New year Old Style resolutions...

muddled_midget

I think I'm going to have one theme for my NYR for 2011, and that is to avoid waste in very area of my life:

Food- I don't throw much away, but I want to reduce this to nothing. I am going to meal plan each week and shop once a week on a Monday with cash. I've started already by cooking up a veg pasta sauce with all the tired looking veg in my fridge to have on nights when it's just me and inventoried the freezer at the same time.

Money- I fritter away a huge amount each week on v little, so I'm going to stick to a budget and try and fill up my ISA and use my premum bonds allowance by the end of 2011

Time- Work occupies me for 45 hours a week including travel and sleep around 40 hours, which leaves a massive 83 hours, so no excuses that I don't have time to do something, I just have to stop wasting those 83 hours!!

My potential- I can be 9 stone again, a manager at work, have a fantastic relationship with OH and a clean and tidy home. I just need to use all the resolutions I've made above, especially the one about having time to do things, and I'm sure all these will fall into place hopefully without me even realising!

anyway, that's enough ramblings, happy new year to everybody!!
MM x

The_Dragon

I am planning on 2011 being nice and Old Style, Dr Dragon and myself are going to be following the Ration Book diet, and I am aiming on doing a lot of Make Do and Mend as well! I plan to not use my CC and to clear it as much as possible AND to get some savings behind me - so wish me luck!

Primrose

The_Dragon wrote: »

I plan to not use my CC and to clear it as much as possible AND to get some savings behind me - so wish me luck!

Even if you clear you credit card debt, you may find it useful to charge stuff to it but to clear it in full every month. My brother stopped using his Barclaycard which he said he was keeping for emergencies & holidays only. Then, a few days before he was due to go on holiday to Spain Barclaycard wrote to him telling him they were cancelling the card. This left him without a source of funds, so it's probably better to use it regularly for smallish amounts but clear the balance every month.

The_Dragon

Primrose wrote: »

Even if you clear you credit card debt, you may find it useful to charge stuff to it but to clear it in full every month. My brother stopped using his Barclaycard which he said he was keeping for emergencies & holidays only. Then, a few days before he was due to go on holiday to Spain Barclaycard wrote to him telling him they were cancelling the card. This left him without a source of funds, so it's probably better to use it regularly for smallish amounts but clear the balance every month.

This is what I want to do Primrose, indeed when I first got it this is what happened! Unfortunately when Dr Dragon lost his job various things got added to the CC and I ended up maxing it out and I want rid! I want to get back to "pay for something on-line, and clear it on the last day of the month"

Kazsaver

my aim for this year is to pay of most of our CC debt loose at least 3 stone in weight do more crafts and be organised for everything so I don't resort to going out and paying over the odds for last minute presents etc
I am going to try to live a more frugal way and make my money work harder for us following all the tips and advice from mse
Quite a tall order but with encouragement and a good kick up backside hope to succeed

Kaz x

ruby1968_2

I'm going to follow Kazsaver's idea if you don't mind, with deffinatly no more waste and more make do and mend have got sealed pot on the go but have lost count as to how much is in it. oh will be nice suprise (hopefully)

roosterpotatoes

Well, most of you already do this but i find it really, really hard, i have to start making thing from left overs. Eg i cant stand chicken, im okay with breasts that you buy from the shop but i hate roast chicken BUT the kids do, so when i have roasted it i will get all of the meat off and use it for another meal for them as i cant bring myself to eat it. Ill just have bread and butter sandwiches lol (and breath)

Another is no wasting money on more body butters and smelly things from the body shop. I have enough to last about 6 years (no im not exaggerating)

The last is to only go out to the shops when i really have to and use the post office shop at the top of the little hamlet which we live in. Its only a 10 minute walk and i would save so much money if i just went there to get basics instead of driving a 17 mile round trip to our nearest town.

Wish me luck lol.

[Deleted User]

I too waste virtually no food whatsoever but with the cost of living rising at the rate it is I think I am probably going to be eating perhaps more veggie foods.Anyone reccommend a half decent veggie cookbook that won't break the bank and is simple to find my way around. I have been thinking that although I won't stop meat eating altogether I would probably like to have perhaps three nights a week with veggie only and maybe be more like my old Mum and make the meat I do buy streetch a bit further by filling up on veg.I already do either soup or pud with dinner in the evening.I would also like to get a bit of weight off as well.My problem is that because my mobility is a bit limited, walking very far is very exhausting and makes my joints really ache so its a bit of a vicious circle really.
But I do try to keep of the biscuits and chocolates as much as possible.This Christmas has been far too much of the sweet things in life and its about time I took myself in hand a bit more.My downfall is cheese, I adore the stuff but I know its really not good for me.
Also I am going to try to get my to-do list sorted I have so many things on it I shall really have to sort out and prioritise things a bit more.I could do with a 36 hour day and still wouldn't get everything done .i must learn to say No at times and get stuck in and get things done with a bit more order.But life does tend to get in the way sometimes .well i can't think of anything else at the moment ,but I'm sure something else will spring to mind at some point .
JackieO xx

modern_millie_2

Jackie, I have been veggie for about 25 years now, and the books I use most are Vegetarian Kitchen by Sarah Brown, and The Bean Book and Not Just a Load of old Lentils, both by Rose Elliott. They are all quite old now (my copies are falling apart!) but I think they will have been reprinted. All quite easy and economical. I don't usually look at meat prices for obvious reasons, but saw an organic beef joint in a local shop recenly and was SHOCKED at the price! Most of our meals come in at about 50p to £1 a head, but can do even cheaper if needed. Anyway, good luck!

BOGOF_Queen

I have not eaten meat for 11 years now and find as well as being so much cheaper, I feel that it is a much healthier diet. Have a look on the Vegetarain Society website for loads of information and recipes - it will gives you lots of inspiration and ideas as to what to buy and cook. Even my OH will eat a chilli/spag bol made with lentils and a curry that includes lentils and soya beans. Also make a lot of soups at this time of year such as split pea/spicy lentil and tomato/leek and potato. Find these really filling with a bread roll - and so cheap. I didn't have a clue about what to do with pulses a few years ago, but there are lots of websites (just Google "pulses") that will tell you which ones you have to soak and/or boil up before you use them - I now use loads of kidney beans/chick peas/lentils/black beans/split peas/pearl barley - they also keep for ages once you have bought them. Hope this helps.