Thoughts and reflections from the past week or so from my own financial independence campaign.
Progress on my goals
Dead car clutch
Last week, I told you that our car clutch has died.
We’ve been given a quote of just shy of £800 to repair it. That’s basically just under our decision point.
I don’t know what the best move is here. We have the car for two things:
- Moving the dog around, which we only need to do on days that we’re both at work.
- Lady SierraWhiskyMike’s surprise new requirement to travel between isolated job sites on the island.
Given that No.1 will be manageable with my new semi-self-employment gig, No.2 puts this decision firmly in Lady SierraWhiskyMike’s hands… which really don’t want to accept any decision-making responsibility and keep throwing this ball back to me with “What do you think?”.
I honestly don’t have a clue what No.2 actually entails, so it’s like making a decision for someone else based on a situation I don’t understand.
My loose assessment is that we aren’t likely to buy a car for £800 that doesn’t also need a lot more work done to it in the near future. It’s also not a given that any used car we buy won’t have its own problems. Given that, and suspecting that the actual travel requirements for No.2 are probably rare, I’d be more inclined to buy a cargo bike than a car. Repairs are easier, you don’t need fuel and insurance (OK electricity use will increase, but that’s not so dramatic).
We’d also get to use the cycle lane to get to town, which would get us out of most of the traffic.
I floated this idea and the response was “We’re in no rush, let’s think about it”.
So I guess we’re fixing or buying a car?
Self-employment
A different insurer has come back to me and asked me to submit a proposal form to them, so perhaps Cinderella shall go to the ball, after all!
This is a big win because it might mean we can take on bigger clients through the start-up.
Speaking of which: we’ve already gotten two promising leads on big ticket clients, and my current employer has said they want to work with me on a consultancy basis for a joint offering with the new firm.
I’m riding the high right now. They’ve already gotten the basic software stuff and just handed me a licence and an e-mail, so I get all the Microsoft Office stuff and can start to pass that around to potential clients. My work seem happy for me to do that because I won’t be competing with them. They have, in fact, introduced me to my first client leads.
Promising start!
Went to visit a potential office this week. It’s actually pretty good value at £1,250 pcm including internet and taxes, but that’s still more than I technically want to pay. I’m going to re-engage with the SRA and see what I actually need here, because the guidance for non-reserved activities is vague and I’m basically freelancing to a single client.
Distractions and detours
Brother-in-law emigrated
Yup, he’s in the UK for 5 days, then off to Australia via Singapore.
He has lovingly returned/ been unable to dispose of my kettlebells, so I’ve reacquired them just in time now that my gym membership is no more.
I haven’t figured out a decent storage solution at the marina for them. They’re currently in the car, but obviously if we don’t keep her going then that’s not a viable option. Doesn’t seem like a good idea to carry heavy handled cannonballs on a fibreglass yacht, though. Might be asking to break something if I try to keep them aboard.
Will need to think.
However, I see some kettlebell flows in my future…
Holiday planning
Booked flights. Lady SierraWhiskyMike is handling the campervan booking. It’s happening!
Wedding anniversary
Check it! This week we hit our 11th wedding anniversary!
We were due to go out for dinner, but I’ve been struck down with a stinking head cold and Lady SierraWhiskyMike has cunning booked a weekend navigation training course, so that’s not happening.
What is happening though is that we’ve booked tickets for Download 2026. Sweet!
Obviously that means I’m going to need to get some clients’ wallets opened in 2026 or this is going to suck.
Non-FIRE goals
My guitar rock god quest (AKA learning to play)
Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against the Machine went down well. I still don’t remember the structure without a backing track but it’s not bad for a week’s effort and my teacher seems pleased enough.
We’re doing a bit of an exercise with arpeggios this weekend and a consolidation of the songs we’ve played so far.
Fitness
Got a work run in but that’s about it. The lurgies have hit me hard this week and the last thing I wanted to do was that work run.
Sucks.
If my head clears up tomorrow I’d like to get another calisthenics session in.
Probably won’t kettlebell just yet because it’s kind of a cardio workout and my chest wants to collapse in a sticky mess right now. Hopefully next week will be better!
Final thoughts
Still more admin to sort out in my personal life, but the work stuff seems to be slowly coming together.
I’m proper excited to jump into the start-up. We’ve got some great ideas, a keen team, and we can chase down business leads to get cash in.
Right. I’m going to sulk for a bit, then get on with this insurance application. Yay, fun… but it’s important.
My financial independence campaign continues!
