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

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82100511#Comment_82100511

I haven't done great on food cost savings this week as I had the grocery delivery but then wasn't up to cooking any of it. I am coming out of the other side of the tonsillitis now, but I've had a couple of days where I haven't done much except answer emails and sleep. It's been a blur as this is the first day where I am not feverish and confused. I can think clearly again, but my energy is wiped out. I need to wash the dishes and get the kitchen back in order tonight, so that I can return to cooking the stuff I bought.

In other news, I found out today that I successfully gained a place on the training development opportunity after passing my interview. That strange interview was just last week, but with being ill it feels like it happened months ago. I am not sure if they are going to fund it yet, waiting to hear over the next couple of weeks. They have been quite nice about it this week, so I'd say it's looking hopeful. I have a small worry that once I'm on it that it will end up being quite stressful, but I'm going to put that away for now 😂.

I have saved on petrol this week as I haven't really been anywhere except that one day at work, though I ordered some food to be delivered from Subway a few times so that probably evens out. Aside from that, I don't think I have spent anything at all. I have no urge to spend anything either, just want to lie down😴.

I am going to have a no spend weekend and just spend it sitting around with the occasional task.

MillQueen

I have done a load of washing up and put a wrap with pizza topping in the oven, which is cheaper than having anything delivered. This is the first thing I have cooked since the weekend and I need to get back on track with cooking. Not sure I can actually face eating it, but at least a few tasks are done. It's a long time until pay day, so I need to have a low spend rest of month as this has knocked me off track a bit.

This was what I had planned to make, but I'll have to see what I can salvage as some of the ingredients like the prawns and stir fry will have gone off by now. I need to clear out the fridge.

• 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

MillQueen

I was just thinking about how crazy these financial times are that we are living in. I saw a video about the Ninja Crispi and thought I'd really like one. I looked and saw they are over £100. A few years ago I'd have just been able to buy this without really thinking. Now it would be a 6 or 12 month plan of trying to get the money together, where I'd have to prioritise that over other things I also need, and so it's not realistic to get one as there are quite a few other things I need to buy first that are more important and also difficult to afford.

It was just in a social media video aimed at regular people, but who is buying all this stuff?

jwil

Well done on getting on your course!

MillQueen

Thank you, @jwil, I appreciate that.

Today I haven't spent any money as I was asleep all afternoon and just woke up. I didn't get any work tasks done, but I got the kitchen cleared up, the rest of the washing up done, laundry, recycling and bins sorted.

MillQueen

Watching a series on Netflix called "How To Get Rich".

MillQueen

I think the few hundred I spent on getting the garden work done professionally was money well spent, as it removed a lot of stress and it's nice every time I look at it. They did a far better job than I could done and they came back this weekend to seal all the paving stones. It looks lovely - I get joy from seeing it every time I go out to the car and when I come home from work (which is really the most use I get out of the garden 😂).

Someone gave me a fitness skipping rope that counts the skips and I might have a go with that in the back garden now it's a clear and pleasant space. Today I have some urgent things to do for work that I can't keep putting off, as one is something that another person is waiting for and one has an upcoming deadline.

MillQueen

It's been an intense few days of working non-stop and I only have expensive things to report, as I've been so busy with work and feeling unwell that I have wasted some money on rubbish fast food, plus various necessary work related purchases and contributions for sick people (those were for friends who I love so I didn't begrudge it). We have got staff dropping like flies and I am covering people's roles all over the place, so the quiet quitting isn't going well. Then I went to get in the car this morning and I've got a flat tyre, so I had to get the train to work, which cost £20 for a return. The breakdown cover I get through my insurance said they only do roadside, so I have to get a mobile tyre fitter, but it's only going to be about £70 - obviously that's £70 I could do without spending, but this small car has nice cheap tyres. I'll be in my overdraft by a few hundred and need to work to come out of it. The development opportunity at work doesn't look like it's getting funded so I will have to pay £2800 and they are looking at whether they can give me time to do it (an hour a week is what I would get if it's offered, which seems like a bit of a joke so I don't care if I don't get that as it would be uselessly tokenistic anyway). I have briefly surfaced for air and a little think about money, and now it's back to the grindstone. I hope you are all doing ok and getting wealthier 🌺

MillQueen

Survived this week rather than thrived during it. I'm going to cancel overpayments for a month and just pay minimums, as I could do with a cash boost. Still waiting to hear back whether work are going to pay for my development training or whether I have to pay myself. It's going to be necessary to do, in order to move up, but I really hope they are paying as it will be a struggle if not.

I'll be happy today if I can make a healthy meal (teriyaki tofu stir fry) and get a bit done on a thing I have to write, as there's a deadline soon. Still tired and foggy from being unwell. Drinking 2 litres of water to help.

Planning to last one more week without grocery shopping and will get yellow sticker stuff if I can't last.

MillQueen

Had a spend free day, I actually spent much of it asleep which is very good for the wallet. I made the stir fry but haven't done any of my work task - I am procrastinating on that. Going to have some grilled halloumi now with a bit more stir fry, and read my book (a free one on BorrowBox) and maybe do an hour on the work.

I also did some laundry and cleaned up a bit in the kitchen.