Matt’s Journal

Twitter: Mountains and Molehills

Posted by Matt under General, Social Media, Spendage

I have been reading Techcrunch and various Web2.0 blogs recently bemoaning the fact that Twitter has been down so much since it’s popularity sky-rocketed. You have Michael Arrington single-handedly charting their ups and downs, telling us how Twitter can change their ways to maximise their cluster computing from Amazon.

The problem is that people are building this service up on a pedestal, making its very existence essential for them to live their lives.

I happen to have Twitter, Gmail, MSN, Yahoo and my blog as other communication mediums. When certain services are down (there have been times I am unable to connect to Gtalk and I bet they have better server management than Twitter), I have just switched to another service.

I’m stuck for things to do this Sunday afternoon and have been bombarded on Twitter and Google Reader with anti-Twitter propaganda and wanted to sound off.

Just for the record, Friendfeed is a useless service and I have no idea why people are singing its praises so much.

She’s Deeeead…..She’s Not Dead

Posted by Matt under Angry, Blogging, Happy, Spendage

This post has actually nothing to do with anyone being dead. I had originally titled it “She’s Back” but then it reminded me of the awesome “The Office” clip posted above and rolled with the alternative.

Yes, indeed, Katie has returned to me in all her sun kissed beauty (lucky so-and-so). The two weeks in Gran Caneria have left us re-energised and made us really look forward to our upcoming wedding even more (let’s not play it down, it’s gonna be awesome!), so although I missed her, it has helped us reaffirm how we feel.

I spent most of my Sunday hoovering and cleaning the house for when the family returned, by all accounts I did a good job. Harry was fine the whole fortnight but within a few hours of them being home, he had Katie’s parents up twice in the night. The dog was very well behaved with me so I don’t know what is going on there!

Not really much of an update to be honest, just wanted to check in and let you know I was still alive.

Car Tax

Posted by Matt under Car, Rant, Spendage, Wedding

I have had my Hyundai Coupe for a year now and this month my car tax has come up for renewal. Last week our Home Secretary announced his budget, punishing the more “polluting” vehicles. Guess what I was labelled…….a pollutant!

My car tax was quoted as being £300 on the renewal form for a year, very high but doable. The budget last week changed all that though, it went up to £400 for the year! A smack in the face for me, I will be doing my utmost to get a good deal for my car, trade it for a very economical smaller car……just what the government wants.

After declaring war on smoking, the amount of money they get from the tax concessions has considerably lowered. If we can’t tax smokers, lets tax the road users and pretend we are doing our bit for the environment!

It’s been an expensive weekend. I also bought our wedding rings ready for July and bought currency for our holiday. I need to win the lottery……..fast.

Done, done and done…

Posted by Matt under Family, House, Marriage, Spendage

There have been a few sleepless nights in Chez Brian in the last week or so, mainly because of the pending house move. I have been busy transferring funds from different internet accounts into my main savings account, paying off outstanding Direct Debits and generally trying to make the financial minefield that has been my situation, an orderly fiscal environment. This was done in the background while I filled out mortgage papers, liaised with the mortgage people and solicitors. I would wake up earlier than I wanted in the morning, think about what I would have to do that day and not be able to get back to sleep, I will readily admit it was a new experience to me.

For the majority of my life I have been in complete control of things, at University it was a case of how small the debt I was in would stay and as I gained respect in my jobs then after, how much money I could save whilst enjoying myself. Now it has all been laid bare for the financial companies to judge me, I have had to list purchases on my 0% credit card as outstanding debt, my car loan also. You then submit the application, hold your breath and hope that you come out with the money/mortgage you need!

After a discussion this afternoon, I have a mortgage proposal in principle and all looks to be angling towards completion. Done #1!

I have all but finished my Christmas shopping, this year being an easy year as I did it all very early and spread the cost My brother will be getting clothing, my mother a brand new iPod Nano and my stepdad a new digital camera (no I didnt shell out for it all, it was spread across the other members of the family). Katie’s presents I will not divulge as she reads this blog, but she is a master at getting me to divulge secrets so she knows a good few already. So you could say, Done #2!

All of my family and friends have now got their wedding suits fitted, meaning we are all go for the July deadline, thats a relief, I just hope I don’t start piling on the pounds in the next 6 months! On a wedding related note, the honeymoon is booked, Cuba is our destination of choice. Done #3? You bet you. See the pics below for our resort in Cuba, we should be staying in one of the lake houses.

I have been a little worried but it seems things have come together

The First Rung…

Posted by Matt under Happy, Spendage

On the property ladder that is! I am beaming from ear to ear after securing a deposit for a flat of my very own! Myself and Katie went to view some properties on Saturday and fell in love with a lovely new-built flat located in Westcliff On Sea. It has the following niceties:

Kitchen

• Designer fitted kitchens with co-ordinating work surfaces and ceramic wall tiles.
• Stainless steel cooker, hob and extractor hood.

Bathroom

• White sanitary ware, mixer taps with shower attachment and screen provided
  and medium height tiled walls.

General

• Gas fired central heating.
• Numerous power points and light switches.
• Video entry phone system.
• Satellite TV provision and telephone points.
• Arch topped panel doors with chrome door furniture.
• Coving to all principal rooms.
• Double glazed windows.
• Carpet throughout and flooring to kitchen.

Above is the picture from the brochure (click here to see a PDF of the development).

So all in all myself and Katie are positively beaming at being proud owners of our first abode! We have done our spreadsheets, paid off debts and look forward to securing the keys and moving in. I will update with extra information as I get it, and most definitely will be adding pictures.

Christmas Shopping

Posted by Matt under Spendage

I have started early this year, I cant abide wading through the throngs of people in the High Street so I take to the information superhighway and do it on t’internet. Amazon will see a lot of my electronic money, as will most of the websites that offer “Racing Grannies” as a present for your brother.

Watching the news a few days back, it is estimated the average consumer in the South East (I’m not far from the big smoke) will spend upto £700 on their Christmas shopping, sod that. Katie is lucky if she will get a satsuma and a lump of coal this year, let alone that My Little Pony figurine she said she loved a month ago. Joking aside, if you are frugal enough, you can save a packet if you use the right websites. I use Quidco for money back, Hotukdeals for the best deals and vouchers and Moneysavingexpert for the bits in the middle.

I’ll have a new 50″ Plasma HDTV screen if your stuck for ideas

Have some links: