5 Frugal Things Post 59 – Pressure cookers and Instagram
I am feeling like January is going really quickly, which can only be a good thing. I would love for these cold days to end, mainly because of the standing outside at football games and training that I have to do several times a week! This week has been a busy one and I have gotten to do some totally exciting work.
Wednesday saw me appear as guest expert on the BBC Radio 4 Money Box show. I love doing live radio, its such a buzz. We were talking debt, how to seek help and how situations can just change in a moment and suddenly your commitments are too much. I used my current debt experience as an example of how a change in circumstance, redundancy, and then a business start up can lead to debt. We also discussed the change in mindset required when your financial circumstances change and that my spending patterns didn’t change quickly enough when my income went from a lot to nothing.
January is a busy time in the personal finance world with lots of companies keen on exposure and articles so its been hectic with talking to new clients and agreeing new work. And it looks like I should be able to pay off a big chunk of credit card debt during Q1. I know that I can get this credit card debt gone by the end of this year.
Back to my 5 frugal things for the week
Using a Pressure Cooker
I have been trying out a pressure cooker as part of a job, this new and trendy cooking tool. You can cook food much much quicker than in the oven thus saving money on your energy bills! We tried a roast chicken on Sunday and it was amazing! The chicken cooked in 30 minutes, yes just 30 minutes. I promise I checked the internal temperature with a thermometer. And the chicken was moist and tasty. This is looking like a great way of cooking to save time and energy!
Resisting the urge of the sparkly shops in Kings Cross
On Wednesday I had some spare time waiting for my train home in Kings Cross and I was very hungry. I resisted the temptation of Pret a Manger or that lovely noodle place upstairs in Kings Cross. Instead I headed to Boots to get some water and found a reduced sticker pot of fruit, spending just £2.25. I feel I resisted the urge of the shops well.
My exercise mission continues.
This week I have completed my 3 different types of exercise in a week. I have been for a 4 mile run, I did my yoga and Mutu online classes on Tuesday and then on Thursday I had my training with Kane at No-Bull Fitness. I am feeling so much better than I was three weeks ago. The weight is dropping off and my body is shrinking, I can tell by my clothes feeling less tight. Of course I am also watching what I eat as well and am sticking to calorie limit each day. I have tried to weigh myself but the scales have broken, each time I weight myself the scales vary by 4-5-6-7 lbs so next time I am near boots I’ll go get an official weigh in at the machine!
Some new great value clothes
I have a magpie eye for sequin clothes. I love dresses, skirt and jumpers and fully believe a sequin is not just for Christmas! Simply Be have a brilliant range of clothes from size 12 up to sizes 26,28. I bought myself this beautiful mermaid esq skirt for just £20.50! I also picked up a maxi skirt for £20 and a shape and sculpt pencil skirt. The pencil skirt was a bit more at £35 but if it makes my bum look better then I am happy.
Improving my Instagram pictures
I am keen to improve my photography skills this year and have bought myself a light to make my indoor pictures better. I asked my blogger friends and many people recommended this Neewar ring, but it comes in at around £80, the price varies quite a bit on Amazon. £80 felt like too much for a light so I went for a small LED video light instead, and it cost me £20 instead. It does the job and light up flat lays beautifully. I’ve been experimenting with it and Im glad I saved the money.
I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Five Fabulously Frugal things I’ve done this week’ linky.
2 Responses
New and trendy? I’m pretty sure my grandmother cooked in one all the time. Maybe it is just new on your side of the pond. But the physics of pressure elevating the boiling point of water is sound science and it definitely speeds things up!
Haha, yes its a traditional cooking method that is making a comeback in the UK! I see its popular in the US, as most of the recipes I have been looking up are from the US.