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

LadyWithAPlan

savingholmes said:

Cooking, frugal living and course all sounds good and getting organised. I hope you get some of your invoices paid soon 

I hope as well -  apparently some funds are coming in week after next -
but the smaller amount from the other company  - of about £4k .. I can see the excess expenditure going through the business - but they now overdrawn ... lots of companies not paying them either - .. 

Its DIY drill day tomorrow

NSD again so 10/16

This declutter items equalling day of the month  20/20
This has suddenly got serious! I have had a few days off but got back on it yesterday. However it is the 20th so 20 items ...  -so was searching for another 10 things - and found some old bank statements   so I ripped up one lot. I have more  in packets but  tomorrow needs 21 things I do have a lot of old as in pre covid makeup and eyeshadows not worn. I really do need to throw most of it  out but there is some fabulous  Mac glitter stuff - probably a decade old - I know they say cosmetics last x months or a year if opened but glitter? It feels indestructible - may use it to add into some home decor stuff if not on my face...

themadvix

Not that in a cosmetics user really, but apart from a deterioration in the texture possibly, I cannot see that anything can go off in them - sure it’s just a marketing ploy to make people buy more. Different perhaps with lotions as the content may degrade, but not make up.

 Hope you get paid soon- I’ve been there! 🙄

savingholmes

I don't worry about dates on makeup much to my DD's horror. If I get an allergic reaction then I ditch it but otherwise should be fine.

Well done on the decluttering.

Merlin's_Beard

I think it's the bacterial build up that means you ought to throw it out, but I'll be honest, I don't. But there again I eat cake mix as well...!

LadyWithAPlan

@themadvix @savingholmes indeed  - I think if things are opened its worse...
Sorry to hear themadvix re you also experienced the long delay in invoices payment - hopefuly yours worked out OK.

Merlin's_Beard said:

I think it's the bacterial build up that means you ought to throw it out, but I'll be honest, I don't. But there again I eat cake mix as well...!

Who doesnt I also eat on occasion steak and tuna tartare and of course sushi and sashimi  which can contain not great stuff. Plus I eat oysters.

DIY CLASS - DRILL DAY
I did drill day today  at DIY school - I was  scared initially of using the power tools to be honest  but I loved it. We all used various drills - we all had to drill  holes and screw wood batons to plaster board plus we got to have a go at drilling with SDS DRILLS into concrete and brick.  I knew 0 about drills and he was clear on speeds, drill bits, taking the battery out, safety, how to use, changing drill bits and what is used when and he made us try it all including drilling  huge holes for pipes etc.

Then he got the jigsaw out and I actually was the first up to cut wavy lines in mdf with a jigsaw (and a carefully placed finger to guide) . Given I have never used an electric drill in my life and power tools have always  scared me I feel today was hugely useful and I dont feel scared as having someone  show me all the right ways and stand over me showing me the settings, the right wall plugs etc etc  is very confidence building - so Merlins Beard I can fully recommend doing a drill course at least. Plus he has suggested a few power tools to buy as we start out. Having an all womens class is also reassuring - however we had a new lady in today that kept saying 'I just bought one of those' very annoying - as he got various power tools out - I am not sure why she was there as the rest of us had never picked up a drill ever! She did not seem practically any better.
He also showed us  where a lady on his previous beginner course (which this is) had  then made her own bath accoutrement - a wavy bath rack with cut indents for candles and a glass of wine and mini book holders..
Next week we are plastering and we are about to learn how to do it without covering the floor with plaster apparently. 

Walking past diy shop today I picked up some sink plugs and leads. - £3 - doing this DIY course is making me look at where I live and fix things allied with this 30 day organised book is making me less cluttered. 

Declutter only 4/21 items today so I will go find 17 more items  before sleeping.. Old bank statements here I come

I did  tidy today but no move forward on my tupperware collection organisation  as had busy day and was out at class this eve.


Grocery spend £32 today
Grocery Sep 22 GC £95.44 /£160  + £20.70 /55.50 bulk

I had a friend coming round today so went to Mr Lid and stocked up including some snacks/food  I wouldn't normally buy including some crackers  (for gravadlax) that did had gluten in as  I didn't have time to get any Nairns GF oatcakes or GF bread  and am running low on GF bread . They remain unopened for next time a non GF person comes around and will then get sent home with them once opened. It is rare I have Gluten food in the house and once opened I send excess home with the guests so it does not get stored.

Inspired by all the talk of squash on the grocery challenge  thread I bought a butternut squash  as on specials at Mr L - I however have never cooked a squash in my life so any 'best recipes' with them appreciated - i can see mention of roasting and soup.

Beetroot 2 x bunches at 99p each so I will pressure cook tomorrow and then make beetroot soup as I have loads HM chicken stock in the freezer. I feel like I need more iron as well so.

I had 15% off deluxe bacon so bought 3 packets of that which I will divide up and freeze most - I have found if I just freeze  whole pack of 8 rashers I never cook with that amount in a day and  it goes off too quickly once defrosted.
Stocked up  on GF outdoor raised sausages as they were also reduced.

Plus loads veg, romaine lettuce, organic cucumber, mixed peppers, houmous and guac, some lentil crisps Mr L started doing, DF milk x 2,  smoked salmon gravadlax with sauce, 12 FR eggs, turkey mince to make meatballs .  Also picked up some more tomato puree as last few times they had none. 

FOOD I made GF DF veggie sausage toad in the hole today - v tasty
I ate too many of the snacks I bought but again I did not eat proper dinner tonight so I had a not healthy sweets/crisps substitute..

Energy monitor - inspired by @Cheery_Daff
new fab habit of using her energy monitor to see what her appliances are using I have just ordered one - no app but with a smart monitor on so I can just add the kwh charge. I can then lend it to family when I am done £12.88 

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:

Also picked up some more tomato puree as last few times they had none.

I now want to go to your Lidl - we've been out of stock for MONTHS!

themadvix

Sadly in two of my cases I never got paid - and as the clients were in far flung places, I had no recourse. Very annoying as it amounted to several thousand pounds. I have learned from my mistakes and only take on clients in EU/US/Canada and UK now. However another client had issues for a long time but now pays like clockwork.

We love a roasted BNS risotto or a curry with it in, usually with chickpeas. Riverford have some great recipes on their website.

Another splitter of bacon here as only Mr MV eats it.

 Your DIY course sounds fab!

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

Also picked up some more tomato puree as last few times they had none.

I now want to go to your Lidl - we've been out of stock for MONTHS!

I only picked up one as there was only 5 in ...Now got 2 in - woohoo   but if more tomorrow I will get one as also have 15% for tinned mackerel/salmon etc and those tins are good lunch staples.

themadvix said:

Sadly in two of my cases I never got paid - and as the clients were in far flung places, I had no recourse. Very annoying as it amounted to several thousand pounds. I have learned from my mistakes and only take on clients in EU/US/Canada and UK now. However another client had issues for a long time but now pays like clockwork.

We love a roasted BNS risotto or a curry with it in, usually with chickpeas. Riverford have some great recipes on their website.

Another splitter of bacon here as only Mr MV eats it.

 Your DIY course sounds fab!

Both these overdue clients are UK based. Current UK economic nightmare exacerbating  one company issues...
I have a long term US one as well  but not huge invoices anymore - unless I do business meetings abroad as I did pre covid. and he pays twice a year in my US DOLLAR Barc acct - unless travel was involved so then  i invoice quicker. I may be doing a trip next month - so paid travel is always a perk - I did a lot pre covid.

I will check out Riverford for squash recipes. The thing is huge!

I am loving my DIY course and the tutor is great - he has told us to video any DIY stuff at home and he will suggest how to best fix it - so I am sending various pics of my windows as I need to replace blinds (currently got stick on swedish black out blinds) or put up a curtain pole but there is no gap above and window opens in various ways so I need to drill blind to the window  itself (there are holes in it from the previous tenant)

Aiming for NSD today  - we can hope.

TT 12p

Still waiting on my succulents i got for just 3.99 p+p - 3 weeks late .. and apparently now posted. The vodafone offer was heavily taken up so they ran out of stock I gather

savingholmes

Great course.

I may look into one.

Good luck with the invoices

LadyWithAPlan

savingholmes said:

Great course.

I may look into one.

Good luck with the invoices

I cant recommend it enough - I was on waiting list for months but so worth it.


Query - I just pay my water bill every 6 months when it comes as they were taking far too much out by dd. However does it help my credit score to have a water dd? Does anyone know?


On house buying ...
Though the thought of starting OPs sounds v exciting  -I will be following many on here no doubt by making a OP within the first few days   the £380-400k mortgage less so - that pressure is scary.

I may just continue to save my deposit, continuing to choose to be frugal and look next summer  again once I can see what is happening with London house prices (a mystery - up/down??), interest rates and my current 2  freelance contracts are both a bit wobbly as I am due loads unpaid invoices as in 5 figures... so I may need a new job or contract  first   

Plus I'm waiting on my side hustle possibly becoming v lucrative - in some negotiations at present which may fall through  but if they go ahead that will completely change my finances and triple my income if not more. I have looked at auctions as well if my cash savings could really get up there.

Everything feels very unknown but I do know I will get there, I will buy but equally there really is no rush as my rent is very cheap and I have a great apartment in Central London - probably til end 2025 if I want. . If that changes I will definitely be looking to buy quicker.

I am decluttering my home using the very fabulous '30 days to a clean organized home' by Katie Berry book (it will take a couple months though)  and my rental is looking more fabulous every day..  it feels clean and clear.

Looking at current interest rates even if I can put 25% down (so £125k - not there yet  as also need SD and solictors fees ) I will be paying more in monthly interest - over £850 pm  than my rent is  plus it will be extra council tax and possible service charges if leasehold on top. 

 Of course the big unknown is will London house prices outpace my savings rate even with me 'winning' on the interest v rent..  As a FTB the 500k ceiling for the 300k stamp duty exemption is not helpful especially with house inflation - so I was looking at £500k as a max but that may buy a lot less again in 2 years time.

My savings rate once I am paid regularly is great though ..it probably does equal house price movements. Plus I am earning 12% pa on an investment on half my deposit so I am outpacing inflation.

Of course it is maths v the heart .. i do need a paid for home for FIRE but having access to cash as in over £100k of it is very reassuring. I am also putting money into my SIPP as HR taxpayer so a decision there always as I am over 50.
I really want to add to my SIPP at present with markets down but waiting on next invoice payments as dont wamnt to draw down my house savings.

 I am preparing  to buy though between the decluttering and doing my very fabulous  'women only' free DIY course - inspired by @Sistergold - this is beginners term - 10 weeks -  but there is also an intermediate and advanced  levels I am planning to do.
I am already thinking I want to buy a fixer upper as I don't like new builds anyway and their high service charges of £250/month etc so this DIY is definitely aimed at the next step.

There is a London Excel home renovation exhibition in 2 weekends I have free tix to - I went last year and some really good talks on development, design, planning, house project mgt etc so I am planning to go again - again educating myself.

Link for free tickets
https://www.excel.london/whats-on/the-london-homebuilding-renovating-show-2022