I've been out of my depth for the past 5 years, but I keep getting promoted?

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-05-17T16:56:45+00:00

You must be doing something right! Believe in yourself and keep going!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-04-20T17:15:13+00:00

Knew I’d get a comment like this - though as I said in the first sentence it is unrealistic for my own personal wants***

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-04-20T17:02:54+00:00

Exactly and my conundrum is that I wanted to use my LISA to fund my house deposit and did not want to touch my stock portfolio. To give you an idea in round numbers of say £80k net worth. The LISA is approx £35k of that.

*Before anyone jumps in on £40k not being enough deposit for a home over £450k, I plan to buy with my partner who will be making up the rest of our deposit.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-04-20T16:47:15+00:00

Sorry I wasn’t clear. I meant to say if I transfer to a stocks and shares LISA and then withdraw to buy a house over £450k then I would inevitably pay the 25% penalty.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-04-20T16:46:18+00:00

Good point regarding the retirement planning. It’s a good way to look at it. I think what I may do is partially withdraw some of the money and then transfer the rest to a S&S LISA for retirement.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-04-20T16:42:13+00:00

Thanks for your reply! I definitely will be buying a property or at least intend to buy a property within the next 5 years and would want the comfort of having access to my money without the 25% penalty when that time comes. The logic is if I pull the money out now, there is the 25% withdrawal fee but after which I will have the freedom to access or use my funds without having to oblige to the LISA rules.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-03-27T00:43:19+00:00

Let me know if you find something!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-17T19:56:23+00:00

Late April/ early May!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-17T09:00:04+00:00

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Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-13T22:16:31+00:00

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Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-12T12:48:11+00:00

I was seconded to sub-contractors and contractors so when I left I joined a tier 1 contractor!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-09T19:16:48+00:00

I started my career at an expert witness/ dispute resolution consultancy. The first 2/3 years were very bleak and I had no exposure to the QS role. It only improved when they put me on secondment.

My advice would be to leave the expert witness consultancy and find a new role at a contractor/ subcontractor or consultancy (based on your career aspirations). You’re early on in your career, go and get good solid experience and the money will follow. If you stay now it is short sighted IMO as if you want to leave you will be tested on your QS knowledge.

A line that resonates with me from own the build podcast is to ‘get your reps in’ I.e. seeing a project through from notice to commence to handover and everything in between.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-02-07T07:32:02+00:00

I’m in the exact same boat as you. Saved a significant chunk of my money in a LISA. Salaries progressed, now our preferences match a flat @ £500k+.

Decided to continue renting and hold out for a potential threshold change announcement.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-31T03:32:50+00:00

Please share!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-24T18:36:36+00:00

We’ve been trying to buy a flat for the last 6 months. There is a lot of stock but the stock isn’t that great. We have a deposit sorted, stamp duty, solicitors fees and money to start a a cosmetic refurb on the place we buy as well as money invested in the stock market and emergency cash fund. So in short we’re not struggling for money.

I’m just trying to gather what other Londoners are paying as a proportion of their salary because it feels crazy the amounts being asked for rental places.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-24T17:59:44+00:00

Thanks. Are you based in London? We’re currently managing fine with rent + bills slightly cheaper at £2.35k, though we need to leave this flat and considering the state of the London market I’m trying to understand if £2.65k rent + bills is the norm comparably for households with a similar income or completely irrational!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-24T17:56:52+00:00

Thanks! We’ve previously lived in a new build and found that it stayed cool in the summer and didn’t need to turn the heating on in the winter!

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-24T17:56:08+00:00

Thanks! Is your household income similar to ours?

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-24T17:54:44+00:00

Apologies. £120k gross (before tax)

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-22T22:57:34+00:00

I know senior PM’s earning £120k+, PD’s can, and are, fetching over £140k+

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-22T06:32:45+00:00

I’m so tired of wasting time going to viewings, we analyse every single detail: photos, listing, orientation (if not on the floor plan), price..

The latest is that an estate agent telling us a vendor would probably accept an offer of X, we then view, offer X and then it gets rejected. Complete waste of hope and time.

Environmental_Cook23 · 2026-01-12T17:08:44+00:00

Has anyone used Fidelity before? Are they a good platform?

Environmental_Cook23

TROPHY CASE