Mrs. P's Diary

MrsPorridge

Managed two NSDs yesterday and today.:j

Have decided to cash in some of my savings to go towards the OD and also our holiday. Didn't really want to do this but there is no other way. Will wait till the beginning of the month in case one of the premium bonds does win.:D

Have set a budget for our holiday spending money so feel better about that. I wasn't going to do so, but if I don't then I will go mad spending. I have set a realistic budget as we do want to do some sight-seeing trips and we would like to eat out a few times (but not every night). Otherwise it won't be worth going away.

I feel that I am now back in control of the finances - to be honest for the past few months the finances have been in control of me.:eek:

Dietwise yesterday was a complete disaster day - don't know why, but just couldn't stick it. Today I have stuck to it (so far). Even resisted a biscuit during a meeting:rolleyes:

MrsPorridge

Weight loss this week - 0. I stayed the same. As I didn't follow the diet at all then I only have myself to blame. Am really having trouble staying on track.

Update on accounts:

Current account is overdrawn by £112.99 and its DH payday tomorrow:j

CCs

MBNA £2,528.51 (due to make a payment at the end of the week minimum is £25 but will pay £28.51 to round it up)

Mint £4,200 (have already made payment)

I'm just trying to sort out my shopping list ready for my big shop this week. I'm off work on Thursday so will do it then. Have set myself a challenge of not going near Tescos, Asda or Sainsburys till Christmas.:eek: I am now going to attempt to do all my shopping at Lidls.:j

I am trying to think of some new menu's to prepare. I will make the good old cottage pie as I can batch cook it and its a great standby - all the ingredients in one pot (I always add veggies to mine as well). Will be having a look through some cookbooks for inspiration tonight and will check out the old style boards as well.

Its getting to that time of the month when we are eating funny combinations. Tomorrow night its chicken hot pot in wraps (I've run out of potatoes which are a staple in our house).

Horace

Get yourself a Daily Express this week - they have vouchers in them for spend £30 in Lidl get a fiver off - now you can buy an awful lot of stuff for £30:cool:

MrsPorridge

So far I've managed to spend £100 on my monthly shop - thanks to shopping at Lidls and using the £5 vouchers. I did have to spend £19 in Tescos for some items I couldn't get in Lidls and they were for DS so felt that I couldn't not get them.

I have spent a little bit on myself, some new shoes, nightie and dressing gown - all for my holiday at the end of the month.

Will update my account information after the 6th when the "big guns" have gone out.

Have decided to try and make some different food this month. I love Come Dine with Me and have printed off some of the recipes from the web site. I think if I make more of an effort with the evening meal then hopefully I won't be tempted to snack on stuff around 9pm (which is my biggest downfall). I am also trying to cut out all snacks during the day. When I am counting the WW points I am amazed at how quickly they mount up when I add up all the snacks.

One bit of good news - I thought I needed new tyres but when DH looked he said they will do at least another 3 months or so.
Food today:

Breakfast - usual wheetabix x2 plus skimmed milk

Lunch - salmon and cucumber sandwich (bought from M&S) (before MSE I would have eaten something in the cafe)! Plus about 8 crisps from a packet which DS and I shared (he had more than me). I finished off with a WW yoghurt.

Dinner - chicken and bacon tagietelle (from Come Dine with Me). Followed by a small portion of Lidls raspberry ripple ice cream - delicious.

I've laid out my clothes ready for work tomorrow (was off work holiday today). I've made my packed lunch for tomorrow, cooked pasta, with a couple of slices of turkey breast plus 2 WW biscuits and a banana.

MrsPorridge

Monday

Two NSDs under my belt for August already - yesterday and today.:j

Weighed myself this morning and have stayed the same. Not so good.:mad:

Have got a couple of days off work this week and jobs to do are as follows:

complete one side of garden fence painting (weather dependent)

plant out courgettes (weather dependent)

clear DS' bedroom and sort out his toys/clothes etc

clear out my bedroom and sort out clothes and rubbish:D

visit charity shop with above clothes, toys, rubbish

sew skirt - already got material, pattern etc.

Anything else I'll add to the list as I go along.

Totals:

Current account £1007

Grocery spending so far this month: Total £102.61

Lidls £82.66
Tescos £19.95

buddiebabe

Hey MrsP good luck with your list of all the jobs you have to do! I haven't got round to writing a list yet cause i never do anything thats on it and then i end up feeling bad!

Hopefully this week we'll both manage to loose some weight

Buddiebabe x

MrsPorridge

Tuesday

Feeling much more positive today.

Have done the following jobs from my list:


clear DS' bedroom and sort out his toys/clothes etc (half done)


visit charity shop with above clothes, toys, rubbish ( tomorrow morning)

sew skirt - already got material, pattern etc. (have cut out)

I've also cleaned out the under-stairs cupboard and the landing cupboard. I've had a big throw out of lots of odd bits of knitting wool. Have got about 4 big bags to go to charity shop tomorrow.

I've also found two bags of wool never used and will sell them on Ebay.

I've yet to do my bedroom - one reason is there are a lot of clothes that are too tight and I'm hoping I can get into them again.:rolleyes:

One thing I've done today which is a big start in that direction is for the first time in 2 weeks I have written down what I have eaten/going to eat and I have calculated the WW points properly rather than just guessing.

So far I;'ve had 2 slices toast and butter 5 points
Lunch will be 2 potato waffles 5 points (I know they are not very healthy but I want them.:D
Dinner tonight is going to be lettuce and tomatoes (free), cheddar cheese 2 points, hard boiled egg 1.5 points, new potatoes 1.5 points, salad cream 0.5 points and ham 1.5 points

Total 17 points (I am allowed 19). I have got some WW yoghurts which are 05 points each so I might have one of those later on.

MrsPorridge

Wednesday

Not done so well with the spending today. Bought a rucksack for DH (cost £55) he needs a certain one as he is doing lots of camping with the air cadets and will be starting Duke of Edinburgh bronze award early next year. His birthday is in December so I told him it was his main birthday present. Obviously I will get him some other little bits and pieces for his birthday nearer the time. He also wangled £10 out of me - £5 for a book and £5 towards some "Skate" shoes - I must be getting old, they just look like normal trainers to me!!

Its not worth me having time off work during the summer hols to be with him - I think it works out cheaper to send him to the holiday club.:rotfl:

I won't update my totals in my account today as my mortgage should come out tomorrow so I'll update it at the weekend. I will need to transfer some of my savings into my current account to pay for the holiday. I will do that next week.

Transplanted my marrows from greenhouse into garden yesterday and overnight 5 of them have been entirely eaten or partially. I thought it was maybe slugs and have got slug pelets around them but I am wondering if it is snails. Maybe the slug pelets don't work for the snails. Either way I'm really annoyed about it.:mad: I have got squash and spring greens and courgettes in the greenhouse that really need to go outside but I daren't risk it at the moment. I don't think its birds - I have made a couple of scarecrows with plastic bags and they are waving around like mad.:D

Lovely and sunny here but I just can't force myself to finish the garden fence (will put it off till the weekend).

I have almost finished my skirt and have enough material left over to make a top or jacket too. I am going to cut out the pattern for the jacket and see if there is enough material.

Took all my charity bags into Oxfam this morning and as I had a couple of items from M&S they gave me a £5 off voucher. I have to spend £35 to make use of this from either clothing or home and beauty. As it happens I need to get some new towels (have needed them for a while now), so think I will use the voucher and get the towels. This I will do next week.

I'm back at work tomorrow but on a one day course then back at work on Friday.

Next week I've got Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off work.

So far have stuck to diet today - managed to stick to it yesterday as well and that has given me the boost I need. I'm not managing to save any points as such I'm right down the knuckle each day and using up each point, but that's fine, I feel I'm back in control, writing it down, working out the points and sticking to it.:j

MrsPorridge

Friday

Feeling very down about money tonight. I heard back from Ocean Finance re the ppi I'm trying to claim back and they say I have no case. I've got 6 months now to decide whether to take it further and to be honest at the moment I think I'll just leave it.

Also, got water bill which I pay by DD £40 per month - I thought I was £80 in credit so phoned them to reduce the DD to £30 per month, but I'm actually in debit.:eek: Therefore, it will stay at £40 per month.

Good news is I lost 2 lbs in weight so will have to try and keep that off.

In more good news I've got Monday - Wednesday off work, so I've got 5 free days stretching ahead.

Actually Monday morning I go to the dentist to find out how much all the treatment will cost on my teeth - think I'll have to get the old CC out again.:mad:

OK - moan over now I feel slightly better!

catspaw

oooo dentist on a Monday, good luck!

as for the weight loss :j