What's motivating you?

[HairyArsedBloke]

Having a 1 year old and a wife working only part time ....

Can't you make the 1 year old work full time? Lazy kids today

[Shimano105]

My reason? Kids. But it ain't so bad cos I get some easy money really and when work is thin on the ground I get plenty of time off.

It ain't paradise by any stretch but compared to just about everyone I know - well I wouldn't trade lives put it that way!

[norrahe]

Kevin McCloud's favourite Grand Design was on More4 last night. . You'd be hard pushed to find a more contented man in his work. It turns out that the episode was the most popular Grand Design ever in a vote by viewers too, so I guess it appealed to an awful lot of other people too.

A lot of people probably watched that with envy, I certainly did. It depresses the hell out of me when I step off the train and trudge back into London from the sticks, it may be a 3 hour round trip every day (not atm - bench) but living out of London gives me some sort of sanity that I didn't have when I lived there for 10 years.

Long term plan is to get the hell out of the uk in the next 5 years or so, not sure where as yet.
Will probably use the current house as a long term investment and rent it out and buy summat outright in whatever other country I end up in.

The ideal for me would be a large farm/vineyard/olive grove in Emiglia Romana. Hard work but satisfying.

[NetwkSupport]

Pretty much the same as you, I want a completely debt free existence for my family so we don't have to worry about how much we need to earn just to keep our heads above water.

I don't know what I will do when I get there? Maybe I'll carry on feathering the nest for a few more years maybe not? But whatever happens I am determined not to fall foul of the debt trap that keeps me on the hamster wheel.

Having a 1 year old and a wife working only part time puts huge pressure on me at the moment, it's not something I'd really thought about before we decided to have kids... oh why was I so frivolous over the past 5 years.

Im in exactly the same boat, i earnt and spent small fortunes over the past few years thinking my single life with no responsibilities would take a back seat. now without realising it i find myself with a pregnant fiancee and im not really prepared financially. i wish id squirelled away more money, lesson learned, making things right now though and saving hard

[Cliphead]

I don't find it hard to get motivated since I'm doing exactly what I want to.

Work from home
Get to play with the latest cool music software
Get paid to write music
Plan B is doing very well

[Fred Bloggs]

My motivations-

a) Getting 2x the take home money I would get doing exactly the same thing as a permie guy.
b) Putting money aside to send the kids ti University (15 and 17 year old kids).
c) Putting money into my SIPP as much as possible.

[Chugnut]

I'm motivated by my holidays. I need at least 3 breaks a year, whether that's a fortnight in the caribbean or a week in cornwall I don't care, I just need at least 3...

Sounds like you've got the work/life balance pretty sorted there RW. My gig's so quiet at the moment I couldn't justify the time off unfortunately, especially as the bench beckons...

I don't find it hard to get motivated since I'm doing exactly what I want to.

Work from home
Get to play with the latest cool music software
Get paid to write music
Plan B is doing very well

Yeah, I've noticed your posts before and they've always given the impression that you've pretty much got it nailed. Good on you! Judging by the grumps I see on the train each day, I think you're in the minority though!

[Cliphead]

Yeah, I've noticed your posts before and they've always given the impression that you've pretty much got it nailed. Good on you! Judging by the grumps I see on the train each day, I think you're in the minority though!

So true. It's taken years to get to this stage, wouldn't have it any other way now.

[BrowneIssue]

Looking at everyone's bored expressions whilst getting off another packed train at Cannon Street this morning, I wondered what motivates people to do their ridiculous commute each day.

Nothing, any more.

Grew up in London. Lived and worked as an adult in London, then lived in the Home Counties and worked in London (I couldn't afford a house mortgage inside London when I was a permie).

Circa 2001 we moved out of the South-East vowing never to return.

I will not consider any work inside the M25, regardless of the rate. Seriously.

[gingerjedi]

Im in exactly the same boat, i earnt and spent small fortunes over the past few years thinking my single life with no responsibilities would take a back seat. now without realising it i find myself with a pregnant fiancee and im not really prepared financially. i wish id squirelled away more money, lesson learned, making things right now though and saving hard

One bit of advice... Don't be too proud when it comes to hand me downs, you could accept them gracefully or spend literally thousands in the first year. Don't do the new dad thing where you spend £500+ on a buggy that's way too heavy and bulky to take anywhere without a car. Get a 2nd hand one as you only need it for a few months, then get a lightweight McLaren one.

Good luck!