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

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

What about a steamer? Very cheap, and you can do chicken/fish in it as well

There is a steamer in the PC but it is not huge and does not take a lot of veg... 
An electric one might be cheap though... given I am trying not to spend ....

KajiKita said:

35 job applications! Wowsers … 🤩😂👏😊❤️

Those will make you visible to both employers and recruiters. 

I think the only other thing I would consider doing is asking your network of people who they would use to recruit / source a ‘you’ and then contact those recruiters and ask for an introductory chat, what possible vacancies they might have on the books or coming up. 

You will quickly develop circles of recruiters - the innermost with live jobs that you are actively interested in / are applying for, next circle out you’ll have had an initial chat with but they don’t have anything yet, but you get the feel that they ‘get you’ / will sell you well, the final circle is those that are unprofessional / stupid / set your teeth on edge, BUT you remain professional with, as they might have the contact for that one job you want. It becomes its own eco-system. You obviously invest the most effort with the inner circle and work out as those opportunities fail / degrade for whatever reason. 

Air fryer won’t help you boil veg. Halogen mini hob is probably the quickest, easiest option and very easy to store for any future kitchen refurbs in future homes … 😉


KK

Tx for the great recruiting advice - I will start calling some recruiters.

'Halogen mini hob '  ah... just googled  - might be the solution though  i borrowed one a few years ago and it wasnt great - decent ones seem to be about £50 up... or more often £80.. 
I will see if I can find a way to replace the oven fuse first..

KajiKita said:

I find your instinctive reaction to the contract interesting. There’s something fundamentally toxic happening here isn’t there … Don’t let the Bar Stools get in your head. We believe in you, rest well tonight. Hugs x

KK

'Bar stools'??

Yes  its v interesting I have an instinctive  'dont sign' almost repulsion  shrieking feeling  when I think of signing (since i first spoke to the agent) ... its  weird /strange/but strong enough that the logical option - sign and pay more for an short term solution isn't possible. annoyingly. i want to convince myself to do it but .. when an inner voice yells this loud... never had my inner  voice actually yell so loud - 
The other route arguing is not going to be fun. However the first page of the new home legal contract is awful. This has been my lovely home for years but I need the new job  to get the mortgage to get the flat. Very clear steps.. Universe is pushing me  


FOOD
yesterday's bargainous 2kg ham on the bone is still going despite me freezing most. Made a huge soup stock then ham, pea and black eyed bean soup, delicious blended with a squeeze of lime and some  paprika. Even tastier today (heated by the saute function in the PC)
I have also pressure cooked some more beans to make a bean side dish with more ham and guac, lime etc.. I am full on beans again 6 days a week - want to get those extra few xmas llbs off.

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:

There is a steamer in the PC but it is not huge and does not take a lot of veg... 
An electric one might be cheap though... given I am trying not to spend ....

These are the kind of things I had in mind:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3370043?clickSR=slp:term:steamer:6:64:1
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/salter-ek5885-compact-3tier-food-steamer-stainless-steel-and-black-10260527.html
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9410677?clickSR=slp:term:steamer:12:64:1

Not quite cheap as chips, but better for you 😀

dawnybabes

Could you just buy a camping gas stove or a portable induction hob ? 

KajiKita

Bar stools aka ‘b@st@rds’ 😉

KK

themadvix

Portable induction hob from IKEA - we got one when we had our kitchen done and it gets loads of use/has been loaned out to others having their kitchens done. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tillreda-portable-induction-hob-1-zone-white-70493503/

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

There is a steamer in the PC but it is not huge and does not take a lot of veg... 
An electric one might be cheap though... given I am trying not to spend ....

These are the kind of things I had in mind:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3370043?clickSR=slp:term:steamer:6:64:1
https://www.currys.co.uk/products/salter-ek5885-compact-3tier-food-steamer-stainless-steel-and-black-10260527.html
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9410677?clickSR=slp:term:steamer:12:64:1

Not quite cheap as chips, but better for you 😀

That does look good (though counter top space argh!) 
and £23 is a decent price 
I have some barb reward points I have been saving for my new home - will see if it does Argos - know it does John Lewis 

@themadvix thanks - that looks good £45 for one ring - of course I am thinking do I need two rings ..

 dawnybabes said:

Could you just buy a camping gas stove or a portable induction hob ? 

can’t have open flame but the hob - my friend lent me one years ago before my oven - I will ask if he still has it 

@kajikita ok got it! 

I will google the oven fuse issue first see if it’s an easy fix . Guess as long as I turn the mains off I will be fine  
no clue if the fuse is in the switch (which flicks to on then suddenly trips the oven main fuse in the fuse board ) 

Reading @eat_that_frog diary she is on a 365 day countdown to pay off her mortgage (having decided just  the day before to try to OP  a lot but then decided and switched to a  full and final battle for one year only)
So she is focusing all on that.

I am v inspired so I am going to start a countdown to buying and moving in to my new home 
No I havent got a new job yet
No I havent found the home yet
However I need even more fire under the proverbial behind

So May 3rd is target date for buying the home and having offer accepted /survey/Mortgage  gone thru.
Jan 30th new contract target to start 

Jan 3rd 

28 days to getting new fabulous contract  

 120 days (May 3rd)  to house bought and survey /mortage ok'd.

Sistergold

Happy new year @LadyWithAPlan, happy new year everyone! 

I have been catching up with you, so much going on. Well nothing better than a new year to push us in a different but better direction! I will be thinking of you and wishing you well as you secure a new position for yourself so as to help you feel more financially secure. I know you have mentioned that you need to be sure of your income before you buy your house so let’s hope you can find something suitable soon. Welldone with your savings. Still keeping my fingers crossed that you get all your invoices paid. 

I am confident that things will align as far as your accommodation is concerned. Everything will always work for our good. 

TallGirl

I love the timescales that is a great focus nothing like getting a big push! I always said good things will happen to good people so I am sure it will all be sorted. If you sign the contract make sure you check it and see if there are any break clauses just so you are covered if you need to leave early. 

Joining in on the streamer discussion I use my microwave for veg as well but before I owned on I used this  on the stove in a normal pot. It worked just as well. 

LadyWithAPlan

The oven works!!! (partially) Just figured out it is the front right oven ring that causing the oven fuse to click off.
However the back right ring is fine.. Yet to test the oven itself and the other 2 rings but even one hob is enough for the veg boiling..

@TallGirl @Sistergold tx  both for the cheering, well wishing  and moral support - I am sure it will work out actually. Making extreme efforts and taking lots of action in lots of areas

@TallGirl I had the bamboo steamers for years for dim sum  (when I still ate gluten and knew I felt awful)
they were great.. but ok for now.

Grocery spend £14.82/£200 + £0/£20 bulk
£5.34  in Morries on way back from first session in gym - largely as I needed toilet paper which is not calculated in grocery pot
£1.75 toilet paper
£3.59 - 6 eggs, sparkling water - my 'treat' as cutting down on all the junk this month, organic mushrooms (extra Morries points)

Gorgeous sunny day (yes v chilly - hit minus 1 even in London last night) but it feels like ski weather,


Food
Just soaking mung and urad dal  beans to make a dal - feel some spicy food to help this cold weekend.
I also have dragged some chicken breast out the freezer so a chicken curry as well  (no rice as on slow carb plan again 6 days a week)

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, lovely to have targets to work towards!