Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

MovingForwards

Jar opener thingy, rubber gloves to grip, warm water round the lid and tip the jar upsidedown under the running tap, knocking the edge off the worktop and repeating until you've gone round the whole jar, get someone else to open it. 

Meal planning and writing a list can make a difference to what's needed / used, hard part is if you don't fancy what you've got planned.

skint_spice

I am of the pop it with a teaspoon club!  My dad gave me a gadget for opening jars but I find this usually works for me.  I used to be legendary for my ability to open things but age is taking it's toll.  My old boss asked me to open his bottle for him when we were out the other week and was horrified when I said I struggled these days as I was the one the blokes in the lab came to back in the day - I managed though

savingholmes

Thanks all for the jar opening ideas. I'll let you know how I got on. I have had gadgets in the past - but as Beanie said - didn't find them helpful.

Woke up feeling more refreshed. I had a shower before bed last night so I could get up and at it more easily this morning. It's another lovely sunny day here. Need to plan in some exercise at some point today even if it's a walk so I don't lose the momentum I gained while away. Need to do some washing from when I was away - and then line dry it. I'm not perfect - I still use the TD sometimes and will more in winter - but trying to be more MSE.

Aiming for an NSD today. The batteries in my scale seem to have worn out - I've replaced them but it doesn't now seem to want to work properly. I have a spare scale so will try that later instead.

savingholmes

Butterflies make life better 

jwil

Lovely pictures

Honeysucklelou2

 Beautiful pictures.

LadyWithAPlan

I am loving your garden pics and very happy you have one

My issue is I think I want a small garden which in London could be an interesting challenge affording one I will figure it out though - i have a budget and a plan

Yes keep up with the momentum of the exercise, it makes it easier.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, HSL and @LadyWithAPlan

I hope you get a garden too - as they are lovely. Even a balcony makes a difference. 

Well I've chased £co on the missing Mr T giftcard - but their emails aren't getting through. Not sure what's going on as they aren't in my junk folder.

Queried missing £40 gift card for MnS. They said it's on its way but could come via email - so need to watch out for that and not treat as spam!

DD borrowed £ for McD today - but proud of self as still not spent £ on me. It's like an itch though - which shows how compulsively I normally fritter spend. Eating leftover chicken casserole with roasted parsnips from the freezer. Earlier had soup and an ice cream. Feeling blessed. 

I've taken photos and listed a chair for sale. I hope I get some takers.

girlatplay

Lovely pictures.

Hope the gift cards come through soon.

savingholmes

Thanks GAP - They will surely!?! I do randomly have problems with email. Some of my NHS ones wouldn't come through either. 

My chair has sold already for £30 (what I paid for it a year ago on FB). Pick up arranged Friday afternoon. I am putting it towards the costs of getting work done as my money seems to have run away from me recently - hence extra efforts to coral it again - not helped by mini holiday and unwillingness to take £ out of holiday pot I need to make myself list a rocking chair, some shelves and a 1940s style bureau yet... 

I am trying to track too many accounts and making life unnecessarily hard for myself - so devising a new spreadsheet so that will hopefully improve that. I'm also splitting out my fire goals from my budget spreadsheet as I had way too many tabs and was getting befuddled!

I bought 2 pairs of leggings while I was away as they were reduced 25% but still - it's an example of £12 I hadn't planned on spending this month (on top of at least £80 I'd spent cf my £30 clothes budget).

DD and DS owe me £ still and DD's is rising. DD's debt is on a 0% spending card. DS is still looking for somewhere to live and exploring 'live in' type options guardian style and similar - but not sorted yet. He has another couple of weeks at best... 

Now I've met the qualifying spend on the new CC - I may stop using it/one of them so there's less to track. I took it out to get £22 from £co... I have been paying it off immediately after spend before the bill - literally using for points. I'm at about £1.50 already (potentially x 3) - and only had it a few weeks. I seem to spend between £150-400 on Am**** per month - which includes my hobby spend, some groceries and household goods but still way too much. Am**** and other new CC track quicker than MnS tho so in that regard they are better for tracking spends. Given Am**** is my biggest downfall - wonder whether I'd be better off using its CC for most transactions so I get vouchers even more quickly. Shops at MnS and even Mr T are exceptional for me as I do most of my shopping online. I use points CCs for pretty much all card purchases so I get free vouchers.

Free £ this pay period included £10 from Am****, £11 from MnS and £5.55 for Mr T via £co when it finally arrives. A further £40 due for MnS. It all helps.