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

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

I have a very expensive evening dress that was given to me, with tags on but its too large so that I will keep

Are you planning to grow into it 🤔🤣?

No! You did make me laugh though, I will sell on ebay or cudoni or vestiare.. Its got a £800+ tag on it. I was given another also a bit large and I had it taken in but whilst it looks great in life it looks terrible in pics so needs cutting again - often easier to buy it already fitting 

I bought an amazing dress on Cudoni  in May - the exact same dress as I already own (and an absolute fav) but in a different colour as I do end up having to dress up quite a lot.
 
I looked for months as the original one was £300 in TK Maxx from £2000 in 2018 and I have worn it so much its definitely down to below a £2 a wear - but was not prepared to pay £2000 for another which they are I looked and my dressmaker friend said it would cost hundreds to replicate it.

So Cudoni had it in a different colour and same size, £300 then on sale to £250- minus a £25 discount offer  - so £225. It looks like it has never been worn. It also looked terrible in the sales pics on the site, I only knew how good it would look as I have the same dress already.

As long as I try not to fit in the above mentioned silver one, I will be wearing this one as well for decades. 
So whilst some of you MSE'ers reading maybe thinking £200-£300 for a dress - no wonder she has not bought a flat!  - trust me these two are so worth it. 

It also keeps me slimmer as I am not prepared to put on too much weight and thus having to replace my wardrobe! Think of all the food costs I am saving and my health and my dentist bills

Cheery_Daff said:

I don't have a spreadsheet- I signed up to Oddsmonkey right near the beginning, so that tracks sports offers etc, and I use Team Casino to track individual casino offers, then just add the daily casino total to Oddsmonkey. Sounds like a faff but isn't really, just a routine. I usually stick to 50p spins since autospin stopped - haven't been brave enough for bigger than that yet!

As for stopping sports, yes I got gubbed by a few of course, but also I don't do horses, and that seems to be the longer term way of making most profits. I do still do the odd sports offer when they happen to appear and if easy, but I find the team casino list of offers the easiest thing to work through each day, and they send reminders for free spins etc - I hated having to remember/write down when to go back for a free bet. 

If I was doing it full time I'd be a bit more varied, but as it stands, a little routine of 3 or 4 straightforward casino offers each day suits me nicely, with occasionally a bit more at the weekend. 

Always interesting to see what other people are doing though 😊

Yes indeed Cheery I use Profit accumulator and their casino section as well. (have a referral code  that saves people money if anyone interested).
I will look at team casino as they don't remind me on free spins though which would be useful

Its quite calming I find as well a few casino offers with vey strict guidelines - do you feel the same?

I used to track every offer but the time I spent tracking, once I was very clear on what I was doing and why it worked I stopped. I use the time for more offers and just add up once a month.

I would suggest you look at football accas where if one leg loses you can get cash back as a free bet. Just look at the rules for each bookie and place bets as close to the accepted odds 1.2 or 1.5 as possible, I dont lay these so you do need a decent bank but the EV is very good as long as you stick to the rules.

I also LOVE trading the Bundesliga, just because all the games are free to watch on betfair/bet365 etc rather than stressing about paying for Sky to watch the premiership. Also I dont have any historical likes or dislikes about German teams so easier to be impartial. Plus they always score loads

I don't do much horses - maybe one bet or two a week on a refund if 2,3,4th etc  unless Cheltenham week.

I only do MB maybe an hour a day (less at present with no footie) but  in football season I do a good few hours both weekend days.

I also paid  for a football trading course which has helped get the max out of my free bets so I underlay a lot and also I have become cleverer about the bets I place including the accas so a lot of over 1.5 goals, btts.

@savingholmes tx for dropping by We all have different gifts - I love your paintings, my visual art is awful! Noone will be paying me for them
I am super mathematical so it interest me though I have got my mum doing it as well, she doesnt like the risk of the casino unless its frees pins but my dad and her  do more horse race betting than I ever will !!  

Sistergold

Well done on keeping up with accountability and posting regularly. 

On the cast iron tortilla press, I have one and it’s well worth it if you should decide to invest in one. The press makes batch making a breeze as when I do some I make quite a pile and freeze them. As I do the low carb ones consistency can be an issue so I use two silicone baking mats (above and bellow the mix) or I cut up a large freezer bag and use that in pressing to prevent sticking. 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks for the details, will investigate football accas.  I've never really considered trading. You're right, I do find the low risk casino pretty relaxing which is one reason I've not really progressed with anything else! Will investigate.

Your dresses sound beautiful and like you get plenty of use from them!

LadyWithAPlan

Sistergold said:

Well done on keeping up with accountability and posting regularly. 

On the cast iron tortilla press, I have one and it’s well worth it if you should decide to invest in one. The press makes batch making a breeze as when I do some I make quite a pile and freeze them. As I do the low carb ones consistency can be an issue so I use two silicone baking mats (above and bellow the mix) or I cut up a large freezer bag and use that in pressing to prevent sticking. 

Do you have a recipe for the low carb ones? Maybe with flaxseed as I know some friends make them that way.
Freezing is the way forward as otherwise I eat the entire batch in 3 hours!

I really dont need encouraging on the press ) I would love a red cast iron tortilla press - it was on my Xmas list last year - It might move to the top this year  
Silicon baking mats I love and have one I may try to fold and use that in the interim - at present I am still experimenting with the water/consistency and tried putting some of the dough balls in the fridge for 10 mins before griddling but dont think it made any difference.

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

Thanks for the details, will investigate football accas.  I've never really considered trading. You're right, I do find the low risk casino pretty relaxing which is one reason I've not really progressed with anything else! Will investigate.

Your dresses sound beautiful and like you get plenty of use from them!

Football accas are something I ignored for years - but realising the value - you dont lay, so you can have matches at crossing over times  but you have the security of a free bet  if one leg doesnt win. You will lose a few, get loads free bets  but then one win brings it back.
Just make sure you pick games that correspond as low as possible to the offer so 1.2 or 1.5 etc, each bookie has different legs requirement (4 to 5) Fafab and  the irish bookie are great and you can do one daily and leave them once placed. You can normally only get one free bet a day per bookie so be careful if you have accas that run into day 2 etc  so dont have accas all finishing on same day, juggle the days!

I love my clothes I did get rid of 4 things this morning to the charity collection but I have to be very careful as I always regret decluttering clothes.

LadyWithAPlan

Round up of today - still doing some work for a client  as I type as I procrastinated mid week so now wanting to get it finished so Saturday can be a clear weekend and no stress. I could finish Monday but figure one hour more of focus  

TT £1 as flat bank acct
However my other bank acct Monzo I had round up set already on so extra 5p wandered over as well to TT pot there.

Spending 
Just had DD of  a new £25/month subscription for something related to this new hobby come out today .. - I need to use it and then maybe stall for a month as I am not bringing in loads to cover it within this hobby and I want to ringfence the costs. so need to note in my diary

GYM 
I got up early enough to do 10 min warm up, quick legs weights workout then a 20 min swim before my long day of working. so pleased with that.

It was annoying though as there are only 4 showers in the ladies and they have huge signs saying 'please dont change in the showers, just have a quick shower and use the other changing rooms'  as there are separate little changing rooms there as well as a big open all female space. I waited 10 mins and gave up before swimming without a shower and then waited 15 mins after and they were all full of women showering and then changing their kids in the same space. I had to leave the gym without a shower straight from the pool.
I know having kids means there is a lot of stuff but it wasn't just me waiting it was also other mums with their kids as well. Why these selfish mums  figured they could just use one of the 4 shower spaces for 20-30 mins whilst the rest of us had to wait I dont know. I  complained to the useless male guy on the gym door  and suggested he swap with the female lifeguard so she could start moving these women. just cos you have a child doesn't mean you get to be that selfish when there were plenty of women of all ages, there were some 80 years olds to other women with their kids who were getting tetchy waiting so long as well.

I will definitely go in the morning to the gym, but I will have another word with the door staff maybe they need to remind the mums  to not hog the 4 showers and shower and dry your child off in the other changing rooms, 2 feet away!. I was polite today, I may not be as polite if it happens again. 

NSD - another so thats 3 I think apart from the DD which I forgot which may or may not count! I had to rush back from gym to work rather than pop to lidl so still not bought the bits I need for my friend. Her mum is there so I am sure she is being well looked after, I will get it tomorrow after gym, before doing some trading/MB and then going out to sunbathe
I could have had drinks with a friend this eve but she always likes a drink or 3 and as its central London we are talking at least £15 for 2 large glasses of rose, though she happily drinks a few £15 cocktails - luckily I dont like that much sugar... so I am trying to not spend too much on alcohol this weekend. I spent loads last week. What I dont spend  by Sunday, I will empty my entertainment /restaurant and grocery pot and add to 50/50 mortgage/sipp

Unpaid invoices shock
I have just started building my August budget and looked at what I am due.
£XXxxx in unpaid invoices due to be paid by now - nothing today. We should be getting some new funding in so I can get my pay sorted.
Another few due next week, no wonder I have been reluctant to commit to buying and feel like I have been stretched financially. 
I will have to move some of my £3700 MB float so I can pay my rent Monday. I use it as a loose EF anyway but its annoying. At least I have it and it will stop me spending excess this weekend!

Most of the invoices  will go to house deposit (minus my taxes I will put in my PB), 15% to SIPP and of course bills!
Due to my large house deposit  in savings - not in a house and the return I am getting I will  hit that 40% on interest income as I only have a £500 allowance.. So PB are the way to go as tax free.
I have a Help to buy isa so I cant have another cash isa. I did open a new s&s isa with vanguard this week so I will add some to that.

Adding up the unpaid invoices is quite a shock, I am stating here that if it does not get resolved by end August I will go get another  wfh job - I can work for this one on the side for 2 days a week as its all at home. That way I can really save for this flat.

Sistergold

Oh @LadyWithAPlan just look at the unpaid invoices as a forced saving! When the money comes your account will be singing! Well done on the 40% interest with that you can afford to wait to buy your flat while you save more! You might be able to put more than 50% down and that should make your monthly payments less daunting! You do get used to the high mortgage payments after some time I must say but if you can avoid it well x

savingholmes

Ouch to being owed that kind of money. Forced saving or not - cashflow wise it carries risk for your business. 

Good that you have EF to draw on. 

Thank you for the compliments on my art.

LadyWithAPlan

Sistergold said:

Oh @LadyWithAPlan just look at the unpaid invoices as a forced saving! When the money comes your account will be singing! Well done on the 40% interest with that you can afford to wait to buy your flat while you save more! You might be able to put more than 50% down and that should make your monthly payments less daunting! You do get used to the high mortgage payments after some time I must say but if you can avoid it well x

Tx for the reassurance of the huge monthly payments.. The 40% interest is the tax bracket I pay on my interest above £500/year  as HR payer
When it hits my bank coount I will be very happy (til next day when its been squirreled in to all the various accts)
However I just set up a company  vs self/emplo so as to minimise NI costs especially now.
50% would be the dream - £250k ouch .. I am setting a very ambitious goal of saving 150k by year end, not sure where its coming from but I need to buy soon and something I want to live in!!

savingholmes said:

Ouch to being owed that kind of money. Forced saving or not - cashflow wise it carries risk for your business. 

Good that you have EF to draw on. 

Thank you for the compliments on my art.

Yes the risk feels too high right now, you are right.. Its not all the same company but still.  Monday conversation will be definitely happening.
As I havent bought a house I have a huge EF right now! What I will have to do is make sure I dont  put all cash into the depoist/house costs just in case !

LadyWithAPlan

@Cheery_Daff did you do a football acca - I did one on the liv v man city game - got 3/4 legs fine so got the £10 back as a fb so ... 


Saturday round up 

I went to the gym, 10 mins interval, 25 min chest and triceps, 30 mins swim. The aim is 20 min minimum every day swimming - so even on days I am tired I can manage that

TT £1 moved over - all to be moved over end of month

Spent £21.xx in liddle - only had £16 cash on me but saw loads bargains  including YS turkey mince, beetroot/asparagus/tomatoes,   under £1 a bunch, coconut oil to £1.29 and almond milk 85p when its been out of stock for weeks.  I did not have my wallet but my watch and my phone has cards in them
All of it was food except a £1.69 kitchen roll! All budgeted for.

I am doing grocery challenge from Aug 1st £170 + £30 bulk but I will start from scratch there with new busdget - I do still have some left in July's food envelope (well bank pot)

I looked at price of a fr chicken - in the winter I buy one a week for me so I roast it, stir fry and make a stock for soup.. it has shot up - liddle were £7.xx for FR and £8+ for corn fed fr.  Families must be really struggling especially if they have debt.

So  far 3/5  x NSD since I started counting again  - I will add some now to electricty bill so as to not have to ruin a sunday nsd

I did go out this eve to Notting Hill and only drank water in very trendy bars whilst my friends drank £12 cocktails (+ tips). I have got used to the cost of drinks here in London but when I dont drink its always more of a shock to see my large bottle water was only £4.

I am on a lose 6-8 lbs fat and put back on the  5+  lbs muscle I lost thru covid and now still WFH. 2022 goal so actually the sugary cocktails didnt appeal. My friend then wanted to drag me out to Soho dancing but luckily sobriety kicked in and I caught a 23.50 bus back home (the glamour is real)  One young guy probably 20 was a couple seats in front of me and was trying to give his friend relationship advice on the phone.

• You wanna text back what?
• (listening)
• You have got to take control
• (listening)
• Look mate I am cancelling you as my wingman

One cocktail looked great though - vodka, fresh pineapple juice, ginger and soda - my friend said it was super refreshing 

England women in the euros final tomorrow   How amazing !!
I wont be drinking though - plan is one day a week max drinking thru August unless I go away. I only drank one vodka tonic this Wednesday since 2am Sunday morning last week 

Recipes
I made loads of tortillas yesterday and froze 2 that I ate today along with a pressure cooker YS turkey mince, mung beans, lots of veg, even a potato and a tomato passata flavoured sauce thing. LOVING the 6 in 1 pressure cooker still - I sauted meat first and then cooked in same pot - less washing up as well.,

I have googled again cast iron tortilla presses after @Sistergold encouragement - I can get the one I want for £22 reduced, so plan is to  put stuff on ebay and  use any receipts towards something I do really want - though the electric tortilla makers and heaters look possible as well


My replacement series 7 apple watch arrived today (yes so not mse) except 
- I did buy a refurbed series 6 one but battery terrible- so I returned it and traded up for new series 7 with better glass and 33% quicker charging
- over half the cost was paid by my family as bday money
- I saved £60 using an online place - still with one year apple guarantee - it took 10 days to get to me 

I find I love having one again, for the fitness aspect, all the fun health stats plus its great it has so many apps on it. There is an app that is only on apple watches so that I need to sort again - I had an apple watch before as I won one but dropped it June 2020 - and it was killed - the new series 7 is much stronger glass apparently, still battery leaves a lot to be desired.

I also tidied up as well a fair bit and got rid of a single dumb bell to a neighbour and lounge looks much clearer

Tomorrow I have a £1.50 tesco voucher running out I have to find, a gathering, a friends birthday I will pop in after or before the football