Holey Moley!

LadyWithAPlan

Loving your crochet and I suggest you take some  crafting on to the plane. Although needles may be an issue so check that out 

I have been to Australia and there are only so many films you can watch on a long flight 

Also taken both wireless earplugs which are better for noise removal  but can run out of charge and they will provide wired 

Change of socks and change of top as well.. 

also take some fun snacks, a book, a complete set of face toiletries and one of those misting facial sprays as helps you feel refreshed - I travel a lot long and short haul - not done NZ yet though - v exciting ! 

I think it’s important we use our money to
live well within our values so it seems you are balancing finance and fun well 

killerpeaty

The curry isn't great even with the yoghurt in. I guess I won't buy that jar again. I have two Currys to eat and I think I only have one of the too much one left, but I don't know which container holds which one!

Hi lwap! I was thinking of packing my carry on with a couple of days of clothes, my meds, then things to entertain me. Do you think that's okay? I was thinking of getting compression socks as well for both me and mum. I heard they're good.

Does it get stuffy in a plane? I'll definitely bring the misty thingy. What was your favourite place to go?

Honestly, I'm living a life that is ridiculously luxurious at the moment. I know that might come across awful because I know a lot of people are struggling. I went from my first proper job at 22 paying 17.5k to now less than 12 years later being paid £46k. I'm not supporting anyone but myself currently. Weirdly, I'm actually one of the worst paid people in my friend groups. Funny how these things go. I pay more to my mortgage and savings/investments now than I used to earn each month. It's nuts. I'm incredibly lucky and thankful that I live in a place that allowed my ambition and hard work to recognised.

Everyone has probably seen this but it looks like I'm going to get £50+ more a month due to ni changes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-63635185 it'll be going into savings.

killerpeaty

I've been cold all day, only for my sister to tell me of course I am, the heating is on a timer. HOW DOES SHE KNOW THIS AND I DON'T? Caps for dramatic effect. Lol.

My back is getting better, I can move without as much pain, but then I do something and ouch.

It's been pretty flooded here, multiple roads were shut so I don't really want to go to work. I've been WFH so far but I should probably be a bit more up front with my manager. I keep telling the juniors about communication, I should probably do as I preach....

Not much to report other than I bought gingerbread hot chocolate and it's a delight.

newgirly

Glad your back is getting better Kp 🙂 

It is not coming across as awful because you are doing ok financially earning well due to hard work and spending some of it doing exciting things like your amazing trip with your mum. I must admit this has hit a nerve as I saw a comment on another diary recently that the person was fed up of reading less frugal style mfw dairy’s where people are buying things. We all have different earnings and circumstances and it’s a long hard slog to clear a mortgage, even more so when you are on your own and there’s no shame in still indulging in what makes you happy along the way if you can afford to, it’s not a prison sentence 😬 
 

killerpeaty

Aren't people funny? Perhaps they feel they are making up for spending when they were younger? Maybe they just don't like the same things and see it as pointless? 

It's always good to see tips on different ways of living though.

I tried to put money into a travel money card (I know I could have gotten a credit card or a debit card but thought this would work out fine) and my credit card got locked. I called them this morning and had to agree a bunch of transactions all of which are from places I've purchased from before. Including the Pokémon company! What's suspicious about buying from them AT CHRISTMAS. Another was for my professional subs and they then told me that I should make sure I'm buying from legit companies. Who doesn't know the Pokémon company? 

South_coast

I've never heard of the Pokémon company 🤣!

(Have obvs heard of Pokémon, just didn't realise there was something actually called the Pokémon company!)

killerpeaty

I wonder if there is another Pokemon out there...

GUESS WHO GOT A RAISE! WOOHOO!

Has anyone heard about the Stanley cup craze in the US? I'm not going to criticise anyone for buying what they want (as long as they're hurting no one) but it does appear to be a bit nuts. People queuing for hours and then fighting for the chance to buy a cup. 

beanielou

Great news on the raise 

South_coast

I hadn't heard about it, but I have just Googled and I'm like 🤷‍♀️? They're not even that nice-looking!

Well done on the pay rise, well-deserved obvs 😀😀😀

killerpeaty

Thank you both!

I like the flat colours of the cups but they seem very big. Very very big, I don't know how they are practical. However, I've now watched about 20 videos on it, no reason why just wanted to understand a bit. One video said that they noticed it start during the pandemic in schools (in the US) kids were having to carry enough water for the full day with them because the water fountains were closed. Other said that the CEO is particularly good at social media marketing and there was a viral tiktok of someone's car which was burnt out but their Stanley cup survived and still had ice in it. 

I've also been watching the rise and fall of beanie babies.  I was at the right age, probably 7? When they started getting big. I still have a few, but we used to have at least 60 of them. We played with them, not collected them. But the business model was to create scarcity which would prey on people's fomo. This seems very similar to this cup thing. Beanie babies would only be sold at about 30 per model to each independent and then the model would then be retired at random intervals. Stanley cups appear to be provided to these massive shops (targets apparently )and whatever they have in tiny (comparative to the number of shoppers) amounts. One video I saw was 38 cups for well over 200 shoppers.

Anyway, enough rambling.

I'm getting more and more excited about new Zealand. I am in no way ready. Even my boss said I should finish booking things and he's the most unorganised man in... Some distance lol.

I don't know if I've had a win or not. Basically I had a strange man invade. The flat below has a leak, so he's done some pointing of my bricks and some water proofing in my yard. No cost to me (I did offer him a drink but I have no milk.

Back is still painful but on the mend. 

I got this gingerbread hot chocolate and it's heavenly. 10/10 going to hoard some.

Plan for this weekend is gentle cleaning, leaving my flat for the first time since Monday and organising things for NZ!