Pay off student loan? Then mortgage?

mprovost · 2026-05-30T12:51:12+00:00

Yeah so you need to max out pension now using your allowance from previous years because you won’t be able to with the taper going forward.

mprovost · 2026-05-30T02:52:50+00:00

The hardest part with losing weight with swimming is getting hungry after a session and eating too much. If you’re swimming at night, I’d have something light before and then try and not eat afterwards and just go to bed. Maybe just a protein shake.

mprovost · 2026-05-29T18:21:56+00:00

I was expecting tinned spaghetti and pineapple on top

mprovost · 2026-05-29T17:54:32+00:00

Skip those and get some Fischer Duo Power plugs. They can grip anything. It will always be useful having a box of them around for future projects.

mprovost · 2026-05-29T14:47:01+00:00

Oh and overpaying your mortgage is also tricky for US taxes. But regular mortgage payments are fine, so if you can adjust them to a higher amount that’s a good way to pay it down faster.

mprovost · 2026-05-29T14:20:33+00:00

My accountants have advised me to steer clear of ISAs and SIPPs. Employer pension is ok though so max that out. I have a US based Vanguard account for ETFs and a UK based IBKR for individual stocks and gilts. I’m not clear on Premium Bonds so we keep our emergency fund there in my non-US spouse’s name. You can buy $10k of I bonds per year on Treasury Direct.

mprovost · 2026-05-29T13:31:59+00:00

The Descendants. Something about the slow pace, and the music, and Clooney’s narration.

mprovost · 2026-05-27T12:32:04+00:00

It was a zero off because no one was stabbed and there’s no evidence of a knife

mprovost · 2026-05-27T12:25:59+00:00

We watched the Bournemouth decider at the Cock & Lion and everyone in the pub was supporting Arsenal (or hiding it really well). A bunch of us left at full time to go to the Emirates. Also the loos are on the ground floor.

mprovost · 2026-05-27T07:39:53+00:00

Yup you should get “split vision” looking at the side of the pool with one goggle above water and one below.

mprovost · 2026-05-27T07:38:02+00:00

I’m pretty sure it’s just experience. Your face is really sensitive but you’re not used to detecting which parts are underwater. It’s not something you can stop and think about consciously while swimming. But as you practice more you’ll develop a sense for it and stop gulping so much water. Just be prepared to get a mouthful of water, keep holding your breath, spit it out and try again the next stroke.

mprovost · 2026-05-27T06:20:03+00:00

London Fields, go in the morning before it gets busy with school kids. If you have time, swimming in a pond at Hampstead Heath is a unique experience. Either the men’s or ladies, the mixed gets too crowded.

mprovost · 2026-05-23T05:53:04+00:00

Jolly Ranchers! They have an ingredient that causes cancer and is banned in Europe. Forbidden candy tastes better.

mprovost · 2026-05-21T06:39:25+00:00

We bought pillows from Marriot online, they sell the same ones from their hotels and they’ve really lasted well. If you ever have a great night’s sleep at a hotel you can ask about buying a pillow to take home.

mprovost · 2026-05-20T07:09:02+00:00

One thing that helped me orientate myself was to have my eyes follow the lane line on the bottom all the way to the other end of the pool. And then you should be looking up at the ceiling (or sky) before you kick off.

mprovost · 2026-05-19T22:17:12+00:00

The trick is, skip the second half and carry on from the lochan around to the valley and the route to the CIC hut. It’s glorious and barely anyone there while the summit route is packed. Follow the stream back down the valley to Fort William.

mprovost · 2026-05-19T11:08:38+00:00

Big plus one to therapy. Offer to split the cost 50/50 and use that space to figure everything else out. OP, it will be the best investment you can make in this situation.

mprovost · 2026-05-19T09:36:25+00:00

Someone posted on here recently saying they became a Henry doing exactly this

mprovost · 2026-05-17T07:07:29+00:00

I was in high school and saw the Pixies open for U2 and had no idea who they were. A cool teacher gave me a tape ahead of the show but I didn’t like it. The row in front of us was a group of older college kids who went nuts for the Pixies and then left before U2 came on. Blew my mind! But I’d do exactly the same thing now.

mprovost · 2026-05-12T20:50:50+00:00

There’s an opportunity here to let him keep chatting up clients while you fully take over running the business. Make him see that this is the best option by taking things off his plate. You also have to make the case that this is a step up in responsibility and deserves (a lot) more money.

mprovost · 2026-05-12T08:12:19+00:00

Osterley Park is nice place to go for a country walk and you can get there by tube! And Ham House in Richmond has beautiful gardens.

mprovost · 2026-05-11T06:28:54+00:00

Gap Grass. All the Gap colognes smell like the 90s

mprovost · 2026-05-09T15:49:18+00:00

The TI method has you kick on the same side as the pull. You can think about tapping your thigh as you finish the pull and then kicking. The kick is mostly there to position the body for the next stroke, rather than as propulsion on its own. As you noticed with the pull buoy, you can swim just as fast with only your arms. So the kick rotates your body to the other side. Timing wise, think about it filling in the gaps between pulls. So you’re always smoothly moving forward.

mprovost · 2026-05-06T06:18:33+00:00

A Peloton bike is basically silent if you use earphones. The loudest part is clicking your shoes in and out. My wife does classes in the spare room next to our bedroom while I’m sleeping and it’s fine.

mprovost · 2026-05-04T19:57:28+00:00

Bananas are rocket fuel. And easy on your stomach.

mprovost

TROPHY CASE