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

LadyWithAPlan

WelshmansDaughter said:

I very nearly bought bitcoin many years ago when it was at 2k then peaked at 17k! 

Its now at £68.9k!

Thanks @Suffolk_lass I missed replying, I am alos looking for those small Thai aubergines - need a specialist shop.

Watty1 said:

with an increase of 32% in crypto in 8 days - I'm in ...what is is!  OK I'm laughing.  I can see how people would invest a lot and lose a lot on something they don't understand. I love reading your diary because you really do your research and tip toe in. Such a great example (and on a serious level I'm not in at all, I've barely mastered saving!)

Glad my experiments are useful! I am definitely tiptoeing in - despite working in complex financial instruments at one point... I am also aware this is a public forum and I dont want people who know nothing re crypto to go rushing in - lose £20 fine, its a glass of champagne .. but more than that....

its all thanks to dating MW(out)AP - watching him pay with his crypto card and largely live off it ...made me asks lots of questions..
Maybe I need to find a property dealer to date to inspire me to learn more on buying a property!  Votes?
There is only so much LLL I can watch  !!
Maybe thats part my issue - I like to know about it before I invest - I am not cautious on anything but money really..

Crypto now at over £186 so holding the gains. These kind of jumps though are what gets people rushing in (like they do with shares etc) but at least the share mkt is regulated so you cant lose everything by someone hacking your acct! Although you could give your money to regulated crooks with crazy high initial charges eg SJP.. I cant believe FCA allow them to get away with it for so long - no wonder they have had to put over £450m aside for potential paybacks.. 

Currently the only way I can get into my crypto acct is 2fa with my thumb as passkey on my laptop - I have not installed it on my phone but will sort the cold wallet aspect out when I next get paid..as if my laptop dies ....

@KajiKita I am really enjoying the courses and they are making me think. I am keeping up with the intermediate evening one whilst doing daily beginner course to get up to speed. I will build a few projects with it for portfolio pieces - 

On the cooking I did a lot of evening cookery courses over a few years so that got me to this level of always trying something new. I also know what I cant be bothered to cook

Contract wobbles continue
I have a super strong feeling that this merger means they taking me out completely. Nothing obvious said but the work requests have plummeted and promised info to move things forward is not appearing. I have queried and just getting money promises... I need a sit down chat 

 On one hand its annoying - and lets see if I get the still promised shares.. I am charging them interest on my invoices

On the other hand though its exciting to have this challenge - its making me move forward in my life, its been an easy place to rely on and I have not really pushed forward with my side hustles, previous career, goals, the late payments has meant I have held off on buying.. so I am looking at this as an opportunity to get going again, chose my next path...
I am lucky in that I have health, my brain and money in the bank so there is no short term panic. If I had a huge mortgage ...

I am also aware though this long term contract came through a recommendation - and all my contracts and odd projects  are with companies I have worked with for decade(s). So I think the idea of hunting for a new contract /work  feels slightly difficult as I have not applied for a job in years!  Hence the upping my skills in an area that feels useful and is interesting.


UBER EATS OVER CHARGE - check those charges and screemshot what you ordered and the price they said..
Ubereats and the restaurant have given me 3 figures - cost when I ordered it was meant to be £8.84, restaurant invoice stated £15 and the paypal amt deducted came thru as £18.84!
I had a  £10 voucher (from an external place)  and the buy the 2nd same dish for only £2.45 so a further £8 off.. hence the £8.84 should have been bill - which has disappeared from the acct and only come thru 5 days later.. I have  complained ...

WelshmansDaughter

I wonder if there is a course in buying property you could do

ETA bitcoin did fall substantially after that 17k peak.This was pre other crypto options though so it is interesting to see how it has become more mainstream 

LadyWithAPlan

Premium Bonds move - first time moved them out in years!
Just pulled out £3450  (yes I know mid month) as I am planning to transfer and add to my cash isa as my PB returns are terrible and i have room in my annual isa...  I also may have some forward expenses to pay for at the end of this week as well. I am waiting on being paid but I dont want to get stressed and was planning to move a fair chunk of PB anyway - I will move some more after Dec 2 draw.
 I tend to hate moving money away from my savings but its an extra bit of cash and then will go to isa immediately as soon as I get paid.

WelshmansDaughter said:

I wonder if there is a course in buying property you could do

ETA bitcoin did fall substantially after that 17k peak.This was pre other crypto options though so it is interesting to see how it has become more mainstream 

That is a great idea, I did watch a Bham based developer on YT walking thru what he looks at - things like skirting boards and archetraves!! He does an online class but think may look elsewhere to learn. I think though working out my area (I have got it down to 4(!) in the wider London area... and then seeing which streets I like but the money side/new contract to be found is first.
I have discovered Phil Spencer of LLL has a new project wit YT videos etc Move IQ.. Will investigate

So many kinds of crypto now, some based on some v cool projects.


UBER came back within an hour and have apparently now added the £10 voucher - lets see thus if I get a refund or just a credit on my acct

EMS - trained in a diff way yesterday and ouch, for once I was sweating  and it was hard. Had 2 of the last 3 weeks away so I enjoy the feeling of strength when I get back in.

FOOD/The Great Freezer Rundown
Somehow its still got food in! Defrosted chicken breasts and made a lovely chicken curry with mung beans using a YS jamie Oliver Tikka masala paste base, added frozen okra and spinach - very tasty. Also had defrosted one of the batched small portions of left over HM dishes - this was a chermoula lamb and bean extravangza.


FLAT 'INTERESTING TIMES' ...
News today is the managing agents of where I live has been replaced by another, so there is not only a change of mgt but
a) the new agents may not accept us all to auto renew - we all have to go thru affordability again -  luckily I have never ever paid my rent late and been with the existing agent for many years so that means the referral will be good 
b) We may get a new increase as often happens with change of agents...
I have got a 2 month reprieve at least .... either way it has thrown up some interesting things - some of my neighbours are panicking, especially if they not been working, others are worried re rent increases, and the rest if they have to now move its a pain and we all love it  - given most of us have been here for years.

For me this feels like a great tipping point to get /kick myself into moving on the new job/house purchase..
I dont like people telling me what to do about my living space  in which I have made a home and  where I have been v comfortable /happy here and its cheap   but I dont own it.. Someone else gets to choose...
Also I should  be fine with affordability - I can afford it and have plenty of savings  but these gaps in my invoices paid do not look great  - if I dont get paid first thing tomorrow I will be on the phone.

Worse case I move my furniture into storage and go remote working somewhere sunny for a few months after finding somewhere to buy in LONDON  - I dont want to do this but I have options and friends/family I can stay with worse case  - So I am currently adapting the CV and getting moving. 

KajiKita

It seems like that there is a lot of momentum building pushing to ‘move’ you into a new life phase (the main contract, the building agents etc.). What we need now is the ‘pull’ i.e. that right place / property 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

@KajiKita indeed - now got to get myself moving faster   I have paused looking as even if I found the perfect place the current irregular payments would stymie my mortgage - hence new contract is first.

CV -  I was meant to go away this weekend for family but plans have changed which I am happy about as I sort out the cv - its a nightmare getting it short /concise/good enough - first cv in decades!!! I did do a mini one in 2020 but not right for current job search ...plus trying to list ALL the things I did.
Either way I promise you all I will be sending my CV out by the end of this weekend to a few online job posts 

Grocery - £62.51 this month + £8.84 ta + £16.54 crisps/junk
as I have decided to stay here I popped to Morries on way back yesterday from training. The sweets (99p) I bought for tomorrow were ate within 3 hrs of being in the home as I procrastinated on a difficult puzzle of work
£18.77 spent today + 99p sweets 

My home ... those neighbours who have had a shorter warning than i - they are phasing the changeovers in contracts  will know more next week. It does mean I am looking at my apartment with a fair amt of stuff in.. I even have a huge dining table in my study I use as a giant desk and I am keeping it for my new bought flat - moving somewhere inbetween will not be fun so I am hoping it will not be necessary..
i need a push on a  big declutter 

WelshmansDaughter

I used g**gle ai to help with my last CV.  It doesn’t write it for you but makes pretty good structural suggestions

LadyWithAPlan

WelshmansDaughter said:

I used g**gle ai to help with my last CV.  It doesn’t write it for you but makes pretty good structural suggestions

tx - i have been on chat gpt  but it does tend to make things up unless instructed otherwise!

Saturday I was  MBing/casino-ing - it really has become my happy Saturday lunchtime place - I know what I am doing after 5 + years, I make money.. I am still finding the newest piece of software fiddly so you often miss the arb or its not there, but the EP horses software is really up  and the casino good.

Sunday was out and about with a friend who just recovered from a 3rd heavy load of chemo/radiotherapy, so relieved he is clear but lovely to spend time with someone who has been part of my life for decades and we have a very special friendship. Bit hungover Monday morning though...

Freezer - it is never ending - not helped by me getting bored by whats in the freezer and buying fresh chops etc.
I am going back in - really want it emptied to defrost then start again its good for my budget as well.

The Great Toiletry Rundown
This continues  .. v excited as I am nearing the end of pots so I can get this mound used up. Still have a LOT but it is stopping me replacing things until I have no variations of any creams etc. If I have to/choose to  move  then easier and of course Xmas is coming so bound to get some new things... I blame beauty boxes, advent calendars , buying for B**t points. .. and me popping to TKMax**

I have  finally finished the no 7 F*ture renew Day cream - love it and do have some still decanted for travel to now use but there are day creams pots lined up so I will start there before replacing. Just nice to see less stuff in the bathroom. 
 Yesterday my cleansing oil finished (again I have some decanted) as well as my The Ordinary hair serum (so on the second one..). I am still working on a Lush body scrub (fabulous and lasts forever so I maybe have 3 more scrubs to empty it then got a new one to open ...   This will also mean I have the requisite 5 pots to get a free fresh facemask from them. 
Plus some body lotion - I have at least 3 waiting in the wings somehow...
Just glad I stopped swapping products as I felt and focused on getting each finished and out .

Upside of using things completely up and starting something new then is I am trying new serums etc - I am now on remnants of boots 7 booster serum mixed with the v fabulous PSA serum I am just trying  - my skin is really liking it.

I have over £54 of boots points but I will use for Xmas

Crypto watch £202.18  -  it has shot up by over £13 in  the last 7 days again (after the 32.55% increase the week before   .. so a further 6% rise in a week 
on the 11th Nov I posted 'Baby Crypto training watch - £188.45   means more 32.55% increase in 8 days! ..

NOV 18TH Breakthroughs
So today is a big day in the Buddhist calendar - world peace day  and a day a lot of us use as a goal target date...  hence ...

CV done + jobs applied for! go me   I am in my job hunting 'era' finally
So after me fighting with myself on getting the CV updated which I finished this afternoon with Nov 18th energy , I then applied for  6/7 suitable jobs ! First job hunting in decades!

The pressure is on as  the new agent was seeing the first lot of neighbours on the takeover of contracts so my whats app was buzzing. Plus I am still waiting on payment and did call today - I cant keep waiting on this main contract - so I need to get this new job and now I have stopped talking about it and started taking action
I also dont want to have to move twice in a few months from rental to rental then to home purchase and given I dont know what they will increase my rent to, I need to get my income up and these regular payments in to the bank to get the mortgage moving...
 
Side hustle positive - got an email  this afternoon confirming me the opportunity  doing it in a fabulous place next year so I have quickly added up some maths on costings. I will also have to sort a visa out which in theory could extend out for 12 months with some more hustle on my part... Might be too much given I am planning to buy next year but fact it arrived today 

New Contract sent over for Jan/Feb work - I have the lesser paid but ok other contract sent today, OK as some consecutive work (remote) . If I get the big job contract I will have to have a proper think...or work around it

MB/Casino - had a great weekend and also Nov 18th positive in casino today so 

KajiKita

Yaaaay! Well done on the CV and job applications. I know what a mind block that can become. Here’s to loads of interest you and a bidding war on salaries to secure you! 😉

Smiling here at the crypto and MB - most of that flies over my head! 😉

Lightly inspired by your’ use it up’ campaign. I should do something similar with the toiletries that are all still in a heap in the corner of the office after the bathroom update back in the summer … ahem 😉

Turning a bit more serious now … At what point will you consider taking legal action against contract 1?  I’m not sure if the value of what they owe you exceeds the small claims court scope? But the threat of a CCJ might make them pay a bit more attention….? 

KK

LadyWithAPlan

@KajiKita I am trying to have conversations and the deal director is striking with the big investor should resolve cash flow and my payment. However .. I am not clear on how much patience more I have. Called today and was promised a call back - we have some unfinished work to solve for EOY.

KajiKita said:

Yaaaay! Well done on the CV and job applications. I know what a mind block that can become. Here’s to loads of interest you and a bidding war on salaries to secure you! 😉

I am liking your optimism Bidding war sounds perfect.. for both of us!

I am pleased I got the CV out... I have stopped waiting on the contract one and am determined to get a new contract to buy the home... I may not know re moving out my place or not til Xmas week!! So my Xmas wish list has suddenly shrunk.

The 'use it up' toiletry game is fun and money saving.. and gives a weird gaming type of uplift


Smashed burgers HM
I had bought some YS pork/beef mince so used some to make a beef curry with added mung beans... but kept some back to make what I think were smash burgers ... or they became smashed once I squoooshed them on the grill pan..
I mixed up the mince with fresh garlic, red onion, loads fresh herbs,  half a chilli, GF oats,  and then blended 3/4 of it down keeping the 1/4 larger size for variety. I then added flaxseed, ground almonds, yet more fresh herbs and spices , salt n pepper plus eggs to hold it all together and sprinkled extra GF oats on top before pan frying
They were fabulous! Gave me the crunch I often miss which is why I eat crisps... and served with guac, salsa, fresh cooked greens..

Black bean extravaganza - as they dont need soaking I have been mass pressure cooking with many fresh herbs and spices .. and large doses of red wine... delicious esp with served with guac and bacon or smoked sausages. I am stickimng to slow carb 4/5 days a week

The freezer is nearly empty - I reckon 2 more days... the fridge is too but freezer really needs a defrost so will do a major clean of it all this weekend.


My damp snowman 'era'
 Walked to the EMS studio today - 40 mins each way (could get a bus but it takes same time, money and walking is free exercise)   but 7.45 am in London - it was snowing and hailing at the same time. Despite full weather gear inc hat and gloves  and an umbrella I arrived damp and wind blown. I felt like Rocky..
The snow rarely settles here but the leaves looked incredible, the colours, all damp in the melted snow.

debtfreewannabe321

Sounds like the universe is giving you a nudge with all the new contracts going about for your rental...helping you to focus on new job and buying the flat! I hope you get lots of bites from the CVs and applications you've put out.

I played the using up toiletries game too before moving it was fun and I found some old forgotten bits I had which didn't used to be suitable for my skin but are now so I have a few new favourites out of that game, and an empty toiletries cupboard