My Journey To My Pot Of Gold

BEAT_THE_DEBT

I take a frozen quiche and some salad or coleslaw it defrosts by lunchtime

doingitanyway

I do my lunches in the evening MT. So, for example if I have a grain for supper I throw it in a tupperware, tart it up with whatever raw stuff I have, add seeds and herbs and a bit of protein (left over chicken or smoked mackerel) and then I have a superfood salad! Use your evening meals as a basis for lunches and make it up when you do your supper...Anyway that's the way I do it as I don't eat bread.

I'm with you with the water. When I drink enough I have so much more energy.

Good luck with your plans

DIA xx

jodles16

Hey MT, loving the list again, such a great idea! I am intrigued by your clinical industrial house stuff! Do share as you start to make choices! I am pants at making sure that I get lunches ready but luckily I work from home in the afternoons so I can wing it, but will normally just have toast. I think it is important to try and pick good foods, share any interesting food ideas you have please! Hope work stuff evens out soon, very strange about the letter request?

Jodles

RosaBernicia

Liking the list

It really helps having stuff sorted at work - I have a ridiculous amount of stuff at work including a pepper grinder - goodness knows what will happen if I get moved to hotdesking!


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

It's been a while since I updated!!!!

DIA - thank you for the lunches inspiration. I'm doing better now that I haev some ideas. Not perfect yet, but small steps.

Jodles - My clinical plan is that my next property will be more about investment than a "home". I keep waivering from this, but in general I feel it's the right decision. I think I'm just feeling a little impatient. By investment, I mean somewhere closer to London that has real growth opportunities without really worrying about if it's a place I would prefer to live. That's the clinical side of it.

I've recently realised how much "stuff" I have at my desk too Rosa. I'm going to try to reduce this now too, as I move towards a more minimalist lifestyle.

MTxx

MuffinTops

I seem to have really ramped up my self improvement plans. I've replaced watching TV with watching YouTube videos for tips on what to do with my hair and make up. I'm really enjoying experimenting. I've "invested" (which means spent!!) some money in various appliances that I'm getting lots of use from, but I do need to draw a line for now. I have more than enough for the basics.

I also had a weekend away with some friends which was a bit spendier than I'd anticipated, but I'm not worried too much. I need to pull in the reins now though.

We had a fantastic break and the weather was pretty perfect. I should have taken sun cream, but just didn't think about it! A floppy hat would have been nice to shield my neck and shoulders too!!!

I've also been listening to a book a friend recommended. She defined it as life changing and she's not one to say things like that. So I downloaded a book from Audible and I have to admit, I see what she means. I'm loving it. I listen to it at every opportunity, and it's one I'll listen to again and again. I think my next time around I'll carry a notebook to make notes.

That's mostly me all caught up on the important bits. I hope everyone is having a fabulous week and had a great weekend of sunshine.

MTxx

RosaBernicia

Hi MT

I follow a couple of minimalism blogs, it helps remind me to focus on the things that are right for me but hasn't really affected my clutter issue as I am still waiting to finish college and figure out where I will go next. If you haven't already found them, you might like Be More With Less and Becoming Minimalist.

I daren't start on my desk... I suppose I should try and do 10 mins with it every week!

Intrigued about life changing book - do you mean a self development one, or fiction?


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

Thank you Rosa. It's a self development book relating to the self image and how it affects our actions, despite the fact that what we believe about ourself is likely to be untrue as it's based on so many external influences. So it's about creating a healthy self image. I finished it this morning and want to go straight back to the beginning again! If you're interested I'm happy to post a link.

Thank you for the minamilist blogs. I'm itching to get rid of more things again now so I'll enjoy reading those.

I had a little battle with my desk this morning and have cleared away some large files from a recent training course! I've got lots of paperwork again though! So I need to go through all of that at some point soon.

MT xx

MuffinTops

Happy Hump Day all!

My YNAB is all up to date again now and I always feel much more relaxed when that's all sorted.

At the end of this month my regular saver matures and I'm still faffing about making the decision on paying off my credit card with it. I have been paying large chunks off that card each month, and all unexpected income and can realistically get this card paid off within 4 months. I need to figure out what is best for my mindset.

This weekend I've managed to keep a couple of days free, so this time needs to be allocated to clothes clearing (again). I'm feeling like I need more space, so this is a perfect time to get on with this difficult task!

I'm also feeling quite ruthless, so I'm feeling excited about getting rid of more bits and pieces.

Although it's raining heavy here, it is mid-week and I do have just one more alarm to get through. I'm also out with my friend P this evening for dinner and a concert so ..........

Wishing you all a pink hair and can can type of day!

MTxx

MuffinTops

Life Action Plan I have decided to keep putting this up with updates to keep me on track and accountable.

Work:
Words said are that I'm safe, but actions say otherwise! However, I can't live like this, so I have decided that even if I were to be removed from here, I'd find somewhere else and I have my Pot of Gold as a buffer!
I have been looking into nutrition, and am feeling very motivated to get healthy and I'm currently experimenting with dairy free and bread free options. Coconut yoghurt is lovely with berries and seeds added to it, although it's very high in fat. I still feel better eating this than having any dairy, and it's easy to carry those in and leave in the fridge.

Curent Home:
I did a boot sale a few weeks ago which was very successful. So I need to continue with finding boot sale fodder and things to give to charity or throw away if not good enough for either of the above.

Potential Home:
I've been looking into how much I can realistically borrow based on my current salary with a rough deposit of the lowest amount I can expect for my house. It's all looking good and fits in with my clinical investment plans!

Silly Spends:
This hasn't moved. I think I'll dedicate some time each day to analysing this.


Solutions:

• Bring breakfast and lunches into work. I've sorted out breakfast with dairy free yoghurt, seeds and berries. Lunches are still not exciting me! I've decided to do a little batch cook on a Monday or Sunday and add salad and fruits to that for my lunches.
  

• Track every penny spent on frivolous unnecessary items and then, at the end of the month, show what that money would have been better spent on.
  
  Maybe on a great day out to make lovely memories, or a new pair of shoes/item of clothing, a beauty treatment or a boost of savings towards that beautiful watch I want. (This money will never go on credit cards or pot of gold savings as it's my spending money for the month).
• Keep up to date with my Life Planner diary. This diary has lots of sections to fill in for weekly goals etc as well as birthdays and other celebrations. Need to look at this daily to get into the habit.
• Limit TV watching, as it's so life wasting!
  
  I've been watching SO much on YouTube in figuring out ways to improve myself in the ways I want to. I've already learned so much, from how to curl my hair with straighteners, to the fact that my eyes won't allow an eyeliner wing!!!
  
• My original statement of "do more exercise" was too vague. I've downloaded my new train timetable and will start to cycle to the station each day from next week. I need to update my locker.
  
• Cutting out caffiene felt harsher than ever. I've also realised that the dairy in the lattes contributes greatly to my sinus infections. I'm still on again off again with the lattes but am mostly off. By the time I update this again I need to have cut out coffee completely. There are lots of amazing flavoured teas out there, so I need to move to those.
  

This weekend:

1. Go through ALL clothes and remove most of them.
2. Prepare for another boot sale.