Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

badmemory

I think it is just as likely to be a matter of sheer ignorance of how much things cost, plus being the younger child.  My sister always thought she was badly done to even though she got to do things at least 2 years younger than I did.  She also conveniently forgets that when she was at teacher training college & I found out she was hitching on her own I topped up what my parents should have done so that she wouldn't do that.  That may well be why I only have the one!!  Not true - I was like the duchess of cambridge & threw up for 8 months - & never missed a days work.

MovingForwards

It's awkward with family SH, we all appreciate that you're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You're doing so well with the food and the meals have changed, more varied and adventurous. 

Humdinger1

savingholmes said:

@boxofpaws "That’s annoying about the electric blanket - can you return it? Or is it simply not worth the hassle?"

This is MSE. That was almost like swearing...  Luckily had a feeling I might need it so kept the original packaging - as it stopped working so close to buying it. It's possible that it's automatic cut out for overheating - but it hadn't been on even half the hours it said it could be... I need to print the return label - that will probably wait until Thursday now as I am in the office tomorrow. I have found the thermometer and than can be a label-less return so a little easier.

I worked really late tonight but got quite a few hours to make up from last week!!

GAP I don't like pesto really. I don't like waste either so I made some of it into a passable soup and blitzed it so I didn't have to see the kale:

half a bag of kale
a red pepper & 4 cherry tomatoes (nearly past it!)
a couple of parsnips
some potatoes and peelings from the earlier roasties
a couple of carrots
onion

Passata
turmeric, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, allspice, salt
half a red cabbage 
possibly leek if I had any left I can't remember

The soup number 2 I had for lunch today. There's plenty left...

I had chicken stirfry for tea with a small jacket spud - using a 2017 BB dated oyster sauce - it was fine... 

Now having soup number 1 for a snack. Also had the odd QS and ice cream. An orange, an apple and the last clementine.

Good tip GAP on the freezer stuff - like the idea of it going flat to file it in the freezer. Love it!! I need to freeze some of the bombay potatoes and the chilli as I've not had any of either yet. Will aim to freeze at least a couple of portions of each. Need to label though. Trying to eat healthier and less... My fat % scale was impressed with the increased veg - so let's hope that trend continues.

@Chiglepig enjoy your convo about keep. Never easy. The problem is DS did get away with more as we were 2 income and he'd accrued huge debts he was paying 40% on. She can't get her head around I'm not in the same financial position we were - and because I instigated the divorce - she also feels I should literally pay any penalty from that rather than it impacting her...  

Ooh saving, I'm wading in here.  Your daughter should not be deciding how your money gets spent on the basis of moral judgements! She doesn't have all the facts; and even if she did, so what?!  What she can't perhaps see but what is highly material is how your voice was silenced. No one should feel obliged to stay in such a situation to keep material matters notionally equal between children; if you can even call them that when grown-up.   You are modelling healthy behaviour; the economic and psychological value of a solid career; and self-reliance for her: very valuable.  Keep going you wonderful woman! Love Humdinger xx 

EssexHebridean

Great work on the soup making - amazing what a difference consciously adding more fruit and veg into your diet can make isn't it! Your chicken and garlic thing sounds lovely too! 

Hopefully once DD has a car and fuel costs of her own she'll realise quite how much it's all been costing you and will have to good grace to acknowledge that - understand totally that you want to protect future relationships too and as it is time-limited that is as least more doable. The "path of least resistance" is sometimes the smoothest way forwards for our own sanity. 

jwil

You are doing great, glad to hear balance is improving and weight is going in the right direction.  

Your cleaner sounds fab too!

lucielle

I'm on the hunt for a new cleaner as DD1 can't do it anymore.  Need to look into yoga or something as I'm not bendy at all, so well done you.
L

doingitanyway

Your food lately is sounding really healthy and yummy. I think all the soup is helping with your weightless too. It is something Michael Mosely talks about. Like you I love soup

earthgirl2

I've also been having soup lately to increase veg uptake and just for ease too, if it's prepared I will reach for a healthier meal, if it's not in the fridge I might be tempted by something else!

doingitanyway

earthgirl2 said:

I've also been having soup lately to increase veg uptake and just for ease too, if it's prepared I will reach for a healthier meal, if it's not in the fridge I might be tempted by something else!

I totally agree. Me too. a soup maker is great for that reason. You can chop the veggies, add a handful of lentils in advance, then when you need it, add stock and hey ho, soup in 20 minutes.  

savingholmes

Thanks @badmemory, @Humdinger1, DIA, MF, @earthgirl2, lucielle, jwil and EH

Really enjoyed balance class again yesterday. 

Had lots of soup, stir fry chicken, fruit, porridge and snacks yesterday. 

Still waiting for my first BG bill despite submitting a reading last week. They've got my electric - and my credit has in theory gone to Sh3ll so really nervous about what my bill is going to be. The latter are no better. Still no further forward. I've put £523 on my s/sht for that - but if I did have to spend that much - it would eat into my EF by at least £200.

I've got 2 things I to return to Amazon - one of them by 3/2 the other has longer. 

I've got my car service tomorrow. That's paid for as part of a scheme but any consumables and anything extra they find like brakes is not. I'd best take a CC. I'd rather put the cost on 0% for now and keep EF (for emergencies like if I ever lost my job). I've earmarked £200 worst case and factored it into my debt free plan. Really hope it isn't more. 

The show I was going to with my Mum next week has been cancelled - I'm just going to request a refund for now I think. So that's £35 coming back to me and £35 I'll need to return to my Mum. I'm debating booking a show while I'm in London with my sis. Will see what she thinks - and whether to just try and book something on the day - so I don't keep having this refund issue.

Have a good weekend all.