Buying a little piece of Middle England; Manifesting my way to mortgage free.

debtfreewannabe321

HotDog2020 said:

Well done for perservering until the end you made it, and now you can have a well earned rest. I hope you enjoy your Easter Weekend and beyond...X

Thank you Hotdog you too  

redofromstart said:

Congrats on surviving the last shift. Dried chickpeas, I soak them
in plain water (no salt) for up to 24 hours and then rinse and pressure cook in twice as much water.  I've not had a manual pressure cooker for a while though so I've no direct recent experience of how long you need to cook the soaked ones for - internet says 12 minutes for overnight soaked and let them cool naturally without releasing pressure . They make brilliant roasted chickpeas with squirt of oil, salt and cumin. 

Ooo this is helpful thank you I will make note of it. I should have screenshot it when the conversation was going on before or taken note but I thought my memory wouldn't fail me  

skint_spice said:

Congratulations on quitting!🎉🎉🎉

Thank you! I feel like it is a proper odd thing to declare on a money saving website but what I am not making in cash I will be making up for in restored mental and physical health  

slm6002 said:

Yay you are finished with that job, congratulations on making it to the end.  I'm sorry you have so much going on right now with your friend and sister, such a shock.

My children used to be horrid when they had stayed with XH overnight, and would take a couple of days to realise I was not the bad guy.  Thankfully staying overnight didn't last long and now only DS sees him for a few hours every fortnight as the girls don't want to (can see what he is really like).  It is horrid that XH is making your DS guilty for not wanting to go.  Maybe the car wont be sorted before the holidays is up.

I wish my kids had the option to go just for the day, Ex is in Essex (where we used to live when I was here back in the DFW diary days) and I am in the midlands, it's too far for a day trip. It is why when he eventually gets them he messes me about on bringing them back as it is a 6 hour round trip. We usually meet half way so 3 hour round trip for us both but his end always takes longer as he is down south and traffic is always bad on the A1 down that end. DS is off next week now as ex didn't have car sorted and I am praying to all the Gods I can think of for that stroke of luck I know that probably makes me an awful mum but I don't care. DS is so kind and sweet when he is not near Ex (whom he tries to impress all the time).  

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all,

LIFE
I feel slightly better today, yesterday was a write off. My heel was in agony and I am worried I actually have a fracture in it. I am grateful I was at the end of that job as it has been getting worse but I carried on anyway. I have a horrid fear of the doctors and always try to heal myself first so I have ordered a few things to try and help it and started taking arnica in case it is just a bad bruise and swollen (have some bromelain on the way for that). I basically sat on my sofa all day exhausted.

I ordered the kids a 2 good 2 go bag from the local bakery and there was surprisingly something in there for us all, the meat eater (all the sandwiches), the veggie (an eclair) and the vegans (iced buns). Aside from getting up to get that and drop a parcel at the tesco locker things I did nothing.

I think slm is right in the fact the news at the beginning of my week has put me into shock a little. I saw a pic of my little sister and omgosh she looks emaciated. I've never seen her so skinny so it upset me all over again. She and I fell out and she is stubborn and won't see me. I have forgiven and forgotten but she holds a grudge forever. I am convinced that is why she is always ill, resentment, fear, anger, all eating her up inside.

My friend has had two scans already, she rang me and is worried she is at the end...I guess these fears do go through you before you know...waiting must be awful in between scans and full blown diagnosis.

My other friend rang me crying and hysterical as it was moving day and her electrics had blown and goodness knows what else was wrong. I think my shoulders couldn't take any more stress from anyone and I basically shut off and shut down yesterday. I am off to help that friend who's moved as she can't get her sofa up the stairs into the front room (she's in a town house)

I hope I am not left feeling drained after I am done, my energy is probably at around 60% today, yesterday was like 20% my blood pressure must have been so low, I felt dizzy and like my heart was running out of beats DP is like you're so dramatic. I was like yeh, I know haha. It was just exhaustion...and stress (mostly other people's stress oddly enough - I am planning in my head to go full on hermit mode very soon for a few days) I seem to be surrounded by drama, none of it mine, and as much as I try to avoid it it is brought to my door for me to somehow solve. 

So I spent too much yesterday but I will take it out of my pocket money fund. I bought some supplements for detoxing, also some new ear plugs as every night as I doze off one of my children decides to wake up and wander around the house waking me, I also bought some other bits which I can't even think of now - oh yes I just checked, a cream I was running really low on. So actually nothing too extravagant really. 

DP had two buyers lined up for a couple of bits he decluttered from the garage yesterday but neither turned up. We are giving one of them until 11.20 today to turn up (3rd time lucky right) and if they don't come we will make a move to go help my friend with her sofa and also collect those jars that lady is putting aside for me  

SELF CARE

Starting next week I am having a whole week of self care. I am returning to fasting, smoothies & juices, detoxing and hopefully some weight will come off that I have gained through stress. The extra weight is not helping my poorly foot so I need to do this asap. I am going back to meditating every single day during the day to set me up for a good positive productive day. Right now I meditate before sleep but I want to change this up. I am also going back to the meal planning, well I mean I have the plan, but I mean sticking to the darned thing which for some reason this month has been much harder than usual. This means I will eat well. I am also going to go inwards rather than meeting up with lots of friends who leave me drained........the life of an empath. People want to tell me their life stories all day long, I take them all on and leave them feeling good and well, yesterday was the outcome of when I do that too much. I make myself ill. I need to start saying NO my energy can't take that on right now, I am sorry. 
I may also book a chiropractor appointment as I do have money in the new health fund now (thanks @~FlowerPot~ for that idea)

MS 
I am going to reign the budget back in, get some more stuff listed on V1nted and MP, I love a good clear-out anyway. I feel like I have enough food in the freezer to reign the food budget back in but we will see. 

OK I am off, going to have some hot lemon water and get ready for friends house. Thanks so much for all the well wishes and popping in, I am so glad to be shot of that job, it was the most stressful one I have had by far. It was too much and too little all at the same time. I am worth more than that! 

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all,
so the clocks go forward and I thought to myself I might wake up later but no I still woke up at 6.55 like I have been doing for weeks It is peaceful and quiet though so I'm not complaining. All I can hear is birds and the odd car leaving the estate. *bliss*
I have a wash on already and have a cup of tea in hand and peace and quiet until someone gets up. Oh, Happy Easter if you celebrate!

Yesterday I visited my friend, she was still slightly stressed but not as bad as the other day thankfully lol so a pleasant visit to her new home. She needed help getting a sofa up the stairs, it went up fine with the legs off and a bit of, to me, to you, to me, to you-ing around the corner. I picked up my free coffee jars from the kind lady from the coffee aisle in b und m I will fill them later and see if I can take a nice pic to send to her. I bought her some yellow roses in to say thank you, they were the last bunch in the co op and were a bit battered but I wanted to say thank you, I like pleasant and equal energy exchanges, and she was doing something nice for me....aww she nearly cried and sent me a text after saying no one was ever that kind to her. She has promised to put any more aside for me too 

We bought a sack of potatoes from a farmer who sells them at a roadside on the way home, hope these lot are better than the last lot, they were probably 1/10 bad and had to be thrown. It still works out way cheaper than a SM pack though so we will still buy them regardless. 
I also picked up some pears and green runner beans as I had to make the spend up to £15 as it was an honesty box you put the money in. And I only had £15 in notes. There is CCTV and a large sign, WE ARE WATCHING YOU so I don't think the box should be labelled honesty, more like pay up as we have your number plate and face on camera It's a bit sad they have to resort to that, clearly people are not all that honest (and it is in a posh village two down from ours!) 

Anyway we had a bit of a road trip yesterday, we were waiting in for someone to collect an old computer DP was selling, we had an old tv and something else to drop off in the city and also collect those jars and visit my friend, this person was messing us about no end not showing, two days on the bounce. Ten to eleven and I was like, is he coming at 11? Have you checked? DP clearly more patient than me hadn't checked and trusted the man wouldn't mess him about again after the last two days. The man hadn't left when DP messaged him, ugh and it's a half hour drive. I asked DP to see where he lived, it turned out he lived two villages out of the city the other side we come in, only maybe 15 minutes out of our way and at least we would be shot of the item and also the PIA man messing us about and making us wait in for nothing. So we dropped it to him, then the tv to someone else (tv was my friends she has given me loads of bits that we have put in the garage instead of tipping as all in good condition, I can NOT believe what some people will tip!) so we were in profit when we got home which is good and made a change from our last visit! 

We have someone coming today for some fish, we have a huge pond we inherited, well huge, hmm, it is bigger than I have ever had with a pretty stream one end perhaps not huge compared to others. However the guy who sold the house did not make it deep enough for big fish. He then proceeded to fill pond with koi, goldfish and I think it is roe (according to a neighbour)... We already gave away 15 very large goldfish to a neighbour, poor koi are now too big as well, we are selling very cheaply all together so they can go to a new home. I was more concerned for their welfare than our pockets so we aren't making much money considering their apparently expensive colour and size. However I will be happier looking in the pond and NOT seeing them there and in a space too small for them Let's hope the guy turns up because I really want the fish re-homed asap. After a week where DP was messed around lots on FB trying to sell stuff the week didn't end too badly and we made some more space in the garage! I told him to hang fire because people were waiting for payday, and I was right, the minute payday came round he had a tonne of messages for stuff he had up for sale. 

I have a bedside unit I can sell and maybe some other little bits, friend gave them to me yesterday, she cleared out loads when she moved in because her stuff didn't match the wall colours and carpet *mind blown* yes seriously. Perfectly good stuff because it was the wrong colour! So, I will go through it and see what I can sell rather than take to the CS. 

I am making a sausage and squash casserole and mash today as I slept way better yesterday and feeling good today and have the energy to prep it (recipe is on Mr T website, Carl's all change casserole) . My foot and leg are sore but energy is on the mend! I made sticky cauliflower last night one of DP faves but the clear up mission after is phenomenal for what looks like a basic dish when you serve it up I went and got in a salt bath and let DP do it, I couldn't stand up on my leg any more so good excuse haha.  

Easter weekend is usually when we would be tackling a big DIY job, we do have the small one which we keep starting and then abandoning, but nothing big. It would have been nice if my foot was not so sore as we would have loved a wander around the boot-fair and the antique centres this weekend...perhaps I will rest it today and see if I am fit enough for tomorrow. Isn't it odd my foot and leg have allowed me to work all the way up to Thursday and then Friday morning it was like I couldn't walk one more step?! If I wasn't quitting and was going back to work tomorrow I wouldn't actually be able to it is that sore.....I find it so hard to just sit and do nothing though  

I cashed out some money on pr0l1f1c again and rounded it up to a tenner and sent it over to the MOP, DP has said I can have all the fish money towards the OPs ...he thinks I'm on to something paying the mortgage down now, as if we do move the money will be in the house equity so it's like we are saving at the same time as paying it down. Of course.....this was my thinking too so I am glad he's fully come round to it. Perhaps I will be thrown some more money from sales my way

All bills are due out tomorrow, Maintenance is due in, it's bank holiday so I will wait a couple of days before seeing where everything is properly at before putting money into savings accounts. All I know is I am going crazy with the food budget and need to reign it in. I spent more money in S'bury yesterday on fresh stuff and also some t shirts for DP and something from their gardening section. I will find the receipts later and tally up. Oops. Someone take my card away from me!

Ohhh and I totally forgot to say on here, ya know in the vein of keeping myself accountable, we had take out on Thursday, I hadn't prepped any dinner before work as was in a bit of pain, and we thought it would be nice as a celebration for my last day at work anyway! It cost maybe £45 for pizza for kids and Indian for us. Not budgeted for AND then we had a MCDs which I didn't really even enjoy yesterday because we were out so long and were starving, and it was the only "restaurant" (I use that word loosely regarding McDs it is not really proper food) on the way out of town that we could afford. So perhaps it might be wiser to hold some money back from one sale or t'other to cover those mishaps in the budget. *oops*

Okay off for another cuppa and to wake DP up. If fish go and I manage to colour some squares in on my OP picture I might well come back again Hope the sun is shining for you all and you all have a good SUNday.

debtfreewannabe321

Fishy's have gone to their new home!
The large one was even bigger than we thought when we got it out !
Money paid and sent straight across to the MOP before it gets spent. £200
We've had a message to say they are already swimming about in their new pond which is at least three times bigger than ours, so I am happy with that. We could have held out for more but I was more concerned they were going to a good home over the money.

I've also just sold an old TV my friend gave me to send to the tip- £40!! I may send this over to the MOP but I am keeping it back at the mo in case of possible overspends on groceries etc. I have made my target already this month in a week for the MOP so no panic about finding any more money for it now Feeling on top of the OPs and slightly behind with the food budget which is quickly becoming a disaster zone  

debtfreewannabe321

Afternoon diaryland, 

So today I have listed a few more bits on FB from the garden, a waterfall for the pond which was connected but we don't use it, I think it's superfluous to requirements now we only have a dozen or so smaller fish swimming around. We already have a stream built at the side and we kept this waterfall to help with oxygen flow but we barely use it to be honest, what we have already is fine. We have taken it off and cleaned and dried it and the pond looks bigger already as it took up one whole corner. I've had a few messages about it but no one has taken it yet. I think I will have a wander around the garden and see what else I can sell this selling to make money lark is quite addictive. More than that though, I am enjoying the extra space it gives us in every room. I have listed a few other smaller bits too. 

I've cashed out over £20 on the surveys since the other day, all sent over to MOP. I will tally up what I have sent over and add it to my signature to keep a running total going. I need to go through the meal plan today and decide what I am going to make this week for food so that I can do a shop. Every day I eek out the food though is good so that the budget may hold out a little longer. Hoping to get away with just fridge stuff, fresh and bread to buy. I will let you know how I get on with that best laid plans and all. 

So, those chickpeas and the pressure cooker, well I soaked them yesterday, they had doubled in size super quickly and I left them overnight. I cooked them before going out today  with the PC (all went well and were quick to do thank you for the instructions @redofromstart ) and planned to use them in dinner later. We got in around lunchtime, the kids didn't come with us and hadn't long been up when we got in, when I called up, "are you hungry" yes was the resounding reply so I air-fried the chickpeas for ten minutes with some paprika and Himalayan salt and *mmmm* they were good, we had them split between us all with some cut up fruit for lunch. Yum. So I have yet another batch in soaking now And dinner will have to be chickpea-less. 

We popped out to the local antique centre, one of our favourite things to do on a drizzly cold day. We are lucky enough to live very close to a very large one with lots of different buildings selling lots and lots of pretties. We chose two to look in and had a nice wander around. Bought nothing in the first one, then went to the cafe and bought some tea and a sweet snack (the only vegan thing they had for sale) and then moseyed on round the second.

We found some albums we liked in the record section to add to our collection and we also both, in unison, went, "look at that painting!" as we walked into another unit. The painting had no price tag on, we looked at all the others in the unit and decided it would be too much (lowest price tag was £160 definitely NOT budgeted for that kind spontaneous spend) so we walked away. However, we both looked at each other and I think without even saying anything, decided it would do no harm to at least ask the price One of the people who worked there, looking harassed, said he will ring the trader and I said, we will come back then. But as we went to walk away for the second time he started speaking to the trader so we stopped, he mouthed to us "£48?" DP was like, ummmm, YES!!! Thanks we will take it, without even asking me we both felt that was not the correct price and we both loved it. The trader couldn't even think which one it was and wasn't at home with price book in hand so made something up. So it is ours now for what we thought was a bargain price! It's a really detailed oil painting of a high street, possibly 1930s sort of time (no idea how old the painting is though it could be newer but just of an old time) and it is SO colourful, we loved it! We are all about a house that is filled with things that spark joy I already know where it will go and I may try and sell one of the ones we don't love so much to keep a handle on it.

But the records, the painting, all together are the cost of the smaller things we have sold this weekend, so it's okay. And we have so much more up for sale so I think we can easily recoup. DP said worst comes to worst he will take a hit on his pocket money fund and buy it from there I love that he is so on board with colouring squares in with me

Speaking of squares I have managed to colour another in since I last came on, I only needed to send another tenner off to do so and I did that with survey payouts. 

Tomorrow I will have a look at the budget and see what is what with savings pots, food budget and everything else as all big bills will have gone out by then. But today I am just resting my foot again now, cooking a curry later and not spending another penny!!
Hope everyone is having a nice Bank Holiday  

redofromstart

The picture sounds like it is perfect for you both.  We once had to go all of the way back to the Lake District to buy a picture that we couldnt forget...  It lives in my study and still makes me smile.

Glad the chickpeas worked.  

redofromstart

No laughing but - 

I checked ebay for any pictures by said artist
I found an item by said artist
I showed mr Redo
Mr Redo made me buy it

Whoops.

Bad influence.


(Hurrah! Hurrah! Better than an easter egg)

debtfreewannabe321

redofromstart said:

The picture sounds like it is perfect for you both.  We once had to go all of the way back to the Lake District to buy a picture that we couldnt forget...  It lives in my study and still makes me smile.

Glad the chickpeas worked.  

We have walked away before from things I wish we had just said, darn it let's just buy it I still think about one beautiful mirror I saw in an antique centre...I went back a few weeks later and it was gone, obviously as it was so nice, that one clearly wasn't meant for me! So these days we do tend to just splurge if we see something we are both drawn to! I'm glad you got your picture and it was still there waiting for you.

redofromstart said:

Mr Redo made me buy it

That's the story I would stick to as well

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all!

Money issues
So bills have mostly gone out today. We had a bit of teething problems with the bills account, in the fact I didn't transfer enough money over so it went overdrawn! Thank gawd I opted for a small overdraft when setting it up. DP account is also overdrawn as he spent all his pocket money and also had to pay for something else which was budgeted for from money we do have, but was in cash.......so I have sent him off to the bank this morning to pay in all the cash we have from sales over the last week, that will see us back into the black and allow us to move everything else where it needs to. I have been over the budget and realised I missed the maintenance money which also comes out of there now so that was why it was short. Will make a note so perhaps next month I will finally get it right  
We just have two more savings accounts to top up later today and then all money for the month is where it needs to be and whatever is left is ours for food and other spends. We will be okay as we have my wages due this week too (my last one though, trying not to panic at that).

Mortgage
I am waiting (im)patiently for my mortgage app to update with today's monthly DD payment. I have paid over £200 and was watching as the numbers got closer and closer to the next thousand down.....and then they went and put on the interest yesterday- £206.88 (so that was my goal for this month) and the balance on what I owe now is more than I started the month with!! They haven't yet processed the £200 overpayment as well as smaller ones I sent over and the monthly DD isn't showing so I owe currently £98,383.57 *insert crying face here* hopefully tomorrow will show all extra payments and it will have finally made it into the £97k owing (okay maybe only just but still....)

Food Shopping
Feeling rather deflated at the food shopping this month. I wasn't in the least extravagant but bought what we needed (some of it in bulk though and only a few extras for easter) and I am so far into my food budget I fear there is no return now. I did an online shop yesterday instead of going to the shops this morning and it cost me £90+ (I will wait till it has been picked and arrives to see what final tally is) I was really good and took out most treats so most of that shop is fresh stuff (we do eat organic though) and some cupboard stuff. Very depressing when the food costs so much!!! Booo  Damage limitation will be commencing before I am half way through the month I think.

Plans for reducing the food budget include finding a good vegan falafel recipe to make at home, that would save me £15-20 a month.
Picking up that soup maker my friend has now dropped off at my sister's house for me, that would save me another £15-20 a month. 
I am thinking about making my own bread again too....but not sure as it is an expense to set up once again with ingredients as well as the maker. Will think on this one. 
I am debating trying some recipes for veg burgers too, but the binder is the hard bit to get right with vegan recipes, I do have besan flour though so that might do it. I will think on what else I could save money on. 

Today's plans....
Today I have already walked the dog and done the huge ironing pile and put away all clean washing. DP took the money so that saves me a trip to the post office to pay it in. I will clean the house quickly and hoover, no deep cleaning today though, can't be ars-ed basically. Shopping is due between 12-4 and I have to cook some more chickpeas. I have ordered some organic cabbage in the shop so I can make some sauerkraut too, may do this this afternoon if I can be bothered finding all the jars in my messy cupboard Burger and chips for dinner for everyone, I will make the chips in the air fryer from the potatoes in the sack we bought.
I need to ring my sister for update on other sister and also my friend. Both were busy over Easter and I didn't want to disturb either, especially my friend as she's not told her kids yet.
Umm nothing much planned aside from that I am trying to keep the weight off my foot still as it is healing but slowly so maybe working my way through my DVD collection as we are having a sort out with that and discarding any we don't like any more.
Talking of weight we bought some scales at the weekend, budgeted for as my last lot broke end of last year I think it was. Anyway they are poshhhh ones! They connect to an app on your phone and you can track weight loss on there! Ooo. So I have downloaded the app, stood on the scales to connect it (nearly cried) and ready to start. My detox stuff is all on the way with my H&B shop and I have already started fasting again. Today is an easy one 16:8. I always feel better for fasting, I drink more water naturally and feel lighter and full of energy. Work had been depressing me for weeks and weeks and I fell off the wagon with it eating too much so back to it today seriously I will get back to my target weight, thankfully I have only put on around half a stone so not too much to lose, but anyone who has lost weight before knows that last half a stone is always the worst one to get off. I could do with losing more but I felt good and healthy at half a stone off and I think as you get older you do naturally plump out a little more. Gone are the days where I would stand on the scales and have 8st something smiling back at me Righty-ho I heard the washing machine finish so going to attempt to hang it out to dry, it is cold but there is some blue sky poking through the clouds!

debtfreewannabe321

This post shall be entitled what a lot of faff for not much results ...
I think the picture speaks a thousand words. The washing up pile is ten times bigger than this. And I have spent over an hour doing this 🤣😂🤣
I'm no expert but I think I've made edible sauerkraut here. It's gone better than previous attempts which were not edible 🤣
And the chickpeas are enough for a few days I hope. I will make hummus with some but that's a job for tomorrow. I still have dinner to do and am out of steam nearly.

Making everything from scratch is hard work...😁🌟