A big hello to everyone – Savvy Scot is back!! I have internet again and am connected to the world. It is strange how disconnected and helpless that you feel without an internet connection. How amazing is it that one wire can carry so much information that we are reliant on:
- Internet
- Voice
- Movies
- Streaming television
It is more than that though, as that first category ‘Internet’ is fast becoming an essential.
- Paying Bills
- Emails
- Social Media
- Clothes Shopping
- Reading
- Listening
- Watching
- Buying Groceries
- Games
- The list goes on….
I think I have made my point on how many different aspects of your life become disconnected when you don’t have internet access. This is apparent when you consider that I used over 2.5 Gb of data on my mobile this month! (NOT looking forward to that bill)!
So Mrs Scot and I have moved house and we are starting to get settled in our new home. It is just that – a home. The mental difference in knowing that you own (or are at least paying off) your own place is phenomenal. The assurance that if you want to paint a wall or put up some shelves; you can just do it. You don’t need to seek permission – you are your own landlord!
I think I made a statement and proved this to myself by removing a door and drilling a couple of holes in the wall for a heavy picture frame ;)! Oh yeah and we bought a brand new BBQ 🙂 ! On the topic of buying things, I guess that I should confess and get it out there what we have spent so far. I have included two photos that I took when the furniture arrived. More photos will follow (hopefully this week) when everything else is finished!
Furniture Items:
- Dining Room Table and 6 chairs
- 3 door / 3 drawer sideboard
- Coffee Table
- TV Unit
- Dressing Table, Stool and Mirror
Total – £3000.
Once again, I wanted to give you a preview with these photos – Completed ones to come 😀
Man items ( 😀 )
- Weber BBQ – (£130 / $210) – already had 3 BBQs 😀
- Drill – (£60 / $100)
Total £190 / $310
Other Items
- 2 x Mountain Bikes + bike rack + helmets and pump (£700 / $1100)
- 1 x Picture Frame (£125 / $200) – Selection of our wedding photos from Thailand
Total £825 / $1300
Our Photo Frame
Grand Total – £4015 / $6400
It is no surprise to most of you that we put the furniture items on Credit Card but we stand by our decision. In fact, I paid the £500 deposit from my debit card which means that £2500 was on the card. True to our word, we have also paid off an installment for April of £300, leaving the current balance at £2200, with 14 months remaining on the interest free period.
We had said last year that we would use some of our wedding money towards buying mountain bikes as a new way to keep fit and have fun together. We got the 2 weeks ago and have already used them a few times – we did the 7.5 mile circuit of Richmond Park last weekend which was amazing!
Looking back – Do we regret it?
In a word – NO! Our new furniture has already enabled us to have family around for several meals. My best friend was down staying for the weekend and being able to sit around a table and chat was fantastic!
The dressing table has not yet arrived, but Mrs Scot is so excited about it. We have matching furniture that looks great and are using it all the time! Furthermore, we have a long list of family and friends who are now scheduled to stay with us! 🙂
I owe you all a lot of posts so will be updating regularly again! The Fitness Challenge is still ongoing – will give an update next post! This brings me on to my closing point… We have an appointment / trial at the local hotel’s leisure center tonight. I visited it at the weekend and it was AMAZING! It has a huge gym, 3 studios with lots of classes, a 20m pool, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. It is only a 2 minute walk door to door – I just have to convince Mrs Scot! The one drawback is that membership is quite expensive…
£49.50 / $80 per month each (£99 / $160 month for the two of us)
While I understand that this is quite expensive (average for London though) if we attend regularly (3 times per week) then I can justify it in my mind. I still have a gym that I can use (and will continue to use) at work, however the pool/sauna/fitness classes would be great fun to go to on evenings and weekends!
What are your thoughts on paying for gym membership?
How much would you / do you pay per month?
How many times a month do you visit?
It is good to be back 😀
Welcome back! Sounds like you are really enjoying your new home so far.
That does sound like an expensive gym, but if you can stick to using it regularly, it’s probably worthwhile. I personally have never paid for a gym membership, but that’s just because I am more comfortable getting exercise somewhere else.
Modest Money recently posted..Establishing Spending Priorities
Hey! Thanks for Your comment!
I agree that if we use it regularly then it can be justified. We both had a really nice time.. The sauna and spa pool were a treat after a workout. We figure that if we commit to using it 3 times per week then we will sign on. We are going to sleep on it though.
How’s life with you?
Life is alright on my end. Still struggling on the job front, but I’ve taken some steps to stay more positive. I figure as long as I stay in the right frame of mind I’ll be fine regardless what happens.
Modest Money recently posted..Establishing Spending Priorities
Absolutely! Keep up the morale… Have you got many interviews lined up? What are you filling your free time with?
Welcome back! I know what you mean when you say we’re reliant on the internet. I’d give up a lot to keep the internet, simply because it’s a necessity for me. I do everything on it.
I think a gym membership is an investment in yourself, IF you use it. I use mine 3-4 times a week, and I love it. I wouldn’t get motivated to work out if I didn’t have a gym membership!
Daisy @ Add Vodka recently posted..How to Motivate Yourself to Be More Productive
You make a good point that the expense in itself is a motivator! We have to drive past the place everyday on the way to and from work! This would also help! How expensive is your gym Daisy?
I feel lost when I do not have internet connection. They have been having troubles with my droid recently and connectivity has been touchy. Man without that I feel so lost.
It is quite sad how reliant we all are on the internet I think! That feeling of being ‘out-the-loop’ is SO frustrating though!
Welcome Home! 😉
That’s a beautiful table and something similar to what we are currently looking for. Did you buy it locally, or is it something we can play with and purchase at say, Next or M&S?
Hope you and the missus enjoy your new home!
Lee recently posted..Should Food Waste Be Taxed
Hey Lee! – Thanks for the comment. It was from an independant furniture store in London. I figure that shops with fancy showrooms and great locations have to pay for this in some way – i.e. mark ups. I will dig out the link and post it to you! 🙂 Thanks for the wishes
Nice! Always liking a good excuse to hire a van 😉
Hit me up when you manage to find it, I’d be very grateful, and it’d get a certain person off my case about dining room furniture lol!
Lee recently posted..Frugal Friday! 10 Tips For Affording Your Summer Holiday
Yes!! I love hiring a van and being a white van man for the day! Haha no worries dude, I know the feeling – http://www.rowlandsfurniturecentre.co.uk/
Sweet! Thanks muchly !! Think we might take a little ride up there this weekend and have a mooch around … standby for a pounding, Credit Card.
Lee recently posted..Frugal Friday! 10 Tips For Affording Your Summer Holiday
No worries dude – Let me know what you think and how much you spend 😛
The new furniture looks great! I also take advantage of the 0% interest deals on larger purchases. I figure why not?
Paying for the gym would be a losing investment for myself at the moment since I have been terrible about exercise recently. I really need to get back into the mode of working out!
MyMoneyDesign recently posted..Book Review: “Unfair Advantage” by Robert Kiyosaki
Thank you!! 0% Credit is a way we can take advantage of the banks (for a change) providing that we pay it back within the timeframe!! Do you not think that by paying for a membership it would guilt you into going?
£49.50 per month for gym membership is quite high but standard for a nice gym like the one you describe. If you have enough in your budget for it and you will genuinely use it, then I think the price is ok. Does this price include the classes. If so then this sounds like a good deal. For a while when my partner lost his job I gave up my gym membership and went running on the street but I hated it during winter.
Hey – Thanks for commenting! Yes, this price is an all-inclusive peak membership. i.e. we can use the gym and all the facilities at any time and the classes are included in the price. I haven’t really tried classes before, but would definitely give these a try if we decide to join – I think they could prove to be a great motivator! Have you ever tried classes?
Welcome back!
Life without the internet is rubbish, isn’t it? You don’t realise how reliant you are on it until the rug’s pulled from underneath your feet. Good to have you back now!
Curse London gym prices – getting any change from £50/month is tough. At least the gym sounds like it has some pretty good facilities.
You are SO right! Good way of putting it.
The more I research gyms in the area, the more I realise £50/month is not actually THAT bad! My mind is made up – I will join this weekend 🙂