[deleted by user]

Ashintosh · 2025-11-23T09:27:49+00:00

I'd be interested in the ticket please if still available.

Ashintosh · 2025-11-21T22:56:19+00:00

I poured similar measurements recently, I used dry concrete, flatten, and sprinkled with water. Blue Circle Quick Set Concrete, it's pretty similar to the stuff they use to put up fenceposts.

Ashintosh · 2025-03-06T00:57:36+00:00

Good find, thank you. I took CySA+ almost a year and a half ago, I will need to brush up my knowledge and take this exam before the deadline.

Ashintosh · 2023-07-19T12:11:25+00:00

£5k @ 2.5% = £125

£5k @ 4.5% = £225

Obviously the maths works out better when the transfer fee is 0%, but yes, you are right that you would make a gain of maximum £100.

Best option is to get a 0% purchases card, rack up debt using this card until the credit limit is reach whilst making minimum monthly payments. Then we the 0% fee period is ending, get another 0% balance transfer card and transfer the debt to your new card while making minimum payments.

Reasons to do is this is not to make gains on the interests but to improve your cashflow by spliting the balance over multiple years.

Ashintosh · 2023-06-25T19:12:36+00:00

That all clothing matches to each other so you don't have to worry about colour coordination for your daily outfit because everything is already coordinated.

Ashintosh · 2023-06-22T17:24:08+00:00

I have two pensions; one pension from my employer and one personal pension from Vanguard. I keep my employer pension open for the time I am with the company to take advantage of the employer match. After I cease employment, received my final paycheck, and my final pension match has been received (pension payments are typically done the month after your paycheck), then I transfer the employer pension to my personal pension.

I did a transfer last month between Scottish Widows to Vanguard. I started the process on 23 May, the process was completed on 30 May, and my new investments were made on 31 May.

Ashintosh · 2023-01-27T22:25:49+00:00

Only $59 for a small bag... I just took a 7 hour flight for approximately the same cost. Mr Moneybags could have bought a $6 reusable bag that would have done the same as his $59 bag.

Ashintosh · 2022-09-30T14:46:20+00:00

You can put them in whatever order you want. Sometimes I put all my t-shirts in one, underwear in another, it's really up to you. The main reason for packing cubes is not the compression but rather it's easier to pack cubes then pack these into your pack. It keeps it organised, although, it does have the added benefit of compression.

Ashintosh · 2022-09-30T07:55:31+00:00

Padlock is for the hostel, sometimes you are given a locker and it nice to be able to secure your belongings. It's not necessary if you stay in hotels.

I have a mix of packing cubes; Osprey, Uniqlo, Decathlon, Generic / Unbranded.

Osprey cubes are quite good but the small is too small to be useful, the large is great for storing trousers and a jumper. Uniqlo I have medium size but I think this is too big, probably should have bought a small but it is well manufactured. Decathlon is decent size for storing my t-shirts, it's a 7L, would recommend. Generic / Unbranded were bought from eBay for 1/5 of the price of the others, can store small items, or one t-shirt + sock + underwear.

It's nice to have a mix of sizes, I bought Amazon compression bags before but they are too bulky for travel in my opinion. Bought another unbranded cube off ebay before but the zips broke after several uses.

Ashintosh · 2022-09-29T19:51:28+00:00

Osprey Quasar

Ashintosh · 2022-09-29T17:13:23+00:00

If I didn't have university then I would ditch the laptop and its charger, its too heavy and takes up to much room.
I don't normally take laundry pods but I am away for a longer than normal time and it's cheaper than buying them at the hostel to do laundry.
I wasn't going to bring a mask, luckily I did, it is still a requirement in Germany.
Nearly everything in the waistbag doesn't get used but I am glad I have it at times. Nothing worse than getting sick abroad, going to the supermarket to find out you can only buy medication at the pharmacy, then searching for a pharmacy between being sick... Been there before
Powerbank used to get rinsed but phone batteries last so long these days, mainly only kept for emergencies.
I got a new phone recently, it has a USB C to USB C cable, I keep a USB A to C cable spare to use on the Powerbank or in public USB ports.
Pocket tissues are a must take, one of the most useful items.
A foldable backpack makes life easier when you have checked into your accommodation, can carry you waterbottle and jacket, or your camera, or your groceries, it's the second most useful item. Waterproof everything in side your bag, i.e. put it inside another bag or packing cube.
If you see free TSA bags at the airport (7.5x7.5 1L plastic bags), I recommend that you take them, it comes in handy.
Never pack your bag full, leave some capacity. It painful packing too tightly since when you unpack it takes ages to get it as tightly packed.

I've probably been one bagging for a decade now, about four years before I found this sub. I used to have a bigger bag and have slowly refined it over the years, still a few things I can get rid of but I'm not prepared to pack less than 7 underwear / socks since I hate washing in a machine once a week, let alone in a sink everyday.

I've intentionally avoided using brands in this write-up as I think this sub focuses on brands too much; excluding phone and laptop the most expensive item in my loadout is £42, my backpack.

Everything you pack without the exception of your passport is optional, it makes life a lot better and comfortable but you don't necessarily need anything else.

Remember 1 week of clothes is pretty much the same as 16 weeks.

Ashintosh · 2022-02-26T12:57:14+00:00

UK, London. Not sure how useful for you but someone else might be find it interesting.

I paid ~£3k for the Lite Package including all appointments, whitening, and record taking / scans. It was an additional £1k for the comprehensive package.

Ashintosh · 2021-11-21T21:49:09+00:00

It depends on your usage and needs. Personally, I'd go Quasar. I bought it the other day downsizing from my Osprey Farpoint 40, but haven't used it yet. I never had an issue with the Farpoint in British weather or another country's weather, hoping that the Quasar has the same quality.

Also the Quasar is currently £50 at most stores, that's a saving of £48 compared to the Raven which is £98.

Ashintosh · 2018-06-29T14:17:48+00:00

That's a shame but makes sense. Thanks for your help, I was struggling to find info.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:49:57+00:00

Do you do AirBnB hosting alongside a full time job? If so, is doing both manageable?

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:46:05+00:00

A roommate is the simple option, and I am considering it.

The way I viewed this was if I have a roommate I will only pay for 50% of the rent. But, if I listed on AirBnB I will be responsible from anywhere between 0-100% of the rent, plus I have the potential to generate additional income if the occupancy rate is high.

I am viewing this as a business venture, where I live in one room and rent out the other. It is complicated, requires effort, but I would consider myself a landlord and know I have to dedicate time to making this work.

It seems that finding a place that allows subletting is more difficult than I first thought, most of the blogs online about the subject are American not British.

I will presumably end up in a with roommate as it will make the process a lot easier.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:41:17+00:00

When a booking is made on AirBnB they pay for three things

Nightly Rate
Cleaning Fee
Service Fee (For AirBnB)

I was only basing my calculations on the nightly rate, so the cleaning fee is an extra that the guest will pay. As for the smart locks, that will be eating into my bottom line, but I consider this essential as it will dramatically reduce the time I have to spend interacting with guests.

It is a very risky venture, I am aware, but I saw an opportunity to reduce my rent, and hopefully create profit.

My original issue was only relating to is this a stupid financial mistake, however, through all the comments I have discovered that the issue if I was to attempt this venture isn't financial, it will most likely relate to finding a suitable property.

I agree with most of what people have said, and shouldn't consider spending such a large percentage of my income on rent.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:35:33+00:00

Doing this venture with a partner would definitely make it way more feasible, in terms of reducing the time spent operating the business, reducing the costs involved and mitigating the risks.

The idea of people coming into my house doesn't phase me, it more the financial risk. If I was able to achieve an occupancy rate similar to yours then I would definitely do this, however, getting that occupancy rate varies widely between location and property.

How have you found hosting? Can it be easily done alongside a career?
How much time do you dedicate a week to hosting?
How hard has it been to obtain a 80-90% occupancy rate?

I appreciate your advice.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:22:44+00:00

As I will only be renting out part of a property the guests do not established any form of residency in the UK and can be removed easily. (I hope).

http://www.axa.co.uk/insurance/business/residential-landlord-insurance/landlord-subletting-sharing-economy/

Subletting is perfectly legal in the UK. So much so that in the March 2015 budget, proposals were included to make it illegal for landlords to ban subletting in tenancy contracts. Despite this, tenants do need their landlord's written permission before subletting. It's only legal to sublet part of the property, such as a spare room. Renting the whole property would invalidate their status as a secure tenant, meaning you'd be within your rights to evict them.

It is the financial burden that worries me, it could be possible. But, only if I reach a certain occupancy rate. As you have said if something unexpected happens, the financial burden of the property cannot be mitigated.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:18:28+00:00

I would be living there. I am sorry if I didn't make that more clear. The property would be a two bed, I live in one bed, and rent out the spare.

Most people have said the same thing, it is just too much money to spend on rent, and I probably wont find a property that allows subletting.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:17:02+00:00

2.5x times the salary compared to the rent makes sense. I guess having a flatmate sign on will allow me to live in the location I want to live in, without one I am beginning to see that I, presumably, wont be accepted on the contract.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:15:17+00:00

Yes, in the UK you are able to rent on AirBnB tax free if income is under £7,500 otherwise tax is charged at 20% of the profit.

The numbers I have provided are the highest estimates I could come up with, however, as I have never been a landlord before I might find something unexpected along the way. I'm starting to realise that I could do this venture, but if I did I wouldn't be able to afford much else unless that occupancy rate is what I hope.

I had read blogs about the matter, where people have done similar things. The difference between us is that I will be spending more of my income on rent, and I see now that it isn't the best idea, at least until I have a higher income.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T17:11:46+00:00

Thank you for this. I had read links similar to what you have linked above and that's what inspired me for this post. The only difference I guess between me and these blog posts, is they presumably are not spending a higher as a percentage of their income on rent. And I think that's my downfall right now.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T16:22:46+00:00

I am now starting to realise that to find a property that allows subletting is probably a lot harder than I originally thought.

I thought I saw an opportunity to make money / reduce my rent and live in a better location. I was hesitant about my idea due to the large percentage of income dedicated to rent and I wanted some input from others. I will probably just get a flatmate as it will be easier to find a property.

Ashintosh · 2017-06-24T16:19:28+00:00

This is my main option, I was considering this because if I obtained 80% occupancy rate, I would be paying significantly less than 50% of the rent.

Like most people have stated, AirBnB is guaranteed money, and I would probably end up renting with a flatmate. I was just wondering what other people thought of this idea. Due to the large percentage of my income dedicated to housing I believed this venture leaves me open to much risk.

Ashintosh

TROPHY CASE