And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, that sounds like a lovely day 😊 I too like pottering at home - I've barely left this year so far and it's been great! Sorry to hear about OH's positive test 🙄 We were in the same situation over Christmas- fortunately he had no symptoms and I stayed negative. Wishing the same for you two!

pinkypig

Hello 😀

I’ve woken to better weather this morning although I must confess I love waking up to wind and rain when I know I don’t need to leave my cosy bed until I want to.  Sadly, no lying in bed today as it’s a work day ☹️OH is doing ok, a bit poorly and tired but feels better than yesterday.  

I’ve had quite a reflective weekend which could be down to being confined to barracks as my dad always said or if it’s because I’ve restarted my diary.  Probably a bit of both.  In years gone by I would been galloping on to my next set of goals but not this year!  I’m going to ponder the financial ones and how to achieve them a little longer before I dive into the health ones.

The budget that I’ve put together works but it’s tight and sticking to it is going to require a mindful approach.  This got me thinking about my MF journey when it was at its extreme, where not a single penny was spent unless it had to be. I was happy to make every sacrifice and I’ve not got a single regret but there were things that I missed.  An unexpected result of that whole process was working out the things that really mattered to me and those that didn’t.

Since reaching MF I have reintroduced some luxuries back into my life and have left others behind forever.  As I put together my new budget I kept this in mind as this next phase doesn’t need to be bare bones, it just needs to be enough.

So to that end I will use what I’ve learned and continue to;

Stocktake, meal plan and batch cook

Shop at Aldi 

Eat home cooked food the majority of the time. I’m

Take my breakfast, lunch, snacks and coffee to work

Take coffee and snacks when running errands 

Eat leftovers 

Pursue my free hobbies of running and walking

Clean my own house and car

Do my own gardening and decorating 

Buy gifts in advance when I see things that our perfect and at a good price

Buy Christmas paper and cards in the sale 

Take self catering holidays where we can relax into our own schedule and eat at home most of the time

Buy second hand

Make my own sourdough 

Entertain at home 

Dry my laundry outside or on airers

Use half the recommended amounts of things like detergent and dishwasher tablets 

There is also list of things that I will not be doing !

Turning off the heating!  It’s on at a sensible temperature for a sensible amount of time but my house will be warm

Putting off lighting the log burner until the evening.  If it’s chilly and I’m in it’s going on. 

Giving up baths and having short showers.  Showers are great and have there place but a bubble bath is one of my greatest pleasures.

Buying the cheapest of everything, it’s often a false economy and I will now think quality. In particular never buy cheap paint 😱😂😂

Compromising on things that make life better or just easier.  You need proper running socks and waterproof shoes, an instant pot changes your life and life is too short for a hoover that looks like you haven’t hoovered even when you’ve spent half an hour hoovering 😂

Ironing- I hate it.  I’ve thrown my thrifty credentials to the wind and bought a clothes steamer and it’s bloody brilliant!

Giving up my dog - she’s not cheap but she’s worth every penny 😍

My new budget takes all that onboard and it’s doable.  Cutting back where I can but spending mindfully on the things that matter to me whilst securing my future. Simple 😱😱😱😂. We’ll see …

Work was good and I’m still testing negative.  

Today’s small wins included;

Took breakfast , lunch (porridge and HM soup) and coffee to work 

LO veggie Toad in the hole for dinner so no cooking 😀

LO pudding for later if we are not to full( crumble made with the damsons from the damson gin - 😋)

Already had a bath and got into my jimjams.  It’s so cold teaching with the windows open !  I have a bath as soon as I’ve got in and made a coffee 😀

A NSD apart from buying a birthday gift using a £5 off first order voucher.

Marking up to date 

Happy Monday 😀

PPx

Cheery_Daff

What an excellent list PP! I love that you've listed the things that have gone back into your budget, and that you won't compromise on unless you have to. Baths is one of those for me as well (I confess I never gave them up in the first place...). Mmmmm to crumble made with the damson gin! 

South_coast

I'm so glad to see someone actually saying they will keep their heating on!!! So many people compromise in this area (it's a must for me, as cold sets my asthma off and I refuse to be coughing all the time at home), but it's actually good for your home to keep it warm and aired too. No point in saving pennies on heating if you're then dealing with condensation and mould instead!

Karmacat

Hi Pinky!  Loving your energy right now - and very interested in your idea of a clothes steamer.  Hmm, I have an unused wallpaper stripper somewhere in the shed, I wonder .... probably not though   I love the sound of your food too - veggie toad in the hole and crumble with damson gin, oh my ...  I'm still plotting 2022, from February onwards, this month is sort of taken, but I like the whole small wins and mindful spending  

StripeyTightsSpottySocks

Hi Pinkypig, lovely to see you back posting again, I hope your OH is doing ok. Would you mind sharing which steamer you got please? Having spent time reading the reviews on irons then buying one it went back as it was useles. A steamer sounds like it will be much better for me 

pinkypig

Hello
nice of you all to pop in 😊. 

Hi KC - lovely to ‘see’ you again!
The steamer is great, nothing fancy but does the job really well.  I got a A swan one.  I actually got mine off eBay and I think it was £18.  I find I’m actually wearing more of my clothes as a lot got shoved back in the wardrobe because I couldn’t be bothered to iron them 😂

pinkypig

Bloody hell - managed to post my diary updates on Cheery’s diary 😱😂😂

pinkypig

Evening 😀

Just  a quick update tonight as OH and I are going to watch a film.  I’ve had a bath, I’m in my pjs and we’ve just had a batch cooked roast aubergine curry out of the freezer.
Work  has been good but we’ve had a massive covid outbreak 😱.  I’m still negative but doubt I will be for much longer!  OH is still positive so no release on day 7 for him but he’s feeling much better.  His symptoms were quite mild which was a relief as he’s classed as high risk due the meds he takes.
I’ve had two NSD apart from filling up the car and have got £1.42 from TopCashback 😀
Operation use up is going well.  I’ve used a tub of body butter, two bath bombs and I’m well down  a scented candle.  All meals have been from the fridge, freezer or the pantry and we’ve still got loads left!  I’m hoping for a fruit and salad only shop this week😀
Anyhoo, the fire is on, decaff coffee is made and film will be on shortly.  Feeling pretty content if a bit knackered!  Last day at work tomorrow though 😀😀
Happy Hump Day 😀
PP xx

Cheery_Daff

pinkypig said:

Bloody hell - managed to post my diary updates on Cheery’s diary 😱😂😂

😂😂 you're not the first, and I'm sure won't be the last 😂😂

Glad to hear OH is feeling better, and that you're still testing negative. I managed to avoid it when Mr Cheery had it over Christmas so fingers crossed.

Lovely to hear about operation use up. I may follow your good example. I was thinking yesterday that the bathroom cupboard is bursting with unused things - I found some tablets from 2004! And I just put them back in the cupboard so they're still there! 😮😂😂 Four boxes of hair dye (I've dyed my hair once since we moved 4 years ago), all kinds of stuff. So yes, use up or pass on, and have a good clear out of the medicine cupboard before we make ourselves ill! 😮