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

Watty1

Yes, I have been wondering how the battle is going?

LadyWithAPlan

Suffolk_lass said:

Apparently I am allergic to cats. We have always had them. My old doctor suggested it is better to live exposed to the thing that aggravates you, as your body will manage the reaction (helped by antihistamine) - she did recommend we stop having long-haired cats though, and stick with short-haired. I wheeze when we get back from holiday and my skin itches, but Stealth cat stays!

Yes when you love  a cat you are prepared to suffer.
I used to have short haired cats with less allergens than normal - but did have to stop having them in my bedroom. I noticed after eating dairy i was more sensitive to them. Howevere this was next level hives - looked like I had injected stuff into my eyelids and my brows were nearly touching my scalp everything shot up so much!
This cat was full of long winter fur but I dont normally react as badly to it
I had a lot of antihistamines but took 3 days at home to stop waking up with a sore inflamed face.  Guess I had to get all the allergen out my system.
I am finally better now -  I used the Dr NeilMe* sinus rinse to help alleviate the symptons (it washes out a lot and obv is ENT so helps all) 
I also used my LED FACE mask as well once I got back - on the mixed setting as the blue is anti-inflammatory and RED and NIR for healing, it did seem to speed up healig the weals and dryness.

savingholmes said:

Good luck with the allergies. 

How is the flat situation?

Tx and @Watty1 @KajiKita All is quiet on  the western front on the flat - I am still here but the next move is the agents so - we keep getting emails about offering us other places with a 'goodwill' free month - i think they have started looking at the legal side and realised we have a strong case, made easier for us as there are now quite a few of us which is both comforting and means any potential costs will be split across more of us.

I was paid a decent amount by one client today but have 3 more clients all outstanding large amounts. I did get to play the YNAB dance at least and that  is looking better

I also note that due to the dollar falling against the £ i have today now amended an expenses invoice as I paid for things in £ and they refund me in dollars and the different is a fair amount due to the 2 month gap between invoice issue and waiting to be paid.

SIPP - I added a small amount today, Normally i add a fair amount to USA  and global howeber I have been underweight in UK since 2021 so added a bit more in there, plus Europe and the Pacific.
I am really low this year in pension contrbution additions and was enjoying the market growth (ha!) to get me to my targets  but actually I can take advantage now  of lower mkts though I think they are likely to fall further in the next few weeks.

My  Van main sipp and s&s isa are down 7.69% in 6 weeks. That s&s is a small part of my house deposit but I am still up from what I invested it in,. i have been adding recent new monies for the hse deposit into a cash isa.
The s&p500 is down over 10% since highs of Feb 19 - largely these  tariffs and trade wars..

I feel for my poor American friends (largely creatives) - their FB feeds are full of understandable despair and mounting fury


BABY CRYPTO Down from the Dec 24  high of £249 its now at £168..
interesting to see just how volatile it really is. I paid £145 for it over a few months last summer so I havent lost anything.. 

I have been focused on the MB and the cheltenham  races the latter part of the week, there is a fair amount I have not got done elsewhere - I also have been recovering from my reaction to the cat.. So i would  normally yell at myself  on not getting my huge todo list done but I have been so busy the last few weeks and also ill that I am choosing self-care and kindness instead of negativity,

LadyWithAPlan

Continuing with the self care Friday  I had a great nights sleep - preceded with 30 mins before of no screens, a shower and some sleep body lotion and awoke well before 8am naturally.

I am doing some study at present so did that and some MB and am about to go for a walk in the spring sunshine. Only 7 degrees but it is sunny.
Trying to empty freezer but have no fresh or frozen veg left so need to get some of that and try to ignore any YS unless v good.

EDIT: I bought a fair amount of YS from M&S which included an organic chicken £22 reduced to £10.30 then I had a 10% off fresh chicken in the app - first time I have seen such things on that app 
so my total bill there £19 was full of YS and less than the full price chicken would have been 

I am thinking of rejoining my local gym, my EMS is still on pause for a 3rd week but it is a 40 min walk each way and I couldnt get an appt this Sat so have frozen. Cost is £40 pw vs hopefully I can get a student discount on my local gym - may do monthly - more expensive but I may have to move  and i think me seeing the monthly money going out is a good deterrent. Will pop along tomorrow to sort.

popped to B&&ts as I had ordered some of the Orig&ns Mega mushro&m lotion - it really helped My skin when it flared up years ago with fish allergy-makes my skin feel so happy and last months -  it’s normally £39 but it had been on a flash sale with extra 5% off code then I got 10% student discount- so was £28.xx and I used my points 

whilst there I bought 2 half price day and night creams whilst also hitting an extra double points plus it was something for a competition - I am on a no buy unless essential toiletries as I am still working my way thru a lot plus Xmas stuff but the day cream has spf in which I had ran out of and I may keep night cream as Mother’s Day gift or use it as I am at end of my rose oil bottle 
- it reminded me of my quote though as it’s so easy to part with one’s cash 

LadyWithAPlan

Had a focused but lovely day on Sunday. I actually did an Insanity workout from home (its an exercise thing)  - first one since the pandemic - I actually managed it really well - all the EMS has definitely made me fitter especially as I continued all thru the winter, I would have thought it would have been super hard but it felt quite easy til the last bit then I stretched for ten mins.

I am on a pause at present from EMS training and seeing if I can manage to motivate myself to train daily at home - the ems is great but its a long walk 40+ mins each way and thus takes a good 2.5 hours out my day.  I am wary of starting monthly gym as I will be travelling a lot this summer and also may be moving within the year - flat dependent, so dont want to pay for what I cant use.

Anyone know a good online pharmacy to contact re me getting my female testosterone? My GP will write the prescription but I  need to know where she needs to send it I guess - I want to see if the female TST one is better (though I have to pay for it) than the male one.. I do feel better in myself since being on it and have loads of energy but I am feeling definitely heavier in weight and I am really eating way more junk than normal. Last week was easier from Wed on but  nutrition didnt get much better.


ALLERGY feeling better but I can still see my eyes are not back to normal, a bit sore and a bump under my eyes I dont normally have  stopped taking the anti-histamines as i am nowhere near a cat now
I am wondering if I had such an unusually strong reaction to the cat cos of the TST? However I definitely feel more on an even keel, have lots of energy and feel strong.

I am ongoingly reading the CPTSD Pete Walker book and it talks about the importance of exercise (aerobic and stretching) for getting out of the habits  so aiming to get daily stretching in at least - it takes one back into ones body and grounds you, also releasing tension. I am also aiming to speak kindly to myself and when negative thoughts come up I yell (to myself) STOP and see a stop sign..

I cleaned out the door on my huge fridge - I am now soaking the shelves... 
I also managed to clear out my study, it does become a dumping ground especially when I am drying washing.  I was feeling quite disorganised but a messy study will do that to me, plus I have had so much on and then I leave things to be put away which always me feel more disorganised. I am not super tidy but I have learnt when things get untidy around me I get distracted and restless. One of my big goals for this year is to live a beautiful life  and in my home as well which also means keeping up with the washing up. I yearn for one of those deep sinks so water does not go everywhere.

Minimalism Game  (MG) 16+ today - I am tracking this, but felt a bit cheaty with  lots of paperwork. I also though added the recent receipts into my Accting software.

I also then did a scrum like board for the next  2 weeks of march  - what needs doing so I am feeling very clear headed. Its all typed out and also on my white board. So I have actual clarity on my todos when I wake up in the morning



Nutrition was good today after eating too much junk yesterday  - I had bought two crisp packets as competition qualifiers - they got quickly scoffed - along with some GF biscuits I was getting extra points on ....the products with Gluten in I of course never eat  and will donate.
Today I had a YS buffalo chicken (with cauli rice and basmati rice) from MARKS - i never buy ready made food unless its YS but it was tasty. i also had defrosted some YS pork bbq skewer things, also tasty - served with YS stir fry veg.
I had a YS steak for dinner with more stir fry veg.. grated beetroot, gherkins and horseradish

No spend day but I spent loads yesterday so .. £51.83 on groceries /food stuffs and £16 in boots.. I am aiming to really keep spends down and declutter my home.
I received a swapped Xmas gift of trainers last week so now looking at trainers I do have and thinking if I should donate some. The good thing about the MG is it gets me back into actively looking for things to declutter. Somehow there feels like a lot still

MB i won a few nice Extra Place horses today and yesterday and though I dont support Newcastle I was pleased they won the EFL Cup, I had an idea they might. 

Groceries
£94 spent this month 
£2 bulk
£15.05 junk food (its more slightly but part of another category)
£8.75 Red wine for home  
I found myself not wanting to buy any American wine which is a first for me. (EDIT: I have realised that this is not true as I have not bought any Russian vodka since the war started)
All this tariff horror talks .. I have to side with the Canadians and the EU etc, my buying power is not much (especially on wine!) but what I can do I will. Interesting to read of people taking back their TESLA's etc - if I owned one I would definitely look at that.  The Canadians having stars on their groceries denoting if Canadian made etc - I suppose they are more concerned given they are next to the States
Dealing with powerful neighbours you share a border with  is of course always  a huge issue over the centuries, 

savingholmes

Shows the danger of absolute wealth and related power... on the Tes thing.

Glad you finally got a decent chunk of pay and the landlords have backed off some. 

Suffolk_lass

My newspaper (or maybe BBC Verify) confirmed that all over Europe, people are boycotting Tesla and Musk businesses, except in the UK. Presumably fashion trumps all (no pun intended). At least he sold all of his holding in Paypal, when he sold it to the bay of E in 2002. He actually only has 12.8% of the Tesla stock, with companies like BlackRock and Vanguard being other major stock holders. I invest in Vanguard. I probably should check what is happening there. It goes way beyond tariffs, although that is the source of one bit of evil going on

LadyWithAPlan

@Suffolk_lass I also am in Vanguard and my £86k+ holdings tumbled to £80k in a couple weeks (!) but as you say any US or global large cap fund will be holding Tesla etc 
- shocked on the UK stats you mention ! 

If I don’t get paid some of what I am owed by next week I will pull money from PB to put into my pension before tax year end 

@savingholmes there is more to come on the invoices and I am getting a bit bored and unmotivated by doing work to pay /save for the house purchase whilst not actually seeing my deposit rise .. in last year I am treating water - I could be doing other creative stuff instead / 
3 main companies I contract for all behind on their invoices now - just reaffirms my need to have a 6 month if not 12 month essentials EF when I buy to back myself up 

I am so thankful for my large deposit /savings though - the stress of a large solo mortgage would not be good for me right now 

I am struggling a bit MH wise - still a bit allergic, hardly got anything done and procrastinating etc 
I am mid the CPTSD book and it points to me being in an extended freeze where I lose myself in pointless activities - I go from extreme activity (flight) to these fugues as I have called them for years (freeze ) - it’s good to finally put a finger and a further understanding of my lifelong patterns - luckily when I get busy and lose myself in activity I am very efficient 

I have no real deadlines this week bar for Friday - external deadlines always get me moving - and next week I will be back to doing 8 days of side hustle stuff in office which is good for me 
so I have not actioned yet my Sunday to do list but I will if only cos of the deadlines 

the book is great and is stirring up some real recognisable stuff - so I am being compassionate and sending self love to myself but now also getting bored of myself getting in my own way of my goals / which is a good thing in itself - I can see how my lack of activity is hurting my goals 
I am going to bed too late so up late, lack of sleep etc 
I am also a little in awe of myself having succeeded so much in my life given the CPTSD symptoms that keep crashing me down 

so chanting extra to get myself back on an even keel of focused activity  - happy to see the sunshine today 

I have contacted today my GP about trying the female tst instead as I definitely feel heavier in a month of being on TST which does not help my MH - it may also be affecting my mood though my energy levels are much better 
My allergy is better but still present - waking up with slightly swollen eyes and face

Really feel a thousand years older than 3 years ago - due to the Menopause kicking in - crazy how much it is affecting me really in how I feel about myself - I know many women have it much worse (know someone who committed suicide whilst struggling with increased depression through it etc) so I am keeping  my eye on the hormones etc 

I did manage to scrub my large fridge inside and it looks fabulous and shiny, flat looks cleaner , study feels much better -  i am
grateful for my home (no action yet on the flat) 

Of the back of a side hustle abroad last summer I met a contact, chased it up and now have work in their country end Aug for a week - woohoo ! 

TallGirl

Hi sorry to her your are struggling menopause is just the worst do keep pushing your GP you want this sorted. I agree it is scary to see pensions tumble and how annoying all the companies are now behind. As for the allergies maybe not agree to any more pet sits obviously not good to keep exposing yourself to the fur sad as it may be you have to look out for yourself. Take care and go easy on yourself. Maybe have a few Haribo's. 

LadyWithAPlan

TallGirl said:

Hi sorry to her your are struggling menopause is just the worst do keep pushing your GP you want this sorted. I agree it is scary to see pensions tumble and how annoying all the companies are now behind. As for the allergies maybe not agree to any more pet sits obviously not good to keep exposing yourself to the fur sad as it may be you have to look out for yourself. Take care and go easy on yourself. Maybe have a few Haribo's. 

tx TG - they should warn us women re the menopause - 40 years of periods and then this.. argh ...

 it wasnt pet sitting - just visiting family who have a lot of pets that I am normally fine with and a cat I have slept with before (though winter fur). This next level hive over night reaction was new though... It looked like i had injected my eyelids and the eye brow area with something... been a week of being pet free but can still fee;/see in my system a bit.
I will buy some Haribo as have side hustle thing this eve

Sat in my study with sunshine flooding in and got a 'must do' list and starting to crank through it.. Will report back on my victory

SandyShores

Hope you feel better soon, can you do some early nights?