Debt free by 40

jokono

I signed up to Our Future Health research and just been to give some blood and have my blood pressure measured + height, weight and waist. They gave me the cholesterol results back on the spot, I haven't had them done in many years but I was happy to see the numbers are excellent.

I put all the data in the NHS heart age calculator and it says my heart is 3 years older than I am. I imagine that's because I used to smoke, because everything else was in the normal ranges. My BP was on the higher end of normal, probably due to my love of coffee! 😁☕❣️ Also I could feel my heart racing as soon as they asked me to relax to take my BP

Anyway, the NHS algorithm thinks I am going to live to the age of 82 without a heart attack or stroke, so depending on how the pension age will change by then, I might get to enjoy 10 years of retirement 😬

jokono

No PB wins for me... again...  boo hoo!

I did get a refund for a delayed train journey, and cashed out on prolific. I left this in my bills account as I accidentally paid a CC twice this month and the buffer is very small.

So far this year I have made just over £2000, almost half of which was bank switches. I ran out of options now, so I doubt the second half of the year will be as prolific. I only have about a third of it left, I spent most of it on two short trips to visit family and friends. Another ~£400 was lost after selling something on the bay that got damaged in transit and dpd didn't want to pay the insurance. I need to make a complaint/ use resolver to try and get it back.

jokono

Such glorious weather, finally! 💛🌞💛

We spent yesterday morning at the allotment planting some of the tomato plants. We had to stop before it got too hot, plus we also still need to clear more weeds.😬

Mr JKN got busy with a bbq and I planted some salad leaves and some cucmbers and beans including edamame. A bit late but I didn't have time or energy before now. I sometimes think I shouldn't have taken on an allotment but I'm enjoying the little bits I'm doing. Annoyingly something ate most of our broad beans, peas, chard and salads that we planted earlier. Some of the spinach survived and I will buy some mesh to cover it, at least protect it from birds.

We then spent the afternoon sitting in the sun in the garden, slowly making our way through the bbq mountain. The boys managed to finish almost all the meat, I have leftovers for today - courgettes, sweet potatoes, peppers and sweetcorn.

I'm going to catch up with diaries now while I wait for 10:00 so I can go buy head lice shampoo 🤪 

jokono

Been in the office today and ate my weight in doughnuts. Feeling a bit sick actually. 😬

Work's been super busy the last couple of weeks and then I spent every spare moment before and after work tending to the allotment. No running or sewing has happened in a long time and eating has been a bit chaotic, BUT all my tomato plants are finally planted. The potatoes are coming out nicely, the spinach that hasn't been eaten looks lush and some broad beans have survived the slugs and birds.

I have also put in a few onions, beans and a few cucumber seeds. All a bit late but it was worth a try.

I have £5 left in the weekly budget and it resets tomorrow. Big win considering I've only had 10 since Sunday. 😅 Weekly budget pot works really well for me.

Currently on a packed train home. Beautiful view out the door window. 

WinterWarrior

Filling up on office doughnuts is extremely MSE, well done 😋

jokono

I watched the Panorama doc on ultra processed foods after seeing discussed on @WinterWarrior 's diary the other day. I found it very surprising that after only 2 weeks one of the twins lost weight and the other put 1kg on even though they ate the same amount of calories, fat and sugar. Astonishing!  🤯

I picked up a free breadmaker off 0lio this morning.  I used to have one but I sold it when going full MSE, I was making a lot more sourdough at the time as well. I can't be bothered with sourdough now as I can't make a proper sandwich loaf and I end up eating it all myself anyway. 😅

Spent a lot of time at the allotment yesterday, planted a goji berry and gooseberry bush, they were £1.25 each in wilk0. And the thing that makes me most happy is that I managed to clear another small area and lay a meadow seed mix mat plus some extra seeds I got for free from 0lio again. I'm looking forward to it blooming later this summer. 🤞

jokono

We have cucumber and soy seedlings!!! 🥳 The other beans are still to make and appearance. The pak choy is popping out too, but the rhubarb chard and lettuces don't show any signs yet.

It rained a bit yesterday so I didn't go water the allotment. This morning the potatoes looked much bigger, the rain must've done some magic. We should have more thunderstorms today, I'm hoping rain will help my pepper plants too. They stopped growing when they reached 2-3inches but I planted 4 anyway to see if they pick up.

WinterWarrior

I was really surprised about the twins too. They tell us energy in versus energy out is the way to lose or manage weight, but it’s clearly not the case with those findings. 

I have a bread maker but haven’t done anything with it for a good year, I must make an effort.

jokono

I have £0 left in my account until the budget resets on Friday. I had to start the weekly budget on Thursday last week, then went to the office (don't usually pack lunch as it's a long joruney) and met a friend for dinner on Friday. I don't have an entertainment pot, I just use the weekly one as I don't go out that much anyway.

I then had to pay £10 for one of Child2's activities so here we are. No spends until Friday, or maybe Thursday again 😬

I'll be back in the office on Thursday, I'll have to think of a heatwave friendly packed lunch.

jokono

Still on £0. I cashed in a few quid from prolific and got paid for a mystery shop, but I have sent that money to savings.

I almost started next week's budget yesterday because I normally have a large salad with lunch and we're out of lettuce, but then remembered we have so much spinach at the allotment, I could have that for greens. Spinach has bolted so I snipped the main stem with the flowers, maybe a few large leaves will grow back?

I got some Cauldron falafels from olio yesterday, best before today so I think I'll make a batch of hummus with lots of spinach blended in and have a falafel wrap with peppers and tomatoes for lunch. Then the big leaves that need cooking will go in the instant pot to become a saag aloo.

Did some mending this morning before the school run, the pile was getting ridiculous. I fixed a t-shirt neckband, a towel hanging loop and a ripped pillowcase. I still have a button to sew on, a pair of shorts I caught in the radiator coming down the stairs and ripped badly (I intend to do some very visible mending on them) and a pair of jeans that worn out between thighs. I've had this pair of jeans for at least 8 years, they're basic skinny black jeans that I've worn loads so I think they did really well.
I also have 2 new garments cut and ready to sew.

Someone advertise and old sewing machine for spares on freecycle, I've asked for it, I'd like to try give it a new life ♥️

Back to work now!