u/Capital_Mongoose_489

Situation
Turning 31, ~£60k/year gross, renting in Scotland (£750/month). No ties keeping me there - originally from NI. Targetting a pay jump (~£90-120k+) in the next year or two, which would likely mean moving to elsewhere or getting a remote role from London etc. I save £1.5k right now. I’m done with renting with others and always wanted my own place - if I rent on my own, it’ll be the same price as buying on my own.

Net worth

**•** Cash ISA: £10k
**•** Stocks & Shares ISA: £5k
**•** LISA: £24k
**•** Pension: £30k
**• Total: \~£70k**

The property
2-bed, 2-bath flat in Belfast, £210-220k. Deposit from the LISA. Mortgage would be ~£950/month. Would live in it 1-2 years, then rent it out via an agency once/if I relocate for work.

Monthly budget (worst case)

**•** Net pay: £3,365
**•** All-in housing (mortgage + service charge + council tax + insurance + bills): £1,367
**•** Investing: £1,500
**•** Left over: \~£500/month - this is fine.

What I want opinions on
- Using a LISA on a property I’ll only live in short-term before renting it out - does that sit right with people?
- Any real red flags, versus general “leverage is scary” comments?
- Should I continue renting and saving until I’m partnered up and we want to buy together?
- the rental market for the property I want to buy is strong and the area and building is in demand

Hello,

I live in Edinburgh and have never been up north.
Im off work tomorrow and have the urge to get a train from Edinburgh early tomorrow morning to somewhere around the countryside. I’d love to spend a day or two walking around exploring, and would also like to have the option of swimming and doing an activity. Ideally I would stay somewhere cheap for a night or two.

Hopeful for some good recommendations

Background - 30 M

Salary - £60k (with £12k) bonus paid quarterly.
Take home - around £3.2k monthly net.
Monthly saving - £1.5k (£500 Cash ISA - £1k Stocks and Shares ISA)

Current state

Cash ISA - £10k
Stocks and Shares ISA - £3k (only started investing)
LISA - £24k
Pension - £30k

I work in enterprise software sales and know I could be earning a lot more. My plan is to leave this role into a higher paid one in 2027. I want to feel secure and put a plan in place for long term so I can retire early. I’m working on building my own thing in the evenings and weekends because ultimately, I do not want to work on someone else’s dream for another 35 years or so.

I don’t have any kids, mortgage, work remotely, and have only started seeing this girl recently. She’s open to moving and she works remotely too.

Plan

My current rough plan is to continue saving my £1.5k a month, then look in 2027 for a jump to higher paid roles, whilst trying to build my own thing and get some revenue. I’ll then up my savings and investments once I get a higher paid gig. My ultimate goal is to have my own thing and have the freedom work remotely from wherever I want.

Would love some advice from people who were in my position at 30 and went on to built their own thing/gain financial freedom.

Cheers

EDIT - I did waste away my 20s until 28 with alcohol and drugs and have been sober for over 2 years. In case anyone thinks I’m behind financially, I know