Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

DancingInTheRain

That is a fantastic yellow sticker haul!

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82064270#Comment_82064270

It reminded me of the days when our money went much further in a supermarket and you could get a basket full for a tenner, rather than 3 items. I think Thursday evening is a good time for yellow sticker shopping as lots of things have been reduced twice and maybe there are not as many people are looking.

I've brought the sausages to work today with veg, fruit, and yoghurt, and have filled myself up on those and water to avoid needing to buy anything. I have so much to do so there's no time anyway.

MillQueen

Well, a complete waste of time has been the HSBC investing account I got, as I just got an email from them saying they are changing the terms and there will be a £5 fee per trade and a quarterly account fee of £10.50 per investment account. This would wipe out all of the interest I have earned, as I have only gained about £40 so far. It makes the account only really suitable if you have got huge amounts of money in it. I need to swap my money to Trading 212 instead. There's a task for tomorrow. What money grabbing grifters. I would have wanted to stay as I find it easier to manage on HSBC, but it's pointless if I am not getting anything, as I'll actually be losing money in real terms by leaving it in there. Just another way for the rich institutions to cream off any bits of wealth that regular people could build up so no one makes any progress. I have a lot of anger about that currently!

ETA: My stocks have actually gone down, so all I have gained is £27, so paying £42 a year would be crazy.

MillQueen

My money saving has made me motivated to use the things I have at home and I just finished off a pack of vitamin D gummies. This is an achievement, as I tend to waste money as I forget them in the cupboard. I've replaced them with a pack of vitamin B12 complex that were also facing the same fate.

I am ordering my meal plan again for next week (altered slightly to replace things that didn't work or were less enjoyable). This has gone well so far. Today I am making a big mac style salad and also prawn stir fry, as I find it's easier when I make things the day before. I might replace the white fish with halloumi as it's cheaper.

Day	Main Meals	Lunch	Breakfast
1	Chicken + Veg Mix	4 Eggs + Cottage Cheese	Weetabix + Skimmed Milk
2	Tofu + Roasted Veg	4 Eggs + Cottage Cheese	Weetabix + Skimmed Milk
3	Turkey + Salad	Water Fasting	Water Fasting
4	Prawns + Stir Fry	Water Fasting	Water Fasting
5	Tuna + Baked Potato	4 Eggs + Cottage Cheese	Weetabix + Skimmed Milk
6	Halloumi + Sweet Potato	4 Eggs + Cottage Cheese	Weetabix + Skimmed Milk
7	Sardines + Mix Beans	4 Eggs + Cottage Cheese	Weetabix + Skimmed Milk

Still continuing with 2 litres of water a day and greek yogurt and fruit if I am wanting a snack. I have also been adding salad or spinach leaves to every meal.

MillQueen

Had a nice day staying at home and not spending money. I've tweaked my meal plan and shopping list, to lower the cost and fat. Managed to get this under £50 for next week's shop and earned £1.13 with Sprive. It's still more than it would have cost if I had continued my yellow sticker shopping, but that's leading to weight gain as I can't keep up being creative and I end up eating junk or buying extra. This way is more wholesome.

It's time to read a free book on Borrow Box.

MillQueen

I have requested my stocks to be sold in my stocks and shares ISA with HSBC, and apparently I should have the money within 3-4 days. I have opened up a Trading 212 account and will put the money in there. I have been putting in £150 a month every time I get paid, which I will continue to do. I wanted to increase that to £300 per month next year, but I don't think I will be able to afford to, so will have to continue as I am.

Feeling sad today about debts and the cost of living. I miss the days when grocery shopping didn't feel worrying and I could buy an item of clothing as a treat, or have a trip, eat in a restaurant, or go to the dentist. I am looking forward to a few years down the line when my personal loan and student loan are paid, but by then the few hundred a month I would have without those will be gone with the inflation of everything else that will have happened in the mean time. It seems like it only every gets harder, even though I earn more than I ever have before, and we used to have quite nice lives ten years ago or even before the pandemic.

ellenvan

I agree everything is more expensive.

Even your small investments will build. Sensible to look at the costs

Try and enjoy a free treat of a sit in the sunshine/ shade with a good book.

MillQueen

Thanks @ellenvan, yes we are getting squeezed so much with the cost of absolutely everything at rip off levels, whilst companies continue to make record profits every year. To cheer myself up I have just checked my student loan balance and updated the figure (in advance of the end of the month update), which has reassured me things are heading in the right direction. In 3 months when I get paid at the end of September, both the student loan and the mortgage will go below the next thousand. That's something to look forward to.

You're right it's time to read a book and forget about finance.

MillQueen

Making some courgette boats, which are just courgettes split down the middle and hollowed out, then baked in the oven, then stuffed with tuna mayo (or fat free greek yoghurt in this case) and a bit of grated cheese and black pepper on top. I can't be bothered adding sweetcorn today. I have done 2 courgettes and I will have one for lunch tomorrow. These are easy and cheap to make and nice in the summer.

It's been a spend free day in front of a fan reading and avoiding work I need to do.

Chocolatefund

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82066490#Comment_82066490

Its okay to have a few ups and downs. I found that having a concrete maths plan can put things into perspective so that you can look forward to a date you'll be debt free. If you reduced the ISA contributions to say £50 a month instead, and put that extra towards one of your loans, would that get you out of debt much sooner?

It sounds like the debt weighs heavily on your shoulders. Perhaps do an soa to see if you can Dave Ramsey a debt and give you a laser focus.