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

DrCarrie

NYE sounds like it was super fun! I was home alone and then got up to see the dawn of the day and the New year.

I have just started to spend on a CC again, as it will help with my credit score I am told. Being super cautious - Train tickets for the commute only and the balance being paid off every month, DD already set up. 

KajiKita

Be a bit careful with buying lots of the Naturli - once it goes past it’s use by date it goes rancid. I put one in the freezer to make it last longer (only Sainsbugs sell it round here and I don’t shop there that often) and when it came out (past it’s use by date) it was revolting. 

I’m guessing that you know that a good way to make a dairy free curry, stroganoff etc ‘creamy’ can be to use cashew cream? Makes a nice change to coconut milk and has the benefit of some (fairly high fat) protein too.

Well done on the dry January so far 😊

KK

SusieT

LadyWithAPlan said:

also off the dairy again and a week in i

fer I can breathe better and coughing up less stuff .. 

Re the above bit, reading it has made me think about a friend who is often coughing and is often clearing his throat. I know he does have milk with tea and coffee and eats a fair bit of cheese. Makes me wonder if he could have a dairy intolerance? Not sure how I would go about mentioning it though if it could be that!

LadyWithAPlan

SusieT said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

also off the dairy again and a week in i

fer I can breathe better and coughing up less stuff .. 

Re the above bit, reading it has made me think about a friend who is often coughing and is often clearing his throat. I know he does have milk with tea and coffee and eats a fair bit of cheese. Makes me wonder if he could have a dairy intolerance? Not sure how I would go about mentioning it though if it could be that!

Dairy allergies are renowned for being difficult to detect  and show up in various ways from eczema to my coughing up mucus- my niece's consultant (she is v allergic to lots of stuff) said it can test as you being fine but actually best way to test  is to cut it out for a month or two.
I also get weird eye swellings and face allergies (we think to marine collagen in face creams) and the post xmas excess means I am clearing up my diet. Some people refuse to deal with it - or he could move to sheeps and goats cheese as at least less of the cows milk - manchego or pecorino being v tasty... and lactose free milk as a first step.

DrCarrie said:

NYE sounds like it was super fun! I was home alone and then got up to see the dawn of the day and the New year.

I have just started to spend on a CC again, as it will help with my credit score I am told. Being super cautious - Train tickets for the commute only and the balance being paid off every month, DD already set up. 

Your NYE sounds great and  what I tried and failed to achieve! On the CC you need to wait for the statement to come through. I have decided to pay it off as soon as anything hits it apart from 2 work dd's so that way I know I have already spent the cash. 

@ruby_eskimo Your Nars treats sound great - I am back to £30 of boots gift vouchers waiting to be spent again but I have a lot of makeup up and just decluttered my makeup into a new to me 3 drawer cupboard so beyond a Mac Harmony cheek shade I am sorted for 2023 I think (plus mascara)

@SandyShores The Origins mega mushroom face tonic  is brilliant - I can feel my skin saying thanks

@KajiKita Oh thanks for the warning - I have bought the reduced flora DF butter in the freezer as it said I could on the pack, the Naturli which tastes amazing is all May 23 expiry so I will eat that first.
I havent tried cashew cream - I will try some

SPENDING ...ouch 
I had read about the Made furniture being auctioned off so I have just bought via the online auction a workstation for my study to replace my untidy table ... Paid £240 all in after the buyers fee, vat and £76 delivery to me ... Retail £475.. 
https://www.johnpyeauctions.co.uk/Event/LotDetails/33418765/Madecom-Damien-Workstation-Distressed-Oak-Effect-Black-RRP-475

It is lovely though and it will inspire me to clean up my office and I can keep all work stuff in there as got shelves in etc.. I was also  very tempted by a gorgeous mango wood and brass cupboard as well but even though they had a few it would have cost me another £384 so I decided not to. I also nearly bought a new sofa £800 v £2700 RP - though it would have been over £1k to get back so .. and I also nearly bought a shoe storage unit as well - so only buying a desk unit turned out to be quite restrained!!
I dont have a big furniture /home pot so I need to switch some cash around .. I do have a couple pots including a what I want to buy pot but not enough to cover the £235 ... so £80 or so will come from savings but feel it was a good buy and office expenditure. I also will be looking at the coats I have got ordered - only the very best will be staying and the rest returned..

£67/ £145 + £12.10/ 30 spent Grocery Challenge 
£20.26 inc £5.50 bulk
Third day in row to shops as on hunt for a FR chicken - Lidl £11 for a 2.3kg corn fed FR one - expensive but Sains ones were £20!
 I also had a voucher for 15% of DF stuff including the milks so just bought loads of those for stores and some vegan shredded cheese also YS to try.
Just cooked the chicken in the halogen with roast potatoes and onions, served with steamed kale and peas.. So delicious and healthy. I will make a curry and a stock with the leftovers but as I bought the biggest bird they had I will get at least 3 more meals out of it plus scraps.
I went to the gym and also swam as well for a second day in a row... 

WelshmansDaughter

Have you tried cooking the chicken in the Clever Chef? I found that when you use the whole bird setting, the liquid turns into a nice stock. 

TallGirl

I love Made.com furniture I am Danish so grew up with that kind of style. I was not surprised it went under I have bought from them for over 15 years and it has so gone downhill. Customer service excellent we got a full refund and free returns on our last two items but something was amiss. I do like the unit you have got and like you I am into good quality stuff which often means upcycling or buying expensive classic pieces that lasts. Loves reading about your DIY course that is so good they run them like that. Look forward to you reporting back from the next lot. 

SusieT

Thank you for that information, not sure how I will approach it, but it may help as he does sometimes complain about it. 
Great bargain on the Made unit, nice and tidy when you can close the doors and have work out of sight when you have finished

LadyWithAPlan

WelshmansDaughter said:

Have you tried cooking the chicken in the Clever Chef? I found that when you use the whole bird setting, the liquid turns into a nice stock. 

I didnt like it when I tried  - I much preferred my chicken done in my halogen or my normal oven, I like the crispiness Plus I get to bake potatoes at the same time with my halogen - my clever chef is small. I just make the stock after in 20 mins in the pressure cooker.
I have today though  thick sliced my left over baked potatoes  and grilled in my halogen oven when I did my morning bacon - they came out super crispy (I didnt add extra oil) and almost like crisps! An accidental brilliant discovery on my part  turning a baked potato into tasty thick crispy slices  ) - they were in for about 10 mins max.

@TallGirl interesting - the customer always knows, they did sell some amazing stuff - I am slightly regretting not buying the storage cupboard it was glorious but I am supposed to be house deposit saving not buying furniture - I gather as well  they went against their ethos of making customers wait for their order and had started stockpiling as well  just when inflation hit ...
Next DIY classes is next week - plumbing and carpentry - I want to add some shelves to a cupboard... and its a bit complicated so be good to get some advice.
 
@SusieT yes I decided the desk work station was a worthwhile buy - being able to have a focused work place , tidy some papers into there as well and then close the doors ... I do have a study but its always packed full  and not motivating to want to be in there ... so I am re-imagining the room . I cant wait for my unit It has motivated me to start clearing out my study at 6am and re-organising it already as up to 14 days delivery. I have taken down some blinds as I will have the doors to block the sunlight and decluttered a hundred odd stickies so far. It already feels clearer.

On your neighbour yes maybe wait til he complains and say a friend has discovered she is sensitive to dairy and it comes out via coughing up mucus and heaviness .. sometimes eczema as well 
Only way to properly tell is to cut it out completely for a month or 2 and see if he is better and not coughing so much. (tests are not reliable) On my podcast when I eat a lot of dairy you could hear it in every breath, my voice is nowhere near as clear. I am feeling much better being now 9 days DF - though I ate loads chocolate on 31st - so took a few days to recover.. In about a fortnight I will feel amazing - I know the process I have done it before...

Woke super early before 5am so eventually got up and started my week. Done some work, organised my 2023 goals, weight trained and went for a swim as well.. I am now flagging but I am planning to start early rising and early to bed.

savingholmes

Nice to see you posting again. Enjoy your new furniture. Keep chasing the invoices. Your course sounds fab as ever...

WelshmansDaughter

I have similar issues with mucus and cough, it's acid reflux though. Which dairy does make worse over time