Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

KajiKita

What an awesome post to read! Congratulations 🥳 🎊🎉

KK

SuzeQStan

Many many congratulations Elisheba - you are an inspiration to all on here.  I could hear microphone drops every credit card closed on that list 🤣 well done you 🥰🥰

fionaandphil

Cheers and well done you!

I had mine regassed about 2 years ago and it needs done again, I am like you and can't decide whether to get it done but when I'm in a boiling hot car I definitely think I should go for it.

foxgloves

That's so fantastically positive, @Elisheba. Congratulations & it's savings all the way now. Post debt, we kept 2 credit cards (1 each) & we haven't paid a single penny of interest on them ever since. They are used for regular & planned purchases to build up points for loyalty vouchers & are paid off in full every month. We figured we'd paid quite enough interest over the Spendy Era, so now it's time for us to gain from the cards.
You'll feel more secure now you have some savings growing.
F x

Elisheba

Thank you, everyone 😊. I'm absolutely delighted about the whole thing, and yes @foxgloves I do feel more secure. I'll feel even more secure once I buy a house, so that's what I need to aim for now - full steam ahead!

I have gotten back into my home cleaning routine this week. Monday I got the washing done and hung out on the line, and yesterday I put it all away and hoovered the house. Today I'll clean the bathroom, tomorrow the kitchen, and as Friday isn't an office day like I thought I'll dust and sort out the living room then. Saturday I need to cut the grass and do some weeding, and Sunday can be a rest day.

Since reducing my coffee intake hasn't exactly happened I'll need to buy some more ground coffee this week, but other than that I think I'm okay for messages. If I can fit it in this weekend I should probably run to Ald! And buy some dog food, and what ever I need for next week's meal plan.

I think I'm just about sticking to my food budget for the month (£100) but it's really hard when you can't bulk out meals with carbs. Protein is just a bit more expensive, be it nuts, tofu, eggs, Quorn or cheese. Frozen veg doesn't break the bank but to make a mesl filling you do need quite a lot which adds up. Even with only having 2 meals a day it's a challenge to keep the costs down.

Basically my meal system currently is chose a protein, add some veg and decide on a sauce. It's not the most exciting eating plan in the world, but at least it's a system that works. Overtime hopefully I can extend my recipe repertoire. 

That's not even getting started on how difficult eating out is proving. I thought I'd be okay because I can eat most soups, or salads, or have a cheese board. However, that doesn't take into account the limited choices available for some events. I'm out for a friend's birthday in a couple of weeks and they are going to one of those unlimited drinks happy hour brunches. There was nothing on the brunch menu I could eat (and I am driving so won't be drinking) and the restaurant wouldn't let me eat off the a la carte menu for some reason. I said not to worry and I wouldn't go, but my friends ended up changing the restaurant.

Then another friend is getting married in the Autumn at a hotel and thay are having a buffet rather than a sit down meal. Apparently I am the only vegetarian going, and I was asked if salad and pizza would be okay, as they are the only veggie options. Since I'm not going to start being awkward when she has so much else to do, and I can't exactly take my own food, I guess that's what I'm eating. Maybe I can just fill up on the salad 🙄.

Then I have another meal out in a couple of weeks, with church this time. Two veggie options, both carb heavy. It's all very difficult and I don't know where to draw the line. Carbs aren't good for me - the book I'm drawing the most from described it as being carb intolerant, and advises there being no cheat days or the like. However, one meal if unavoidable won't kill me, so I don't want to just outright refuse and not go to events that don't suit the diet. It's a tricky one.

Right, time to get ready for work. I think I am going to start a new diary at some point this week, but it will need to wait until I have some time so write an introduction post so until then I'll keep on posting here 😁. Hope everyone has a great day, and remembers to wear lots of high factor sun lotion if you are going out!

Elisheba

So, I have started a new diary which can be found here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6613544/the-frugal-hearth-stories-of-simple-living-and-living-well/p1?new=1

So as of now I won't be updating this one anymore. 

KajiKita

@Elisheba, I have subscribed to your new diary 😊 but just wanted to sympathise and possibly suggest some strategies for managing the carbs at external events. 

With the pizza, I would lift the toppings off one side of the pizza and eat them with forkfuls from the other half - so you eat all of the toppings but only half the base. Take a small discreet box of nuts and seeds to nibble on to fill you up. 

With the church event could you contact the organisers and discuss with them that as you need to minimise your carbs for health reasons (completely true), could you bring a portion of pre-roasted veg with you to warm up in a microwave? Or speak to the caters to make suggestions to make one of the veggie options less carby - you might not be the only one struggling with it?

KK

Elisheba

Thanks, @KajiKita That's a good idea for the wedding.  And I have asked with the church event if I can just have soup and a cheeseboard.  Yet to hear back, but fingers crossed!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, congratulations on closing all those credit cards, and the savings balance       Lovely to see everything laid out like that