Where is this going

Just got back from a quiet evening at Phil's, we were looking to book an away adventure for my birthday but couldn't agree on destination the choices on offer seem to be Prague Barcelona Milan or Belfast. Personally I would like to get to Barcelona or Milan I haven't been to either yet. I will attempt to book tomorrow when my head is clear.

Originally a load of people said they would come but everyone but Phil has cried off for various reasons, mostly money. It’s a shame I would have liked more people to come. My first trip to Prague was extra good because so many people came too.


Tonight sat at Phil's I realised despite everything my life is the same as it always has been while in some way I have challenged myself I still rely on my parents, I live an easy life in their house the same one I have my entire life. It is amazing really I can offer no end of excuses the high price of property my single status or simple fear uncertainty and doubt. The real reason might simply be its too easy to be here perhaps it is my aspiration which are low, or maybe societies are too high encouraging people into debt and bondage to the government.

I am convinced that the government are encouraging debt as a tool, as once we have the monkey on our back we are forced to tow the line. To keep the crappy job to follow the rules not to get fined. Why is debt encouraged (taxt free) whereas savings are discouraged (taxed or needlessly complicated like ISA's). I worry about society forever becoming more litiguous, more restrictive less individual yet at the same time we have never had less of a communal society. Ruled by tabloids easy solutions to complex problems which are usually just a band aid on a broken arm.

How much does this cost

I have just been adding some calculations and there was one that might be useful to anyone getting a loan. Forget APR its too easy to hide costs instead.

TAR (Total Amount Repayable) = Monthly Repayment * Term(in months)
Cost of Credit = TAR - Amount Borrowed

Example

Principle loan amount£5000
Term 5 years (60 months)
APR of 7.5 (this takes into account £150 fee).
Monthly repayment is £99.56
TAR = 99.56 x 60
TAR = £5973.60
Cost of Credit = 5973.60 - 5000

So you can see the cost for borrowing £5000 is £973.69. Lenders are obliged by law to print cost of credit onto loan agreement but some of them do funny things with fees and ppp so I would run a quick calculation of your own. This gives you a realistic figure by which to compare loans with.

Fax Machines of evil

It took me ages to get to sleep last night I laid in bad few ages listening to the wind and rain pounding walls. When I finally did drop off I feel into a really pleasent deep sleep only to be rudely awoken at 3:20am by my phone ringing and ringing. I staggered out of bed picked it p only to hear the bleeping of a fax machine :S Stupid fax spammers arghhhh

Blue

I fancied a change of colour so I changed my blog template it still dosn't show the profile image though. I am not sure yet to be honest so it might change again before too long. The aim was for something a bit lighter I think the contrast is a little low on the black template for some screens.

I went to Alliance and Leicester at Lunch to open an account I had to fill out some forms and be given a load of prompted information (ironically the sort of messages I have been adding to Advances). She also tried to give me the hard sell on income protection, I am not quiet sure what use for that I would have I have such little outgoing but anyway. I now have to wait for some sort of credit check then hopefully I can be free of First Direct before I have any charges to pay.

Headed to the gym after work I am starting to get back to where I was before Belarus and a month off its hard work but a few more session like that and i will be back on track I think.

I had a chat to Lulu earlier she was interested to see my pictures of Stonehenge and Bath and the explanation of Stonehenge itself amazing to think it was build over thousands of years by different people probably for different purposes.

Just watched a rather terrible film National Treasure I guessed it would be poor but it really is terrible.