Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

TallGirl

I found Hello Fresh expensive too as everything was an extra there were really few that were standard value. I did find the sizes really good we had 3 people here and there was enough to freeze for a 4th portion and I never added anything. There is 1 recipe I still cook as people love it but if I were to get it again it would be for pure convenience. I prefer Simply Cook for trying new things you only get the spices and have to get everything else but it does get you to cook different things and it is really tasty. You get a free box if someone refer you. 

Merlin's_Beard

LadyWithAPlan said:

@Merlin's_Beard yes I can see for convenience they do make sense if one is super busy. 

I have the YNAB toolkit but never seen a avg daily spend figure - will see what else they have 

It disappeared way before you started using it - it used to be a big blue figure next to the age of money that was your days of buffering, that showed you how long you could survive at your average spend if you never got paid again, and when you hovered over it, it gave you the daily average spend. It went in an update in the summer, no idea why.

LadyWithAPlan

@TallGirl people always say I eat large quantities  yet I am quite slim ..... I am also tall (assume you are taller) but always trained and v active   ... I definitely cant see how the portion for 2 could feed 2..?   Maybe I just eat loads....

Can I ask the HF recipe you love - as I think they are all on the HELLFresh site... or maybe DM me??

I did discover the chermoula spice on there so I bought some (waitros* do a chermoula paste and big river a dried pack) so it is good for changing meals up   - here is one recipe - you can swap the lamb for another protein ..or quorn I guess.

I did really like  the HF wonka sweet potato mac and cheese (i replaced the pasta with GF pasta)  - worth trying on a 'we need carbs' day - recipe here - very high in carbs and fat, v delicious and I was happy I tried it though I ate it over 4 days as  it was so full on a dish... even with a hangover ... I never normally cook like that at  home but it was the last meal before JAN
I will try Simplycook as well - that sounds fun ...just waiting for a voucher /discount code

@Watty1 I think you using M/Chef is a great idea when one is burnt out or too busy - I can see me having food boxes arrive the day after I fly back - however you cant change the date of delivery so..... I will try MCHEF  at some point when a code arrives that looks good..
I have a good breadmaker spare - It makes great bread but the brown GF was inconsistent  - i need to declutter it as I definitely will not be using anything but panason*c - maybe see if your local FB marketplace has any going..?

@Merlin's_Beard tx  - i did have a quick look so I can stop now ... - I can easily calculate daily spend myself

Lunch /food 
I made the HF Korean meat rice dish today with pakchoi  and crushed peanuts  - actually pretty tasty - I swapped the soy for tamari. White rice I used this time.. Half the rice left and about 1/4 of the beef left ...I also added some boiled kale for the side 100g is a lot of kale... 
I ate far too many salted peanuts, snacks also were blueberries, an apple and satsuma. 

I may try to make some GF arancini  tomorrow from leftovers - maybe with the tiny bit of beef dish  thats left and stuff  the beef mix inside the rice with extra tomatoey paste stuff... and then roll in GF flour and an egg  and fry ....  Served with kale  

Tomorrow I am out to a lush dinner and drinks... however I have stock to make - loads chicken to do things with Fridge full of veg as well and a freezer full of YS protein, veg, soups etc - I will try to eat it down and  not do too much buying - the less I spend the less I have to pull out PB savings to pay tax. where they are living ... a great incentive to hopefully have that hot date with Agent Millionaire


AGE OF MONEY 14 days (but it wont be by end January, may be diving back to 0!)

Feeling  v YNAB poor again after looking and finalising  tax returns and sent to accountant.
V glad i finished the last few bits.... took a good few hours and I did not go to the gym but worth getting it finished
Ouch on knowing I will declare all that interest income and know I have to pay 20% tax on it ...

I do always put money aside for taxes as i go with each check but it is of course a guesstimate. Plus this year is the first crossover of my SE and also a new ltd company/..  and I am owed lots of money so my tax savings are behind .. Good news is I already know I have overpaid my payments on acct  deliberately for SE but trying to guess how long it will take me to receive the refund ./.. whilst needing to pay it over to a different dept of the hm*c... ideally not beforehand!  

I also can see I am able to file my own micro ltd company accts but I have written to an accountant I work with as may be easier to start off with her checking mine at the very least...even if i then work out how to file myself.. I do file my se and run big company finances anyways so it isnt that hard for me  - I just want to be accurate and not make mistakes on misunderstanding. So mainly balance sheet stuff - I do enjoy the process though of learning and playing with numbers.

Given there is a gap on what I have saved vs due - and the possible time difference between funds in/out  - YNAB has been v useful today  - I had kept tax savings I normally throw over to the PB's so there is that spare in a bank  plus I do have some in PB for tax but you all know I dont want to cash any in... so I have been moving money around like a squirrel and her nuts from assigned categories today  - some fun creative pots are getting drained sadly, even insurance monies due in july are being shrunk... my already low Jan spend especially on social is shrinking .... and I have yet to start filling Feb categories yet. However I can fill them up, its easy to see where no money has been assigned  and I am certainly not  paying hmrc a days interest! 

YNAB makes it v easy also to set a tax target category 22/23 and I know how much else I need.
Once 22/23 is calculated and paid  I will set up a 23/24  tax ynab goal as I need to catch up a bit for 23/24 on tax savings..

I have got 2 of the 3 refunds at least and I have fully paid down my cc  today (less than £160  bill this month so I will now pop expenses on there (from assigned pre saved categories) to increase my cash flow in the short term. I wont be busting any budgets though.

I have got 2 birthdays of friends next week as well... I am still not drinking but may be pulling the dry Jan card  on both occasions so I can go but be on smaller bar bills! I am out tomorrow but friend is hosting and I already have the DF truffles and cremant  to take... I may/may not drink .

Hopefully I will get paid some soon from 2 companies - I need to chase... as it will stop me having to move too much cash around from high interest pots... i have my Cov 7% regular saver - will still add in the £250 waiting to go this month .  i would rather spend less and keep decent savings rates... I am sure by the time it pays me  the interest out in a year  I will have normal levels of savings as I will have bought  - i have been looking at various RM all across London... 

I am normally much further ahead on my tax return/savings  than this ... but I understand why shops/bars  etc are quiet in Jan post xmas spend and the tax returns/payments due.. I am super organised and I am making myself feel YNAB poorer due to not wanting to cash in my nominated PB's   Luckily the cc was low

I also looking at my accounts  and have earnt less this year so far than the last 2 years  as days have gone down .. so I need to get on that as otherwise there will be no LaPlan home buying .... again the large deposit makes me too comfortable .... but the ynab i look at daily - my QB  accts software I dont  ...

@girlatplay has inspired me also  to use some of my saved vouchers so I can spend less/ save extra this month and keep max PB in there... Airtime rewards will cover my phone bill and I have some survey vouchers I can exchange for supermarkets so I may do some of that to keep Jan spend down but savings up. I do also have maybe £3 left on a waitrose card, I am sure I have T*sco points ..

Other people's taxes ..
I also am helping 3 friends with their taxes  this year - its my community service... I do need to get them all to start moving as I cant have 3 of them all wanting to do them the last week - I often do a work trip at the end of Jan anyway  - though if it doesnt happen its ok this year .. so tomorrow I will send them a 'you have 10 days to book me in or else..'   I spoke to one today and made a quick G sheet for him to start pulling numbers together.
I do have a side hustle as well to prepare for next week...

NY Goals
I have finalise my goals, typed them out. I have also pulled off what I am planning to do in January towards all of them.

Streaks
MG - O today  7 yesterday so  63 items.... 
I may try to fins a couple before bed...
Gym/exercise 0 

TallGirl

I have sent you a PM for the Simply Cook voucher this is the one I really like from Hello Fresh and still cook. It is not a curry and not a stew but so flavoursome to cook. From Simply Cook this is my favorite still cook it loads. 

Money shuffles sounds complicated and YNAB as well but I would be loathes to cash out my bonds as well especially as you pay tax on your savings otherwise. 

LadyWithAPlan

Hse savings
I did my move from my Cov old saver £250 into the  new Cov 7.1% regular savings  one  now £500 ! woohoo - paid annually and by next Jan I think I will have bought. I am making sure at least I save this £250 and the £200 h2b for the next 3 months more.

£250 doesnt seem a lot given the house purchase size  but I know it adds up given I have my H2B which I started Dec 2019 the last date it was available - i was ill and dragged myself to the bank to open it - luckily i was already a long time bank acct holder. I paid £1200 in that day - maximum possible  and I have now  faithfully paid £200 the max in every month  since then with some truly shocking low interest rates - It is  now over £11,662 now  (from just £200pm) and interest income running at £22 per month - not great but its something  

Plus I saw I also had £88 in my isa as cash from Jan income on dividends... I moved the SIPP dividend money but had neglected to check my isa. I wont record this  as hse savings as s*s mkts too up/down - but will check back EOM - both are slightly down from EOY highs.  

Having looked at my taxed  interest income   I really need to get as many isas going as possible.... at least with April 24 we can have a variety of cash and stock isas finally. Been super annoying having the only cash isa as my H2B £200pm one  so  once I paid in Feb, Mar, early April I will stop that one - be about  £12,328 by then  and  let it earn interest until I buy a house for sub £450k so I can get £3k from the govt. So April 6th  I can  look for cash isas and fixed..cash isas again .
I have a large house deposit but in 20 years time hopefully I will have large cash savings for future living and I really dont like paying tax on the interest on the income  I have already paid tax on !!  Definite double dip.

Free money - scratching around for more to earn/save I kept an extra xmas gift back so I will find the receipt and return it rather than being a storage person for next xmas.. £12 i think but it all adds up ... 

I do need some floss  as ran out just  but have B**ts points I will use instead. January is my focus on spend month of course and tracking...

Frugal dinner partying (!) 
I did spend yesterday and  also saw friends at a dinner party at theirs 
I took a secret Santa gift from thing I had bought for Xmas gifts and not yet gifted so no more expense there plus a bottle of Cremant I had from pre NYE

i was frugal as I caught a train and a bus as I was far west london yesterday before the dinner so had never travelled from x to Y  before 
I did look at cabs as they were quoting a reasonable £14 - it was cold - however the train came immediately and the bus 1 min after I arrived so thanks to the Citymapper app it was fine 
I also was dropped at a tube by a friend on my way home and then caught 3 tubes home - they all got ube@ but mine to my home would have been about  £30 at  least so and I am aware of my tax return needs paying . 

Dry January broken but we start again 
I did as planned drink alcohol - I am allowing it for special occasions and then will go on no drinking. 
I also had a few crisps (as starter as hadn’t eaten for 6 plus hours) a dessert so sugar and cream and  had a bit of cheese and DF chocolate - it was a full Xmas extravaganza dinner though the main dish had dairy in so i was a bit stuck there - 
so I have broken all the no dairy no sugar etc  but we go back to normal food today - my home cooking is always lean and healthy 
trick is to not buy the crisps and sweets and then bring them home or see them as an acceptable food substitute when I am out or travelling - if I can manage that I will be v happy. 

I did of course stay gf - 
no hangover today but do have a bit of work to do this morning then college .. 

mg yesterday was only 3 as I was out all day /eve 

skint_spice

This attitude to drinking was exactly what I said to a colleague yesterday, we are both doing dry January but I said after January I am only going to drink on occasion, cocktails with friends are always fun and not planning on giving them up.

LadyWithAPlan

skint_spice said:

This attitude to drinking was exactly what I said to a colleague yesterday, we are both doing dry January but I said after January I am only going to drink on occasion, cocktails with friends are always fun and not planning on giving them up.

Moderation is key, drinking  just gets into a more habit in the summer and xmas I find.... so a Jan reset is useful.

DAIRY - yes I ate it ;( 
Unfortunately my eating dairy last night has led to my eyes being swollen,  huge eye bags, scalp extra dry/itchy  and reacting this morning and feeling not able  to breathe fully, stomach not happy, feel like I have a head cold, even the inside of my ears feel itchy today!  ... I do know I am  dairy intolerant but was not going to say to my friend  who was hosting i cant eat gluten and dairy -- as others had other food issues/preferences.  I guess I then could not have had the small amount of cheese and grapes (no biscuits as were all wheat based)  and the dessert had double cream in (couldnt avoid it)  CHOICES 
I dont go to many dinner parties and I do limit restaurants partly cos of budget but mainly cos otherwise I am there going thru the entire menu and it isnt a look. 
Gluten takes 6 months to get through your system  so I am 100% strict and I get in real pain with it but at least dairy reactions seems to go after a few days.. No dairy completely is a great idea but dinner parties/travel is where I fail - at home it isnt an issue, I dont have dairy in.

I have put on my LED mask  on blue then red  to get rid of some of the eye swelling that has worked to a degree.
(my one sunspot on my face is now very pale and much smaller - its hardly noticeable .... I love my led mask .. and my skin looks super hydrated and glowy. 

FULLY OFF THE CC FLOAT - woohoo
My cc is 0 - I always pay it off each month in full but always there were new transactions on there for next month. However since ynab has me looking closer at it, I paid my bill early  - had the 3 refunds now and it is now zero I have moved a couple work subscriptions from the card to my bus bank acct 
I do know the travel from yesterday will go on there and I will let them stay on as I need some cc activity and have my London travel on my watch via my cc  so I can just flash my watch on buses and tubes without having to get cards out.

However as I was using more than 10% of my card I could see my credit score go down (even though at the end of the month I was under 10% usage)  so now this month my credit score has jumped back up. 
They say on ynab the cc float is often the first issue that comes up - paying last months bills with this months income especially if one has overspent on categories you hadnt budgeted for (my extended States trip etc..)  so I like the fact the cc states a giant 0

LadyWithAPlan

College today for a few  hours and I solved a tech issue I was battling for my side hustle ... so pleased about that  ... I did WFH this morning as well, got a lot to do tomorrow on that as well.  I am enrolled on free courses again - 2 now, they are back to back  next week so be a nice break in the week and a creative outlet. Not heard back despite loads emails on the sewing course.
So no time for gym as I didnt get up early enough.
.
Grocery   £91.30 /£175   + £18.24/£50 + the £24.98 Hello Fresh
Tesco shopping £21.78
After college I did pop to the massive tESC* there as fancied making a dal .. and they have a big world foods section .. So i bought mung beans 1 kg £2.60  and other stuff I didnt really need - including a ys curry with rice...
They also  did have my favorite herbal tea reduced from £3.50 a box (I wont pay this price) down to £1.95 so I bought 4 boxes .... Its lovely and will cut down my caffeine intake in the day. I also bought coconut milk and only used about 1/5th - the other 4 portions I have put in my muffin silicon bake case and freezing - when they all frozen I can put in one bag -- very useful to have small amounts of coconut milk to hand - adds taste, healthy etc  but an entire can of it is pretty fattening  so good to only use a bit and freeze the rest 


Voluntary spending  £3.25
I did pick up a couple things in Tesco as well,  

MG
Yesterday MG was 2 items including a forced declutter as a china spoon slid  off my china that was drying and smashed... i ill find a some things this eve as well. 

FOOD TODAY
I had the rest of the Korean beef for lunch with spinach and rice. Plus an apple, satsuma, the last few almonds and also the peanuts... Note to self dont buy salted peanuts!
Then this eve I made a large amount of dal -  kind of made up a recipe, but had the spices all in. Added soya beans at the end. It was tasty and I used my pressure cooker to quickly do the dried  beans whilst I cooked up the other bits. I will be freezing probably 3 portions as well as having some for tomorrow - I bought some freezer labels finally. I also used the Tesc YS chicken curry meal but my dal was much tastier.
I also stripped the chicken and made a stock - some went in the dal, I will freeze a bit or maybe make a soup...


WISH LIST - I added this to Watty's diary but have popped below as a record.
 I have loads of items on my 'wish farm' big list  .. but my current 3 'wish list' items are an expensive serum thing (small), some art supplies to make some art (medium - about £200 initially I think inc the  large canvas)  and Large is money to my side hustle this summer abroad - to save for it..  as it is a wish as well as a side hustle - i just dont know what I will make yet after expenses.

One item on my wish list  was something I received for xmas so it does work  The genie has been rubbing her lamp!
I might try to win some of the other wish list items   There are a couple London based festivals I always try to win free tickets (normally manage one - last year I won 2 x vip tix so was worth about £300  but the other event proves harder as v popular.) I will try to win some items as well or vouchers.

Age of money  17 days .. highest yet!

SandyShores

Merlin's_Beard said:

I think the attraction of food boxes pretty much amounts to them being a cure for decision fatigue. You can sit down, choose your next 3-4 weeks meals in one go, and then it's done.

No checking the fridge to see what you've got, searching for recipes, then writing a list, then deciding which supermarket to go to, then spending time going there, then putting everything away, then pulling bits of from different cupboards, and repeating that every single week.

Just boom, it's at your door, you put the paper bags away, you pull em out when you need them.

This, exactly!  We've had Gousto about a year now and the portions are definitely smaller than we were used to.  But when we cooked in larger quantities, with some for saving/freezing, frequently there wasn't enough left because we just ate more!  Mr Shores usually supplements the Gousto meals with a side e.g. onion bhajee, samosa, or even some garlic bread slices from the freezer.  And I agree the veg is a bit on the skimpy side so we add some where we can or get the steamer out and do some brocollli as a side.

Oh no to the dairy LadywithaPlan, hope the swelling goes down soon.  I tried a vegan diet for about six months, and I've got to say that cooking without dairy was the hardest part - its an eye opener how much we use.  

Great idea with the coconut milk too.  M&S do very small tins, but I'll try freezing any leftovers next time.  The Gousto recipes always come with the creamed coconut sachets which is quite high in calories so we tend to leave them out but the coconut milk is a bit lower in calories.

Congrats on the CC's.  Over Christmas I have definitely starting using current month to pay last months spending so I need to get a grip on it again i.e. just stop spending

TallGirl

I really like the idea of a wishlist it is all too easy just to get something without thinking but if you do you might often find you do not need it. Good luck with the comping hope you get your tickets.