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

WelshmansDaughter

My mum and aunt had the same complaint about the chicken not being crispy enough. I sauteed it longer than the recipe suggested the second time and it was much more golden brown. Bone in chicken thighs make a nice stock in the clever chef. I like the sound of the crispy potatoes, I'd be trying to make kale crisps as well 

Sistergold

LadyWithAPlan said:

£52/ £145 + £6.69/ 30 spent Grocery Challenge 

Did some food shopping as wanted to get a FR corn fed chicken from Lidl but I ended up in there at 5.30pm after a late start in the gym and most the chicken had gone.. guess the world is on a Lean Diet as there were loads of sausages still in store ! I did buy some more DF butter as it’s only £1.49 for bulk plus some gherkins, 
plus potatoes as want to try my new mandolin for making crisps (I cook in microwave as less oil) and a Tin of tomatoes £3 the lot 

I bought some onion powder, Kashmir chilli powder (my new fav spice of 2022) 
From local ethnic  shop £2.18 
coop had Ys chicken tikka plus that Alpri I can’t believe it’s not milk (best DF milk ever) reduced and a £1 voucher off so total bill £1.58

I have started a 3 month fitness campaign today .. having not drank since NYE - having dry January if not a dry spring … so my fridge is full of greens and protein. Plus DF yogurt and milk
lots of swimmings and 20 mins of weight training most days is my cunning plan 

also off the dairy again and a week in i
fer I can breathe better and coughing up less stuff .. 

I think I will need to join you in the 3 months fitness campaign. Told myself come January I will …… still to get started on exercise. 

LadyWithAPlan

@Sistergold if not now then when ?  )
I way over indulged at Xmas so I am in that gym .. and swimming 30 mins a day for as many days a week as I can plus doing dry January. 
I went into the office today and need to go in tomorrow as well / only been going in once a month max vs WFH so it’s actually fun but I was thinking of popping to gym after .. but by time I got home I decided not to .. 
I like to go first thing or I really struggle so question Is can I get there at 6.30 am for an hour before going to the office. … 

@WelshmansDaughter I have made kale crisps in the oven before but not tried in the halogen .. I will report back 

So much rain going into the office today but I had a new parka lined with pink fur with a hood that looks fabulous, kept me dry and dried quickly in the office so a great buy .. £18 from everything5pounds however I note you have to pay to return the things you don’t want!!  Who does that ? 

WelshmansDaughter

Kale crisps with salt and honey drizzled over them. Nom

savingholmes

Coat sounds nice

Sistergold

Kale crisps need to try making that! 😋

LadyWithAPlan

Sistergold said:

Kale crisps need to try making that! 😋

You can put them in the oven - herbs salt pepper (paprika is good) and toss in oil for about 15-20 mins - just keep turning it. However I have not tried in the halogen as @WelshmansDaughter suggests - I will get back on how that works as less fat. Halogen (or air fryer) does make it crispier so it should work.

Hope everyone's 2023 is starting OK - my shocking sudden lack of sugary sweets, cakes and biscuits (plus dry January) is making me early to bed but it is making me focused - and eating up a storm in fruit...

Fitness
On the fitness front I actually managed to get up early yesterday and do a home workout - 40 mins of Insanity before going to the office - I also took my swim wear and towel so as to go straight there after which didnt happen but was pleased I got a morning workout in. I am not in the office today though got various work things to get done but also need to get to that gym today... weights and a swim

savingholmes said:

Coat sounds nice

@savingholmes its quite fun  and also water proof and warm which a winter jacket should be   I need to send a fair few things back to everything5pounds later today - they make you book and pay for return delivery. Some coats were undersized and others ok - as in one XS 6-8 coat fits great  and is a keeper but a 8-10 different brand  one was definitely too small ..I am a 8-10 generally
I think the trainers and run around shoes are good value on the site and less clothing size discrepancies

Grocery Challenge  spent £33.02 
£100/ £145 + £12.10/ 30 
£37.67 left  in pot plus I have £8 cash

I spent £4.58 on bits, £8.90 for work food Tuesday (some of which was also for Wed in office as well)  and £19.54 in Sains on way home (I had a £1.50 off voucher if I spent more than £10 - in my nectar) Some of what I bought last night extra was more treats (none sweet - but nuts, crisps and houmous) though. I have not taken it out the treats budget  so my grocery budget for Jan is rapidly shrinking ..

New desk/office
Just had text saying that they want to deliver my new desk on Saturday (I can state I am out and move it back to next week) This has me in a slight panic as my study is a mess and it needs clearing for the new workstation - pretty good service as auction was only Sunday.
I have my spare fridge freezer in there I don't now use so need to sell or give that away,  a table which I use as a desk, too many chairs, my studio lights (which are huge but a pain to disassemble and fold away and worse to rebuild), far too many boxes for packing ebay stuff plus to be ebayed stuff - waiting on a listing free weekend  plus 2 cupboards in there. My study is a mess. I have been working on it since Jan 3rd so it is better but to only have 2 days whilst I am also working - argh - I would delay til next week but at least this way I am pressurised to get moving on it.

I am doing the minimalist game so been faithful to that - guess my 12 things to declutter today as day 12  are all coming out the study

Side hustle - the thing I keep talking about .. I have won in a competition more stuff towards it -- I opened a surprise package on my London return- which is great  though I already bought bigger and better gear so I will need to ebay or sell online the new win - still its all money
. I also am booking in today a chance to work and get paid for it in 5 weeks time so it gives me the pressure to do the work I need to do. If I am good more work will follow
So my decorating etc will have to go on the back burner - and taxes, work stuff and side hustle focus right now is important.

LeighofMar

Your post is inspiring me to get my act together. I really need to redo my home office. I almost never go in there anymore since I have my laptop and I desperately need a new desk and new storage. Of course I've been meaning to do this for the past 3 years 😬

SandyShores

Another one here needing to redo the home office.  I swapped my small desk for a larger one, and had a move around but I need to sort my small shelf set out as its just a big mess.  I've got a sideboard with my sewing stuff in but have seen instructions on pinterest to make a big cutting table out of some kallax units, table tops and castors - would be good to store all my sewing stuff currently sitting around in bags.  Its a job I need to motivate myself to do.

LadyWithAPlan

LeighofMar said:

Your post is inspiring me to get my act together. I really need to redo my home office. I almost never go in there anymore since I have my laptop and I desperately need a new desk and new storage. Of course I've been meaning to do this for the past 3 years 😬

OOPS! Sorry! However I think we all need a push so lets do this together 
So tomorrow  Friday night I will be moving stuff out as they sent me a long email about having the space clear so they can position it where I want Saturday .. argh  and no doubt the weekend will be spent sorting it all out.
I have some paperwork and books in a cupboard in my bedroom so I am looking to move all my non bedroom stuff out of it. Plus move some clothes stuff around (whilst decluttering). 

I am blaming the John Pye auctions .. and now they have text to say its arriving on Saturday - argh! Its chaos in there.. (I also have a laptop so happily sit in my lounge instead and work.)

I could put the workstation against the wall next to the window and see it from the hall entrance but I have a wardrobe shaped gap in the corner (where my extra fridge freezer currently is and my printer)  .. which would mean I'd have loads of room left in the room to make it a lovely studio space or a dressing room  (its a double room)  (if I cleared out the extra chairs, 2 tall bar stools, lights, boxes and random paperwork and the to be ebayed stuff!

Looks like I have interest in my comp win and can clear £190 win ....  AND I have an advent win from a  company on instagram  but they are not yet getting back - even though I responded immediately - the prize is a large voucher .. good to see all the effort I made over Dec in comping has paid off - I won a bottle of expensive gin, an orchid, a £280 bit of kit, an £8 coffee voucher and a £1k gift voucher hopefully plus the £2k cheque from an energy company - though that was just as I was a customer and was automatically entered