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

MillQueen

I have been looking at wardrobes for the lodger room and I found a suitable wooden one on Wayfair for £250. I try to get solid wood furniture that's sturdy and lasts well where possible. Sprive have a good reward level on there, meaning I would get £19 back towards the mortgage, making the wardrobe effectively only £230 with free delivery. I am debating with myself on whether to go for it, as I had been keeping my eyes open for a second hand wardrobe, but the ones I have seen have been either tatty or smelly and often not much less.

There are various big purchases like this, which I need to make over the coming months, so I am prevaricating on which are most urgent - probably new glasses as I have avoided getting any since the optician said I needed them last October, as the lenses tend to be expensive as my eyesight is bad. But I am getting headaches looking at the computer screen. I'll have a look in town at some point this week to get some prices for lenses, maybe see if they will put the lenses in a pair of previous frames I have. I get stressy about spending money on bigger things, as it's so hard to hang onto savings.

Edited to add: I decided it's best not to buy any more furniture for now. I also found a website (Bensons) that will be suitable to get mattresses from when ready, but there's other priorities for now. And sadly I can't see the frames I had anywhere, so I must have gotten rid of them when I moved, so I will have to get new lenses and frames when I get my new glasses. I will try to get cheap frames as the lenses are usually expensive because my eye sight is terrible. I usually pay a bit more as I wear them all day every day.

MillQueen

Today I'm having Big Mac style salad for lunch. You just heat up mince (I did veggie mince) and serve it over whatever salad you like. I like it with mixed leaves and some gherkins, low fat thousand island dressing or light mayo whatever you have, and a few of those plastic looking cheese slices on top. I have got the lighter version of those too. It's like burger ingredients without the bread. Very filling and cheap to make.

Actually only £1.89 per portion as it made enough for 3 lunches and I had dressing already: Plant based mince (£1.96), mixed leaves (£1.17) gherkins (£1.13). light cheesy slices (£1.43) = £5.69 total for 3.

MillQueen

The low cost entertainment this weekend has been finishing a free e-book on Borrow Box and I have just downloaded another in its place, called 'Everything But The Truth' by Gillian McAllister. I have watched the Barbie movie whilst on my walking pad over the last couple of days, as I have done a quick walk after every meal. The goal is to get the best use of out the Netflix account and also the walking pad. It's quite satisfying when you have got something and you use it a lot and really get your money's worth from having it.

MillQueen

Making the most of the ability to prepare simple cheap food while it lasts. For tea, I am having stir fry veg with scrambled tofu mixed with a small amount of sesame oil and soy sauce, with a spearmint tea. I've done enough for tomorrow night too. This only cost £1.08 per portion, as it's just tofu (£1.07) and a bag of stir fry veg (£1.08), as I already had the sesame oil and soy sauce and I don't very often bother adding noodles.

Tomorrow I will cook 4 baking potatoes for the next few days, as the next meal on the plan is baked potatoes. This will involve tuna, baked beans, or whatever else I have that goes well. Maybe a couple of boiled eggs with the tuna ones, and maybe chop up veggie sausages into the beans ones and a sprinkle of cheese. I have got some work to do as can't seem to catch up, but I've decided I am going to ignore it until tomorrow.

MillQueen

Had to drive to work today as I have got various F2F things. Didn't get a good night's sleep, as I listened to a 10 hour soothing rain sounds thing. Although it sent me to sleep well, I think I only slept lightly as one part of my brain must have remained alert to the background noises. I got up in a rush and didn't have any breakfast and have wasted a few quid buying fruit, a yoghurt and a kitkat. I did bring cheap leftovers for lunch though.

I am going to put my headphones on and work with focus to get things ticked off now.

MillQueen

Had an unusual day at work, as I saw one of the higher up people for a coffee and she told me I am valued and that my time will come for a better position there. This was good and weirdly a bit sad at the same time, as I have been feeling terrible about work since not getting the promotion a few months ago. It's good to have hope that my career can still be there, as I like my workplace. I think the conversation was an intervention, as there is quite a lot of low morale and absenteeism, so they are probably thinking to keep people, but it was nice to be valued. She said she would help me get on the training development I have been trying to do, as that has still stalled and remains up in the air whether I get to do it. She reiterated that it's a disorganised process rather than being personal. I am keeping the idea in reserve that I could sell the house if I don't get it funded, as it's going to be needed to make progress and will ultimately secure my future more than the house will. I have a formal interview for the training development next week, so that's a next step at least.

I have picked up my low cost microwave and eaten leftovers.

shonu8

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072890#Comment_82072890

That's really unfortunate, especially when you were just trying to help someone out. Hopefully it's nothing more than a loose exhaust bracket or another minor issue rather than anything structural. I'd definitely get it checked as soon as you can, and if it does turn out to be related to the accident, the other driver's insurance should still be able to help even if the details weren't saved properly. Fingers crossed it's a quick and inexpensive fix.

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82086233#Comment_82086233

Thanks, shonu8, it has indeed been a quick and inexpensive fix, phew ❤️

MillQueen

Today's the day! Let's get the spreadsheets out 😁

I haven't done particularly well this month due to various bills and necessary maintenance expenditures, but my spending on frivolous things has been zero, as I make much better choices now due to the work we do on here. Need to update some figures, but can't do the mortgage or net wealth yet as the account tends not to update for a few days. I have absorbed the cost of the maintenance things through my investments, with the move from HSBC to Trading 212, I am only carrying over £300 and have put the rest towards bills. This was mostly on the garden, as I arranged a company to do some work that was meant to be split over a couple of months to spread the cost, but they accidentally did it all in one go this week, so it was £600 😶.

My personal loan has gone under 10k now though, which is satisfying.

MillQueen

I've got plans to eat low cost pizzas later, as this is a good way on a Friday night when you feel like eating junk food. It's very easy, as you just cover a wrap with a couple of tablespoons of tomato pasta sauce and sprinkle on a handful of grated cheese and herbs, then put it on a tray in the oven for 10 mins. I am using weight watchers wraps. The cheese, wraps, and jar of pasta sauce gives enough for 6 portions and I normally have a couple of them and save the rest for another day - it only works out at 86p per "pizza".

Feels like a treat!

On another topic, the insect killing worked, so hopefully the problematic door can be saved enough to last a bit longer. The next stage is to get some wood filler, so I will investigate the cheapest way to obtain this.