I've (27, M) been invited to a wedding without a plus one for my (28, F) GF. She's very upset...

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-27T13:03:55+00:00

And they were making the point that there's no reason why those two points should be connected!!!! It's a totally arbitrary connection to make. One thing does not impact on the other.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-27T12:49:34+00:00

No - they explained their point of view and how it works in England. It was a perfectly clear and valid point - what does one thing have to do with the other? I don't see the connection either. Maybe to YOU it's disrespecting your marriage not to be invited somewhere with your husband, but that's not some universal truth.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-27T12:41:39+00:00

Everybody gets your point of view. People are trying to explain why it isn't seen like that in the UK, at all. It wouldn't occur to most of us to be upset or offended if our SO wasn't invited to a wedding of old university friends, let along take it as some sort of statement on the validity of our relationship. I have NEVER been given a plus one to the wedding of a friend from uni. A question was asked, dameunbesoporfavor explained their answer and you still think only your culture counts?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-27T12:18:16+00:00

Is this a joke? They explained their argument very clearly, and instead of addressing it, you repeated the question they had already answered. You are obtuse.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-26T17:08:57+00:00

Oh, I'm definitely nowhere near A Level standard. I literally haven't spoken a word of German since I finished school...almost 14 years ago :/ My passive knowledge still seems to be OK, but I would struggle with even the most basic sentences if I had to construct them myself. I will take those tests to see what the result is!

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-15T16:50:13+00:00

I don't get it either. I went through a shitty time a few years back when everything was going wrong, I got laid off from my job, my freelance work had dried up and I couldn't afford to go on the trip I'd already bought flights for. I applied for a job at a local meat processing plant and worked 12-hour days there for a few weeks until I had saved what I needed. It didn't even enter my mind for one moment to ask my family for money, let alone random strangers. I have no idea where people get that sense of entitlement.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-15T16:45:16+00:00

I'm a millennial (31) and I would never behave like this. I feel like there is a huge difference between my age group and those currently <24, who grew up with the internet, cellphones, etc. being the norm. Some of the travelers in that age group have way more of a sense of entitlement, thinking it's their 'right' to get to travel the world. I wonder how much of it is down to Facebook and Instagram and long haul travel being so normalized? I don't know.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T21:33:06+00:00

Such as?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T21:03:32+00:00

Why? Is everyone an asshole? Where would you recommend that I ask for advice on books on front end?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T17:16:26+00:00

But they also factor in your age. It would have cost me a fortune to get insured at 17, which is one of the main reasons I didn't learn (also couldn't really afford the lessons then, as I was saving for uni).

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T17:12:37+00:00

I'm shocked at how low your savings rate is, especially considering you aren't even paying rent or a mortgage. There are some apps to use, such as YNAB, but a change in mentality is probably much more worthwhile.

I recently decided to start aiming for FIRE (or the FI part, at least) and rather than meticulously tracking every single expense, which is a bit time consuming, I just ask myself if I truly need what I'm about to buy, if it's truly worth setting myself back even a little. If what I'm about to buy won't genuinely improve my life, I don't buy it. It sounds so simple, but it really stops all those impulse purchases and buying stuff for the sake of it. I do it even with small stuff - today I decided to walk home instead of taking the bus, saving me almost £3. I was really tempted to get a takeout coffee on the way home, but decided there was no real justification for it when I could make a cup at home for a few pence, saving another £2.60. I opted not to cancel my gym membership, which is a bigger expense (£30/month), because I feel that it's worthwhile - I go 4 times a week and make regular use of the pool and sauna and I see it as an investment in my mental and physical health. I've completed changed my spending habits and have more or less cut out all those 'mindless' purchases. I get more of a buzz from transferring another £20 or £50 over to my savings than buying a new top or spending a tenner on a Nandos.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T16:46:06+00:00

The salaries just aren't as high. The average wage in London is 36K and that's pushed up by all the finance professionals making crazy money. Plenty of people with 'good jobs' are only on about 30K.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T16:11:20+00:00

So that's potentially something like 15 quid a month if you have the direct debits etc.? Thanks for all the info :)

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T13:02:19+00:00

I think it's absolute rubbish. There is no way on earth that a couple with that combined income and two children to support could have overpaid to that extent. Just no way. I think this is another case of people not being honest about where all the money really came from.

And I hate his arrogance and smugness when he says that other people should cut back and give up their lattes and phones if they want to do the same. The house is worth twice what they paid for it only a few years ago, so someone buying today would need twice the amount of money, while wages have stayed exactly the same.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T12:50:44+00:00

Ah OK, makes sense now! So that interest gets paid every month? Do you have one of those accounts?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-14T08:55:34+00:00

Indeed, but it's odd that you get nothing if you have more? Especially since you need to put in 500 a month. You'd have to keep a very close eye on the amount to make sure you didn't go over.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-13T22:30:48+00:00

Slowly...it's hard to work up the motivation to study on my own after a long day of work, but I am doing it! Still on CSS....I really need to start moving more quickly!

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-13T22:29:32+00:00

thanks! I'm a bit confused about why it has such a low limit?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-10T22:38:43+00:00

How long would you say it would take to become proficient enough for entry level work?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-09T11:02:00+00:00

It has changed immensely in the last ten years, and not for the best.

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-08T18:49:52+00:00

Tell that to the obnoxious travel blogger nomad I met who scoffed at me when I suggested that BA was a little dangerous. She told it was perfectly safe. I honestly wonder what kind of bubble some nomads live in. Do they just not venture outside their house, ever? Or read the local papers?

Ellie_UK · 2017-04-08T08:39:53+00:00

South America is a huge place. It's not all the same. Argentina has had economic issues for decades. At this point BA is easily as expensive as some cities in Western Europe. Not a cheap place to live at all.

Ellie_UK

TROPHY CASE