2020: Becoming a Saver, Not a Spender

[Deleted User]

savingholmes said:

Hi SSDD23 - I am sorry to hear that your debt has increased again but ditch the shame. It doesn't help - and if you are anything like me - shame robs me of motivation. 

I have to wholeheartedly agree with that, which is mostly why I confessed so that I can get motivated again now that it's out there. You have summed it up perfectly x

[Deleted User]

Morning world

My shoulders feel much lighter this morning.
I meant to add to my list that I also repaired kittens mouse on a fishing pole toy rather than buying a new one, so I saved some money there, too.

I have swallowed a frog this morning and phoned the dentist to update my phone number, I had a silly idea that I might get told off for phoning up for something unimportant but I need the reminders to book my appointments when they resume normal service the receptionist was lovely anyway and it seemed to be totally fine

Not much else to report today, I use an app now on my phone that helps me make to-do lists and cleaning lists so they are always to hand and I am finding that very helpful and satisfying to tick the boxes. Due to do my nan's food shopping today and need to pick up some spicy tortilla chips and some rolls to make our dinner for tonight when I get home. So it won't be a NSD, but literally will be spending about £1.50 on the extra bits that ALDI didn't have at the weekend. 

Lots of work has been done already today, I am trying to keep busy. I do finally have a new current account debit card in the post so I don't know the number off by heart anymore, so no more mindless spending :P

Poppy1984

Aww bless you! We've all been there. We wouldn't need to use these boards if we had it all sorted and could sail through would we! I agree with the others you have recognised it and are facing it head on. £5,000 is still a relatively low debt total and manageable if you nip it in the bud now rather than letting it build any further. When I consolidated for the second time (I know I know) I still went on to build debt back up again I was so ashamed of myself but since i tackled it and vowed never to use credit cards Or my overdraft again I've stuck to it and I can't wait to be debt free. 

Like everyone's said life's not exactly normal at the minute so be kind to yourself and you will get better results than if you beat yourself up. 

Poppy

[Deleted User]

Poppy1984 said:

Aww bless you! We've all been there. We wouldn't need to use these boards if we had it all sorted and could sail through would we! I agree with the others you have recognised it and are facing it head on. £5,000 is still a relatively low debt total and manageable if you nip it in the bud now rather than letting it build any further. When I consolidated for the second time (I know I know) I still went on to build debt back up again I was so ashamed of myself but since i tackled it and vowed never to use credit cards Or my overdraft again I've stuck to it and I can't wait to be debt free. 

Like everyone's said life's not exactly normal at the minute so be kind to yourself and you will get better results than if you beat yourself up. 

Poppy

Thank you Poppy  

[Deleted User]

Me again!
Had an email for a £1 or £2 Populus survey, did it all and typically it was £1 rather than the £2 so I am a whole £1 away from the £50 payout threshold
I did do a couple of small Qmee surveys so I have £2.02 in my overpayments Monzo pot now, also managed a couple of Prolific studies. 

My to-do's tonight are mostly based outdoors which will be nice, I want to:
- dampen the grass out the front to apply the weed & feed stuff
- put down grass seed and cover with netting to protect it from birds
- paint my 3 planters (or at least the feet) so I can transfer some of my plants (at least if the feet are painted I can do the coats on the sides when the plants are in them)
- give plant feed/tomato feed to the various plants and spray bug repellent on the ones that need it
- dead head the geraniums out the front and give everything a good watering once the sun has gone in
- fill the bird feeders up

I will more than likely pop the kitten outside in his harness whilst I'm out there, I make an extra long lead so he has free run of the garden if one end of his harness is looped over a solar light, he just ends up laying down though if he in any way disliked being tethered to one spot I obviously wouldn't do it (I had visions of dogs that are chained to a post in careless owners gardens) but he loves just laying out on the grass at the moment

Got the rolls and Doritos I needed for tonight's dinner, couldn't get onion granules but as the adjusted recipe calls for 0.5 of a teaspoon I imagine it will still be nice!

[Deleted User]

Bedtime post

I got all of the above done bar painting my planters, I will reserve that job for tomorrow as OH has a late conference call so I will have time to mooch around and do that. 

However, the kitchen is tidy, today was the bathroom(s) on the Flylady thread so that’s all done and dusted, just about to jump into the sparkling clean and descaled shower and head off to bed. 

Dinner was alright, it was a KFC fakeaway. I’d definitely try it again and hope the crust stays on better next time night all x 

savingholmes

sounds like great progress. Glad you are feeling more positive. 

[Deleted User]

Morning all

Pleased to have got so much done in the garden yesterday, I find it very therapeutic. My rose bush has several flowers on now and the blackberry bush has flowers starting to show, so I assume fruit will follow later on I just need to keep on top of watering everything now that the feed/seed has been put down and especially as it is going to be so hot. It's just a pain that the outside tap is at the front of the house, wonderful for doing the front lawn but a pain in the bottom to navigate it up the drive round both of our cars and into the garden. Never mind, there are certainly worse problems to have.

Having the lists app on my phone is proving to be very useful, there are definitely things I've been able to do thanks to checking it, that I would otherwise forget to do. 6 days to payday, I had some excess left over in my YNAB forecast for next month which is good as I have a hair appointment booked on the 12th, and also kitten is going in for neutering and chipping on Tuesday, so that swallows up the excess

Not much else to report at this hour, TCB looks healthy with the £130 confirmed for the broadband switch and £50ish pending for kittens pet insurance. No action taken yet by the dealer about my car who swore he was going to defend and counter claim against me for wasting his time, so who knows he may have been bluffing and end up paying. Long shot but who knows. If he does, I am going to whack £500 into my emergency fund and then distribute the rest between sinking funds, then I know I am sorted for the foreseeable. 

Never thought I would say this, but I am looking forward to being able to book a dental hygienist appointment. Since finally being motivated to floss properly and use the little brushes (want my teeth straightened and whitened eventually) my gums have come along well but I do still need a proper deep clean as a starting base to maintain.

joedenise

What was the problem with the crust falling off the fakeaway KFC?  I make this quite regularly and the key is to make sure you get enough egg on it for the crust to stick.  What are you using for the crust?  There are lots of things you can use.  I sometimes use breadcrumbs but last time I made it I used cheap instant potato which worked quite well.  In the past I have used fine polenta or whizzed up couscous (the gains are too big as they are!). Make sure whatever you use is quite fine otherwise it's more likely to come off.

I haven't tried it but dipping in then crumb, back into egg (think I'd use another dish to be honest otherwise it would probably end up with crumb in it!) and then back into the crumb.  It would then be much crisper.

Hope that helps!

[Deleted User]

joedenise said:

What was the problem with the crust falling off the fakeaway KFC?  I make this quite regularly and the key is to make sure you get enough egg on it for the crust to stick.  What are you using for the crust?  There are lots of things you can use.  I sometimes use breadcrumbs but last time I made it I used cheap instant potato which worked quite well.  In the past I have used fine polenta or whizzed up couscous (the gains are too big as they are!). Make sure whatever you use is quite fine otherwise it's more likely to come off.

I haven't tried it but dipping in then crumb, back into egg (think I'd use another dish to be honest otherwise it would probably end up with crumb in it!) and then back into the crumb.  It would then be much crisper.

Hope that helps!

Hi! It was a mix of crushed doritos and spices, the bottom stuck to the baking tray when I tried to take them off even though I'd used plenty of spray on it so just thought greaseproof paper may help slightly