fell off now need help getting back again please

Angelraesunshine

Oh dear i had been doing so well then boom i let things get on top of me and i fell off the OS wagon just when i really needed it.

I started my new 25 hours a week job ( admin at kids school so thats great) back in september, followed by a hospital stay over the October half term and about a month recovery, then Christmas busrt in on me.

I seem to have gone to pot and not the good cooking kind. I stopped making my own bread had been doing it for nearly 18 months, as the kids did not like the artisan bread i had got into making and the 2nd hand BM i had ( only used for making the dough ) broke on me. After the operation i had i let the food bill slip Dh had done some shopping and had been helping out great but the menus i had organised were not followed and i had no idea what was in my cupboards and freezer come novemeber. But i had been busy and slightly stressed with me new job, and lfe in general at this time and today i realised i wanted HM bread so made some by hand and remembered how much i missed it. I just felt i had no time any more have still been making cakes for the kids lunch boxes but that was about it and i looked at last months grocery bill and saw how much it had gone up not only as food has gone up but i have not done the GC which i also miss.

So i have made some bread and i have gone through the freezer and cupboards and done the rest of december and januarys menu plan ( i do a month at a time) But house still a mess really needs a whole spring clean and decorated i just need some support and motivation again please help

Angelrae x

purpleivy

Angel rae, I find the best motivation is to visit the board. One reason is that when other people post stuff it jogs my memory about what I have to do,.

Angelraesunshine

Yeah thats true, starting the new job i had less time to go on the pc, but i think i should set aside a bit of the day each day and come on even if it is a busy day and just browse even if i don't have time to post. i only get 1 morning and 1 afternoon off a week now and i have to do almost everything in those slots as otherwise i have the kids about my feet. thinki need lessons in time managment lol

purpleivy

Well, in my book the first things about time management are to see what can be delegated to other family members. Only do this after you have decided what can be left out completely! Do remember that other members of the family won't necessarily do the jobs that you do either in the same way, or as well as you do, but it's worth it. THey will get better with practice.

How old are the children?

Angelraesunshine

5 7 &9 years old , they did have a chore chart which at 1st they did well but wheni had op Dh was in charge and did not enforce it so since then they have been lapse in doing it maybe i should re do the chart and change it a bit

EssexHebridean

I think you have the right idea to start by doing a clear out / inventory of your cupboards and freezer so you know what you have to work with. Meal plans then follow, based on recipes based on the stuff you have in which needs using - this will have a more immediate effect on the shopping budget too so you'll really see rewards quickly.

Is there any chance you might get some cash for christmas? If so why not set it aside to put towards / pay for a new Breakmaker - I'd be lost without mine now!

bellaquidsin

Ange rae, don't be too hard on yourself, take it slowly and work gradually towards improving your performance. Prioritise, delegate and don't forget the most important working cog in the family machine - you.

Bella.

Pitlanepiglet

In the past we've regarded January as "eat out of the cupboards and the freezer month", so we don't buy anything other than the absolute essentials. For two of us we usually found that it was only the last couple of days of the month where we ended up eating odd combinations!

Could you set yourself a similar challenge for January? Maybe do two weeks where you don't buy anything except milk, fruit and veg (unless you've got a freezer full of frozen veg in which case use that) and make it fun for your little one's? At least you'd save the cost of shopping and you could use up the stuff that your DH has bought?