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

Watty1

It is an excellent point and one I've been thinking about as my tin and dry good cupboard is overflowing

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, do Iceland sell edamame? Our Morrisons do, but we don't ship there so it means a special trip, so I usually just buy some occasionally in when I'm in town but it's expensive.  Never occurred to me that Iceland might sell them,  we have s little one in town so I'll check 😊

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hey @LadyWithAPlan, just catching up with your diary.

Your trip sounded wonderful, sounds like the side hustle is going great guns and can include travel too! Good for you.

Quite fancy a bit of PB but not sure what is the minimum amount to invest. I have so little spare cash right now as everything is allocated (and more!) but something to consider. I read someone said your place is going to be demolished? Wow, will you get plenty of notice?

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, do Iceland sell edamame? Our Morrisons do, but we don't ship there so it means a special trip, so I usually just buy some occasionally in when I'm in town but it's expensive.  Never occurred to me that Iceland might sell them,  we have s little one in town so I'll check 😊

Yes in the frozen sections and  they also sell cauliflower rice in there which is great value - 4 bags in each pack / you just pop into microwave for 3.5 mins - v tasty and Cheaper and quicker than grating cauli yourself 

I think on the frozen veg fruit side Iceland is great 
my local Lidl closed down (sob) so I am
waiting for the new Aldi to get built opposite the old site - great as near my gym so easy to pop in 
we have a big Aldi already but it’s 15 plus mins walk away in the wrong direction through the  crowds so … 

@Queen_of_the_Hive  I don’t get much notice but they are building new flats so once they are done I will be moving on so I have a visual clock ticking - they saying 1-2 years but could be more 

on the PB you can buy in £25 lots I believe - and in whole pounds - great as any prizes are tax free - you can buy anytime but if you buy in say June the bond is not eligible til the Aug 1st draw - so always worth buying at end of the month to maximise your interest elsewhere 
If however you choose to have all prizes reinvested those are immediately eligible for the next draw 

@Watty1 and @SouthCoast I think the feeling of  full cupboards is lovely but I don’t want to feel cramped in my own apartment which I do since my return ! 

Swim yesterday was lovely and got on their scales - different body readings from the ems so I need to check the input amounts - as EMS say I have a lot less fat !

then walked ages to a gig - at Stratford East so there were Girls Aloud fans and  Swifties everywhere! Had a decent boogie as well there and in a club back In the West end - I did drink a lot though but only ate one decent meal (as in super healthy protein greens etc ) 

flat clean and declutter needs to move forward 
I did do a bit of mb and won on a EP horse which was good - 

LadyWithAPlan

For those wondering I have not updated my signature as it wants me to limit my word numbers and I like my quotes!

Spent yesterday seeing a friend and having coffee. We went looking for some clothes for her - I managed to avoid buying anything  - but I did spy a 'sign up to the newsletter and get 10% off in store " and also picked up a fabulous  blouse for her where they were all reduced from £147 to £79 but bizarrely saw one in her size stating £67 on the tag  vs others that were £79 (same size and style) ... so managed to save her £28!  So she bought me my second coffee as a thanks... I may travel the world being fabulous but frugal is a life condition and if one can get a bargain....

I did buy as a momento a film poster for £6 - so cool but now I need a frame .. so I will be looking in charity shops for frames - I have the measurements on me 

Today I was working hard on this continued excel issue - was popping back to see parents this eve but I am determined to get it finished (very very pedantic detailed and a puzzle I have finally figure out the best way to deal) so I will  go in the morning instead..and have cracked through and finioshed it

I did have my robot vacuum and mop busy cleaning this morning - flat is feeling better - but still too much clutter .. hence me not adding to the clothes pile... and I refuse to look in vintage shops for clothes.


MG is continuing - I slackened yesterday but I am also choosing to focus on using up half used creams/toiletries/sachets etc so I can get the excess dow rather than using my normal stuff and then wanting to replace it. I am determined to go through all of it such as the serums I was gifted etc as a goody bag or as samples etc....
 Got a fair amount of bits to go to the charity shop.
I did throw  a 30+ year old frying pan that had lost all ots non stickness today !


Seeing a flat to maybe buy  next Monday as away this week - my friend thinks its great (she works at a local ea) however even if I fall in love with it  without 3 months steady pay cheques I cant get a mortgage anyway - so I do need to clear some stuff and update my CV then get applying for new contracts.


Loving the weather
I have largely managed to eat out the freezer but have picked up salads, kale, spinach  etc and quite a lot of reduced meat and fish from co*p last night  -

My homemade iced coffee but healthy ..recipe  I also have two large cartons of vegan protein shake - chocolate though I prefer the strawberry flavour and I am trying to eat it down before buying any more - so I am making a iced frappe with choc protein powder which is both delicious, cool and full of protein
My recipe is make some espresso coffee (I have an aeropress) let it cool then add into my nutribullet (a competition win from a few years ago)
- ice, espresso coffee, scoop of choc flavoured vegan protein powder., splash of non dairy milk, frozen blueberries. You may need more water added..
Just blend and serve on more ice  


I am liking my M*nzo saving acct (only £1k in for bills) as it shows how much interest I am earning this month 


Invoices - chasing some smaller ones - One is getting paid this week - woohoo but  I need another conversation with the bigger ones.. I have rent and a large cc to cover Monday and I am slightly short on cash flow..

No gym today - was up early and decided to go later once I had done that large task.... of course I was still working at 7pm so no gym...

Next trip - just booked my flight as going away to Europe for 4 plus days with MWAP next month ... really dont need to be spending more but I have just seen I had £26.81 cashback from some travel last Oct - which I have claimed so that can go to my plane fund  - was  £110 return flights  but no extra luggage as that was £50 each way on top.....either as a carry-on or as a hold .. MWAP is covering the accom and I will ensure we get some food in to eat as well as just restaurants so I can eat well.

YNAB I keep reading about YNAB is   best utilised if you pre plan your spends but these huge gaps in being paid has led me here to spending more than I am being paid  the last few months ... I have to get a £40 train tomorrow, I have to pay the family  birthday dinner this week. .. I could pull more from savings but I dont want to  so I have a call tomorrow with main client so payments will be raised....

KajiKita

Good luck with the call with main clients and getting payment sorted today …..

KK

TallGirl

Sounds like the budget is really focusing your mind on getting paid and the fact you cannot get a mortgage without a new contract which is all good but hard work I know getting a new contract. 

Luggage is so expensive now going abroad but the small rucksack you can take really is not much I am useless at packing light. Still nice to get away the two of you. 

Good luck with the flat viewing do report back!

LadyWithAPlan

@TallGirl. Yes YNAB is clearly showing how I keep running at a loss most months this year .. as it deals with just cash when it is received in (vs due invoices) so then my delay in paymentsare very highlighted plus I have travelled for 5 weeks and that always costs . Not paid cc interest charge in decades but I am using cc heavily and then doing a big switch at end of each month which is a bit dull. I waht to get back to paying for things on debit unless there is Section 75 stuff 

I have done budget accommodation and travel but still eating out even in a cheap place adds up 

I never travel only with a small bag - never ever done it -  may be wearing all my clothes or just buy luggage as a last minute thing 

tx @KajiKita fingers crossed 

I am used to saving money but seeing how each month I am actually spending more than I am receiving (not earning that’s different) it is great in your face clarity 
- I spent years saying I don’t need YNAB as I already budget monthly and did pots  but the reporting, the visibility- how I have to be moving things from true expenses to what I do spend it on is the game changer 
I am looking forward to getting cash in so I can fill my true expenses pots as they are all drained and made no progress on adding to SIPP , savings and the big annual bills - I have not put cash aside for Xmas or even this weeks birthday etc 

I have my contents insurance next month - that looks fun not as gather it gone up!  Plus now being home everyone wants to see me which is lovely but cost of drinks coffee etc - I don’t do meals out unless I have to (birthdays et ) I often just skip the dinner and join for the after drinks 

this weekend I am dashing back to london as Saturday I  have a course in the daytime and then both a 40th birthday n the eve and it’s Gay Pride and we always end at a private members club party  - so fun after the busy but fun Soho streets plus England may be playing Sat/Sun|\Monday depending on where they finish in the group tonight - very complicated table ! 

So not going to be cheap or quiet  again 

I know YNAB says to stop spending when you out your pots - I am not (parents bday Friday) but I am only buying necessaries (& drinks dinner gifts !) yep makes no sense but pressure of a social life - I am limiting it as much as possible 
- I am not going into debt for if but til I get caught up I am spending some of my house savings … buying a flat will be forced saving as I won’t have my £100k plus deposit to rely on (& it comforts me) 

I have a 30 % voucher as I own shares in Mitchell & butler - so I have the standard annual book of 12 20% off vouchers (expire each end Jan) and a one -off 30 % - as the shareholder voucher is off the entire bill including drinks it’s a great perk so often as go to a Mille* and Carte* as great food 

happy Tuesday all - travelling shortly so 

themadvix

Good luck with client calls. I don’t use YNAB for that reason - it assumes you know how much and when you’re going to get paid each month… not necessarily the case if you’re self employed!

Trip sounds good. In this weather, packing in a rucksack should be easy enough - not too much needed!

LadyWithAPlan

themadvix said:

Good luck with client calls. I don’t use YNAB for that reason - it assumes you know how much and when you’re going to get paid each month… not necessarily the case if you’re self employed!

Trip sounds good. In this weather, packing in a rucksack should be easy enough - not too much needed!

That’s why I love YNAB  actually as I am self employed and it’s really showing me the reality of my situation which I was largely ignoring before - that my main client is so late in paying me that I am draining savings and can’t fully commit to buying a house whilst not having another steadier contract - so horses for courses here  it’s a game changer for me as self employed 

It is showing me my reality aka what my bank balances are saying vs the promise of 0000’s to come - which for house buying vs renting us essential (& getting a mortgage) and not going into OD! 

once I get a lump sum I need to rebuild a 3 month essentials pot aside from the house then start paying monthly into my annual true expenses again 

yes the trip will be fun and should be 28 degrees but a girl needs her shoes and warty summer dresses