Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

Jessy103

Good to see you back vix ❤

earthgirl2

Congrats on getting the work job and starting it already. Sounds very productive!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks Jessy and Earthie!

Have picked up quite a bit more bread from Olio over the weekend - custard tarts, a loaf and baguettes (for garlic bread) on Friday and some baps this morning that will be perfect for burgers if we have a BBQ (which we may well do either this week or over Easter weekend). All in the freezer (except the custard tarts, obviously - but I did share them with DH, mum and FIL). DH also picked up some food at work that had been defrosted for testing (don't ask!), so he had a pizza, we've had fancy veggie burgers and some lovely bake at home pastries over the weekend (had to buy baps for those ones though as I couldn't nab them on Olio!). Also some ice cream, but it was more cream than ice by the time we got to it! He's likely to get some more of these next week With the pastries for breakfast over the weekend, we have used less milk than normal, so I cancelled today's delivery.

Have also picked up several more jobs on the work platform - total owed currently standing at ~250 euros, so that's made a real difference to my income next month. As some of my projects are still on hold because of the pandemic, this is a big help. Another regular project is winding up now, so things are likely to quieten down a bit (hopefully something else will come along, but I won't have the certainty of the same volume for a while).

MS things:
* Free food!
* Clicks done
* YG surveys done
* PA surveys done - cashed out £34 for the month
* Resisted takeaway (and so we should have, loads of delicious food in the house - have had cauliflower laksa, stir fry, free burgers (and hm chips)

Gratitudes:
* Warm weather is coming
* Free food
* Cheap trip to vets this morning (obviously I'd rather not have to go, but it was a nurse appointment which is half the cost of a vet appt!)

Off to do a shift at the vaccination centre later, but beginning to wish I'd put myself down for an outside shift instead of an inside one!

Have a good afternoon all!

Karmacat

I downloaded Olio after you mentioned it, but I confess I don't look at it properly   which isn't how it's supposed to be but I'll have to get to grips with it properly, as I'm not going into supermarkets its a great way to experience new bits and bobs  

Have a good one!

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, Karma, definitely have a look - although a lot of it is pastries and bread round here, which might not be great for you. The evening collections are better, but imagine you might not want to be walking around late at night. Sometimes there's fruit though, even on a morning collection.

Dinner last night was Sweet potato, spinach and almond curry, with spring greens instead of spinach. I cooked it in my Instant Pot which is still proving hugely useful It was very tasty and there's a little bit leftover for lunch, which will be accompanied by a naan from the freezer.

Payday today, and I've paid £129 off the mortgage, as well as money into ISA. Feeling much better as it had been a spendy month one way and another, but it's all been covered and I've kept a bit back for expected garden expenses.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Money shuffles shuffled
* More work platform jobs done, including a very satisfying one yesterday!
* Collected some pastries this morning from Olioer - treat for when Mum pops round for a cuppa later (we're both taking stuff to the dump, separately, so we'll earn the calories!)

Gratitudes:
* Sunshine, glorious sunshine!
* A cup of tea with my Mum in the garden
* No evening class this evening as it's Easter hols - we may have a BBQ

Aim for April: get food spending lower - focus on using up what we've got (several jars of pizza topping sauce), taking advantage of Olio (maybe even exerting myself to get stuff listed on a Friday evening) and eking things out. Was rather pleased when the other night we used cauliflower leaves as an ingredient in their own right - there was enough for the recipe that is. We've used them before, but usually to accompany other things, so this was a step up. I won't say no takeaways, as they are a treat when there's no other options, but intentional takeaways only. There are a few non-food bits I know we'll need to buy this month: plants, wood for tool store (looked at pallets, but it's not feasible) and probably a cordless strimmer (what's the point of a cordless lawnmower if you then have to get a corded strimmer out?!). So cutting back on food will help with these.

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, some excellent progress there, and a nice goal for April! Olio isn't even in our area apparently, but to be honest I'd have to drive miles just ti get a pastry, and I really should be eating fewer pastries anyway 😂😂

Well done on getting some OP in there, and good luck with your April goals!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Well I went to the dump yesterday and the queue was horrendous, so abandoned that and returned for opening time this morning. Still horrendous but at least I knew I'd get in before it closed! So our garden is looking much tidier now.

Cheery have you thought about checking Olio on mornings if/when you have to go into town/the big city? You could always arrange to nab some bits then for the freezer. That said, I too should be eating fewer pastries!

We did have a BBQ last night, but that highlighted the fact that either we need to use the BBQ to practice our (non-existent, but soon to be needed) welding skills or we need to replace it too. It was a wedding present from our best man though, so would rather fix it if we can (especially as if we do replace it, it would be nice to get something a bit fancier).

A few bitty bits of work done including another job on the platform - I'm going to stop mentioning these separately now, but it's definitely proving to be a good additional source of income. This afternoon I need to call in at B&Q or Wickes and I'm visiting my Dad for a cuppa (and to admire his new fish pond). The weather here is not as nice as promised currently - it should be 22 degree and sunny and it's actually cloudy and very much *not* 22 degrees!

MS things:
* PA survey (back up to £3)
* Clicks (nearly at payout for MS rewards)
* Having to get inventive with dinner tonight as I've run out of inspiration. Either Spanish omelette or a spaghetti bake thing that we've not tried yet, but mum and sister have had.

Gratitudes:
* Dump stuff has gone!
* Lovely walk in the woods with mum yesterday afternoon
* FIL is happy to split a plant order from Rocket Gardens

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Sounds like things are going reasonably well! Is the platform stuff very different to your existing job? Sounds like it's going pretty well anyway, good on you!

themadvix

Thanks Cheery. Platform stuff is pretty much the same as my usual job, I just procrastinated and lacked confidence to take the plunge for far too long. Am kicking myself now - it's by far the easiest way to up my income it seems. There'll be a commission fee taken off, but I've earned nearly 400 euros from it this month (obviously that will vary depending on what's available on there and my availability to do the work; I'd say this is on the high end of what I could earn). As I said before though, it's a bit of swings and roundabouts though as other income is still pandemic affected. So I'm not feeling rich, just less stressed!

Cheery_Daff

Less stressed is a marvellous thing! Good that it's there and less pandemic affected. Don't kick yourself - we all do what we can when we're aware of it, and it's working for you now, which is what matters 😊 Sounds like the commission fees are worth it to take the stress away.