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

Debsnewbudget

I also have not worried about this for years but have just checked and the allowance is goods to the value of £390.......
oops....... 
I don't think that amount has been changed for years 

LadyWithAPlan

Debsnewbudget 

Debsnewbudget said:

I also have not worried about this for years but have just checked and the allowance is goods to the value of £390.......
oops....... 
I don't think that amount has been changed for years 

Wow ! That’s  insanely small but they never seem to check - I always tag tags off unless it’s a gift anyway as my suitcase(s)  always packed to the gills ! 

I am currently on a late night Metro on way to do some side hustle work - it’s weirdly fun but I did have an afternoon nap - I do love a mad adventure  
hoping to catch a late night bus home and save £25 in cab fares - v safe & the bus stops 2 mins from where I am staying - see how I feel 

I have booked for my last weekend that uni dorm. Single room again with my  own fridge and my own sink - and a kettle one min walk away - I did forget my aero press annoyingly

LadyWithAPlan

Lazy day off yesterday and had a HUGE brunch in a kinda diner  - even I could not manage it all - beyond delicious and carbd me out for the rest of the day - early night to bed 
Still cheaper here than London £16 inc unlimited coffee 

I did go to the supermarket and pick up a couple bits - kale, Parma ham, fruit, salad 
 about £18 spent - it’s honestly easier and same price to buy a large meal out  here - even with me being GF - where I go tomorrow I have  my own fridge so 


I sat on the gorgeous roof terrace here to  get 4pm onwards  afternoon sun - the lower terrace off the kitchen loses sun about 3pm - I will have to think of such things when I buy .. as sitting outside is a priority but if I never get any sun ..  will need to visit at different times of the day 

today I plan to (still abroad) 
do some remote work 
Run along river 
weather hugely improved so will work outside 
do some marketing work for side hustle 
possibly check out the big park here 
see a gig this evening - a fun drag queen 
No side hustle work  til Sat so and moving from apartment into main city area 

comp wins
Won a £50 Indian meal gift card near my parents on soc media - got til just the end June to spend it - it’s supposed to be a fabulous Indian but £25-28 for a main and £12 for starters - in that area (outside london ) is expensive 
however I have a bday meal to buy for them and it’s a new to us restaurant so .. 

had won 2 weekend calling festival tix but missed the email - they gave a 7 day window and I saw email the day after … so lost those - so annoying £600 worth (not Glasto or I would be crying) 

I have also won a meal for 4 in london when I get back I will use to catch up with friends 

I also used £50 of my pizza express £150 won gift  card - I have my student card so got 20/ 25% off bill first then pays by gift card ! Go frugal me 

Flying back Monday so starting to look forward to next steps even scrubbing my flat and a major declutter 

debtfreewannabe321

Wow you're doing great on comp wins! I should start entering some. I won tix to see a show up London one year with a meal and hotel room thrown in! Was great! I might have to go look for some comps to enter ....

DP and I are rewatching Location (repeat x3) and watching some of these people trying to buy in London during housing booms is crazy. In one episode they said house prices were rising on average 8k per week!!! Are you worried about being priced out of the area you want to buy? 

Enjoy the rest of your time away 😃

KajiKita

Check out the aspect of where you are today with a compass app on your phone, so you know what aspect you want when buying…. 😊🌞

Sounds like you are having an excellent time with a good balance of work and pleasure 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Wow you're doing great on comp wins! I should start entering some. I won tix to see a show up London one year with a meal and hotel room thrown in! Was great! I might have to go look for some comps to enter ....

DP and I are rewatching Location (repeat x3) and watching some of these people trying to buy in London during housing booms is crazy. In one episode they said house prices were rising on average 8k per week!!! Are you worried about being priced out of the area you want to buy? 

Enjoy the rest of your time away 😃

A friend in the EA business is saying now is a great time to buy, but with my errantly paid invoices I wont get my mortgage .. hence me needing to get them to pay me and get another contract ..
Comping takes time and effort - and then luck - hadnt won anything in months so...

KajiKita said:

Check out the aspect of where you are today with a compass app on your phone, so you know what aspect you want when buying…. 😊🌞

Sounds like you are having an excellent time with a good balance of work and pleasure 😊

KK

Well I am the other side of the world at present but have just looked and S/SW makes sense .. will definitely need to think on a compass when looking in London.

I am having a couple down days - no side hustle so a forced holiday whilst doing a bit of work

Just went for a run/walk and then salad for lunch and sat outside again loving the sunshine.. will see a show or 3 tonight as had an early night yesterday

MONEY
Got some cash in - more to come Thursday apparently. At least got to do the YNAB dance .. and the cc card can be paid in full. My YNAB CATEGORIES area all very lean  as they have been drained. However I am surprised how well I have done with my bills and not getting into OD given the travel and the small payments coming in. YNAB is definitely making me see my reality

I am looking forward to getting back and getting settled home again - been away a long time.
Declutter especially as been away from my 'stuff' so feel I need less of it, maybe paint the kitchen, new contract, cleaning, learn new skills... gym and buy a course of EMS to kick start me.

LadyWithAPlan

I am back .. from 5 weeks of globe trotting 
and my first thought was declutter, clean and minimalist game! Plus plan the next half of 2024 goals and review the last 6 months inc my side hustle - which went v well and much better than expected - however my travel costs - flight/ accommodation/food were all high so need to work out best new steps 

Once I have recovered  from jet lag 

Travelling with suitcases means you realise how much stuff is in your home! 

And there are building works outside so my flat felt filthy - everything needs a scrub and possibly a quick re paint  on kitchen and lounge 

So I decluttered at least 18 things yesterday as I unpacked .. 
today target is 19 .. 
I have various toiletries/ gifts/samples I need to use before my current stuff 
so many clothes .. most of one of my wardrobes I have not worn for years so I think stick things on Vinted and if not gone in 3 months then to charity shop 

I had a work call yesterday then saw MWAP for dinner last night 
I am exhausted though so getting a quick afternoon nap before popping out to see friends this evening 

sending 2 things to Amazon back - post office man didn’t wait as asked (was in shower) so i now have to post it .. but £75-80 of stuff so worth it 

skint_spice

Welcome back! And well done on decluttering already.

savingholmes

Welcome back. 

Well done on the decluttering and returns.

Sounds like a fab trip and a lovely welcome home.

South_coast

Are you 100% sure you want to do decorating? That could be time and money dedicated to getting your deposit up, rather than sprucing up a property that's going to be demolished. I appreciate you're living there in the meantime, but short-term pain, long-term gain?