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

DrCarrie

dawnybabes said:

A date ? Tell us more …… hope it goes well 

Indeed...snuck that one in!

LadyWithAPlan

How to test if people actually  read your blog - sneak in a possible date mention ...  
Love it!!  i just logged in and you all made me laugh..

The date hasnt materialised  yet - met someone a few weeks ago but he has since been on holiday and just flew back - he did ask me out  for Thursday night  but on Thursday  afternoon and I was in class and then didnt want to be rushing to get ready after ..  Also LaPlan often likes having last minute  plans  but I do feel a bit of a notice of a date is  a good way to start ..

However I am ready to start dating - not sure if I want to hit online  dating though - I have had  quite a few friends meet people  online and they then married  .... but then also seems a lot of wasting time..   I largely WFH at present or abroad so that doesnt really work well meeting new people... and when I am out I have some fabulous friends I am trying to catch up and spend quality time with  vs being out on the pull..
However one has to take some risks in life including getting back out dating...

If my side hustle kicks in I will become working in a  more social  environment which helps to meet people 
- though I am aware I am a bit frozen  waiting for a company to book me   side hustle work ... or confirm it .... whereas I could go and get work with other companies as well - I have been very go getting in the past  but I have not recently as the finance contracts keep the wolf from the door .....and a little lazy -

. February is my month of action on life changing goals  - I will do my Jan month review and my Feb goals this weekend


@PennysIntoPounds tx  my deposit does feel like a miracle

KajiKita said:

dawnybabes said:

I’m a happy bunny today - I’ve had a £100 win 😀😀😀

Yaaay! Me too 😊👏🥳🎉

KK

Well done! Always nice to have ....

I have £16k in the PB  at present which if I popped into a 5.2% would get me £69pm interest - minus taxes  so I really do want some decent return this year - I was under the curve last year in prizes v balance 

Watty1 said:

We all noticed you sneaking in "a date" there at the end
....

I once read a book about someone who worked part time and vowed to save everything for a fabulous wedding present for her brother so had a no spend year, it was motivating but one thing struck me that her friends all had to go along with her plans in order to see her and a lot of "nights out" were huge fun as they were gallery openings and so on.  I live in a village so no gallery openings LOL .  She saved a sum sufficient to buy brother and new wife life membership of the National Trust and it was inspiring but much of her savings only worked if you lived alone and were prepared to eat a lot of jam sandwiches!

This year I'm doing my own version.  I can't do a no spend year. I tried in January and it isn't an option for me but I can be more mindful of what I spend on so that will do for me.

I had a very low spend month in Jan but its not good for my MH as I live alone, largely WFH  and have no garden or animals ..

I can go see lots of gallery openings, free things  etc  though as I do live in central London and have often done so  - just need to get moving after the Jan greyness.. I do try to win tickets to events, shows  and gigs as a  way of having frugal fun in london... as otherwise it gets crazy expensive

Also no jam sandwiches for me - I am GF and too much jam is not good for your teeth or blood sugar.. I do have some Peanut butter in though yum 
i bought some of that Genius GF fruit loaf and it upsets my stomach a bit so I will buy some more raisins (I ate the last lot as snacks) and try a HM  GF fruit/seeded loaf

SWIM!
I went for a 30 min SWIM just - not for weight loss -just mental and physical health..
My gym membership covers gym classes and the pool  - but whilst I like to lift weights ,sometimes the only thing that gets me out is the promise of the water and  choosing to have a leisurely swim and leave all the niggling thoughs aside 

I managed to lose my swimming cap and goggles somehow last year. I will have a final look  in one last place in my apartment  and if not  there, I will replace as the chlorine is so bad for your hair and I am endeavouring  to  swim a few times a week..
So whilst I am planning to minimise my spending before house buying £30 in swim gear is OK  - I only have £10 in my clothing budget though - so I will add when I get paid for Jan properly and get it then

I have so many categories of True Annual expenses with no money in them all  at  present ... had to drain for my rent due to no real paid serious size invoices   from july home ins to my corp tax bill  - argh feeling  ynab poor  - but at least when I get the money I will use it wisely.

Grocery shopping - Mr Lid  £28.21  -  (£25.12  + £2 bulk) inc £1.09 crisps - yep I was hungry post swim..
Grocery £42.07/155 + £5.30 bulk/£50    
 needed some greens as I was missing my kale - yes I actually crave it now!
I do have HellFresh arriving tomorrow -  4 meals so  this wasnt a big shop of protein - I bought mainly veg and a bit of bulk spices, df milk, dg yogurt  beans  etc - a bit of YS  salmon for the freezer
Very excitingly Lid has some GF el paso  nacho boxes so I did pick  up one for a treat - i will need to buy some DF cheese - I dont normally bother with DF cheese but nachos without cheese... I may also make some more cashew cream and add vinegar and salt etc to try making a DF soured cream alternative as well - I bought 2 packs of cashews at lid..

When I think now of eating dairy I can feel that feeling of struggling to breathe a little after that fabulous Jan dinner with every course laden with dairy ... so I am really wanting to avoid it much as I love cheese - especially the goats/sheeps hard ones


NSD 1/3 - just yesterday - grocery on Thurs and Sat
MG 3     - found some v OOD dijon mustard in fridge,  packed up something for another MFW and sorted postage out 

LadyWithAPlan

DrCarrie said:

dawnybabes said:

A date ? Tell us more …… hope it goes well 

Indeed...snuck that one in!

Just be glad I wasnt writing this diary 15 years ago I was out dating a lot!!! My MFW diary would have been a disaster of dates, laughter and spending loads on london going out... 

Hope you organising your work rethink/private practice etc  ok ....

savingholmes

Definitely important to find balance in being fabulously frugal.

Well done on the wins

skint_spice

I think you made the right call with the date, if it is to be there will be another time.

LadyWithAPlan

skint_spice said:

I think you made the right call with the date, if it is to be there will be another time.

Indeed - an effort will be made  
he has been texting this morning on a Sunday as he has his son so this is a positive start 

thanks SH hope your first weekend in your new home is going well 

happy Sunday all - I am off to an exhibition after meeting friends buts it’s super rainy so my walk down the canal  won’t be as much fun 
will be a small spend day for social 

debtfreewannabe321

Just catching up LaPlan, I gave up dairy a few years ago now because I noticed it was affecting my asthma...I was already vegetarian so I pretty much went vegan overnight, it was really hard for me. I was addicted to chocolate not cheese like most people say they can't give up. I did it though and now I have been toying with GF because I keep having symptoms of gluten intolerance....I wonder what I will eventually be left with to eat with my body rejecting most things lol. I have noticed that my sugar intake is way less this last month because I have put a clamp on my purse regarding the food budget, so at least it was good for something. I haven't actually managed a sugar free day yet though oops. I will try harder, it is good to see others trying to do this as it inspires me to keep trying!

I miss living in London for the free museums and art galleries and other free things to do on a rainy day. We have sheep and cows and barren fields here which in the summer is beautiful and fun to explore but at this time of year cold and windy lol.

PS I met my DP on FB after swearing off men after trying dating apps. The right one for you is out there if it's meant to be and you'll find one another, even if you do WFH and don't get to meet many people out and about.  
Enjoy the exhibition!

LadyWithAPlan

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Just catching up LaPlan, I gave up dairy a few years ago now because I noticed it was affecting my asthma...I was already vegetarian so I pretty much went vegan overnight, it was really hard for me. I was addicted to chocolate not cheese like most people say they can't give up. I did it though and now I have been toying with GF because I keep having symptoms of gluten intolerance....I wonder what I will eventually be left with to eat with my body rejecting most things lol. I have noticed that my sugar intake is way less this last month because I have put a clamp on my purse regarding the food budget, so at least it was good for something. I haven't actually managed a sugar free day yet though oops. I will try harder, it is good to see others trying to do this as it inspires me to keep trying!

I miss living in London for the free museums and art galleries and other free things to do on a rainy day. We have sheep and cows and barren fields here which in the summer is beautiful and fun to explore but at this time of year cold and windy lol.

PS I met my DP on FB after swearing off men after trying dating apps. The right one for you is out there if it's meant to be and you'll find one another, even if you do WFH and don't get to meet many people out and about.  
Enjoy the exhibition!

 It is v difficult to be GF and DF especially whilst travelling as I do a lot... as its hard to eat well  GF DF often abroad without it costing loads  and the amount of time I order GF on planes and dont get the  booked meal - I now constantly travel with snacks! I do eat meat as I need that kind of protein in my diet - mainly chicken so
The DF chocolate is pretty good and DF GF blueberry muffins and raisin nut GF DF COOKIES  with some raspberries in are easy and taste just as good 
  i am off the haribo etc - I have some sultanas that I buy for baking and accidentally snack on - my cheat way ...

Always nice to hear positive love stories  - I havent sworn off men - just tend to look at them like haribo over the last few years  - tasty and make me a little high for in  the moment but not good for long term...  )   but I am  also ready to get back and and risk my heart so...

Out in London  today - was fun, dry but v windy..
Did buy a coffee and some food snacks out..plus tubes   but wasnt a big spendy day /weekend... I also walked loads today



Feb Voluntary spending  £13.04 SO FAR - go me!  
(excludes essential bills, grocery etc)
Exercise - walked loads.
NSD 1/4 
Age of Money 42 days - best yet 
MG 4

LadyWithAPlan

I have just read this amazing article - here https://reactormag.com/smited-smote-smitten-a-reading-on-queer-longing-in-good-omens/
and it has got me really thinking about love - the kind of life changing love we all aspire too and it’s reality - how we live life, our risk taking, our love also for ourselves as well as for others 

It talks wonderfully about the relationship of the 2 leads in good omens (Neil Gaimon reblogged it ) but it also looks at what love is, it’s wonders, its hardships and the inevitability of having to love the person in front of you without thinking to change them plus how we all have this ideas of what structures to believe in and what is good and bad
- it is also very  importantly also about what queer love representation can /should be, its difficulties including the messages of how to grow up in a cisgender world whilst not being one and how the GO relationship  is a triumph of writing and really is one of the great love stories 

Along with the daily tracking on my wall calendar I am really looking to take my life in all aspects - work relationships creativity money happiness health  by the horns, and starting dancing towards what I now want. 
daily tracking of bedtimes, habits , missed gym sessions, are a few days in all showing where I am really turning up or indeed not in my life -  so I am making a February list of goals whilst also stating that I plan to take the actions to achieve them - Jan goals some got done, some important but not urgent goals got ignored and I nibbled at a few 

So feeling February fabulous ! Happy Monday all 

beanielou

Happy Monday indeed.