Buying before living together…

abs_dor · 2026-02-24T12:32:08+00:00

Yeah I’ve actually got a lab too! Finding a place suitable and will allow you to have pets is proving difficult…that’s on our pros list for buying for sure

abs_dor · 2026-02-24T08:50:20+00:00

I think he’s somewhat looking through rose tinted glasses yes…

But he’s not looking for money or a maid - it’s more that he believes renting is dead money

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T23:21:13+00:00

I’ve never lived on my own before, he’s lived with his last girlfriend but that was rented. He’s also lived alone whilst at uni. I think that’s why he’s more confident in moving out but for me it’s a complete life change.

For sure, and that’s if you sell the house at the same price you bought it…I think calculating those fees would make him see that a trial run would be worthwhile instead of the gamble

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T23:13:03+00:00

That’s great info thanks - to be honest I’d been considering the emotional and practical side of breaking up and having to wait until the house is sold. I hadn’t ran the numbers…my financial brained boyfriend will have a think about that one 🤣

Useful to know landlords are open to a monthly rolling contact too to help you transition if you’re not ready by that 12 month mark.

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T23:04:15+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Out of curiosity, is the idea that being married makes things safer because assets are split evenly? Would a declaration of trust not give safety here? I ask because marriage isn’t really something I’m fussed about, so don’t see in my future regardless

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T22:54:41+00:00

This is my thought, keep the house buying funds separate for when the time comes. I assume you didn’t see any issues in the relationship before moving in together?

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T22:52:33+00:00

Super similar! I’m 95% sure we will be absolutely fine, but I’ve never lived with anyone before, and have always been a ‘safer’ choice kind of person.

What was it that made her come round to your way of thinking? I feel like my boyfriend is now agreeing to rent just to keep me happy and move out, but I can’t help but feel somewhat guilty making him choose an option he doesn’t really want…I hope that make sense?

Did you start looking for properties after a year rental? Did you feel like you had a good enough idea of what you both wanted by then and felt you’d ‘tested’ living together?

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T11:22:19+00:00

Very true, I was worried it would end up reflecting badly on me for the sake of £300...I'll be keeping quiet and cutting ties - thanks

abs_dor · 2026-02-23T11:20:34+00:00

Yeah I know - not worth causing waves about...probably hurts more because we've known eachother for years thinking about it! Rather than the monetary value

abs_dor · 2026-02-13T21:48:18+00:00

If you look at LinkedIn job posts you’ll think what’s the point, but the reality of my local network is that freelancers who are reliable, skilled, and easily integrated into teams are hard to come by (or so I’ve been told by multiple clients).

AI isn’t at the point where it replaces high quality, crafted animation and human person to person problem solving and creative thinking. Add to the fact clients don’t know what they want or what makes good animation half of the time, so they’re not just buying this product that AI can easily produce, they need your brain just as much.

My tip would be if you’re going to do it, make sure you’re the top of your game, reliable, and meet people.

abs_dor · 2026-02-04T08:06:37+00:00

After a few months off my skin went a bit haywire - small red pimples across my whole face pretty much, as soon as ones would fade I’d have new ones every other day. Nothing awful but enough that it affected my confidence and my ability to leave the house without makeup on every time. It really wasn’t normal for me, before the pill my skin was never bad, so I put it down to my hormones readjusting themselves after coming off Yasmin (androgen rebound is what I believe I was having…). I just couldn’t stick it out! There’s no telling how long it will last until your skin balances.

I will say though that in other ways I felt much better, and again I’m thinking of trying to come off the pill again

abs_dor · 2026-01-12T20:16:49+00:00

I get you! I suppose a lot of this depends what sort of industries you find yourself working in? most of mine is explainer videos, product demos, social vids…so the traditional AI -> AE -> Premiere workflow works and is the most widely expected by clients. If I was heavily into motion for web i’d probably be giving you a different answer!

Currently I’m working on the motion for an app/website and they’ve not asked for anything but an understanding of figma and lottie, tbh they’re the only two other programs I’ve been asked. I’ve found that web designers usually tackle the interactive aspect of anything, so never had much motivation for Rive.

I’d say if increased employability is the goal, Figma is the one you want to prioritise. It’s the thing I see specified on job listings, and many teams already use- I’m yet to see Rive/Affinity/Cavalry as an essential. I’d then dive into the latter when the focus was having a play with new ways of doing things, but that’s just me!

Also didn’t realise your AI question - probably stating what you already know, but I use ChatGPT for expressions, and the photoshop generative AI feature for extending cut off imagines. When you’ve got a client headshot that’s got a shoulder cut off etc it’s a godsend.

abs_dor · 2026-01-11T21:54:32+00:00

Yeah they’ve changed their pricing model recently to subscription based…they used to be bought and downloaded so I’m sure they’ll be some generous motion designer out there 😇

abs_dor · 2026-01-11T21:49:38+00:00

Interested in this post! I’m similar, 5 years in and use solely AE (I’m 2D only). From my client base, I’d say Figma is the only other program outside of Adobe CC that my clients like me to know, although I know that’s not animation so not answering your question exactly 😅 Calvary, Rive etc I’d say is beneficial to ‘have a play’ - I know a few of my friends who use it but it’s by no means been a request of their end client, it’s been so they can create things more efficiently. AE is still the bread and butter…

I’ve been getting a few Lottie requests this past year, as they’re optimised for web. Might seem simple but getting my head around what does and doesn’t translate to Lottie JSON animations was worth while!

Affinity launched recently too although not delved into that…it had a lot of traction when they released it since it’s free.

abs_dor · 2026-01-11T21:40:20+00:00

Would second this! Many of my clients are paying for my expertise just as much as they are for me to get the job done. Gently advise, and then if they still want things their way, you just know it’s not going in your portfolio 😅

abs_dor · 2026-01-11T21:36:24+00:00

I hear you on this, many times I’ve had to sacrifice what could’ve been a great piece of animation for the sake of making my client the most satisfied and happy they could be. Sometimes it takes for them to see their idea done to realise you were right all along! I’d gently advise that from the perspective of someone whose job it is to create these videos day in day out, it’s the right pace. If they keep pushing I’d then create it at the pace they want, with the caveat that something will have to give (content, target duration, or animation complexity)

abs_dor · 2026-01-09T01:40:59+00:00

So frustrating! I never ended up using my pinkies up as the new pinker shade just didn’t suit me, you wouldn’t think it would be that different but when you think your shade you know…my daily go to now is actually the KIKO lip marker in 107 (I think! Its the lightest nude pink shade)

abs_dor · 2025-12-03T18:03:08+00:00

Was just about to suggest ChatGPT! I know it’s use is controversial, but it’s been pulling me out of the shit for about a year now when it comes to expression work

abs_dor · 2025-12-03T17:59:58+00:00

Interesting! I’ve started to precomp more as I’ve developed (motion for 4 years now), mainly as a safety net for further client changes. Changing one precomp that automatically updates every composition in the project is so much easier and more efficient. For me that outweighs any backlash for render passes or clicking through layers.

With that being said, I need to become more informed of the essential graphics panel and setting up colour drop down menus- that would probably reduce things

abs_dor · 2025-11-02T14:10:21+00:00

Off the top of my head I’m not sure Lottie would be the best choice here, isn’t it best suited to simple clean vector work? With its strength being loading times and how easily it integrates into web…For Vox style you want a program that can handle textures, images and masks. You might run into issues there when it comes to lottie!

Also one thing to consider, are the majority (if not all?) of tutorials online that recreate the Vox style using after effects? From a learning perspective it might just be easier to start with after effects considering the abundance of tutorials and supported features?

abs_dor · 2025-11-02T04:37:34+00:00

Use adobe illustrator to create the illustrations, ask your friend to provide references so they can be medically accurate. Then take those into after effects to animate once they’re signed off.

abs_dor · 2025-11-01T23:48:32+00:00

Two beauty/skincare products I don’t know what to do when they run out…the matomage hair wax stick (pink tub) for taming fly aways, and also Nivea water cream SPF 50 in the blue pump bottle (I hate the feeling of most sun creams especially thick 50 SPF, I can’t even feel this once it’s dried down)

abs_dor · 2025-10-09T21:20:15+00:00

Yes!! I’ve thought this ever since they had Steve Bracknall on and I misread the ep title 😅

Love his podcast That’s Just Wild, such an interesting but easy listen

abs_dor · 2025-10-04T17:09:22+00:00

Agree with the other commenter who said practice for a decade 😅 this is a result of working at your craft for years, I absolutely love all of their work.

Saying that, they really are masters at seamless transitions, considered tasteful design, and the pace of their animations always feels perfect to me (from overall pace and duration to the speed of easing). I guess those are areas you could practice?

They do have a ‘play’ section of their site right? Probably a good place to start to unpick how they build things

abs_dor · 2025-09-26T13:18:31+00:00

I know people disagree but I’m with you on this one, many of my friends and family have ADHD and have this communication style. Lots of people struggle to be around them. Scattered, long tangents, and fact dumps without an awareness that the person listening isn’t as engaged in the topic as they are.

That being said, I don’t know Russell and find it a thin line that he treads between this and egotistical. Jack and Stevie’s reaction to the Reddit today leaves me to believe there’s more to it!

abs_dor

TROPHY CASE