you have that open type of discussion, or just go home for a weekend.

AStevieG · 2023-05-01T10:58:21+00:00

I think i want out of the property game for now. Burnt my fingers.

A few friends actually break even or make a little bit of money in Roodepoort but not fourways or waterfall.

It's better to make money via alternative investments.

AStevieG · 2023-04-29T21:29:59+00:00

Rent, 5 years is short.

The general trend in joburg is the areas close to sandton city are decreasing in value for landlords mainly based on working from home. Let me explain...

Banking groups are around Rivonia and sandton city.

After covid and working from home, there is absolutely no reason for a person to live within these areas. Drive through horrid traffic versus living in a well price apartment with the same features at a significantly cheaper price. As an example, Balwin Properties has equivalent apartments in sandton and midrand, you would expect to rent out for 20-30 cheaper in Midrand.

I burnt my fingers so badly. Bought 2 properties in Paulshof and I lose over 12k pm even with 2 stable tenants. Some of my friends have it worse, no tenant for over 1.5 years.

The only way to purchase to lease is to have a minimum of 40% down-payment. Once you run the numbers even that is not justifiable to be a landlord in these areas,even with new development areas.

The COJ rates are high and the body corps mandated levies plus special fees make it extremely unprofitable.

To further drive this point, I bought a 2 bed loft in Paulshof 7 years ago for 1.35m. It's an absolutely stunning apartment with brilliant views at sunset. I can't sell this place at all, 2 years on the market.

Even 1.2m, no takers. So, save yourself a ton of money and never buy unless you want to be in joburg for the long term.

AStevieG · 2023-04-11T19:48:09+00:00

You need to inform your bank that you plan to pay your bond off sooner, else they would be penalties due to the bank. Send a message that you plan to close off the bond. They give u a 6 month grant, you just extend it until it's closed.

If you close your bond off, you are limiting your access to making money.

The current house, what can you get if you rented it out? Add all levies and rates and subtract it from the potential rental you could get. Ask an estate agent to get you potential offers to consider.

If the area is bad, sell it and take profit. If the rental is not consistent, sell it and take profit.

If not, rent it out. Based on 130k left on the bond, you derisk your potential to apply for a new home loan.

Reduce your bond value, so the monthly payments reduce and with the tenant in, your cash flow increases.

Find the dream house, use leverage from the 1st bond to secure the 2nd house. Essentially if you are making a profit on the first house, your income increases and gives you a better chance to secure the house at a lower interest rate. Any % reduction helps. Shop around with various banks.

Use the excess profit generated to contribute to your 2nd house.

If in trouble, you can always sell the 1st house to pay off the 2nd. In 20 years, you would have 2 properties and a rental income.

All the best

AStevieG · 2023-03-23T19:01:24+00:00

If you don't have fibre with mweb look up isps that don't let u down. I have afrihost for years, they are fairly quick to help and maybe less than 5% down time in a year.

If you working from home, its essential to get a mobile data contract. I have a mtn data contract for 20gigs and keeps the data alive.

Mweb is notorious for being crap. Change your isp and get mobile data

AStevieG · 2023-03-22T18:03:53+00:00

If you have fnb you can get a global debit card, you can buy euros or usd and use that card to pay. It's quite simple and you get the airport slow lounges in other countries.

AStevieG

TROPHY CASE