From Blobby to Gobby

supersaver1000

So, woken up early by Master Kitty and decided to take a trip down the memory lane of my old thread.

Goodness what a state I was in, and how grateful I was and still am for everyone on MSE who supported me and helped me to where I am today.

For one thing, I have a really secure, friendly and interesting job. I've been applying for jobs with better pay - part of the reason is to get me past the paypoint of my nightmare job and I think part of that is to prove to others I am capable but I just chose the wrong job when I took on nightmare job. I have applied for a couple of jobs that involve travel and quite a bit of time spent working away in hotels, but have come to the realisation that I'm actually really happy with my lot right now so am going to withdraw from the interview process. I also don't need to prove to others it was the nightmare job that was the problem not me, I know that it was and have realised that over the last few years. Part of me didn't want to withdraw from these interviews in case I was just taking the easy road, but I can see that travelling away all the time is just not right for me, and spending time at home with my OH and DD, plus doing all the things I wanted to do in my old thread just wouldn't happen if I was away a lot of the week. So decision made, MSE helps again I will keep my eyes open for a promotion but want it to be right next time.

So with all this time at home rather than travelling what will I do? I love baking - the carrot cakes are what started me on this journey and I also used several MSEr's recipes, including this one:

"Moist Lemon Cake
Heres one of our family favourites i tend to double up the amount and open freeze slices of the cake that way the teenager doesn't eat it all and i always have cake on hand for packed lunches last time i costed the recipe it was about 65p to make makes 8-10 slices

Ingredients

100g margarine
75g caster sugar
2 eggs
175g self-raising flour
1 jar lemon curd(smartprice/value is fine )
1 level teaspoon baking powder

Method

1. Pre heat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade. Grease a 2lb loaf tin

2. Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together for about 5 minutes

3. Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin level the top.

4. Bake for approximately 40 minutes until browned.

This cake gets moister the longer you leave it, if you can!!!

I have done a version using cocoa and marmalade as a chocolate orange cake too."

Apparently you can add sultanas and also mix icing sugar and lemon for top and icing sugar over.

I also made homemade lemon curd - when I find the recipe I will post it back here.

Previously I wanted to make a cowl top or two from this link: https://pin.it/owl2xrmlfkqt3v

I asked for a lovely sewing book a birthday or two ago and I bought material to make pyjama bottoms - I think the time to start sewing is here.

I also have a couple of chairs that I would like to re-upholster, how about this link for some help: https://www.lovelyetc.com/how-to-reupholster-armchair/ but I might just save that one for when we have our new house

Yes, that's right we are thinking about buying a house again. Can't believe that we might be in a position to start seriously thinking about it in about a year's time. In 2014 I wrote that we would be debt free in 2021, but the plan is to achieve that this year (3 years earlier than thought). Just shows what can be done with a bit of hard work and the support of you MSEr's. :T:T:T :beer::beer::beer:. (It also helps that MrSS has had his own LBMs).

A lot to look forward to and plenty of hope. For now I'm going to continue my trip down memory lane and have a look through my old thread. Never thought i would be in such a place three year's down the line and I am very grateful for a happy healthy family, a lovely warm and happy home, a secure, supportive and well paid job and just lots of hope. :A:):D

supersaver1000

So, just had to add that yesterday was a NSD! Mostly because I was just having lazyitus and had an afternoon nap in front of the tv, then couldn't work up the energy to go out into the cold for the few bits we needed for the week. I will call into the c00p later on to get the final few bits for the week. Then payday tomorrow - is it sad that I'm wishing the day away so I can make the payments?

So my trip down memory lane and in March 2014 I said that the credit cards were down from £25k to under £20k! But that didn't include the car loan. So I'm really pleased that our total debt is £20,400 not great I know but good news is that figure includes my car loan and the newish business loan. We have £1560 in the savings at the moment - three years ago I reported £10k in the savings but I think that went on paying off our overdraft (£1750) and so we still have £1560, plus we loaned OH's business £1000 - not sure where the other c£6k went, I think on some of the credit card bills, but I'm sure I'll find out as I read through my old thread.

Feel like I want to spend all day reading my old thread, but have to go out to work (of course). Better get a shifty on.

Wishing a happy Monday to everyone :j.

supersaver1000

Just come across the following on my last thread - its from Patrick Holford's book about natural highs/energy - need to start this again:

Have 2 pints water as a minimum daily
This can include squash and I will buy more of the grapefruit high juice squash from Asda - delish and is has vitC - also good!
Take a multivitamin with Bs esp B5
Avoid sugar and stimulants
Only 2 cups of very weak tea allowed each day
Limit coffee to occasional treat
Have 3 servings of protein a day and combine them with carbs
Eat fish 3 times a week - I actually started blending sardines with lemon and mayo for my sandwich lunch - must find the recipe and start that again as also good for bones
Have a tablespoon of seeds each day - grind them up on porridge in the morning ( another thing I stopped from simple laziness)
Eat regularly and eat low GI foods

supersaver1000

So, journeying back to my bad time when I tried a promotion and ended up leaving for a job that was part-time, when I said:

Money wise I will be about £250 worse off from my job last year, but the new job earned me another £5k overall so if after 12 months I get a better paid job again it will have been financially worth it and the experience has been very useful.

Well, after only 6 months I got that better job!! And two years later I'm now better off than my original job, so it was perhaps worth it - at least I'm slightly better off than if I'd stayed put. Plus I have more qualifications, more skills and more choice about jobs. When I make it back to the level of my tried out promotion I think I will be over the moon, but I'm happy to wait for the right opportunity now.

supersaver1000

Still enjoying my foray back in time. Found this little nugget about !!!!py jobs:

Consider leaving; regard it as a positive decision in the face of overwhelming odds which are not of your choosing, not of your making and over which you have no control. In this type of situation, walking away can be the best thing because you remain in control. Choose to move on and find an employer who does value you and your skills. Do not allow your health to be destroyed. What is more important, your job, your health, your career, life or family?

supersaver1000

Was going to claim an NSD today but then remembered the two packs of jelly babies for £1.99 I bought earlier! Must have been the cold affecting my memory

Hope everyone is staying safe out of the cold and snow xx

supersaver1000

Small spend at A!di yesterday, just over £4.

Then today was a bit of a white out but DH picked up a loaf of bread and a couple of bits needed for home made dinner.

Then I placed a small order on body shop - had a £5 birthday voucher from last month and DD wanted a couple of items so we had £10 off and free delivery (whenever it ever arrives after the snow).

I'm not planning any spends tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see. I could do with some butter for some baking, but that might just have to wait for the weekend.

Been planning the savings for cc1 and cc2 (to pay the 0% off) but noticed that there's a new $antander App and I can see my loan and there's a sort code and account no. Haven't noticed that before, so I emailed customer service and they explained how I can make extra payments. When I took the loan out the blurb said they could only be made by calling customer services - guess I should have checked before, but I'm already planning some overpayments on that. Exciting to see the results. They didn't mention anything about a minimum payment so I might pay £50 off and see what happens.

supersaver1000

Small spend at Sain$bugs yesterday for some bread and milk, then did a shop at A$da today. Need to book a delivery, they should hopefully be back out on the road soon. Went out with DD shopping for interview clothes and managed to bag a discount code, so did really well. I decided to pay for them, so bang goes my overpayment to the loan this month, but DD is such a hard worker and they will be used plenty.

Nothing much really happening here otherwise, the snow is melting and we are all safe and warm.

supersaver1000

Just came across HoneysuckleLou's Date Bar recipe via Cherryfudge's thread.

These look like a must have. I do like something sweet, but there are certain things (like chocolate) that once I start eating I can't stop. I'm going to give it up for good, so am trying to find some sweet things to satisfy that craving. Will go date shopping later, although I guess you could use other dried fruit as well.

This recipe looks yum:

Date Bars

So, all bank accounts checked. £500 buffer in $antander ac and have nearly £1700 in $ainsbury account towards paying off 0% ccard in November. Two things I need to do this month are:

1. Pay off Avro, there was a big £75 extra on top of the dd again this month, its set aside but you have to call to make the payment. I've upped the dd to £85 which should be the average monthly payment from now on. But, the MSE energy club says that my cheapest provider is OneSelect at £82 pmth. My Avro deal is due to end in April, but I think I can just go ahead and change now with no exit fees. It could be £36 a year, which is massive and I read that energy prices might go up due to the snow, so might be a good thing to do today.
2. Is to do a current account switch to H$BC to get the £150 and £50, but also to get the 5% saver where I can put some of my monthly savings towards paying off the 0% credit card.

Its amazing how all these little amounts add up. But interesting how it takes a real push from me to change these things - always slightly scared I'm doing the wrong thing or that things will go wrong. Makes me hesitate to change, but I know really that its the right thing to do.

supersaver1000

Feels like its going to be an uphill struggle this month. After tomorrows A$da delivery, there will be only £89 left of £304. And I've just had notice that there won't be any mushrooms, swede, parsnips or sweet potatoes in my order. I will have to call into another shop to try and get them, luckily I don't need those until Thursday so there is time. And it could be possible to make it to the month end on £89 - will just need to be really creative and make sure I use the cupboard and freezer items.

Actually, just had a thought that MrSS can pay for his toiletries so that will be another £23. And I have a bit in my personal account so could be £120 in total, and that's £40 per week for the next three weeks - more than do-able :0

Have to take the car in this week, think it might be expensive, but if it needs work, it will need it.