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

badmemory

Glad you are enjoying your course & a serious boo to those unpaid invoices.  Many (as in over 30) years ago I used to do bookkeeping self- employed.  I got so that I didn't let go of them until I got the cheque in my hand.  Hardest to get the money out of - accountancy firms.

themadvix

The plastering sounds like it was excellent fun! But I am totally with you on a centurion card not taking precedence over paying you! (And who would pay that much? Mr MV has a platinum card, which we took out for holiday protection/insurance etc. and the perks are good enough that it hasn't gone back yet - there's meals out credit which he wants to use 🙄), but the fee for that is nothing in comparison to £6800! 😯

Rubbish about the cat allergy - I hope you slept well last night at home. Do you need to be there all the time (given the cat doesn't actually want company) or could you just visit a couple of times a day - guess it depends how convenient that is!

Viking_mfw

going back several pages re sausage meat... this is much harder to find gluten free than sausages are. My greatest success has been with the Taste the Difference etc premium ranges at Christmas and picking it up YS because the supermarkets seem to have it for so long. Then freeze and use through the year.  We also use it for baked ziti which is a big hit in our house. 

LadyWithAPlan

badmemory said:

Glad you are enjoying your course & a serious boo to those unpaid invoices.  Many (as in over 30) years ago I used to do bookkeeping self- employed.  I got so that I didn't let go of them until I got the cheque in my hand.  Hardest to get the money out of - accountancy firms.

Nice  -I like your style -  holding info back All the accounts are on a cloud package - that I do have control of  so if it gets difficult ...

I did kick up a fuss today especially after being sent an email to me and the chartered accts saying director  may close company/go bankrupt if a big new deal doesn't go thru.. ... so I have just received about a fifth of whats due...  I would be more sympathetic but I am seeing  all the amex card spends and the per month spends on high end fashion and travel.  

The other company owes me far more but I did get paid a far bit in August from them and we waiting on new investment - but I will chase up again tomorrow after doing some work.
 

themadvix said:

The plastering sounds like it was excellent fun! But I am totally with you on a centurion card not taking precedence over paying you! (And who would pay that much? Mr MV has a platinum card, which we took out for holiday protection/insurance etc. and the perks are good enough that it hasn't gone back yet - there's meals out credit which he wants to use 🙄), but the fee for that is nothing in comparison to £6800! 😯

Rubbish about the cat allergy - I hope you slept well last night at home. Do you need to be there all the time (given the cat doesn't actually want company) or could you just visit a couple of times a day - guess it depends how convenient that is!

This DIY course  is amazing - I am loving how I get to try things I would never think of such as plastering ... and you can ask questions on technique - eg  plastering having the float or indeed your body in the wrong position makes a huge difference to how it goes on so the tutor seeing what you are doing and correcting you is very helpful for quick improvement.
Next week is either tiling if the tutor can get the adhesive or otherwise plumbing 2.0 - I think building watertight plumbing systems - we did cisterns, taps and u/s bends etc week one.

 I was looking at the difference between platin*m annual fee  £575 and centur**n £3400 annual plus £3400 intro fee =£6800 !!!!!- apparently for benefits it is not much of an improvement between the 2 given the £6k+ difference. I think the fact you have to be invited makes it a privilege - and you need to be spending a lot through it to be invited.. talk about amazing marketing well done Am*x - you get invited to give them money for not much all all so you can wave a black credit card around ...vs a silver coloured one


The cat sitting re-commences
I loved sleeping at my home last night in a cat free environment - pets definitely make everything dirtier ... I have had them in the past and my parents always have had dogs -and I love animals - but right now especially with my cat allergies  I am very glad I don't have any.. If the cat was friendly and cute I would probably enjoy looking after it though.  This just feels not fun.

The 30 day book really has my home feeling cleaner and clearer though I am only part way through - so walking in to it yesterday .. I think once I have got it all done  it will feel completely transformed.

I have headed back to the cat this afternoon - she is now staring at me from a chair in the bedroom  as I stand in the hall but if I walk in she runs and hides.. I will stay here tonight (my nose is already streaming and eyes burning. itchy scalp .. despite taking a v strong prescription allergy tablet) so I may have tomorrow eve back at home then last night here Thurs.  Its only £1.65 on the bus  one way (cheaper than the tube) so not too bad.. an hour walk each way is a bit far

Viking_mfw said:

going back several pages re sausage meat... this is much harder to find gluten free than sausages are. My greatest success has been with the Taste the Difference etc premium ranges at Christmas and picking it up YS because the supermarkets seem to have it for so long. Then freeze and use through the year.  We also use it for baked ziti which is a big hit in our house. 

I had to google Ziti - it  looks so tasty though making it DF GF could be fun... my DN loves Sh**se (DF grated mozzarella imitation  thing) I am not convinced about the cheese df options - the butter df options are great though.

I have not yet found any sausage meat (as opposed to sausages) - but I will keep searching and thanks for the GF note.. Sainsb*** here I come.

FOOD - paella in the pressure cooker  1st attempt
Off the back of the Grocery Challenge from a fellow GCer I was linked a recipe https://www.highstreettv.com/pressure-king-pro-chicken-chorizo-paella so I had a go at making a paella in the pressure cooker. Worked v well and was tasty and quick -all ingredients were already in -  I used frozen chicken breasts and frozen chicken stock as was trying to do in a rush, I had no prawns in as I can be allergic and the chorizo was at the cat flat but it was still lovely and nutritious. I also used some cheap old broken basmati rice - it was bought at an asian shop - I prefer brown rice but this stuff is in the cupboard so I might as well use it up.

Plus  it only cost 16p thanks to my energy monitor to cook   16p includes the fact I had to pressure cooker it twice  largely as my frozen chicken  breasts were not cut up in chunks so the middle needed more cooking. Good to know for next time..
I always made a lot of chicken and rice one pot dishes - I just haven't yet thought of making a lot of them in the pressure cooker now I have it and autumn is here. 

NSD 14/16 - I am ignoring the £1.65 bus fare back to cat flat ... as if I count it  I will then rush out to the local shop and buy crunchy crisps or  sweets - not having my normal larder/fridge/freezer  here is a pain and GF/DF is expensive in tourist shops. I have bought some apples and some of the cooked paella from home  plus a bit more veg..
 
New Home Improvement Pot - 
I have dozens of savings pots from clothing, holiday, treats, hair, toiletries, office supplies, new tech, dental, gifts .... some are looking v empty after no pay in Sept but  they will get filled up 

With pots such as grocery I send the budgeted  spend/cash over from my main bank account  at the beginning of each month into an online pot and if I use a debit card or I get cash out to pay for groceries which I prefer I then transfer the money  back from the relevant pot  into my main bank acct  - this system has worked well for me for years as long as I get paid regularly. It does make my main account look lean and empty but I have at least covered my main bills.

So I proudly announce a new pot set up in M*nzo - the home improvement pot

Already I want to fund over the next few months .. easily £1500 all in -

- a sbs drill £65 - for pics up and hooks.
- stapler for reupholstery - ideally a pneumatic one - I think about £50
- fabric and bits to reupholster sofa and a chair £200?
- some wall plugs  £2
- a chain for a sink plug £2
- new blackout blinds for the bedroom - for me to drill in
- paint for the lounge or actually do the stencils £40?
- new mattress or a mattress topper £100-£600
- heated blanket - any suggestions on which is best? £60-100
- Panasonic breadmaker £220 - makes  GF bread is amazing and for £1.30 a loaf.. may be my xmas gift
- smeg expresso machine (complete luxury want - £320
- a cast iron tortilla press £30
- a washing up bowl with drainer - cat flat has a Josep* Josep* one and its great but £35!
- a mandolin to make thinner crisps £16
- a new plastic sink with a drain in it like the Jose*h jose one
- a sink cutlery stand
- a neon design made - £300? unless I can go to class for that!  EDIT - I have just googled neon classes and its between £200 for a half day - £1k for a weekend  to learn-   it can wait!

With me a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ...this DIY course has me believing in my practical skills.

I have not reupholstered anything since school but this DIY course is making me feel confident in having a go at most things. I have an easy chair like thing thats a rectangle so easy to upholster.. which I will start with . but then a sofa type thing that really needs doing but it has curved arms etc etc. I could pay to go on a course but I think a few more months of DIY course - I may ask him to do an upholstery lesson next term as there is an intermediate and advanced one I can do...


TT's £1 

Banking Reward
I have just looked and as I have switched to cash for grocery and been using my cc I have not spent £500 this month on my Hali card to get the £5 reward. I am `£60 off. So I need to use my card to pay £60 by Friday. 

Cheery_Daff

Oooh, get you with your home improvements! Very impressive! (Don't accidentally spend all your house deposit on DIY kit though! 😱) Great that you've had a go at plastering.  I love it 😁 and I love that it's something most folk won't have a go of (although that does mean i get ripped in to pattering for relatives... all helps build my skills before I take any more in my own house though 😂)

Don't blame you for being cross at the lack of payment,  I would be livid!!

savingholmes

Sorry you are feeling rough. Hope you recover quickly. Sympathise on the cat allergies - I struggle even though I have a cat... !!

The course sounds amazing... 

Really pleased you managed to get some money out of them. Sounds like you need to be the one shouting loudest... Make a date for the next round.... 

Great news on the upcoming 4 weeks work that should help a lot.

Viking_mfw

Pressure cooker paella looks excellent. Thanks for the link. 

themadvix

What Viking said - thanks! 😊

SusieT

I would love to learn plastering, I need a lot of walls skimmed and it would save me a fortune!

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

Oooh, get you with your home improvements! Very impressive! (Don't accidentally spend all your house deposit on DIY kit though! 😱) Great that you've had a go at plastering.  I love it 😁 and I love that it's something most folk won't have a go of (although that does mean i get ripped in to pattering for relatives... all helps build my skills before I take any more in my own house though 😂)

Plastering turns out to actually very relaxing once I got over splattering most of my first lot on the float over me and the floor .. and getting rid of the lump I made   Next level I guess is making plaster rosettes!  Have you done that yet?

Yes the tools is a whole new  cost centre This whole course is really opening my eyes to me being able to do DIY so I am listing things before I buy anything - another 7 weeks for this beginner class. 
There is also an intermediate and advanced class so I am planning to really get my skill levels up.

At least when I finally buy I won't have to buy  much household stuff initially beyond curtains, painting and initial diy tasks - I already have all my lovely furniture and household stuff  as I have always rented unfurnished including white goods (oven, w/machine, microwave, 2 x fridge freezers). So  this reupholstering is  updating current wooden furniture which I will probably be using for decades more. Plus I will need some tools like drills. The stapler gun will only be used twice though - maybe I can hire one..

If I start talking about buying a jigsaw - which were actually easier and less scary to use than I ever imagined then someone needs to stop me I was watching a YouT video and someone was saying on a minimalism video if you dont have room,  build some so he had built himself a coffee making area /shelf at one end of the breakfast bar to make it look better and get more room. 

I have realised that using power tools is just like using sharp long kitchen knives - of which I have loads. The longer and sharper the knife the more I am naturally more aware and cautious  so its sensible to treat saws and drills with respect.


The WTH budget consequences
The BOE is currently buying long dated gilts to shore up the markets.. not sure they have enough t really help - far better to repeal the 45% tax cut
Apparently 74% of those who bought during the SD freeze in 2020 only had a 2 year fix, hopefully they all fixed earlier. I cant imagine this extra interest pressure on already constrained bills. Plus pensions etc are down ..
 The Tories really are just helping their friends and appealing to just HHHR taxpayers cos they know they are losing the next election after 12 years of horrible financial mgt. Starmer is talking much more sense including a national energy company.

Looking at the housing market (which probably will not collapse in London as the £ is so weak so all the foreign investors will be piling in to buy anyway..) and interest rates ...and me not wanting to rely on my current contracts for regular pay I may not be buying for a few years yet  - I am definitely pausing til spring now and I think many FTB are.

 I seriously might just pile up cash and try to buy at auction in 3 years. This is dependent on me staying at my v reasonable rent.. This means I do need as much cash on hand and as much DIY knowledge as possible as I will be buying a do-er upper. So my frugal life continues but I need to up the income again.

SusieT said:

I would love to learn plastering, I need a lot of walls skimmed and it would save me a fortune!

Its actually pretty easy once you know the technique and you could always practice as we did by having a large piece of plasterboard screwed in a wooden  frame  or tacked onto a wall so you can trial and error on new boards. A lot of it is in the body motion - no small movements but big wide ones away from your body and the hand - having the float level. I definitely dug holes in my plaster or got the float (the tool you use to spread and polish) stuck in my plaster a few times but once you get the dance /flow its fun.
I never imagined I would learn but it was week 3 of this home diy course for women only I am doing. (just wait til I get to brick laying!)
You would need a paint mixer (like a drill but with a long large cake like mixing tool end)  -  if not a plaster mixer  to mix the plaster - and the hawk (the flat board)  and the float (that you spread with) plus a cheap brush and mixing bowls, plus the plaster but then you can just practice til you ready to try on a real wall.

Viking_mfw said:

Pressure cooker paella looks excellent. Thanks for the link. 

@themadvix  @Viking_mfw   enjoy!! it was easy, cheap and tasty.

You may also want to try a version of a dish I have made for years (just never in the pressure cooker) always on the hob before - its like  one pot chicken rice paella derivation  that you could also do easily in the pressure cooker with chicken thighs (saute them lightly first), onions, rice and I also add segments of peeled orange, olives and some chorizo in plus chicken stock and a tin tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes if your budget stretches, tomato puree and herbs, paprika etc
I always add salt after I have cooked the rice so.


My Budget
I cancelled a DD that has been going out for my new hobby/possible side job - I had used a promo code which gave me much cheaper for a month but what I didnt know til I cancelled it last night that then they had rolled me on the premiere package automatically $29..99/ month as opposed to the standard $19.99 a month package - and looking at it  I did not need the extra $10/month extras. There was nothing to ask which package I wanted after my free month. I am not using it much and I can always re subscribe as its month to month. So feel like I have saved £28 as it was due today but feel like I wasted 2 months  X $10 the difference. All my stuff is at home anyway so i cant use it whilst I am here

TT
13p which was last months interest on my £1k EF acct in my hali acct

Allowing myself to be distracted and not using my time wisely
 NSD?  I need to get to 16/16 NSD  by Friday (14/16 NOW) so I am striving to have a NSD today and tomorrow as Fri I may try the home renovation exhibition so will be a little spending. However I have a hospital one year check up appt  this afternoon then I am thinking I will take my laptop and work in a cafe for a couple hours. I cant work at cat flat - the allergy is kicking in and I have no motivation plus again I had maybe 3 hours sleep.
 I have now organised to just stay here this evening and  until 9pm tomorrow  eve and then go home to sleep Thurs in my own bed as she is back Friday afternoon. woohoo. As she says the cat will probably prefer it.

However this is the second time in consecutive months where I am helping others for free to the detriment of my work, my income and me getting on with what I need to do. I need to look at this as I am happy to help others but why am I then not helping myself by doing the work I need by being too busy, procrastinating or not sleeping?
As with the gym once I am in the habit I go constantly yet once out it takes me weeks to get back - and I love the gym - and not been in 2 weeks cos of being here and ill last week.  i got out the habit when I was away for 3 weeks in August and never got back in.

I do know I need complete focus - then I really work - and so I need to  minimise all distractions, sound etc - I think  from all my reading that I am  probably  a high functioning ADHD so I need to start making better choices and get workable routines for me  in place that make me feel calm, happy and focused
I have a lot of money to earn and save for a home

As Ms Doolittle last month I  was too busy with so many animals and distracted by the constant barking and attention needed so I fell behind in my work or could not start it til late, and here at cat flat I am not sleeping and feeling irritable with allergies  so again I am not doing work. I charge by the day/half day/hour etc and I am not honouring myself even though I do have the time to get the work done.


MB/casino - I havent checked but it feels like the casino (all offers no outright gambling) is down this month - the  £3.5k float is counted as part my House savings - it is all from previous MB profits so i wont stress and it will go back up. I am also doing football acca no lays and EP no lays so that is also affecting the variance.

Hoping everyone will be OK from Hurricane Ian, awful that the whole of Cuba has no power!