Fire Bull UK – Blogging My Journey to Financial Independence

Tag: Financial Independence

  • September 2025 Update – I Quit!

    The month started off with me being best man at one of my best mates from school’s wedding. A few beers the night before preceded the big day that started off with torrential downpours. As any bride rightly would be, she was worried about the outdoor ceremony being spoilt/moved indoors, but thankfully the skies managed to do a 180 by the time of the ceremony which was overseen by bright sunshine. The only stumbling block was the groom’s emotions, who couldn’t stop himself being a blubbery mess. He’s always said he wears his heart on his sleeve, proved throughout the day.

    The whole day went smoothly. The entrées and Pimm’s were delightful, speeches were received in good humour without anyone being offended. Even the groom nailed the dance after 10 pints of Guinness which was a shock to all there!

    Change is Upon Us

    Later in the month, my biggest personal event (besides Charlton Millwall) was resigning from a company I have been at for 3 and a half years to start my working holiday next month. When telling my boss I was leaving, there were mixed emotions.

    Obviously there is the excitement of going back to Australia, a country I’ve longed to head again since leaving in 2018, but things change, and I was pretty happy and comfortable where I was in my job, slightly upset to be leaving. I started my first real accounting role as an assistant management account after years of toiling away in accounts related positions, invisible to the hierarchies above. In this company I have worked my way up with 2 promotions, had decent relationships with management and gained my chartership in the process.

    I have grown and the environment here, whilst not being perfect, was suited to my needs and wants from an office in my local area Providing a professional enough environment to work effectively and learn, whilst also not having to be too corporate, allowing a social environment that was neither hamstrung by politics nor that of a rowdy boys club.

    Whilst I have learnt at the company, it had also gotten to a point where I became too comfortable with the tasks, and the saying goes comfort breeds contempt. I was able to meet the tasks of my position with ease. Staying in the role would hamper my development with no more opportunities to go further up the food chain; not where you want to be as a newly qualified accountant. Bearing this in mind, going to Australia, into a city environment and role where continued growth and learning could occur will be best for my career.

    Finance Update

    The end of September marks the 5 year anniversary since I first started logging my liquid assets and documenting my progress going forwards. Fitting, my liquid assets assets have now increased by over £100k for the first time since documenting my progress. I’ll put my full 5 years document down below along with comments through the years for any changes/fluctuations.

    With the trip coming up in October, I have sold some ISA shares for the first time since investing. There was a small internal debate as to whether I should keep them in, allow them the chance to grow further and only take some out if necessary. However, not knowing the costing of the upcoming trip too well and for peace of mind, withdrawing less than 5% of my ISA value for peace of mind, knowing I’d be more disappointed having to withdraw money at a later point, if the shares do finally experience a longer drop in price, as per many forum expectations since the beginning of the year.

  • June 2025 Net Worth

    June 2025 Net Worth

    A busy June and July has seen this post come late, but due to the lack of activity on the UK Lean Fire Reddit weekly updates thread, I thought why not engage in some productivity and throw something on there myself.

    June’s spending was pretty crazy, including a wild night after a great T20 cricket game between Kent and Surrey, as well as a last minute trip away.

    With planning to be out of Europe next summer, my diminishing youth and FOMO, I booked a 4 day trip to Split. Flights and the Hostel were cheap enough, but I was shocked at the price of pretty much everything in Split (excuse my ignorance). It is a lovely place with some amazing architecture, food, beaches and weather (got some great burn lines whilst there), but the frugal in me was beaten and defeat was accepted.

    The Gravitas hostel was lovely with some nice people staying there. Big Brisbane Lad Chris (sporting an incredible farmers tan) being my 3 day bestie. Hoping to meet him down under when I’m there. At the hostel I even got told how I look much younger than my age, so shout out to you Daria, even though you’ll never read this!

    The highlights of my trip were the tubing on the River Cetina and the boat trip around the Islands. Tubing was a fun day lazily heading down the river, with a stop off point to cliff jump and slide down little waterfalls. Only downside was that the only other people on the tour were families. Third wheeling at it’s worst!


    The boat trip started off a bit iffy, with me and Chris being on different boats, with the other people on my boat being with a bunch of couples (continuing the third wheel theme of the trip). However, after a few lethal blue lagoon drinks at the first stop (reunited with Chris), we got chatting to this lovely couple on my boat and we ended up staying with them on every stop, then heading out for drinks with them later on. Sadly I got no photos from these activities. Instead are some poorly taken ones of the city and a nice bar!

    The waiter was happier than he looks here… Promise!

    In other news the cricket season has hit a speed bump due to breaking a finger. I managed to take a catch but the ball clipped the top of my middle finger in the process, taking off the tendon and part of the bone with it. Not sure when I’ll be back.

    2025 Goals

    At the beginning of the year I made myself some financial and non financial goals. With it being halfway through the year, it’s a decent time to look at the progress of these:

    Non Financial Goals

    • Do 5 sessions of Portuguese a week in the lead up to my Brazil tripThis one I was roughly there or there abouts for my Brazil trip, making some small conversation when out there: Will say this was a success
    • Score 10 goals for the season – This definitely didn’t happen with a change of position and missing a fair amount of games. A fail
    • Get 10 wickets in the few games I play in the summer – Only 4 Wickets in 4 games at the minute, so 6 to get in 6 or so games. Wasn’t particularly happy with how I was bowling before the injury if I’m honest. Fingers crossed
    • Read 1 autobiography of an interesting lifeNot yet
    • Get back to Australia in some capacity – Holiday Visa Obtained and likely to go later in the year

    Financial Goals:

    • Sell down my GIA investments within the capital gains allowance (£3K profit)I haven’t done this yet. Stocks are looking good at the minute so might do this in July
    • Increase my Easy Access Savings Amount to £11,500, roughly in line with tax-free interest allowance (£500 for the tax year)  Interest rate went down and a dip in the market meant I invested a bit more, so savings account amount has actually lowered
    • Continue to invest into my ISA where possible, without setting a target deposit value which I would unlikely hitNot really a goal is it if I’m being honest. Sorry

    Looking back I’m pretty happy with how I’m fairing upon reflection – Must get more wickets!

    June 2025 Financial Position

    Stocks went up a little bit in June, now being back to a similar position as I was in January before the little blip in the market. As mentioned briefly above, this might the month I cash in on my GIA Investments to build up some cash in preparation for Australia.

  • May 2025 Net Worth Update

    May 2025 Net Worth Update

    April was followed up by another great month in May. Whilst there were no holidays away, the 2 bank holidays meant that there was enough fun to be had. 

    Football

    As usual I will start off on the football front, but this will not be the case going forward! 

    I managed to get back for my final game of the season after my holiday. We lost (who cares by this point) but it was nice to have our final night out with the boys before I pack it up. 

    Ironically my final match of the season was against a lot of my teammates on a Saturday. Bragging rights were up for grab and maybe more needle in the game than was expected. Love the boys but there are one or two who believe they’re too good for our team on Saturday, so there was no way I wanted to allow that ego to extend any further by allowing them to lay a smackdown on us. Thankfully age overcome beauty with the Brexit tactics on top of some good football being played. Up the old boys! 

    Onto the professional football, the best part of the season is definitely the playoffs! After the blistering form in 2025, Charlton had their semi final legs against Wycombe. If you haven’t seen it I’d suggest not bothering viewing any highlights over 5 minutes in total as they were 2 truly dreadful games. Despite this the atmosphere was amazing and we were on our way to Wembley, meeting fellow Londoners Leyton Orient after the impressively knocked out Stockport. 

    Despite my lack of moderation when it comes to alcohol at times, I’ve never actually one to enjoy getting drunk for a football match. Losing your voice and not remembering the match has never appealed to me. That especially for this game as going to Wembley with your club is a truly special moment. With all that said, there was only really the goal to remember from the match, with it being another defensive masterclass from the Addicks, sending us back to the CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! 

    I went to the Sunderland Play Off in 2019 and whilst this game didn’t have the dramatic end like in 2019, the afterparty was brilliant. We ended up in Boxpark where the Charlton fans and players were both celebrating to the feelgood tunes of Shakira et al (Waka Waka still blaring in the head). 

    Shout out to Alex Gilbert as he was loving life, despite being a loan player. By the looks of it you wouldn’t want to have a drinking competition with Alex Mitchell either, unless you’re a top LAD like myself…. 

    2nd Leg of the Play Off Semi Final vs Wycombe (picture doesn’t do it justice)
    Boxpark Celebrating Promotion

    Life Updates

    Other goings on in May was a lovely weekend in Canterbury, birthdays, catch ups, a return to cricket and the biggest news from the month, my Working Holiday Visa to Australia has been approved! 

    I’ve been wanting to go much almost immediately since I landed back in the UK over 7 year ago now. Blimey that’s gone quick. However, the ‘need‘ to go back has waned with the improvement in my career, personal life and finances over the last 2ish years, so now I’m not escaping anything. I’m still looking forward to it and have the excitement, it’s just knowing how I’ve changed as a person and understanding it will be a different experience to when I was there in my early 20s. 

    It will be interesting to see how the financial independence journey goes during this Working Holiday. In a way the delay has helped my finances as I’ve been holding off moving and buying a car waiting for the time to come and get out there again. Last time I blew through my savings and if it was to occur again to would hit harder now being in my 30s. 

    Then there has been an internal debate regarding have I just wasted some of my best years waiting to go back only to find out it’s not what I actually wanted: Time will tell. 

    More Goslings by the office
    Canterbury Punting

    Finance Update

    With the markets picking back up in May, my investments have gone back in an upwards direction. Although, the weak USD is holding back the level of gains.  

    Cash is low this month after paying out on my visa, 2 bank holidays and paying for some stag stuff in July. The interest on my savings account has gone down by an entire 100 basis points since November, so not missing a whole lot in interest from the lack of cash. Will be looking to find a new provider soon. Whilst the bank rate has gone down by 50 basis points, the extra 50 reduction is an absolute libertyyyyyy. Hang your head in shame Vanquis! 

    Figures

  • April 2025 – Bring on Summer

    April 2025 – Bring on Summer

    April 2025

    This was a month I was looking forward to and it exceeded expectations: Brazil, Rome and a cup final for my Sunday team made it a memorable month. There was one that ended in disappointment though (no prizes for guessing which one!)

    Brazil is massive so whilst we only visited a small part of the country, it was truly beautiful. You hear the stories about safety and whilst we was cautious, booking taxis and not using our phone when out in public, we didn’t have any real issues with the Brazilian people and they came across as friendly, inviting people.

    It was great seeing some of my old friends from my days back in Australia after 7 years. After that time away from eachother, I was a little anxious to see how we would all get on but it was like we’d never been away. With them being Irish they were as happy as ever with no awkward silences had, apart from when waiting on them to turn up. Timekeeping was never a strength of theirs but as imperfections go there are a lot worse 🙂 

     The wedding was beautiful and the switches between English and Portuguese in the ceremony were almost seamless. How much the Brazilian contingent got of the best man speech I’m not sure, but likely more of what we understood of the bride’s side speeches. 

    After the Wedding there was a night in Sao Paulo so didn’t get to experience the city with the rest of the time being spent between Rio and Ilha Grande before finishing the trip in Rome. Football, hiking, beaches, sightseeing, quality food, quality people and DOGS!

    The perfect holiday to get over winter blues and rubbish back home, coming back with a change in headspace. Would love to be able to getaway and clear the head more often and this is a ‘why’ for striving towards financial independence. 

    One of my goals was to learn a bit of Portuguese to help get by when we got there, and immediately was required checking in to the first hotel and their English was as good as my Portuguese! Between us we made it work, which was pretty rewarding. Will continue to carry on with Portuguese for the meantime and see how I can enhance it further. 

    Doesn’t need any introduction….
    The Wedding Venue
    The Infamous Maracana
    A lovely Caipirinha on the beach
    One of Many Beautiful Beaches on Ilha Grande
    Are you not entertained?! (By my substandard blog)

    Liquid Assets

    Midway through the month it was looking very gloomy for the assets, with my ISA value even being under £90K, but the recovery at the end of the month limited the damage, albeit still down again this month. Lumped a bit into the ISA in April but sadly not at the time the value was at it’s lowest. 

    I must go to waste some more money on alcohol, with it being the bank holiday this weekend (but I do need to write a post on this as it is the worst spending habit I need to address). Hope everyone has a great one!