The Three C's - Coffee, Clothes & Credit Cards

Sarahwithlove

Thanks ladies. It seems alot is going around at the moment. I've sorted the vitamins and prebiotic out and took some yesterday and today so far. I also drank some fresh orange juice yesterday and this morning. Hoping if I have a few days of eating better and resting I will be better come Monday. 

Sarahwithlove

Is anyone else finding this month seems never ending? Maybe it's just me? 

Think it's probably the stupid cough/flu thing that's doing me in. I'm trying hard to eat/drink more vitamin c but the cough just isn't shifting. 

I also just find I have no energy after work to cook and given in to way too many takeaways this month. 

Did our monthly trip to costco at the weekend and topped up on some meat for the freezer. Hoping this will prompt me to cook my own meals more as can just put something in air fryer. 

I managed to sell a couple bits on FB, didn't have much value, but it's 2 less things in spare room. I used the money to buy some lampshades from FB and a coffee for myself. I have a couple other bits to put on there at weekend then I need to move on to clothing on vinted really. 

Now I just need to try and make it to payday! Wish me luck. 

LzzyIsGod

No definitely not just you! March has really dragged itself along to pay day!!

Sarahwithlove

God it's been a while again. I really need to try and get some constancy as being on here does help. When I come away is when things go wrong. 

So what's happened in the last 6 weeks? I decided to bite the bullet and merge my credit cards to one. So only have barclaycard to focus on paying off which is 0% until November 2026. 

I've given the garden a mini makeover, which included a mini greenhouse and I've started growing some veggies. I'm quite enjoying it and I love having flowers. I also got a bistro set for me to sit in the garden which I've been making the most of. 

Work is manic as we are short staffed, but good news is that they are letting us do overtime. It's at basic rate but it all helps. It will only last as long as it takes to hire someone staff and train them. But looking at at least 3 months if not more I'd think. Do just trying to do what I can without exhausting myself. 

Mortgage fixed rate is due to come to an end in June, have provisionally agreed to stay with HSBC at 3.84% for 5 years. But hoping the rate might drop again in June and I can get a slightly better rate before renewal is due. My rate is currently 4.24 so it's all an improvement either way. I did debate staying on 2 years but decided I wanted the certainty and not have to go through this hassle again in 2 years. Especially as I have decided to stay at my current property for now. 

Taking a break from repaying my dad loan at the moment until my mortgage is sorted just in case I need to do an application. My gym membership also ends in June so that will free up some money towards it. Hoping to restart payments in July. 

Sarahwithlove

Updated my signature. Debt gone down by £107.60 since March. Not as much as would have liked but that's the balance transfer fees on credit card. Hopefully that will be it for now and it will be a downwards trend going forward 

Blackcats

Nice to see you!  Debt going down by over £100 is better than debt staying the same or going up.

Sarahwithlove

Blackcats said:

Nice to see you!  Debt going down by over £100 is better than debt staying the same or going up.

Thanks its good to be back. Just need to keep at it. When things are going well I seem to drift away but that leads to bad habits drifting back in. 

In fairness my debt is likely to not go down by much more than that each month at the moment. Especially as I will be starting the saving up again as it's the restart of my sinking Fund year in July I.e when all my big expenses have happened and I have to repay the fund. 

Sarahwithlove

Happy Friday. It was my Friday off today and I've taken Monday off as leave so looming forward to my long weekend. 

Today was new nail day, though not sure how much longer I will be having them done for as price is going up from 1st July and I can't afford it. Just very awkward as it's my best friends business and she keeps trying to extend the time between appointments in hopes I may stay. But my nails grow too quickly for that. 

I renewed my football season ticket today so my savings have taken a hit. It's what they were saved for but I still don't like paying it all out at once. Opened a new savings pot on monzo to start saving for next years now. 

I did some rejigging of the budget as well, I've decided I need to give myself a bit more in the food budget. I've rejoined sw and eating healthy isn't cheap. I want to be able to enjoy the food I'm eating without having to worry about cost. Besides everything is more expensive so it doesn't go as far as it used to. 

Tomorrow I'm off to costco to stock up on meat and salmon for freezer and maybe loo rolls. I will try not to spend too much else. My sil is driving and I'm buying the coffees. 

joedenise

For the healthy eating and to bring costs down can you use things like lentils and pulses as both these will reduce your overall protein costs.  I use red lentils to stretch mince further and also add grated veg like carrots and/or courgettes.  It means I can get at least a couple of extra portions to freeze for another day.

Dried chickpeas are also a good source of protein and can be used in various ways.  They are great in a curry, either on their own or added to a meat curry.  Check out recipes on line - you just have to remember to soak them overnight!  I've got a load soaking at the moment - half I'm going to use as they are to make falafel (which I bake rather than fry to keep them healthier) and the other half will be used to make some humous but they'll need cooking first, I pressure cook them as it's much quicker.

Vegetable soups make great lunches and can be made really cheaply and are good for taking to work in a flask if they are blitzed.

As you are a member of SW make good use of the recipes on the website and the app - there are thousands of recipes to choose from although I must admit I found they were often very wet so would reduce the liquid amount they suggested as you can always add more towards the end of cooking time if necessary.

Hope these tips help with the cost of SW!  You could also come and join us on the SW thread on here where you'd be very welcome.  This is the current thread (there's a new thread about every 3 months or so):  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6577739/lose-weight-with-slimming-world-in-2025-you-know-you-want-to#latest

Sarahwithlove

joedenise said:

For the healthy eating and to bring costs down can you use things like lentils and pulses as both these will reduce your overall protein costs.  I use red lentils to stretch mince further and also add grated veg like carrots and/or courgettes.  It means I can get at least a couple of extra portions to freeze for another day.

Dried chickpeas are also a good source of protein and can be used in various ways.  They are great in a curry, either on their own or added to a meat curry.  Check out recipes on line - you just have to remember to soak them overnight!  I've got a load soaking at the moment - half I'm going to use as they are to make falafel (which I bake rather than fry to keep them healthier) and the other half will be used to make some humous but they'll need cooking first, I pressure cook them as it's much quicker.

Vegetable soups make great lunches and can be made really cheaply and are good for taking to work in a flask if they are blitzed.

As you are a member of SW make good use of the recipes on the website and the app - there are thousands of recipes to choose from although I must admit I found they were often very wet so would reduce the liquid amount they suggested as you can always add more towards the end of cooking time if necessary.

Hope these tips help with the cost of SW!  You could also come and join us on the SW thread on here where you'd be very welcome.  This is the current thread (there's a new thread about every 3 months or so):  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6577739/lose-weight-with-slimming-world-in-2025-you-know-you-want-to#latest

Thanks I will pop over. For me I'm just a lazy cook and like easy, nice food! My downfall is eating alot of fruit like strawberries, raspberries and melon. I just need to plan better and then I can make my food shop go further. 

Sadly I can't have lentils and pulses as I have an intolerance to them. But I do add alot of veg to my meals to make them go further. I just need to get back to basics and do some bulk cooking rather than live off asparagus, new potatoes and either chicken or salmon.