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

savingholmes

Good luck with the viewings.

On MWAP you rechristened hom as without a plan after your holiday.  .

Watty1

On MW(ithout)AP it was fun but it didn't fit the end goal and you recognised that which is really fabulous. You are an inspiration.

LadyWithAPlan

WelshmansDaughter said:

I use the PARA  organisation system. I find it quite helpful 

I use AGILE/SCRUM and love it - dancing with sticky notes and keeps me on track  but when i am travelling and working abroad I dont bring my whiteboards with me.;) . I used to use GTD (David Allen) 
Now I do a month to do review each start of the month inline with my yearly goals 9all on one page A4. I am generally v efficient but the travelling I get deliberately distracted i think

@beanielou I have been chanting for my KR home and been in my v affordable lovely apartment for years now, so its my kr home for now. Now adding the 'dream home and the specifics' and chanting with gratitude that I have it.
Was promised money yesterday and it didnt arrive so need to chase that today

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, good PB win! And well done on tackling the frog - I like the idea of writing down 3 frogs in a day and making sure to take some action. 

Well done on the eating too. I need to get a grip there - this evening I've had a halloumi wrap (not bad) swiftly followed by a twix and an ice cream 🙄 Completely unnecessary! In my defence I only slept 5.5 hours, worked 5.5 hours without a break and then spent 2 hours driving Mr Cheery to a gig which doesn't start for another 2 hours (and I've been here well over an hour already) and will have to drive another 2 hours home when it finishes at 11, so I'm giving myself a break for tonight at least! 🙄😂

Thats my kinda nutrition - except more haribo and crisps and less dairy!! 
The pulses every day really help you feel full and full of energy as its slow burning carb and better for insulin levels I guess  - less spikes. So I am quite amazed how I feel... I have the nutrition plan/details on pdf if anyone wants it - just dm me your email. But highlights are

6/7 days is this then you can have one cheat day a week (when you can eat anything)
Eat pulses (beans, lentils), proteins - chicken, beef, fish etc,  - unlimited
Unlimited veg 
Eat brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts within reason!
no white food - no flour, pasta, bread, potatoes,
No white food includes cheese, dairy (including milk), no DF milks, 
No fruit 
Nothing with added sugar eg desserts, baked beans, processed foods
no diet drinks
Red wine is OK - white wine, rose, bubbles, cocktails, mixers all have more carb so a no to those.
Eat protein within 30 mins of wake up

then day 7 - eat what you want apart from a protein breakfast
Make sure you do 6 clean eating days before you do your 7th - you can swap around to help with nights out etc

South_coast

Sounds good, except the no cheese and no milk kill it for me - can't cope without those 😮 (I know not a problem for you)!

LadyWithAPlan

Watty1 said:

On MW(ithout)AP it was fun but it didn't fit the end goal and you recognised that which is really fabulous. You are an inspiration.

savingholmes said:

Good luck with the viewings.

On MWAP you rechristened hom as without a plan after your holiday.  .

You both called it
He turned up bank hol weekend without any plans  and looking quite scruffy  and a bit argumentative... I had to organise everything .. I  think he is a bit depressed as he is still v angry about a family feud to do with inheritance (he wakes up in the night v angry) and I cant make him happy.
It was a relatively painless way to close off a 6 month thing  and he was never anything more - he had not introduced any women to his kids (50/50 custody) despite being divorced for 8 + years inc one he had dated for over 2 years... 
I am in the get going stage of life still, he seems to have retired and given up.

Not looking actively for my next victim but no doubt it will happen.. new contract is first on the list

South_coast said:

Sounds good, except the no cheese and no milk kill it for me - can't cope without those 😮 (I know not a problem for you)!

I love cheese , manchego and pecorino are my 2 favs...whats yours?   However my sensitivity to it is so annoying..... argh. GF is easy to live with vs dairy.
 The whole itchy rash, excema and breathing/mucus  issues ... boring  I think though it also affects my stomach. 

This nutrition plan though I feel amazing, well fed, not hungry and even better not bloating. I am feeling GOOD, look leaner and not even 2 weeks in


 I went out this eve in London and ate before I left and so was not in need of food, I did have 2 glasses red wine. I actually had won a fun activity night out for 4 inc food and drink but had my friends eat all the food  - pizza, tapas etc  ( it was not my weekly  cheat day and wasnt hungry enough to move it around)  so I didnt bother with the GF versions) and I had a glass of red wine as they drank the free pitchers of cocktails. (cocktails have a huge amount of sugar). After wfh I first went to a private view at a gallery - v interesting notes etc about the work with a free glass of wine and then the event experience I won which had a £200 plus value. I only paid for my tube travel 

Work stuff - long term readers may remember the chaos someone had caused in a company  we are working with (i am a contractor)  and she was for some reason by them entrusted to figure systems/maths for the intercompany balance  (and apparently we are paying for her  which we were unaware of!)' - that turmoil continues - her systems/maths is so wrong that it is still causing fall-out. I keep delving in  to the sticky depths of someone else's excels and trying to basically do forensic accounting but finding more issues and miscalculations. I keep thinking we nearly there and then realise as luckily we caught it before we filed our end but not sure where the other company is at, if anything looks like they also trusted her figures and filed! 

I am trying to have conversations about next steps after we finish the chaos  but the questions are being dodged .. so I am focusing on getting paid up, get this thing over the line and also getting a new contract - I dont think they will survive without me and I think they are getting that but I can fit the work around other stuff I believe. I keep saying I will update my new cv  and get new contract hunting and yet I am busy working in the days again.

COMP WIN 
I have just won a colour, treatment, cut and blow dry for myself and  a  treatment, cut and blow dry  for a friend - £500 cost!!!  It is that balayage where they free hand paint your hair. i do like the idea of having red tips or something.. However my hair has no bleach, ammonia, no chemicals etc on it at all   and thus it looks great  and my hairdresser/friend will kill me if I start adding chemical dyes to my hair so I am asking my mum to be the plus one and if she wants the colour then great if not we will skip..
I am seeing my hairdresser anyway next week and dont want to cancel him  for anyone else..

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:

I love cheese , manchego and pecorino are my 2 favs...whats yours?

Ooh, brie, cambozola, camembert, Boursin, goat's.... I naturally gravitate towards the soft cheeses, but also enjoy a bit of Stilton, smoked, cheese-and-onion.... 😋😋😋😋😋

South_coast

Ooh, I've just remembered, Sainsbury's did a Taste The Difference brie with truffle at Christmas...

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

Ooh, I've just remembered, Sainsbury's did a Taste The Difference brie with truffle at Christmas...

that sounds amaaaaazing ........ I do like soft cheese but its better with fresh baguettes (and pate) in France and sadly GF baguettes are hard to find. I love a shaved  truffle pasta but had earlier this year  in Spain a patatas bravas in a truffle sauce and it was AWFUL. One should not mess with the classics.


Dr - not been in nearly 2 years .. blood tests.
Went to get my bloods done and just a check  but so many  questions  - made me feel a bit harried even though I am slim for my height, exercise, don't smoke, drink but not in excess, no recreationals  or meds and in full health, the only thing I take is HRT and i exercise!! 
My lower blood pressure was a bit  high though apparently though I feel fine.  I made the mistake of googling it !!
No doubt I will get the results and see where we are at plus I want to see the dr to look at my HRT medication and maybe tweak it.   My dad has high blood pressure but he overweight, maybe its my coffee drinking or I guess work stress. yelling at excels.. we will see  
I do want to continue on the slow carb plan as I am definitely dropping pounds and I am determined to get rid of this 8-10lb extra since covid/hrt

FOOD - kale, spinach, salsa, guac, home cooked pork crackling joint, refried beans and salad. The pork joint is never ending - still at it .. got some chicken breasts for lunch tomorrow.
Still loving the slow carb nutrition, tomorrow is cheat day bit again I don't feel I need it. However I will partake  as be rude not to and they encourage you to get the carbs high plus I will have some fruit. On the home  scale I am dropping, and the body scan thing in the gym also does measurements so I can see exactly what is moving down. My clothes are fitting better and I am feeling leaner.
Will report tomorrow on week 2 results.

MONEY MONEY MONEY
 Had some cash in and more to come Monday - some my 6 month interest on my deposit .I have had to section off  tax on some as I am way over this £1k limit on interest income..)
So I got to do the fabulous YNAB dance of marching my funds off to their new homes (categories).

Sadly the rich feeling ( I have cash!) quickly is replaced by being YNAB poor, as it quickly disappeared,, adding money back into my essential , social, savings and  'true expenses pots' so those annual expenses such as taxes, domains, insurances, semi annual water, annual work subscriptions... all now have  monthly amounts going to them and named by due date and £ targets  set .....so YNAB knows when I pulled money out of them to use elsewhere last month and then now she is demanding I refill my pots to get back on track. So the money is still in my bank (well a HYSA) but it feels all spent even if its partially for bills due next spring!

I always did put money aside in virtual pots eg Monzo etc but looking at all annual bills on a monthly basis rather than two months hence does stop the spending.. I used to always hit Xmas a bit short. However I can already see my xmas and gift pots this yr  are looking super low as I have a lot of family bdays to come in the next 3 months as well.

I did have an annual work subscription  to be paid last week £200 and had put a bit  aside towards it  as I knew it was coming but late payers meant I need to pull money out  suddenly my pots to cover bills. So then I had to really juggle. As YNAB lets me name my categories with the date as well eg Work domain March 25 I can see when its coming up .. So 10 months into using ynab I am definitely clearer on what it costs to run my life and my work. ...

I have to fill up some isas.. I am waiting til more cash comes in on Monday then will look at a flexible isa so I can add money back in., ahead of mortgage stuff though I dont want to be opening too many new bank accts.
First thing is I need to refill my 1month ahead money category to stop me stripping my budding true expense categories.

Pointing the mortgage  difference amount aside.... each month.   Rent v buy calculator
I will be able to do that fully  (diff between what I pay in mortgage vs rent ) on Monday  as I am looking to see on a monthly basis how tight my budget will be once I add an additional £800/£850pm  to it,  plus I wont be getting my 12% on half my deposit.
Basically it will be tight so pointing to the new contract again - I have been busy working this week so not stopped to look

I also plugged my current numbers into a rent v buy calc and with the various parameters - I used the smartmoneytools one - of my  deposit and how much I do earn etc,  it is stating over  any years (5-20) renting is better to the tune of £101k  (13 yr comparison) or less on a lower interest rate..
Of course if my rent goes up a lot ( as it will in 2 years when I have to move from here) then the figures will probably swing to buying being better.

I still am planning to buy and looking at 2 flats tomorrow but good to see the maths. 

Social - was popping out to see a friend but we rescheduled for tomorrow instead, then  I made plans to see a gig tonight but ticket issue so having a lazy night I am quite happy about .
May see a musical tomorrow as can get cheap tix but not sure I am that bothered... I am planning to read caeler's MF diary again for focus. Having said that I have 2 friends going thtu 5 plus weeks daily radio/chemo after surgery so a social balance is importnat or why live in London..

savingholmes

Social is important especially as a single person who often works from home

Watty1

YNAB sounds a very demanding boss