Now & Then: JUNE

Then: Use up leftover macaroni cheese as work lunch the next day - probably more than I need for lunch, but I eat it because it's there!

Now: Have my lunchtime rice cakes as usual, and make the leftovers into main meal for myself the following evening. much nicer oven-heated than cold, anyway!

Then: If I made too much spaghetti /rice for a meal but not enough for a whole other portion, I'd throw the excess away.

Now: I add the leftover spaghetti / rice to a freezer bag. In two meals I've already over-cooked enough spaghetti for a whole other meal. This isn't too penny-pinching I hope, I just HATE waste.

Then: Use the soap until it becomes a fairly dry slither and throw the teeny leftover away

Now: Going to boil down with water for liquid soap, and use with my soap dispenser which cost a total of 29p!

I'm sure I will think of more! I had some in my head over the weekend, but have forgotten them now!!!

Gotta letter from Barclays saying they are increasing repayments on my loan - from £120 to £170 - apparently this is so I make my repayment deadline, dont know how they didnt manage to work out the right amount in the first place.
Then: As I only have 20p in my bank account anyway this is a serious disastor, probably requiring tequilla to get over initial shock and even then sleepless nights worrying where am going to get the money from.
Now: look at the letter, think, cheeky so-in-so's and then revise next months budget so instead of putting money that was being direct debited into savings account while totting up repayment lump sum - it goes straight to Barclays - think nothing more of it.

Then: Any letter from the bank illicited heart pulpitations before I've even opened it
Now: They've got nothing on me! :beer:

Then: Monthly Bank Statement wouldnt fit through letter box as too many pages
Now: Bank statement is two pages - money in, is more than money out even though I have to make repayments ( :T )

My friend phones me and says she is broke because of the interest rates on her M&S card
Then: I sympathise and we decide we should probably go to covent garden on saturday night as a consolation prize
Now: I tell her to switch her card over to Halifax and invite her round my house on Saturday as am cooking sausage and mash brunch for some other friends.

Aims for this month: get over starbucks addiction - yep, havent managed it yet - officially have worked out coffee is 30% of my weekly budget and food is only 25%!!

Then: Would never have considered making my own lemon curd.

Now: Made some yesterday from Glad's recipe in our collection. It's dead simple and seriously yummy. Thank you Glad.

Then: Binned lemon peel.

Now: Save it for air freshener! Just dump some in a pan with gently simmering water.

Then: Would never have considered stocking up on lemons. Like how?

Now: Easy peasy. Save the zest and juice (of two) in a small container and freeze it. I've got enough saved for a six month supply of lemon curd and the remaining peel is in the freezer too.