A new start for a newbie

Thanks to everyone on 'don't throw food away' and 'eating out of the freezer, I have cut my monthly shopping bill for 4 people from £400 a month to £259, next month will be even better now I'm on a roll:j:j:j
Really enjoyed it and it's made me think before I spend, now because its payday tomorrow I would normally do a massive big shop at tesco.dot.com but am going to actually go shopping instead each week with a budget and a list, if I can keep the bulk buying of milk, lemonade, fizzy water etc (all value), to £70 and keep the shopping bill to £25 per week while using up the remainder of the contents of the freezer i will be a happy bunny.
Just need to stop impulse buying:o I really don't need anymore cleaning products, toothpaste, shower gel etc for ages but will happily buy it if it's on offer, I don't need to so am going to stop. How exciting, I feel really positive after using the budget planner for a month:T:T:j

Well I have been off work for a week now and still don't feel that much better, hopefully the iron tablets will kick in soon, I do however have next week booked as annual leave so more battery recharging on it's way!
Going off to see some friends and also my Dad is coming to fit a new bannister and loft ladder after I so carelessly broke the last one:rotfl:
At last we have managed to find a puggy stud dog to mate ours with in June, how exciting!
I am going to have to sit down tomorrow and write down all my finances and how I would cope if they weren't coming in, I am either going to have to reduce my work hours or stop working all together, doing the job I do is very stressful and you can't make a mistake, lot's of pressure and i don't think I'm up to it. The condition I was diagnosed with has been treated, find out in Feb if the treatment has been successful but all the symptoms are still there, because it was a medical blunder i can claim some compensation and a small non means tested living allowance, i just need to work out if that will cover the mortgage payments each month as i really don't want to move, the kids are settled and due to my condition I can't get mortgage protection cover for illness.
I'm trying not to get too stressed about it all and will put pen to paper tomorrow as I need to evidence the impact the condition has had on me both emotionally and financially.
I'm really looking forward to seeing my dad for a few days, not spent anytime with him for ages, we'll probably drive each other mad after a few days:rotfl:
Does anyone know of any good meal planner templates I could use??

Thanks
XXXXX:A

I have bitten the bullet and asked for a reduction in my work hours, so I'll be working 18.5 hours, half the wages = half the stress I'm hoping. I have the meeting with Occy Health on 9th March and hospital appt this Tuesday to see why I'm not making red blood cells.
I have updated my signature today and it does look scary, trying to work out how I will pay all those bills on 1/2 income. Luckily son#1 has just got a new job which means he can chip in a bit more financially.
The freezer is emptying slowly! i have a deliver from Mr S coming tonight, the delivery charge was cheaper even though they are 30 miles away and i got a £10 off voucher from them for the first online shop last week, so I'll probably just use them the once, stocked up on all basic stuff. Going to try not to spend any money for a month on shopping, I have set myself a £20.00 budget for bread milk etc but that's it, lets see how I do.
I bought some lovely shoes last week from New L**k but am going to take them back, really don't need them and it will £35.00 back in the kitty.:j
My sisters birthday on Saturday so going for a meal which I am soooo looking forward to!:beer: I'm going to look through my stash of sale items for a gift for her:D So glad I did that now, it may become a tradition to get all future pressies in Jan Sales, thing is I think I have bought enough to last 2 years:rotfl::rotfl:
I sent off for some of the freebies on the MSE site and so far this week have had 2 x Pantene samples, which had 2 x £1.00 off coupons in each pack, I used the coupons at the self serve in both Asda and tesco and they worked perfectly, didn't have to buy any pantene. Some clipper tea, some toothpaste and some cat food. It's so nice getting the freebies through the post, like getting a little pressie:)
Had a bump to the car on friday, paint all scraped off the bumper, but I have managed to fix it myself with some donated paint pens and turtle wax for just £7.99, I asked a few friends yesterday to try and spot the repair and they couldn't, felt dead proud:T

Thanks for sticking with me those who are still reading - going back to work has left me with very little energy, but I will update as often as I can xxxx:A

debtfreewannabe321 wrote: »

I hope your new hours treat you a little better vintage. I've been anaemic so many times I know how you feel really hope you are feeling better soon and i'm still reading! I was wondering where you had got to xxx

I think the hours will suit me better - life work balance and all that, the trouble is I'm really struggling with the full time hours while I wait to see if they agree the part time ones, aneamia is pant's I do sympathise with you:) I think the damage done to my liver has stopped or rather slowed down production of red blood cells to a near stop, just going to have to relax and take things easy now:):rotfl: which I'm kind of looking forward too, will feel better when debt free!

Thanks for posting xxxxxxx:A

mum2one wrote: »

You've got to put u + ur health 1st, and sounds like u have some good plans in action xx

Thank You mum2one, I hope you and your little one are well, how have you been doing on the DFW front?