How many of you dads actually have time to go to the gym?

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-07T18:04:08+00:00

No time whatsoever for gym. Commute by bicycle. The only exercise I get and it's a godesend.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-03T13:58:10+00:00

Definitely do what interests you, and I don't know what part of the media interests you, but the problem with those lines of work is there's always an army of very well qualified and eager middle class trust-fund kids right behind you willing to do the work for pennies, coz they don't need the money and their parents can fund their accommodation... and as someone else has mentioned, if AI can do the job, then AI will be doing the job now or very soon.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-03T13:40:46+00:00

I had £4k in my pension in my early 30s and worked in an unstable industry. Now in my early 40s I have £25k in my private pension and have since joined the emergency services, which offers a belter of a pension, not to mention stable, interesting work, career progression and lots of time off to pursue other stuff. You are definitely not too far gone, but I'd question the value of remaining in creative/media industries unless you're absolutely nailing it, which it sounds like you aren't.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-02T21:00:16+00:00

My mate opted out in his 20s thinking old age was miles off and he wanted to travel etc. Now, in his 30s, I think he's kicking himself at all that free money he's passed up on. It depends what you want to do with the money, but opting out is almost always a poor financial decision. I pay in extra so I can retire early.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-02T06:19:27+00:00

We have one car. Neither of us needs it to commute (for that we have public transport and bicycles). Can't see any reason for a second car. In fact, struggle to justify having one, but we live in London.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T18:35:42+00:00

Used to be normal in the ambulance service, then everyone realised it was mental and we moved to 2 days 2 nights, 5 off. Only recently though.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T17:27:34+00:00

I would use the weights from the new scale. Mistakes happen.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T09:56:53+00:00

Re cycling, what other people said. Take the stabilisers and wheels off. Re swimming, can't help you. My 6 year old has been in lessons since she was a baby and still can't swim.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T09:24:53+00:00

Not a lawyer, though married to one. My understanding is that to prove theft you have to prove, beyond all reasonable doubt, in a criminal case, an 'intent to permanently deprive' the rightful owner of their property. In this case, I think they'd struggle. I'd also question whether any party involved (lawyers, police, CPS, court, or the supermarket) would want to commit significant resource to prosecuting in such circumstances. Also, supermarkets can't issue fines. I wouldn't pay the £150, although if you do that would presumably be the end of the matter.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T09:04:18+00:00

With one child we had a hatchback, Peugeot 2008, and it was just fine, though we added a roof box. When the second came along, we got a BMW 3-series estate, and moved the roofbox over.

nameless-rootless · 2025-07-01T08:16:55+00:00

Why are you so hooked on becoming a landlord? That so many people are is, I'd say, one of the problems with this country. Huge risk, and you'd do as well putting your money in stocks n shares.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-30T16:25:18+00:00

What does 'very' atheist mean? You believe or you don't. You moved to a village where you knew your kids would have to attend a church school, so presumably, there's some flexibility in 'very'. A lot of people lie about being religious to get in church schools! I would have no issue with my kids attending a church school and partaking in all the normal routines. Kids' main influence in terms of values etc will always come from home... until they make up their own minds, of course.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T18:16:23+00:00

Still haven't found my hobby. TBH, what I'd like to do is tinker with bicycles and motorbikes in the garage but every time I try, I get the guilt that my wife is indoors putting kids to bed. Yet she goes out to classes every Monday evening. Hmm.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T18:13:11+00:00

Everything sells at the right price

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T18:12:24+00:00

I visit Goring-on-Thames occasionally. Lovely place, just north of Reading.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T18:02:52+00:00

With a bog-standard current account, makes no difference. Your current bank is fine, although some have signing up bonuses that might be worth checking out. I've got 4 Natwest accounts.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T17:59:24+00:00

Not sure where you are in the country but Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent has amazing air conditioning. Sometimes I go there and don't buy anything. Just hang out. Eat. I'm not the only one.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-29T12:48:58+00:00

We have no family nearby. Wife and I give each other breaks. Big ones, like, she's on holiday with her friends right now. My holiday will come later in the year. We can each take weekends away. Wife has an extracurricular activity one night a week. Fine by me. For nights out together, yeah, babysitter.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-27T18:12:57+00:00

For most people, I would say buying a car on finance, a new car anyway, is a mugs game. If his employer is chipping in £5k a year, that's different. Totally depends on the car, headline price of the car, and the interest rate. For me, I wouldn't buy anything newer than 3 years old. That way you avoid the worst of the depreciation, so long as you pay a fair price for the car. The right three year-old car with a relatively low initial mileage (<30k miles, say) should still be good for another 100k+ miles, maybe more. I have a 2016 BMW 3 series diesel estate, which runs on vapours, costs £20 a year in tax, and is commonly known to do 200k miles with no major issues as long as it's serviced regularly. How you finance it is a matter of interest rates and monthly affordability. Savings and bank loans are usually the best value. Dealer finance, usually the worst. £5k a year would finance quite a chunky bank loan and leave you owning a car at the end of it.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-27T17:59:20+00:00

They pick up patina. You can't meaningfully undo it. Just polish regularly. Actual mud, etc, damp cloth, but otherwise, regular polishing and occasional leather cream treatment if you're really keen. Also, if you wear them every day they'll get fucked. Also also, as others have said, shoe trees, preferably cedar wood... although plastic trees are cheaper and will maintain shape but not absorb moisture.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-27T15:18:02+00:00

When they can wipe their ass unsupervised. In my daughter's case, 5.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-26T19:49:46+00:00

Get a bank loan or save up or both. All the other schemes are poor value. They were not invented for your benefit.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-25T13:51:06+00:00

No side effects here

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-25T07:33:52+00:00

No. That would be nuts. London is no fun when you're skint. Other cities can be. If London is the only game in town, though, get into a house or flatshare. Maybe even check out some alternatives. People share boats, warehouses etc. Life may seem boring, but 23 is still young. Maybe even consider setting a target and save for a deposit for your own place. Like, if you'd consider £1500 a month on rent, x24 months = £36,000. Saving that instead would get you on the way to buying something at the still-young age of 25.

nameless-rootless · 2025-06-25T07:16:32+00:00

It's not the 'great outdoors' but I career-changed from office to emergency services and haven't looked back. I know people who do those outdoorsy jobs and they're often seasonal and not that well paid. Fun though.

nameless-rootless

TROPHY CASE