Learning to live within my means

astrocytic_kitten

I’ve been feeling a bit better lately and today I even did some batch cooking! That makes it sound more impressive than it was, I just cooked a vat of pasta and added pesto, feta, and masses of frozen veg. But it did me for lunch and I’ve divided the rest up into tubs with grated cheese on top for future pasta bakes. I’m starting from a low base here, this is the first time I’ve felt well enough to even do this basic level of cooking in ages 😂

Other MSE news...I need to start looking at home insurance as that will renew in a couple of months. It’s my most-dreaded task, I always worry I’ll select the wrong thing or miss a tree or river that’s too close and invalidate the whole thing. My broadband contract has also come to an end so I could do with investigating that too.

The book cravings have subsidised since I bought my payday book. I am now, predictably, obsessed with plants I might buy. At least researching which ones would be optimal for various sunny or shady spots in my home is keeping me out of trouble, maybe if I spend long enough on this stage the urge to spend will pass 😂 I had thought I had pretty much all the cat safe plants memorised by this stage but I’m still finding more to look up!

girlatplay

Ha!  I have the same worries about home insurance.  There has never been subsidence, ever, in my area (I've lived around here all my life) but yet I still think it might happen after I tick the no box on the form 🙈

My work are starting a book club.  I've never been in a book club before.  They have also agreed to pay for any books that we can't get for free.  Free books!  Woop!!

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better.  Enjoy it.  I'm trying to climb back out of the latest dip.  Summer is a comin' tho!

astrocytic_kitten

I love that your work are paying for the books @girlatplay!! I’ve never been in a book club either, I worry my memory would be too bad to actually say anything interesting. I’m not very good at reading to order either. If there was a book club where it could be confirmed upfront we’d just drink wine and chat I’d be there 😂

It’s lovely weather today! Definitely feels like summer is on the way. 

I’ve just ordered a grocery delivery that seems to be 50% hummus and nice cheese and other snacky things, but it’s Easter and I have money in the food budget so trying to not feel too bad about it. I also ordered some new face wash and moisturiser, have been eking out my moisturiser for the last week in the hope the site would have an Easter deal and they went to 25% off this morning. Got 10% off on top of that, then another £5 off, then free delivery, so ended up being a decent deal.

In less MSE news I’ve also spent about £30 on indoor plant potting soil, plant food, and a new plant. I have some plants that are in big pots that need repotted, so that and the food was maintenance for my existing plants...the new plant is less justified 😂 I spent quite a bit on plants last spring too. I’ll try to remember to budget for it next year - as it is I decided plants are decorations and took some money out of the home stuff pot. And finally, I spent 7.99 on a kindle book that came highly recommended about a health thing I’m dealing with.

Phew! Very spendy weekend, let’s hope that’s it for a good while. Definitely no more spends planned anyway. The credit card balance is back to zero (or at least it will be when the last £15 refund from a return comes through, which should be in the next week or two).

elbree

I definitely think plants are essential spending, when you factor in the mental health benefits. I wonder if you've considered growing tomatoes or cucumbers from seed? Pretty easy and cheap. Have definitely spent more on plants and pots this year so far than others but they are my main hobby after reading and I'm not spending on anything else! Great work on the bargain toiletries! 

astrocytic_kitten

Thanks @elbree, I had no idea you could grow things like that indoors and it would make great use of my south facing window! After looking into it a bit I don’t think cucumbers or tomatoes would work as they’re both toxic to cats and my cat has never met a plant he won’t try to chew, but you’ve inspired me to see what else I can grow from seed!

redofromstart

Chilli's grow well inside if you like them, and none of my little darlings have ever chewed them.  Any micro sprouts are good (baby broccoli or radish seedlings for example).  I am worse at indoor plants so ours tend to be cactus.  Oddly enough they leave those alone.
Gad you are feeling a little more functional.  

astrocytic_kitten

Redo I really want one of those bunny eared cacti but I don’t trust the cat to not rub his face against it and end up with lots of little cactus spines embedded in his cheek (he’s very clever for a cat in some ways but an utter idiot when it comes to plants). Turns out microgreens are beneficial for both cats and humans though, so I guess it doesn’t matter if I grow those and he manages to eat them 🤣

I’m playing credit card roulette this week - the balance is £15, I’ve had a notification that the £15 refund due is being applied, and the statement date is Thursday... the big question is whether the refund will come off before Thursday leaving me with a zero balance, or after leaving me with some interest to pay. Definitely better than the type of credit card roulette I used to play, but still - fingers crossed.

elbree

I would probably make the payment and use the credit to buy something later in the month. I HATE paying interest! 

astrocytic_kitten

Embarrassingly enough, paying the balance myself never occurred once to me @elbree - good thinking!

astrocytic_kitten

Final refund was applied today, just ahead of statement date, so credit card balance is back to a lovely big zero again.

MSE has a very well-timed houseplant blog today, I’m trying to not follow the links to buy more plants however cheap. The focus is on things like propagating which I normally do in the spring, but when I tried this year the cat thought it was a puzzle toy and pulled out the cuttings then played with the water...so there’ll be no free new plants that way for me this year 😂