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

South_coast

LadyWithAPlan said:
last night 2 rounds of drinks for 2 of us over the entire evening was £32

That doesn't sound too bad to me (depends what the drinks were, of course). We have a bar round here that charges £8.50 for 250ml of Sauvignon Blanc, and we are a long way from central London!

newgirly

Hi Lady with a plan, I finally caught up with your whole diary today after meaning to for ages.  I don’t envy you trying to find somewhere in London that’s right for you and as well as trying to time what the market and interest rate as are doing, what a stress 😩 
At least you are currently happy where you are and it’s not expensive, that takes the pressure off somewhat. Will follow with interest your house hunting adventures 🙂

WelshmansDaughter

I used to have that coming back to Ireland. I'd pay for a drink with a tenner then wonder why they weren't coming back with any change 🤣🤣🤣

savingholmes

You have got us all hooked on that series 

LadyWithAPlan

South_coast said:

LadyWithAPlan said:
last night 2 rounds of drinks for 2 of us over the entire evening was £32

That doesn't sound too bad to me (depends what the drinks were, of course). We have a bar round here that charges £8.50 for 250ml of Sauvignon Blanc, and we are a long way from central London!

Yes you are right - there was a pub round £14  and also a private members club one £20 with tip   - plus was bought a couple drinks .. so not too bad. just 2 rounds I bought for 2 of us. However wrap up the ticket price in and £61 is doable for a night out but as I am trying to save up to get to £125k or even £150k deposit - I am trying to limit my going out to once or twice a week...

newgirly said:

Hi Lady with a plan, I finally caught up with your whole diary today after meaning to for ages.  I don’t envy you trying to find somewhere in London that’s right for you and as well as trying to time what the market and interest rate as are doing, what a stress 😩 
At least you are currently happy where you are and it’s not expensive, that takes the pressure off somewhat. Will follow with interest your house hunting adventures 🙂

The whole diary... wow hope it was not too dull.. Indeed having a fabulous place to live  cheaply in central london is partly why I am not in a rush. Prices are clearly coming down a bit.
The difficulty is I look up a bit in my price range and one can get  way too  excited  - £550k/£575k  buys 2 beds with a garden  and maybe even freehold - which would be the dream but I have to pay it back! The freehold option is a definite want and I guess a need .. however the garden (small patio size) is my want but I really really want outdoor space or a patio

WelshmansDaughter said:

I used to have that coming back to Ireland. I'd pay for a drink with a tenner then wonder why they weren't coming back with any change 🤣🤣🤣

In London with a tip a large glass of wine is often £10... I luckily dont drink cocktails much (too sweet, too many calories) and  they nearer £12/£15 .. I may have the odd expresso martini but happy to stick with prosecco, rose wine , champagne or the odd vodka tonic. I am GF and never drank beer,

savingholmes said:

You have got us all hooked on that series 

Hehe Do you have a favourite couple on there?  Although many of them are just not adding up what they are spending and keeping track ... my OMG was one of the Princess ones (same presenter and format but single women) she was trying to talk her boyfriend into spending one years salary on an engagement ring saying she would have to look at it every day. 
There was another who managed to get her ex to spend loads on her including phone bills etc - such unattractive behaviour

KajiKita 
You asked me to report back - The trance dance was very fun in some ways (and funny)  but very bonkers, my friend was ready to leave before we got to the main dance - at one point they all started howling and lying on the floor wiggling their legs like dying flies in tune with the music (I kid you not - this was a choice some people made to be at one with themselves)

We were encouraged to feet dance ('and maybe your feet want to dance with someone else's feet' )  and did some breathwork.
The cacao ceremony was a bit bizarre - holding the 'good sh**' (warm Guatemalan hot chocolate)  next to our heart chakras whilst visioning our inner child.... and it was super strong. I did have loads of energy though after and was flying high - I went drinking and dancing after to 3am ...
My smart watch informed me I burned 510 kcals though at the trance dance and in fact as I also had been to the gym to lift some weight and did a 45 min spin class I burned over 1300kcals in exercise on Saturday til midnight - and a few hundred after til 3am

KajiKita

Thanks for the trance report 😊
Thats sounds a bit much for me! 😂😂😂

Glad you enjoyed it though 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

Savings  Dec £141.47  - pretty good given I havent been paid for over a month..
(£75 of short sale + £25 pb win + £41.47 cashback ...
I withdrew £41.47 from my quidco acct cashback today (not seen it yet in bank) plus I have £77 to come from Topcash back I havent counted yet

Food
I made this new soup at the weekend as someone on MSE was saying how good it was. I luckily already had some batched frozen roasted squash in and also HM chicken stock so I literally dumped all ingredients into my pressure cooker (I didnt bother frying the onions etc first)  apart from the spinach which I added at the end   - it was delicious, quick to make, filling and very nutritious - I have frozen some, it made loads. i did make sure I had fresh lime and fresh coriander in  - it really made a difference.
https://www.weightwatchers.com/uk/recipe/chunky-squash-chickpea-and-lime-soup/57fdbeae35461dbc16bd31a5

I never have home delivery food unless I have a voucher... however I had a £10 u*ereats voucher expiring  plus they had a spend £20 get £5 off so I did what I always do with takeout and ordered Thai food from my local - GF green chicken curry and a phad thai. I cooked my own rice at home so this stretched the meal. I have added extra roast chicken, mange tout and broccoli in the next day afterwards to use up the yummy sauce - so my £10.19 takeaway was a 3 meal wonder plus it made cooking easier.

I am waiting on my new equipment to arrive - the one i want is on order for 2 months time but the company I ordered it from is lending me the same thing as a demo version til it gets here - so once its here I have to get focused on learning how to use it and the new software.

Invoices..
I have chased up some invoices today and will do more tomorrow. I will have to get a new job or contract next year for a few months before I can get my side hustle being seriously lucrative..

My heating is broken so they are coming to fix it tomorrow - I remembered after freezing yesterday that I do have 2 spare heaters in the house which have been hanging in the study just in case  - so got them out and its amazingly warmer.... I am not sure why I forgot I had them

I am doing lots of MB and sports trading as well - I have made some nice money on the acca insurance offers over the world cup £230 on one yesterday  and £34 today - it would have been £295 more if Spain would have won .... grrr

I also won earlier in the year a Waitrose cooking session for me and a friend so just booked that as a treat for the new year, I have not been comping much as it takes up so much time but  what with making ~£150 made off that shirt I won, the waitrose is £65 a ticket so be a fun night out  for my friend and I and the recent energy prize draw money I am feeling very fortunate.

LadyWithAPlan

KajiKita said:

Thanks for the trance report 😊
Thats sounds a bit much for me! 😂😂😂

Glad you enjoyed it though 😊

KK

It was actually very funny and felt great afterwards. The whole inner child was a step too far I think but ...it was fun 

WelshmansDaughter

I was a student at the time and 'wine' was £1.50 a glass so coming back to Dublin prices was eye opening. I don't drink really now so out of touch altogether with prices. Unless non alcoholic Guinness counts.

I watched the Princess ones with mixed emotions. Some of them were just so unhappy and then Gail sorted them out. One of them had an awful mother who kept telling her she couldn't do anything 😭

savingholmes

On the 'debt series' I'd like them to go back after 12 months and 5 years to see if they stuck to plan or returned to their old ways. I think she uses shame a lot which can be counter-productive. I look at some of them and think this is the tip of the iceberg and that their underlying problems need fixing more. 

Well done on increasing savings despite lack of income. The trance dance sounds fun but not quite me. Glad you felt energised by it all. Well done on the comping wins - it all helps.