It begins again!!

icontinuetodream

Hi folks! :hello:

Well, I'm back......I have been away from the boards for a few months - life has changed dramatically and it seemed pointless continuing with my old diary when my priorities had changed so much!

However, I am now back in a position where I want to start to make in-roads, however small, to overpaying my mortgage again and although the amounts will be substantially lower than before, I know from experience that it all mounts up and makes a difference.

So, my current situation is that I am not working but I am starting to look for work again after having the past seven months at home deciding on what to do! It has been lovely, but I am getting to the point of boredom now and I may as well get back out there and start earning some cash....I am definitely going to avoid anything similar to my previous roles still but will keep an open mind.

Obviously, until I am working again, it severely limits the amounts I can put towards the mortgage but I am going to aim to pay off £50 extra per month from budget savings. My new month starts today :j

I also have about £150 outstanding on my cc....I intend to share the savings between the OP and the cc payments until the cc is cleared. I am going to join the grocery challenge and make sure that I get back into all the MSE ways that I have let slip over the past few months!!

I'm looking forward to being good again!!

bexster1975

Welcome back! Very best of luck with new career hunt!

Bexster

CathT

Welcome back ICTD, good luck!

icontinuetodream

Thank you bexster and Cath!!

I have drawn all of the grocery money out of the bank ready for the month ahead and had a quick mooch in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. I haven't planned a menu yet as I never know who is eating or when, much to my annoyance :mad: but there is enough food to see us through the week other than milk.

For those of you who remember me from my other threads, I have gone back to vegan (I had been vegan for over a decade but had jd honey when worse for wear and changed diet as a result! ) A few months ago, I discovered jim beam maple...problem solved!;)
Anyhoo, I have decided that I am going to have a lot more salads to try to improve my f&v intake....last night I had a bowl of leaves with blood orange balsamic, a chopped nectarine, chopped apricot, green olives, grated carrot, grated beetroot, grated apple and a spoonful of homemade tapenade - it was lush!!

My courgette plants and bean plants are doing really well, I am going to make some raw 'mince' this weekend and have courgette spaghetti with it, along with a mixed bean salad. I need to sow some leaves this weekend too 😊

I have applied for a job, not a good application in all honesty but it's a way to get myself back into the swing of things...I am going to use the next month to get into shape so that I have a bit more confidence in my appearance when I start going to interviews again - I have been having far too much fun while on this sabbatical and have become soft and flabby things need to change!

I am checking my bank account later to see what the state of play is...I am hoping to make an OP this time next week 😉

Mrs_E_3

welcome back

bexster1975

Hello

All sounds very positive. I confess whilst waiting for salad leaves to grow I cheat and plant the salad trays you get in supermarkets for £1! Means you can use the straight away and they last at least as long as my seed grown cut and come again. Your salad sounds lovely. I have also recently purchased a Ninja to increase my fruit and veg intake and admit to being a little addicted.

Good luck with the application, and getting less squishy!

Bexster

icontinuetodream

Thanks MrsE & Bexster:D

I will definitely get some of those Bexster thanks for the reminder! I use them during the winter....

I have done well and not spent any grocery money yet but dh is shopping tonight :eek::rotfl: I have given him a list but no guarantee that he will stick to it! I will report tomorrow

I have started to exercise...35 mins on the wii and the house cleaned...relaxing now though and enjoying it immensely

I should know my exact balance on my cc by the middle of the week, hopefully it will be at the lower end of my estimate and I will have more to put to the OP...;)

I have drunk two pints of water so far today, my breakfast was not exactly healthy but I have some vegan sausages to use up so had a sarnie! However, tonight is going to be lots of salads and minted quinoa...it will make up for it :rotfl:

I have spent no money yet, although I am going to order a firepit from my birthday money I have been sent...all within budget

helibob

icontinuetodream wrote: »

last night I had a bowl of leaves with blood orange balsamic, a chopped nectarine, chopped apricot, green olives, grated carrot, grated beetroot, grated apple and a spoonful of homemade tapenade - it was lush!!

That sounds amazing. Love stone fruits in salads.

icontinuetodream

helibob wrote: »

That sounds amazing. Love stone fruits in salads.

It was helibob!

Well, this morning has been interesting! I have acquired an accidental job! :eek: I don't want to go into too much detail on here but basically it is helping out a friend a few days a week

The hours are erratic but it will all help...I will be getting a mileage allowance which will cover travel costs plus a bit extra that will be put to a new car fund, plus my salary which will be split between OP's and a new boiler fund! It may be that the job is very temporary but I will see how things go and utilise whatever I do earn!

Today I have decided to have a bit of a lazy day - I am going out with my dd this afternoon and have the sprogs and their partners for dinner this evening...the house is clean and tidy, dinner is salmon for the hoards with fresh picked home grown broad and french beans, spinach, broccoli, apple & beetroot salad, hm coleslaw, and leaves I will have all of it other than the salmon - I will have some hommous on mine instead

No news on how much dh spent yesterday, I will call him later and find out...I will also check my cc balance and discover exactly where I stand

SavingRaven

Hi icontinuetodream,

Fellow vegan here! Looks like you've done an amazing job on your mortgage so far.

I will subscribe to see you progress and also for your yummy recipe ideas!

SR

icontinuetodream

Oops! I've been away for a while as rl has been chaotic! :eek:

Lots going on...the accidental job is finished but it was a good thing to do and I have put the money to good use - I have a larger cc bill than I would like due to the rl stuff, but I will sort that when I can

I am back on the wagon financially now, I have another few expenses that have to be accommodated in September but other than those I am going on a mini spending fast for the month - I just need to get myself on track again coming on here more regularly will help!

Hope you are all well! 😊