Balancing not just the budget

ZTD wrote: »

Ah, you take it far more seriously than I do. I just breeze past while doing "normal" shopping and use it as a lower-cost introduction to the wackier side of food.

And of course marvel that the supermarkets think that knocking 50p off will persuade people to buy a chunk of lamb that's half pink and half grey... :eek:

I am in awe of DIA's YS and menu planning skills. When I am growed up and in my dream life (instead of running around madly over-committed) I will do menu planning too (instead of existing in some weeks on M&S meals and cheese on toast).

I sometimes check the YS section but I'm bad enough at using the food I planned to buy, so only usually pick up things I definitely know how to use and that can go straight in the freezer.

Quite see your point about the state of some of the meat though... :eek:

Well the good news is all the tracking is happening ok, switch process seems to have gone smoothly, monthly rewards safely received, and I get paid slightly early.

The [STRIKE]bad[/STRIKE] less good :money: news is that I've wasted £30 on a Christmas present ordered from abroad that I didn't get to pick up from the sorting office in time, due to being ill (and the unhelpfulness of Royal Mail, who don't tell you that redelivery actually has to be arranged within 19 days not 21 until you try to pay, and won't give a phone number for the local office). I suppose it could be considered £15 wasted as I haven't had to pay the customs charges. I now need to buy another present too, of course. And I haven't heard back from my new CC application - not so much as a 'thanks for applying we'll think about it' email. Plus my credit rating has dropped - I suspect due to switching away from my old accounts. Can't be helped - I'm pleased to have done it, and if my CC application is turned down I will just ask the Co-op Bank for one since hopefully being an existing customer will help. I'm intending to keep the Co-op account as my main one since it does still appear to be the most ethical option, and I've now joined the customer union to try and help keep it that way.

I'm a bit behind on Christmas - should really have sent some cards, and will try and do that over the next few days. I have quite a lot left over from previous years and think I will use them up rather than rush out and buy new ones - hopefully nobody will notice that they aren't current or that I may have sent them a similar one last year. I also need a bit of a catch up on housework as being ill and having assignment slowed that down, but it won't take long to get back on track. Haven't decorated and am not really sure I can be faffed tbh - I will be away for actual Christmas and my vague intentions of having people round beforehand are a bit too late! - that leaves me and the cats to appreciate it and I as I'm swamped with assignments and interview prep, frankly I'd rather have the time with a book or the TV.

Tidying/ decluttering continues and I'm feeling quite optimistic about that, it doesn't seem like an insurmountable horror any more. Still need to call someone for a few bits around the house, but it's getting there.

So am I, I suppose... plodding upwards as ever


Rosa xx

EssexHebridean wrote: »

We've been working our way through the same boxes of Christmas cards for several years now Rosa - bought several boxes ludicrously cheap after Christmas about 4 years back and we send so few now...If none of our family have noticed this by now they must be blind! :rotfl:

:rotfl: Excellent I am in good company then! :T

I'm so late anyhow I think I will just send apologies by social media and make an extra charity donation.


Rosa xx