Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@Beanielou and @Humdinger1 thank you for your reassurance that we've done the right thing, I still feel bad about it and have to admit to a little bit of FOMO, but we don't have that sort of money at such short notice, end of, plus if we did it would be the same amount as another 11 days in our happy place instead!

We are still doing the low carb eating plan, and I have to say we are really enjoying it. We have been trying lots of different recipes such as lasagne with sheets of leek (part cooked and unwrapped into flat sheets), chocolate mousse made with cottage cheese and brownies also made with cottage cheese. I've bought a brand new spiraliser from Vinted for £4 to make courgette pasta (we tried cabbage carbonara but think courgettes may be better). DH and I are taking leftovers to work and DD is meal prepping for her lunches. So far DH and I have both lost over half a stone, DD isn't weighing but is definitely looking slimmer.

DH and I have booked our holiday for the end of the year, have been watching the website as 'our' hotel wasn't on there and we were getting a bit worried that they had stopped using them, but it appeared at the weekend so all booked now and we can put the money to one side each month.

Oh and I've restarted my Use Up challenge, putting £1 in a pot for every toiletry/make up item I use up, I still have loads, including lots of mini and travel size items and I need to clear some of them, so this is focusing me, plus I will have some money saved for when I eventually need to replace anything.

Have a lovely evening all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I can't believe it is 2 weeks since I last logged in!

Not a lot of MSE news to report, both DH and I have been reviewing our pensions, none of them are huge but alongside our State Pensions we should be ok when the time comes, he is 59 and I'm 56 so a few years to go yet.

We are still following our healthy eating plan and really enjoying it, I'm now in the next stone bracket, my weight starts with a new number 😊 Slow and steady progress and still attending the gym where my progress is really noticeable now, waist size has reduced by 6" since I started in April and my calorie expenditure has gone from c750 in my first session to 1110 on Monday, I feel fitter, have a better mindset and struggle less to complete the session even though I push myself each and every time. DD isn't weighing religiously but has also lost over half a stone and looks great. This week I made a lovely lamb tagine with couscous and a harissa and yogurt dressing, fed us for 2 days, we had roast chicken on Sunday and the leftover meat went into a chicken, mushroom and spinach lasagne with leek 'pasta' sheets, carb free and yummy and will also do 2 days! I think we are actually spending less on our food shops now that we have established the ingredients we need. Struck lucky last week as we managed to get 2 whole chickens, 1.5kg of lean steak mince and 500g chicken mince all half price, all went straight in the freezer. Shopping again tonight so finger's crossed for more bargains 🤞

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Can't believe it is 2 months since I last posted! 😱

I've obviously been on my girly holiday in March, had a fab time as always, very chilled, did some walking, read 5 books and had some lovely meals out and about. I brought back 120 euros in cash and nearly 200 on my currency account so was very happy with that.

We are still following our low carb plan, but have lapsed a little with the holiday and then Easter, but back on it now and need to shift another stone ideally. We did have a lovely Lamb Roast on Easter Sunday with roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings, which was definitely not 'on plan' but it was lovely and we really enjoyed it and I had managed to get a couple of the less that half price legs of lamb.

I sorted through my wardrobe over the Easter weekend, I mean REALLY sorted, even the stash hiding in the airing cupboard! There is now a huge pile on the spare bed waiting to either be popped in the charity bin or listed on Vinted. I still have way too much but it is all items I like and actually wear now. Next on the hit list is shoes, I am very much in favour of comfort these days so the heels can pretty much go.

Trying to keep my days in the office to a minimum due to the rocketing fuel prices, my car is diesel but thankfully pretty economical but honestly there is nothing I can't do from home so trying to only go in 3 days per week as it is a 50 mile round journey.

I'm glad we fixed our energy prices a few months back, our rate doesn't expire un August 2027, lets hope the USA and Middle East have all sorted themselves out by then. My Water d/d has remained the same and Council Tax has increased by £9pm so that's not too bad. No mention yet of a salary uplift at work, they are a nightmare and never let us know before the new financial year, we probably won't get anything until May! I'm hoping for a couple a raises this year and the same again next year as we should get the inflation one and then I should have another uplift when I pass each year of my course 🤞.

Have a lovely weekend

MvTMM