Fire Bull UK – Blogging My Journey to Financial Independence

Tag: Personal Finance

  • 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.

  • July 2025 Net Worth

    July 2025 Net Worth

    The month started with a stag to Dublin. It was a small group with a few of the boys not knowing each other, but it didn’t take long to click at all with the stag’s outfits to break the ice and our shared love for Guinness, apart from James!

    As cliché as it is, the Guinness factory was most of the boy’s highlight from the trip. The bar there included traditional Irish Dancing (the dancers made a few jaws drop in the crowd), a live band whose rendition of foggy dew will never be beaten in my mind, and some interactive drum bashing. Even James enjoyed it there, despite gagging on a freebie!

    It’s incredible how many excellent pubs and bars there are within a small area, particularly when thinking about all the pubs that have closed down in my local area in recent years. The Dubliners were all welcoming and happy to have a natter. It probably helped that the Stag was wearing an electric dog collar, so maybe they all went on the charm offensive to get hold of the remote and give him a good zapping, which happened quite frequently.

    Even with the number of pubs and bars, it was a nightmare getting into places. We didn’t know at the time of booking, but it was the Hurling Semi finals on the Saturday and Sunday. The whole of Cork out in full force on the Saturday night after they demolished Dublin on the day. The sea of red gave me flashbacks of the Addicks faithful around Wembley in May. When we finally got into Devitt’s top floor on Camden Street, the first song that greeted us on our arrival was “Up The RA”. Upon hearing that, we had our Guinness and fucked off quicker than the time it took to get in there.

    Temple Bar - Of course we went in!
    Of course we went in!

    The Finger is still in it’s splint after breaking in June, so I haven’t been able to play cricket. Even though it’s just one measly finger, It’s been hard doing any sort of exercise as I can’t grip onto any weighted items with my left hand and the splint slides off the finger when sweating, so even running has been difficult. Walking to dog has been the one form of exercise that hasn’t been inhibited, so he’s been happy at least.

    Whilst not playing cricket, I did get to day 2 of the England v India test Match at Lords. Lords is known as the home of cricket, which is the perfect description of the ground with all of the history and tradition on display around the ground. Just a warm and fuzzy feeling from being there. My writing doesn’t do it justice.

    Highlights from the day included Joe Root reaching his hundred from the first ball of the day, Bumrah’s peach of a delivery to Stokes and the return of Jofra Archer sending down thunderbolts in test cricket, including a wicket in his first over. A non cricketing highlight from the day was my mate trying his best to avoid the sun as much as possible, given his pasty complexion. As you can see there wasn’t much cloud cover, so he didn’t stand much of a chance. Wrapping himself with newspaper was quite humourous at least….

    Whilst these were decent highlights, the real action of the test started on day 3, with all of the drama around the time wasting at the end of day spicing the match up. This was followed by 2 of the best days of cricket on days 4 and 5. Spare a thought for Jadeja running out of batting partners. Ben Stokes is some guy too eh. Nothing beats test cricket at it’s best!

    The Home of Cricket – Peach of a day

    July 2025 Financial Position

    My financial independence portfolio saw some different movements this month. An increased cash position in the build up to Australia, not investing in July and selling some old workplace and Tesla shares, all without exceeding the capital gains tax threshold.

    It felt a bit sad getting rid of most of my old work shares as I’ve had them for almost 10 years now, weirdly having some sentimental value to them. The Tesla shares not so much. I suppose I still have plenty in my index funds.

    I paid for my flight to Singapore in July, which pushed the cash down, just missing out from having £10k. It likely won’t go up higher, if at all before going Australia, with other things to buy in preparation for that.

    Gains in the ISA in July eased the thought of not paying into it. The price has gone up around 10/15% from the drop in April, when I threw in a bit more than usual, I missed out slightly compared to how much I could’ve put in. Trump’s liberation day has since meant shares have gone down again at the beginning of August. What a ride!

  • 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.