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

OpalGirl

Definitely money well spent. When you have so many things that you are trying to achieve it makes sense to outsource some jobs if you are in a position to do so. Not only does it free you up to tackle other tasks there is the impact on your health to consider.

MillQueen

Thanks @OpalGirl, it would have been a miserable weekend if I had to do all the scraping of sand into the many cracks - the paving stones are tiny. I thought it was likely I'd also make a terrible job of it, having no experience of such things. I am very much not into gardening. Best to get professionals for some things.

I have done my grocery order to arrive next week and used Sprive, so I got £2 for that. I ordered £80 of stuff which will make meals for at least 2 weeks, but I will probably try to stretch it out to the end of the month.

In other news, someone invited me out for a coffee and I have suggested they come here instead. That will save me the hassle of travelling and I have mochas that were on offer for £1.50 for 7 sachets 😂.

MillQueen

I've moved some funds into my new Trading 212 stocks and shares ISA so that I can begin investing again. I used some of what I had built up before on things that needed doing on the house. I have selected some investments that will give better returns this time, as the interest should be higher than any debts.

I've come down with tonsilitis and I have got loads to do, so I am going to take it easy today, watching netflix and writing a report I need to do, all from the sofa. At least I can't spend money. If I feel like it, I can cook something, but if not I am just going to eat toast and tea. It hurts to swallow anything anyway.

MillQueen

I have paid £3.63 off my mortgage, added £1.14 to my emergency fund, and paid £6.20 off my personal loan, to make them round figures. Satisfying! I keep think about adding £3 to my tax fund now… 🤣.

I have also swapped my phone contract now it's eligible for sim only and that will save about £10 a month. I have made my meal plans to last the next 2 weeks, hopefully stretch to end of the month, as I can make enough of each for 3 or 4 days, and my breakfasts are pretty much automatic now. These are all things I don't mind eating for a few days at a time, as I have been refining my repeated foods menu. If I need anything before the end of the month I will do some yellow sticker shopping or TGTG.

• Prawn/tofu stir fry, with garlic, ginger and teriyaki sauce
• Big vegetable omelette with peas, broccoli, and spinach
• Veggie mince and salad leaves, sliced cheese and pickles
• Vegetarian spaghetti bolognese (so cheap and easy for loads of portions)
• Chopped up veggie sausages, with brown rice, peppers, edamame, chickpeas
• Halloumi and caramelised sweet potatoes
• Wrap pizzas with salad and sardines for added nutrition
• Vegetable or lentil soup and sourdough toast

Dakota_Rose

I really hope you’re feeling better soon. The thought of tonsillitis makes me feel green 🤢 I was so horrendously poorly with serious bouts of it as a child/teen and never felt worse with anything as an adult. Take care of yourself x

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82097437#Comment_82097437

Thanks, I used to get it much worse when I was younger, but now I just get the occasional bout and it's usually gone in less than a week. I feel poo while it lasts though. Very feverish, headache and can't swallow. I tried to make some boiled eggs as it was all I had the energy to do, but after taking the shells off I put them on the plate and got my sleeve caught on the door handle and launched the eggs across the room, so they got covered in floor fluff. It seemed best to just get into bed at that point. I was thinking I'd stay here until Tuesday but I have to feed someone's cat across town twice a day from tomorrow while they are holiday. I can work from home tomorrow (from my bed) and just heave myself out to feed the cat a few times.

Dakota_Rose

Just write that day off as a grim tonsillitis one! Here’s hoping you’re feeling a little bit perkier today.

foxgloves

Tonsillitis is horrid. I had regular bouts of it as a child which carried on into adulthood. I had a really awful couple of weeks of it aged 29 - the worst it had ever been, but weirdly that was the end of it. I have never had it since. Take care of yourself & I hope you soon start to feel better.

F

MillQueen

Thanks @Dakota_Rose and @foxgloves. Dragged myself into work for some planned stuff yesterday, but I felt terrible so I am going to stay home the rest of the week and catch up on things and avoid booking in meetings as far as possible so that I can look like death in private. I can quietly tick things off in a low energy way and this will save money on petrol and I think everyone else will be thankful I'm not there in case I'm contagious. I've been going out twice a day to feed someone's cat across town and that's been so difficult. I've got another 2 weeks of that - screwed myself over with my chronically overly-reliable tendencies.

My grocery delivery came and you know when "past you" ordered stuff that "present you" isn't at all enthused about. I ordered when I was younger and healthier (last week) and I bought loads of weight loss healthy foods that require preparation and that's just really not where I'm at 😂.

ArtyJ931

Ooh yes I hate when that happens