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

LadyWithAPlan

October - I will add some goals later however headlines are
- get paid invoices in full
- new contract job
- get programme finished 
- gym/swim 5 days a week

I want to track this month savings as well 

Savings  £4

Grocery Oct  22 GC £20.02/145   +    0/£55.30 for bulk

NSD Oct 0/17 -
I went out Saturday but house party so only bought 2 x bottles to take

badmemory

What is worrying me about the 45% fiasco is that the Bank of England had to do a massive pension rescue.  The fact that this gov caused it will not stop the rescue being the excuse to do what they wanted to do & get rid of the BofE independence.  And we will be the ones who need to pay it back.  It gets a bit tediuis, bankers gain we pay.  The more things change the more they remain the same.

savingholmes

You are doing really well LWAP - I'm impressed at how well you've been juggling the outstanding invoices. I'd be crying in a corner if I was owed that kind of £. Relieved for you that you have the extra contract work - it all helps.

LadyWithAPlan

savingholmes said:

You are doing really well LWAP - I'm impressed at how well you've been juggling the outstanding invoices. I'd be crying in a corner if I was owed that kind of £. Relieved for you that you have the extra contract work - it all helps.

Tx for the show of support, its much appreciated, I have never been owed this much before but at least its all UK based and the companies want to keep working with me..  I have been owed cash from overseas before and I had to resort to twitter and facebook to get it!
Its also annoying as I can write a budget but there is no money to move.... This time I am still budgeting as opposed to giving up as I did over the spring. I am still tracking food spend etc.

The good news about it that I am being extra frugal and it is making me look to get other work, possibly at a higher day rate so. I am sure I will get the cash at some point ...it is just the time ... (the smaller company is more fragile).
The bad news is I am now bored with being owed so much. It makes me feel unmotivated - but then again I could just find a new job..

If I had bought that flat last autumn  with the huge amount of renovations needed .. arrrggghhh it would have been v difficult or I would have jumped ship quicker.
I am not sure why the smaller suppliers often get the brunt of cashflow issues. I always try and pay everyone asap personally. 

Part of me wants to pick up the last bits of work to do for both and then refocus on something else til they pay me ...

@badmemory - I dont think anyone thinks Truss and Kwarteng are doing a good job including all the Tory MPs who are looking at losing their seat in the next election..Possibly for a decade. The Tories are supposed to be good at capitalism and managing an economy and it's been 12 years of economic mismanagement. The Tories are also seeing their pensions dropping in value too so I trust the BOE will be ok.

DIY class
It was my all women DIY class again this eve and tonight we made carpentry joints - I have never used a saw before (beyond the jigsaw in class 2 weeks ago) nor a chisel or mallet, but tonight I was happily pencilling, hammering and making a framer joint and by the end was happily sawing and chiselling away!! The teacher just takes all the mystique out the process.. its really fun and motivational.
LOVING this class it completely cheers me up and you have to really focus. The one lady who keeps saying she knows it all and has bought this and that tool managed to cut herself  -luckily not too badly - not sure how, but I am super careful and take my time.
Next week either wall tiling or plumbing joints... we will be soldering as well which is quite exciting - me and a blow torch ..!!!

I even found myself looking in one of my home cupboards at the shelves and how they are constructed as want to add a couple. 

NSD 1st one of month 1/17 
I do need a stock of  toilet paper - on last roll  but beyond that I have loads of food in. I managed to avoid the shops.. and walked to/from class.

Declutter 3/3 today 

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, exciting! I've never really tried carpentry, Mr Cheery tends to do that side of things while I'm plastering 😂 exciting to build your own cupboards 😊

LadyWithAPlan

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, exciting! I've never really tried carpentry, Mr Cheery tends to do that side of things while I'm plastering 😂 exciting to build your own cupboards 😊

It was a bit confusing at first being told to mark this and that bit of wood, but the framing corner made sense in the end The chiselling and sawing was actually quite fun...
 I know in the intermediate class they just have been building wine racks and letter holders...  I need another shoe rack so definitely by next term...

Premium bond Oct wins  £50 + a £25 
Best wins ever - I did win also £25 Sept and £25 Aug.. I  now have over £16k in there as I am now taxed on interest income so as MSE says you win more when you have more in
£200 won in 2022 in PB
I have a goal of getting £50k in there asap!

TT - £1.42
Savings Oct  £75 - total £80.42

NSD 2/17 

Hse savings £101,245.6/£125k

Money in..
Still no payment of invoices although apparently cash is coming in this week so I should be getting something so I can do the budget dance I have my Oct budget done just no movement as yet

The one day job that I saw and applied for last month have come back to me on dates, nothing confirmed as yet but I  do think I will get it as I did when I first saw it. Decent one day rate and be fun...

Food
I cooked the YS gammon joint in the halogen with 2 jacket potatoes and an under-layer inspired by a GCer - sliced red cabbage, red onion, red apple - all layered with some oil .. very tasty, crunchy and not wet like some red cabbage recipes can be.

Declutter 4/4 things - more like 12/4 - its the minimalis* game thing. I discovered lots of lu*h containers I can take in for a free face mask.

Organised Home - finally got through all the tupperware and freezer containers, washed them and matched lids to bottoms, threw all lids away that did not have a friend so 2 cupboards in the kitchen looking much better. Just the wine cupboard, the plant /big kitchen items cupboard and a small shelf to organise, declutter and clean in the kitchen now - all else is done.

savingholmes

Decluttering still coming on well. 

I think going after other higher paid work makes sense rather than letting the two existing companies owe you more and more. I'd keep turning up the pressure there too on them to pay. Often those who shout loudest get the £.

Mumoffourkids

I’ve just finished reading all your diary. I love to read long diaries from the start, it feels like a story unfolding.

One thing I am interested in is your MB income. I used to do this on a regular basis but got stopped by a lot of the bookies, I am interested in doing it again though especially with the accas that you do. Say if you don’t win and you get the free bet, do you then lay the free bet in order to get the money in? I think I need to start looking into doing this more as in my new job, I won’t be doing as much overtime as what I was used to. And although I can survive quite happily on my basic wages, it is nice to earn a bit extra.

LadyWithAPlan

Mumoffourkids said:

I’ve just finished reading all your diary. I love to read long diaries from the start, it feels like a story unfolding.

One thing I am interested in is your MB income. I used to do this on a regular basis but got stopped by a lot of the bookies, I am interested in doing it again though especially with the accas that you do. Say if you don’t win and you get the free bet, do you then lay the free bet in order to get the money in? I think I need to start looking into doing this more as in my new job, I won’t be doing as much overtime as what I was used to. And although I can survive quite happily on my basic wages, it is nice to earn a bit extra.

Hey, I am the same on full diary reading - I really enjoy them including yours  I have backtracked and read through yours as well lots more stories to unfold for us both - I am seeing 2 flats tomorrow - not really ready to move but I figure why not.
Just wait for 3 years when I am welding tables in my doer upper...

On MB - I am getting gubbed a lot (been doing it for over 3 years) but even when bookies gub you they still will pay out on  horse Extra Places (I think all  apart from BVict**) 
On EPs as horse mkt moves quick some people only lay the win part, others lay both the win and the EP and others dont lay either - much more variance - so big swings so you need the bank.

On football accas - they only pay out if you are not gubbed so the Irish bookie has sadly gubbed me now so I dont do football acca insurance with them though its a great offer - 1.2 minimum and 4 legs  - though I do casino with them.

Some tips  - read thru the t&c's or I pay for Profit Accumulat*r  which tells me clearly on the t&cs for each bookie- (I have a referral  link if you need that is good value) 

- Yes I do always lay the fb - normally on a double draw so less likely to win, better odds and less cash normally needed (unless it comes in
- every bookie has different terms for acca insurance  so be clear eg number of legs - normally 4 or 5, minimum odds (bfred is 1.5 but Ladbr** is 1.1 but you need overall odds to be over 4.0)
- what you can bet on changes, some bookies it is all sports or  just football  or just major football, leagues-  some bookies say you can book on any market in football, others it is only match odds, both teams to score, others will also let you do o/u goals. 
- try to keep your odds as low to the minimum as possible
- I often bet on Both teams to score, and O1.5 or O2,.5 goals. Bundesliga has lots of goals so that can be good rather than outright wins as Man City and Liverpool dont always win 
- As you are not laying the initial acca most times you do need to be aware of variance - you most often will get a free bet, when it comes in as mine did last Sat - I got £181 and also a £50 on 2 £10 accas. However you will lose some - so I suggest you track with a spreadsheet the p+l so to keep calm over time
- Also you dont need to do the full  amount - most bookies its £10 though a few  £20. You could start with £5 etc
- Only one free bet a day so dont have more than one acca finishing with the same bookie on the same day - though an acca can go over a weekend
- as its no lay you can bet on all the big premiership games  on a Sat/Sun afternoon
- I like to bet across the main European leagues so French, Italian, Spanish, German  plus Scotland and UK, as otherwise you end up betting on same games


If you haven't done casino before I suggest you start with no risk and also lo risk - so max £10 or £20 wagering. Half my profits from mb now come from casino as I have been gubbed.
I can advise more on this if you want/need me to.

NSD 5/17 - yes I have not spent all week. I do need to do some food/beauty tomorrow  and I am having a night out and off to the theatre tomorrow but very impressed with myself.

TT £1 

Declutter 7/7 objects (I also did 6/6 yesterday) - As per the minimalist game,, I like it as even when I miss a day I just declutter the days amount so 7 items on 7th month or 6 on the 6th ... and dont worry re going backwards.
I have some serious declutter to do in a couple rooms which is alos heralded by the 30 days to organised living book .. but finding enough bits around the house so far..

Savings Oct total £98.21
Saving £8 more as my monthly F*Delity fee is coming out so moved that into the cash mgt fee bit. 
£9.66 interest on H2B
13p in Marcu*
I will be adding £200 as DD for H2B ISA as well Monday so will add that then

SIPP

I have added a small amount to my SIPP this week £80 - I will put more when I get paid. I am happy to drip feed in now - it has bounced up over £1k since Monday I notice

I have been paid a small amount - which was enough to move some money in my main pots such as groceries etc. However others such as new tech fund, vacation, gifts etc need adding into as I had no cash in Sept so those pots looking poor. Such is the life of a freelancer

House hunting
I am flat looking tomorrow - both N London (I may buy more East London instead) £450 + £500k  -both with bit outdoor space -  more to get an idea of that area  and I think I need the motivation as to why I am all; saving and no spending - its a bit dull to be honest as I am single so more time at home.. So I think looking at what I can buy house wise  will get me dreaming and  focused on earning more as having such a big deposit (£100k plus now) but no home is weird - I feel safe but I need a push or pull.. to get a new job as I luckily can survive fine now even with unpaid invoices

Plus with my DIY skills unfolding - or at least my confidence I can look at properties with a clearer eye and cost understanding.
 
As a FTB  I have suddenly saved  on SD. so if flat £500k I would only need £3.5k  SD - better than the £10k before the mad Truss budget. I would lose my H2B 25% uplift - so £2k lost there if I go over £450k
I want to put down 25%  to help with rates - MSE today suggests 2.45% 2 years if I have 20 or 25%deposit  - but I do have to pay it back which is why I am fighting to get to this £125k.
25%  down suggest 1,848pm
20%  down 1,962pm  so £120pm more...
Rough numbers I know and MSE looks a bit hopeful given what the papers are saying ..


- if I chose to buy now I would have to get a new 9 m  contract with a new employer    but I figure that is good motivation As my current contract company will give me a new contract but I don't trust them to pay me on time and if the home-buying process takes 3-4 months to get through and they dont see regular payments I worry I will lose the mortgage offer. 
I set up a company this year as my s/e earnings over 2 years will not be enough for me to borrow all I need. I was lucky to not need any SEISS help.
I may have an  issue as they may need to manually underwrite my mortgage as well - as I dont spend much and I rent  plus only one CC now and no loans...I have noticed my one bank has stopped my OD and the other halved it - I have not used either in many years but there was a sudden drop in Credit score and maybe thats it.
However I figure a large 25% deposit will help 

Freezer and food fabulousness
I made some beetroot soup - pressure cooked some  slightly sad beetroots, made chicken stock from a few bones again in the PC in 20 mins, Very tasty. 
i had some non hot mung bean type dal I had batched - very tasty with grilled bacon.
I also made some GF cake stuff with bananas, apples, blueberries, almonds and protein shakes.
The freezer keeps giving and been useful to have pre portioned the bacon out then froze. Just taken 2 burgers (were in pack of 4 ) out the freezer for tomorrow.

LadyWithAPlan

Sunday check in Hope everyone is well and hopefully less hungover than I am Even if you are hungover it still feels  practically impossible to be more hungover than me ... currently doing some MB having cooked potato waffles  in halogen with Co*p baked beans (47p v Hein* £1.55!!) and reduced DF grated cheese with mayo

Saw a great friend yesterday and went to the theatre, however we started drinking earlier in Borough market surrounded by cheeseheads... Not being rude here but loads of men wearing hats with cheese on top, as in cheese wedges and cheese slices. we were clueless as well until I googled.. The Green Bay Packers NFL team are playing today at the Spurs stadium v the New York Giants -  all part of promoting NFL here in the UK.
'

Not only are Packers fans called cheeseheads, but they also wear them on their heads. The term cheesehead comes from Wisconsin's large production of cheese. The state of Wisconsin produces 26% of the country's cheese'

After the theatre we ended up at mine drinking til gone 3am .. so it was slow today .. I caught up with a friend at Granary Square by Kings Cross they had a classic car boot sale - with vintage cars to see, vintage clothes to buy and some live bands. It was a festival atmosphere and gorgeous and sunny, but temperature suddenly dropped at 5pm. I only bought coffees and a kombucha drink as dehydrated.
I made potato and leek soup which was super comfort food, I fried up some garlic sausage from Lid* and a burger from yesterday to help sop up the alcohol

I have had a good weekend in the MB I did do, plus casino.
No gym this week/weekend so tomorrow!


So a spendy Sat but had 5 NSD M-F so that was fine.

Flat hunting casually starts again
I went to see 2 flats! Just as I am saying now is not the time to buy.
Saw one I really like - £500k, 2 floor duplex , 3 bed, with a private front and small rear garden,. Super cute, v small living room but you could knock wall into the big  kitchen/dinner. Also on a lovely road with trees. It is a 1950s council estate build but  ground floor and facing this great street. I am tempted to put an offer in - though to do so I would have to go and get extra work as it will be a £1900 monthly mortgage plus £110pm service charge and a no doubt £150+ pm council tax bill.
I dont think it will stay on mkt for long as be good for families and only been on mkt for a week and they getting loads of viewing,, but it has made me see what I can buy.  Is now really the time to buy hmmm with rates and who knows what with house prices??  I guess if I could be there for 10years plus which I could see, so then a dip in house prices would be ok. However I do love where I live, its cheap and buying now will make me have to get another contract job immediately ... so hmm, I will probably pass but  thinking on it- this week I will update my CV and start looking. I need to get the income up as well as cutting spending.

The other flat was also on a N London estate 450k (was on for 500k before) and in a worse area and the owner was clearly on something - in comparison , even the EA said they may take offer of 420k. It had a patio but I would not swap where I live now for that, whereas the first one I could see myself in.
Given my lack of regular payment right now I am not sure I should be looking for a mortgage so job before flat I think!

NSD Oct 5/17 still 
TT 40p

Savings Oct total £298.21/£3000
- My DD for h2b ISA comes out in morning £200 - though I may be buying something over 450k so I will lose the 25% uplift. However at least it shows disciplined savings as I have always added the full amount possible since I started on the final day in Dec 2019. over £8.4k in there now which includes over £200 interest (only)
Setting a savings goal of £3000 this month

Grocery spend over weekend £26.54
Grocery Oct  22 GC £46.56/145   +    0/£55.30 for bulk

Sat Lid* £16.66 food including
some polish sausage as they doing a polish special food event, frozen berries, houmous, DF yogurt, bananas and oranges, df milk 95p  each now - was 85p a week ago!
baby potatoes, broccoli, pomegranate on special so bought those.

Treats £2.19 - MR L mint dark choc (DF and v tasty) and sweets - separate pot
Hse spend (in different pot) £3.39 9 toilet rolls Mr L

Sun Coop £9.88 - paid cash
YS DF plant butter £1.70 as had ran out and will try this new brand and YS GF bread £1.05 for the freezer, had a 50p off frozen fruit so got blueberries for £1.50, Coop own brand baked beans 47p and they taste pretty good. DF grated cheese was on offer as well  £1.70 vs the £2.50+ oit normally is so bought some of that as well. 
One pack of tortilla chips 90p that comes off my treats budget

I managed to spend £50.10 on going out last night - drinks  (theatre tix were paid for by friend)  and a further £12.75 on coffees out today so £62.85 -plus one cab for £14  but all in pots and  I did stay in all week so plus my friend has an ex partner and friend of 30+ years who has cancer since Covid started but now all treatment has been stopped very sadly. So he is now at home and having some morphine to sleep, so my friend is popping around a lot to hang out with him, spend last quality times with him and the man's husband as well. Super sad but they are all taking the time to say I love you, reflecting on a super fun life....
He is always cheered up by hanging with me so I was v happy to  spend time with him.

DIY CLASS tomorrow 
We are either learning to tile walls or soldering as we laying plumbing pipes !! Can't wait.  My neighbour has just laid her bathroom floor and has some spare underlay for me  - so I am going to ask the teacher on advice on how best to cut round the toilet basin etc as I really dont like the bathroom and kitchen floors and if I stay here I don't mind spending some cash on cheap floor tiles and practising.
So I guess I will need something to cut  floor tiles, the relevant glue  and the tiles themselves. I last decorated the bathroom 5 years ago and it does need a cheer up, the skirting boards are dusty and could do with a repaint and maybe an extra coat in the walls as well, I guess I need to do the gloss before I lay floor tiles so..