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

LadyWithAPlan

badmemory said:

I hope you don't mind me asking but where does all that body info come from?

It is the boditrax machine, gyms often have one. They are great for measuring small changes and seeing muscle growth and are pretty accurate -  https://discover.boditrax.com/
I have now seen they should be used before exercise not after

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

Could you do a click and collect for the Lakeland order? That way you get the cashback without having to pay for postage?

Clever idea )) I will - I was near the shop Thursday annoyingly but now not for a month or so but will do the click and collect then
Its only £15.99 for 2 lots but still ..

Suffolk_lass

You asked about spicy mayo - I take a dollop of shop-bought mayo (a good tablespoon) and add a teaspoon of lazy chilli (or 2 finely chopped and deseeded homegrown cheyenne chillies if it is to be shared with people I don't know well enough to know how spicy they go. Zest and juice of half a lemon and heavy on the freshly ground clack pepper. If it is to be used with seafood, I add a little sweet chilli dipping sauce and a small squirt of tomato ketchup and whisk it until it is smooth.

If you want the Nando's sauce recipe there is this version (which I am told is mixed with your [their] regular mayo 1:4 for mild, up to 1:2 for hot).

It might have been me that refers to paying the supermarkets to store their food, as I often mention this over on the GC when saying hello to new people and suggesting they read the first few posts.

I found your reference to using vegan protein powder interesting. I work on a playing card pack-sized portion of protein for each of us here (per day) after following the British Heart Foundation recommendations (half to two thirds of your plate is vegetables, one third (to half) split between carbs and protein).

If it were me, I would have to add the cost of this to my DD & Subscriptions heading in my GC tracker. And sweets, ice cream or crisps all go in the collective Treats and Entertainment heading (which equalled GC one month before I pared it back as we hadn't been out!). Splitting it out is a useful way of seeing where you are spending and making adjustments. A bit like saving, the small savings are equally incentivising.

Suffolk_lass

I meant to add, Apples; not apple jam but apple butter and I have just made a jelly mix for apple cordial (with a campden tablet to stop it fermenting), or you could juice them and add a crushed campden tablet dissolved in a tiny bit of warmed juice, again to stop it fermenting.

SusieT

I would not worry about the credit score as it meaningless and will go down with any changes. Only thing that was not clear, you said you repay the card in full early, if you pay early as in before the statement arrives, then it will not show on the credit history, you need to pay it after the statement arrives or it will show as unused. If by early you mean after the statement but before the due date then that is perfect and will put you in a good position with lenders when you do want to get a mortgage.

LadyWithAPlan

Just had that lovely morning text about being a PB winner £25 thanks very much.
So £102,025/£125,000 goal

I do now have £16575 in there - some house deposit and my tax savings as well and I am adding my TT in there as well as into my new 22/23 baby Van isa. as well. I have smashed through all my  interest tax free threshold so everything I earn interest wise is taxed at 20 or 40% so..

I may look at this Chase card though - anyone got one for cashback? I never have used a cashback card and I have moved groceries now to cash. I have some spare monies sitting in old Marc*s and Covent** accts when I was getting better returns there - barely £500 - so maybe I could use that

Suffolk_lass said:

It might have been me that refers to paying the supermarkets to store their food, as I often mention this over on the GC when saying hello to new people and suggesting they read the first few posts.

If it were me, I would have to add the cost of this to my DD & Subscriptions heading in my GC tracker. And sweets, ice cream or crisps all go in the collective Treats and Entertainment heading (which equalled GC one month before I pared it back as we hadn't been out!). Splitting it out is a useful way of seeing where you are spending and making adjustments. A bit like saving, the small savings are equally incentivising.

@Suffolk_lass thanks so much for all your feedback.
Thanks for the spicy mayo recipe I will have a go. Yet to do anything more with the apples than eat them but I will have a go at the apple butter it sounds amazing. I need some jars first

Yes it was you then who said that about why we are paying supermarkets to store their stuff - it really has stuck with me. So unless its YS or a bulk buy of value ..
Can I ask for further clarification - how many sub pots do you have on Grocery? Four?
 - bulk + grocery + treats/entertainment + dues/subscriptions?

On the dues I only have the chocolate and strawberry vegan protein plus MCT oil (but now got too much of that so stopped it)  - It used to kill my monthly but I am thinking now it should come from bulk (which I have started adding £30 each month to). Do you have lots of food subscriptions?

I have a Entertainment budget separately that covers coffees out, restaurants and art  trips/music gigs etc - plus a do what you want pot I have started taking cash out for crisps etc,. So I will copy you and make it a Treat/Entertainment pot instead as then I know buying too many sweets means less music gigs or art shows.. I know which is more fun I can then leave my 'do what I want fund (£20/month) to more fun things.

I love crisps but after reading the inspiring and wise Jackie O I may never buy them again!!
On the frugal/Grocery challenge forum she was saying she saw her mum laugh at her brother when he came home in the 50s/60s with a packet of crisps with a twist of salt - apparently her mum sliced off a bit of potato to show how much ingredient had gone into the pack of crisps.
I may try making my own crisps and even  tortilla chips - I have the proper masa flour but my tortilla making is still in the experimental stage!


Using Vegan protein powder -  I do add to shakes, and to DF yogurt with frozen blueberries and a dash of DF milk as a sweet but healthy treat. Mainly  though you can bake with it so I have for years made oat protein banana blueberry pancakes - particularly good for travelling on planes as they tasty full of protein - I use the strawberry vegan flavour as plane food as DF GF is a nightmare. 
I also make DF GF chocolate muffins full of protein and not too carb heavy if you use coconut flour with the chocolate  protein one. It is all about making snacks healthier.

I use Applied Nutriti*n Vegan-Pro - its great as too much whey makes me very mucusy- I am Dairy sensitive rather than allergic (I hope - my niece is v allergic to lots and the consultant says diary allergies are not so easy to see but come out in weird ways eg eczema as well).
I was swimming yesterday and I could feel the mucus on my chest from eating chocolate a few days ago.. I probably am more allergic than I want to admit   but I occasionally let a bit of chocolate or cheese in especially at TOM or restaurants as being GF (which I have to be strict on) and DF in restaurants causes havoc..
 I really am not a fan of DF cheese but the DF butters like Naturli and this Flora one are both great - Naturli hardly tastes any different.

Note I am not a vegan - I was a veggie for 5 years but despite all my cooking skills it did not suit me - I personally need a lot of protein and I am GF, DF and I am realising I am v sensitive to some pulses so ... so I also use Hydrolysed Collagen powder (basically beef bones ground up) in shakes. 
Collagen is very good for us as we age and I tried the Marine collagen  which is apparently the best for our skin in various powders and creams and came out in  huge patchy red hives that stayed around for weeks!!  I could hardly see out my eyes so I gave it 3 months break and tried again with a little bit of one cream and same result ... So I must be allergic to that - my nan was allergic to fish - I eat a small amount naturally - but only really eat oysters and leave other shell fish alone.

LadyWithAPlan

SusieT said:

I would not worry about the credit score as it meaningless and will go down with any changes. Only thing that was not clear, you said you repay the card in full early, if you pay early as in before the statement arrives, then it will not show on the credit history, you need to pay it after the statement arrives or it will show as unused. If by early you mean after the statement but before the due date then that is perfect and will put you in a good position with lenders when you do want to get a mortgage.

Ah! Thanks for this - Yes I often pay by my cc and then transfer money over a few days later after the purchase. I will start a CC pot instead and pay once statement comes through. The report does show I use 10% of it - only got a £2300 limit through my main bank - despite the fact they see at least double that being paid in each month. So only £230 (10%) maybe I need to up spending on it to 20%. 
I have realised though when I put larger things on the cc  and dont transfer the money then it builds  whilst leaving my current account looking healthily than it actually is.. and then I have to pay it off  and it hurts! So I will start a CC pot, transfer all spending automatically and then pay after statement arrives.
I will stop using it entirely once I get my mortgage.

Inspired by @Cheery_Daff and her Frugal Sept I am declaring this the Soaring September where I soar towards my financial, organisational and life goals.

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, love that you've made your own logo! 😀😀

themadvix

Before you spend money on stayfresh bags, have you checked you're storing everything in the best way possible? This is a great resource for this: https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/. 

savingholmes

Love the image.

You are doing well weight wise. Remember some fat is good and women need more than men.