Latest news with #CharlesThompson
Metro
13-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
My credit score was so bad I couldn't get a phone — now I'm a homeowner
Welcome to Me and My Money, Metro's new series taking a peek into the nation's wallets, with tell-all reader diaries on managing your finances. This week, we meet Charles Thompson, a 31-year-old IT service desk manager living in Greater Manchester. Charles says he was never really taught how to handle his finances and for many years, he relied on his overdraft and credit cards to get by. But two years ago he decided to turn things around, get out of debt and save for his first home. Here, he explains what he does with his money. I went to university but made a bit of a hash of it. I went abroad to Cyprus to study economics, business and accountancy through an offshoot of the University of Lancashire. But I was probably a bit too young to go that far away and I enjoyed myself too much without doing much studying. So aged 19 I left and went to work instead. I had various financial services jobs until a couple of years ago when I moved into IT. My approach to money management was not the best. I used to spend quite a lot on just nonsense sort of stuff, including gambling. But about two years ago I decided to turn things around and save for my own place The problem I initially had was getting any sort of credit because I'd had gambling transactions coming out of my bank accounts and lenders don't like to see this. My parents used to pay for my mobile phone and I couldn't even get my own contract until I went with Boshhh Mobile, a network for people with a poor credit score that also helps you build a healthy credit profile so it's easier to get approved for other loans. After slowly improving my credit score, I was able to be approved for a mortgage last year and I bought my first home in November 2024 with my brother, who's 27. It's a two bedroom flat about eight miles from central Manchester. We were able to put down a 10% deposit, putting down around £6,000 each. The flat cost £110,000. I used to rent in central Manchester, paying £1,300 a month in rent, but for the past year before buying my place I moved back home with my parents to save on rent. It's nice to know I'm paying off my own place and not someone else's. I now take an organised approach to my finances because I had to get everything sorted for lenders to see I am sensible with my money. I don't pay for things on a credit card unless I can pay it off in full the next month and I'm mostly out of my overdraft now. Monthly breakdown of spending Mortgage payments: £755 Water: £35 Electricity: £85 (no gas) Council tax: £91 TOTAL £966 Other direct debits Phone: £42 Gym: £35 TV licence: £14 Netflix / Amazon: £22 TOTAL £113 Essentials Groceries £280 Transport (Trains, trams, taxis) £120 TOTAL £400 Extra Eating out £125 Drinks £280 Vaping £85 Events £70 Clothes £70 TOTAL £630 Savings ISA £300 Holiday fund £100 TOTAL £400 Pension: 14% of salary My savings have taken a hit with recently buying the flat, which has also needed a bit of redecorating, including new flooring, and obviously furnishing. I'm also currently paying most of the mortgage and bills as my brother's currently not working. I'm now working on building my savings back up, putting £300 in a stocks and shares ISA each month. This is invested in a low risk investment fund. I used to have a Help to Buy ISA, which closed when I bought the flat. My bank then gave me the choice of opening an investment ISA, which is how I got started. I also put aside £100 a month for holidays. I don't have anything planned for this year yet but hope to go to Seville in Spain in the summer. I do like to socialise quite a bit and this is probably where a lot of my money is spent. I like to pick up coffees and pop to the shops daily, so this is also where I could cut back if needed. My total food spend is around £280 a month, which could be cut back if I got more organised and planned ahead with meals. I'm still with Bossh, paying £42 a month for a phone contract for an iPhone 14. More Trending Vaping is something I should probably cut back on, spending £85 a month. But it's cheaper than smoking, which I quit late last year and used to cost me about £170 a month. I commute to work on the bus which costs me £80 a month, and I also get a few taxis throughout the month. I currently don't have a car because public transport is really good round here. I worked from home for a while but I didn't like it so now I go in the office every day. I couldn't stand working from home, to be honest with you. It's just not for me. I like being around people. Long term, my aim is to live in the flat for a couple of years and build up equity and some more savings. I'd then like to move to a bigger place, likely with my girlfriend. We'd probably stay in the Manchester area although I find the idea of living abroad for a bit quite tempting. I've got a friend currently living in Barcelona who works remotely for a UK-based company. View More » I feel quite comfortable with my financial situation now but it did take me quite a while to get to this point. MORE: Mum is moving in with me — can I make her pay my mortgage? MORE: These 5 straightforward steps can add £2,500 to your house deposit in just a year MORE: Brits could save £868,000,000 a year with these kitchen cupboard cleaning swaps
Times
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Dead Man Walking: Dan Walker on Death Row review — flaws laid bare
Dan Walker on death row? Blimey. Even if you aren't the biggest fan of his work on BBC Breakfast, 5 News and Football Focus, that seems a bit harsh. Walker was in America to examine the deadly serious matter of capital punishment. 'Without wanting to sound too morbid, do you think about your death?' he asked Charles Thompson through a prison telephone. Well, let's see now. The man has been on death row for 26 years, awaiting execution by lethal injection. I think we can safely assume the answer is yes. But though Walker failed to ask Thompson, a double murderer, any killer questions in Dead Man Walking: Dan Walker on Death Row (5), the film was an intelligent, if occasionally repetitive, examination
Associated Press
28-01-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Specialized Property Management Expands in Charlotte, NC and Phoenix, AZ
Specialized Property Management has announced its expansion into Charlotte and Phoenix. The Dallas-based property management company for single-family homes continues to expand, providing investors with best-in-class services and diversifying investments across the US. Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas, United States, January 28, 2025 -- Specialized Property Management has announced its expansion into Charlotte and Phoenix. Specialized works closely with individual rental property owners, family offices, and large investors, offering proven property management solutions based on over 40 years of experience in the industry, and providing clients with exceptional service, financial analytics, and decision-making tools on their proprietary technology platform. This platform connects all operational systems and allows Specialized to deliver real-time insights and best-in-class customer experience and performance, resulting in the lowest client operating cost in the industry. The company's client offering also includes their dedicated Asset Managers, a single point of customer contact serving as a reliable connection point that is always accessible to address any concerns or inquiries. With their comprehensive understanding of the rental industry and property dynamics, they efficiently facilitate communication and collaboration across various departments, ensuring that all aspects of property management are expertly managed for the client's benefit. Rodd Schifferdecker, President of Specialized Property Management, stated, 'Our expansion into Phoenix and Charlotte was driven by our existing customers, and demonstrates the company's commitment to providing investors superior property management services in markets where rental demand is strongest. Investors have come to rely on our experience, technology-driven operations, and performance analytics to generate the highest ROI on their investment properties. Our technology stack combined with our Asset Manager teams results in a client experience that is second to none.' Charles Thompson, CEO of Specialized Property Management, added, 'Specialized will continue to expand into underserved markets where service and performance are substandard, to provide our investors a premium service in all major rental markets. As Specialized Property Management expands into the Phoenix and Charlotte markets, we remain committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional customer service. Our focus on the client experience is paramount, allowing us to scale our operations, while ensuring each client's needs are met with precision and care.' Specialized Property Management is one of the largest and fastest growing real estate management providers, with locations now serving single-family rental investors in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Memphis, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Orlando, San Antonio, and Tampa. The firm provides complete residential property management for homeowners, investors, and institutional funds, including comprehensive leasing, marketing, screening, maintenance, collections, compliance, asset acquisition and disposition and accounting services. Its rigorous management protocol is supported by an experienced team and a proprietary technology platform that is pioneering new levels of data-driven performance for single-family rental management and investing. Name: Rodd Schifferdecker Email: Send Email
