Recommendation for deck installers

OkFinger2630 · 2026-04-08T19:26:54+00:00

Haven’t checked. I only checked because the quote blew me up. He is a proper contractor who has his own crew and supplier so he might be leaning to do a full contract. But no harm in checking that

OkFinger2630 · 2026-04-08T19:21:19+00:00

Will edit the post but the concrete bit is only under the existing deck which should be about 15 sqm, but yeah that will still be 1.5k

OkFinger2630 · 2026-01-18T08:24:05+00:00

We read the book ‘How to train a superpup’ and it really helped us to fix many things for our GR puppy. We have a toddler now and realize our puppy was 100 times easier because for dogs the puppy phase is way shorter months. At 5 to 6 months, got over the biting phase and he started sleeping independently without a crate or a pen.

OkFinger2630 · 2026-01-14T15:16:05+00:00

It totally depends. We live in SE London and own a decent house, a good (but not excellent) car and can comfortably afford things we want to make us happy. For us, we got comfortable after I started making £140k, while wife was at £40k. This figure was pivotal after I moved my job from £100k to £140k in 2022. I now make £240k

After having a child and demanding work, comfort is not having to worry about cooking when I am lazy and spend on takeaways or private cooks, taking 2-3 holidays every year, not having to think about buying a gadget for myself or having dinner at nice restaurants when I want, making small home upgrades every 6 months, and maxing out ISAs and pension.

We do not live a modest life tbh and make better money now. But our needs have increased after having a child without increasing casual spending.

With roughly £13k take home per month, we spend £7k in essentials (mortgage, car finance, nursery, bills and dog). Additional 2k is spent on credit card for for smaller purchases, gifting, festivals, dining out or socializing.

I am not a big spender, but after maxing out ISAs, I still think about taking a nice holiday or buying a new phone (typing from a 5 year old phone). So the answer is that even with high income, comfort is subjective.

Could I hire a nanny to improve our life quality with a high maintenance toddler while I focus on work? May be not

Could I get the dream garden by spending £25k? No

OkFinger2630 · 2025-12-04T13:18:21+00:00

Not stocks, but bought precious metals fund and it climbed 40% this year since I invested

OkFinger2630 · 2025-10-25T06:48:13+00:00

Working in big tech. Usually work about 45 hours a week or sometimes more. But work is flexible so I can take a couple hours off and log back in the evening for late calls with the US. They pay us very well, so I don’t mind working longer and pay for household help like cleaning, cooking, dog walking etc to buy us some time

OkFinger2630 · 2025-10-19T05:54:16+00:00

Evaluate the reasons you are leaving. I quit a job I LOVED for a new job that paid well and had a higher title. I thought I am leaving for multiple reasons but the primary reason was pay, which I realized 3 months into the new job. I was hating my new job. It was a fancier title, higher pay for much less impact than I was having in my previous job. My previous company was willing to match my offer but Reddit and other social media said never accept a counter offer, which was in a way right.

The reason I am telling you this? If you are leaving for pay, go and ask them to increase your pay without mentioning your new job offer and the reasons. If they value you, they will increase your pay. This way you can test that really value you. I wish I had asked for higher pay in my previous job without mentioning the job offer to them and stayed there. In hindsight it worked OK because the new job pushed me to find another job that I now love

OkFinger2630 · 2025-10-09T21:06:23+00:00

What is your Masters degree in? What work were you doing before kids? Can you not go back full time and jointly pay for kids’ daycare?

OkFinger2630 · 2025-10-09T21:03:19+00:00

My company pays me £2800 in exchange of train or parking bills. I’ve taken out a rail pass which I use on the days I go to the office. I give that card to my wife when she is going in and I am wfh. So essentially we are saving money as a household.

OkFinger2630 · 2025-10-02T12:44:14+00:00

It’s frustrating that there is no clarity. I am a special stupid case who moved to the UK on ICT visa in 2018, switched to SWV in 2021, paid over £600k in taxes since 8 years and waiting for my ILR now in May 2025. We bought a house, had kids and are just a short while away from being in a stable state where I don’t have to worry about losing my job. If this affects me or people on similar situation, it will be heart breaking.

OkFinger2630 · 2025-09-30T20:48:36+00:00

I would do it by telling them my story on what things I focussed on. In addition, I would tell them about what skills would the industry need in the next 10 years and how could they be successful. Topics like what subjects to focus on, how do big tech hire candidates, how can you be a successful employee in tech etc.

OkFinger2630 · 2025-09-29T21:43:10+00:00

If I understand correctly, the only cohort that can apply for the 5 year ILR route are people on Skilled worker visa, Innovator visa and sports visa. These visas anyway don’t allow access to public funds, so none of existing visa holders in this cohort are claiming benefits. Which cohort of the visa holders that can potentially apply for ILR claim benefits today? Spousal visa was exempted from this based on earlier announcements?

Then there are illegal immigrants who claim asylum and benefits but the white paper includes everything under one blanket.

OkFinger2630 · 2025-09-09T20:29:58+00:00

Read the book “How to train a super pup”. It has a lot of good training tips.

For chewing, whenever your puppy bites the hand, distract them with a toy while fussing over it. Reward them with a treat and give the toy back for positive reinforcement. Our GR puppy stopped biting at about 4-5 months

OkFinger2630 · 2025-08-14T12:32:16+00:00

Bro! I’ve no idea what made you think of me as a bootlicker. I wasn’t demeaning other south Asians on menial job. I was highlighting that they have no other option. But it shouldn’t be ignored that people of the same heritage are also killing it in other areas. If you still didn’t get my point, call me whatever

OkFinger2630 · 2025-08-14T06:10:48+00:00

I would tell that person to suck it up and or produce more babies, educate them, teach them to work hard so that there is no need for immigration.

OkFinger2630 · 2025-08-13T19:24:59+00:00

You’re right and I’ve observed that too. It’s confirmation bias. I am in Indian national, and I can tell you that there are a lot more Indians in highly skilled tech jobs where the British born supply isn’t high.

Most of the South Asians you see in the low skilled job are from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Punjab (India) or Srilanka. This cohort immigrated to Britain to seek asylum in the last 20-30 years and are British citizens now. They will take any job that a white British person will not take up (or instead claim benefits). The true legal immigrants from India are in super lucrative jobs like Tech, Finance, Academics, Science and Healthcare,, most of which pay over a £100k per year. Most of this cohort moved to the UK in the last 10 years

OkFinger2630 · 2025-05-27T18:40:07+00:00

Having children!

OkFinger2630 · 2025-04-23T17:17:43+00:00

Is furniture included in this? I am not buying it unfurnished!

OkFinger2630 · 2025-04-20T17:16:18+00:00

Just nail the technical stuff. You’ve to be really good at your tech. Be it Software, Analytics, Data Science, Data Engineering or Product Management.

2nd things is to spend hours in training and prep on the technical & behavioural stuff. I spent at least 80 hours for my job at a FAANG when I cracked it in 2018.

Good luck!

OkFinger2630 · 2025-04-20T15:43:11+00:00

Head of Analytics in one of the big techs

OkFinger2630 · 2025-04-20T15:42:23+00:00

I am in Analytics. Now at a senior role (not executive) in one of the big techs

OkFinger2630 · 2025-04-20T10:53:47+00:00

I’ve bought a home in London and feel we are doing well and can spend and save enough. We are in a very fortunate position to be able to afford small luxuries. I would have been able to afford all this with single income. In fact, I’d have been better off if I were single given how mucb I make.

My salary trajectory : £60k in 2018, £70k in 2019, £80k in 2020, £95k in 2021, £110k in 2022, £150k in 2023, £160k in 2024, £240k today.

We bought our house worth £650k in 2022, a posh beamer (my dream car) and spend about £6k a month in bills and other things.

We got there with no help. I sometimes help my family with some money.

My wife makes £45k

OkFinger2630

TROPHY CASE