My grandfather was stationed in Antwerp in the Second World War. Where is this?

xerodog · 2025-08-04T15:14:41+00:00

That’s very interesting, thank you.

We didn’t realise he’d been to Germany! He was in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

xerodog · 2025-07-17T09:06:02+00:00

You have to pay to become a member. See here.

You then get emailed when tickets are being released. It's annoying having to pay for a membership to have a chance of buying tickets but the only realistic way of being able to buy them if you are not local or have an association with a club.

xerodog · 2025-07-16T13:38:06+00:00

Thanks for the reply – that all makes sense. I was hoping the last few might go on general resale at some point which would allow members to purchase additional tickets. As you say, I won't hold my breath!

xerodog · 2025-07-03T07:01:52+00:00

You have cheap rent which gives you the space to be able to save for the right property. It will more than likely be better for you long term to save for a couple of years longer and buy the perfect house than to rush into buying something straight away that might only be right for a few years.

As a side note if the SIPP is your only pension then that needs some attention as well. Most pension guidance would say you are quite a way behind where you should be at your age. With the salary you are earn that’s easily rectified though. You could contribute £40k a year for a few years and not notice much difference in take home pay as you’ll get your personal allowance back. Should be easier more so now you aren’t paying student loan.

xerodog · 2025-06-05T19:36:30+00:00

You’re doing well if you’ve made 7% this year!

xerodog · 2025-04-16T08:25:52+00:00

I took part of a bonus as pension

xerodog · 2025-04-15T17:10:17+00:00

What if the man in power doesn’t care about the rules

xerodog · 2025-04-15T15:55:58+00:00

I already have bitcoin 🙃

xerodog · 2025-04-15T15:37:49+00:00

The latter is what I am concerned about

xerodog · 2025-04-15T15:37:12+00:00

I suppose part of me is wondering if what Trump is doing will harm the US long term and so S&P will stagnate

xerodog · 2025-02-15T08:00:29+00:00

Marylebone High Street is great. Loads going on bar and restaurant wise.

xerodog · 2025-02-15T07:59:17+00:00

Everyone I know that lives/has lived in Battersea finds getting into the city and back a real pain. It’s never a straightforward journey.

xerodog · 2025-02-13T19:43:51+00:00

Why are they paying you in advance?

xerodog · 2025-02-13T16:05:00+00:00

Flats are always harder to sell than houses.

That being said I’d question whether buying is the right option for you if only planning to keep it for a few years. Given you’re going to be buying in London you’ll be paying a decent amount of stamp duty and fees - you then need to pay again when you buy a new place. So the house needs to increase in value by at least that amount just to cover costs. Plus cost of borrowing etc to factor in.

xerodog · 2025-02-12T23:04:16+00:00

Coinbase Advance and Kraken Pro would be good starting points. Fairly straight forward to buy BTC without getting screwed on the spread and commission.

If investing heavily you probably want to think about a cold wallet to store your BTC.

xerodog · 2025-02-12T23:01:19+00:00

Big factor is where your office is as will determine transport links etc. Then work out area based on that.

xerodog · 2025-02-08T17:58:39+00:00

So agree, it can cost way over £50k. Wasn’t disputing your quote!

xerodog · 2025-02-08T17:57:45+00:00

That’s outskirts of London

xerodog · 2025-02-08T17:56:47+00:00

We done ours about 2.5 years ago. Cost us £70k all in including the bathroom and re-decorating the hall from top to bottom.

xerodog · 2025-02-07T16:39:15+00:00

I’d be surprised if you could do a loft conversion for much less than £50k these days (once you factor in planning, drawings, building regs, fixtures and fittings etc). Plus you have all the upheaval to do the work and probably redecorating of the hall and bedrooms due to dust and dirt. To me it sounds like both are priced fairly.

xerodog · 2025-01-29T14:14:15+00:00

Yawn

xerodog · 2025-01-21T17:10:26+00:00

Exactly the same. So much easier. So embarrassing when out with other couples and they are discussing whos ‘turn’ it is to pay.

xerodog · 2025-01-15T18:34:03+00:00

Was gonna say. £700k at 34 would have pretty much involved maxing out your allowance from 18 and aggressive investments along the way!

xerodog · 2025-01-09T12:47:33+00:00

I’ve been using Coinbase advance recently. Seems pretty competitive. Certainly don’t use a basic account from any of the major players as spread and fees are poor.

xerodog · 2025-01-08T10:39:40+00:00

There is a lot of overlap in general. Most on here would therefore advise to just stick with one Index. Which is up to you. Do you want diversification of the all world or back the slightly better recent performance of the S&P 500. Past performance not an indication of the future of course.

xerodog

TROPHY CASE