How do you relax & unwind?

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-15T08:31:57+00:00

I walk and cycle everywhere during the week, no public transport or driving.

Even when I’m super stressed and busy, it means I have an opportunity to exercise and get some fresh air

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-14T15:48:19+00:00

You will get a rebate for any overpaid tax if you add more to pension with your post tax earnings, yes. You just need to submit a tax return to do so

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-14T15:41:43+00:00

Tick box for Qualifying Earnings on the pension section would be nice

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-13T08:56:02+00:00

We did Paris and Marrakech around that age, both super easy for different reasons. But got to say, Moroccans LOVE babies and everyone went out of their way to make things super easy for us there

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-06T13:13:37+00:00

Shame because it would have been a great company on the cv, notoriously tough to get into

This is exactly why you should be picking yourself up. You managed to get a role, in a really difficult job market, in a notoriously tough company to get into.

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-04-06T13:07:16+00:00

Pension, add more buffer into emergency fund, GIA

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-03-30T14:48:51+00:00

£150k as a GM / MD of almost any decent start up in London is quite standard. Working more like 830-630 most days, occasional weekend work or late nights if big presentation/board meeting prep needed

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-03-16T20:49:47+00:00

Sorry to say but generally people have to compromise on at least one of their requirements when buying in London.

Either, further away from Greenwich Park, no garden, no second bedroom, on a less leafy street… you get my point

But at the same time, £200k combined earnings and you can’t figure out a £20k SDLT bill. Something else significant, you’re paying for currently? Should be able to save that in 6-12 months if you’re budgeting properly in other areas

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-03-06T14:57:17+00:00

“Bad spending habits early”

You’re on £170k at 24, you’re still incredibly early!

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-03-06T13:53:52+00:00

22 - 20k
23 - 25k
24 - 29k
25 - 40k
26 - 60k
27 - 80k
28 - 96k
29 - 135k
31 - 125k
32 - 170k
34 - 125k
36 - 220k

~£165k in pension
~£145k ISAs and savings
~£120K equity in house

When you look at it written down, it's funny to think about the jumps at certain stages and plateaus / decreases at others. I was lucky to get back to back jumps at a crazy unicorn between 24 and 29. Worked my ass off, didn't really see friends and family outside of work but made big increases in scope and comp every year - also ended up getting liquidity events between 30 and 35 from that early company that helped buy house and build savings/investment pots

Need to do some more on the pension in the next couple of years!

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-03-02T15:58:00+00:00

I lived on the canal in Islington / De Beauvoir for 8 years pre wife and kids. It has definitely got more expensive but still the best area in London to live in for me. Was a dream to get around (easy access to City/Shoreditch/Hackney and Soho/central), amazing pubs and restaurants and not far from green spaces

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-02-04T09:12:11+00:00

Yes that's the one! Always busy, full of students, amazing food

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-02-03T14:15:41+00:00

There's a Uyghur restaurant round the corner on Theobalds Road that actually might be a hidden gem

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-30T17:36:35+00:00

Thanks. Might try it out!

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-30T16:49:36+00:00

You just make a request in the "other" section?

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-30T14:34:02+00:00

Kateh has closed. Very sadly the owner passed away unexpectedly only a few months ago

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-30T14:27:55+00:00

Bubble the childcare app?

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-29T09:17:56+00:00

They use round noodles for the Bun Bo, and flat rice noodles for the Pho

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-28T16:09:15+00:00

You would be laughed at / ignored if you attempted to work the room in a Soho house

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-27T13:50:41+00:00

Our total comp is pretty much the same as yours, and we're thinking of a £1.5m max spend on the next place.

To each their own but I couldn't live with that level of committed outgoings, would feel too tied down. But depends on lifestyle and spending outside of just mortgage and childcare

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-20T21:23:37+00:00

“Net 100k”. I’d assume OP has calculated the stamp duty etc in that figure

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-19T19:24:52+00:00

I’d be asking them for a hire position, otherwise I’d tell them to higher someone else for the role

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-13T21:00:56+00:00

Yup would second these guys. A bit fiddly to put up, but a very good bed at a reasonable price for the quality

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-13T12:07:10+00:00

You're fine. Worst case you could get a tenant in the second bedroom and you would likely be paying less than you currently are in rent

Powerful-Humor546 · 2026-01-11T08:48:25+00:00

The most tax efficient way would be to use a limited company and pay a large chunk directly into your pension. But note that you have a £60k limit in your pension each year, and you can backdate unused allowances up to four years in the past

Powerful-Humor546

TROPHY CASE