My Olympic Challenge

Olderbutnotwiser

:eek:This is getting spooky, I have a wood burning stove and love nothing more than turning the heating right down and snuggling!
Congrats on your funky financial moves :T

Lewby

Had a lovely weekend this weekend. The weather has been totally weird, sunny and bright one minute and raining and stormy the next! OH had a lovely walk yesterday and I managed to do lots of DFW money moving.

Stayed at friends last night and had a great (free) supper. We always take something with us and found a bottle of Port in the shed (which we'd been given and forgotten about) so took that and it was very well received. Got up early and drove home via Morrisons. Did a shop to last the rest of the month and then came home and did 4 weeks worth of menu plans. Went through the freezer, cupboards and stash of tins under the stairs. Only intended to do a 2 week plan but realised we have enough food in this house to last more than a month. Only have veg and salad to buy each week now and determined to stick to the plan. It feels good to know what we are having for tea for the next month. No more kids asking 'what's for tea' as soon as they walk through the door! They can look each morning!

Have managed to get two lots of washing dried between the showers. Sausage cassoulet in the oven for tea and off to make some muffins for the lunchboxes. Lovely long bath to look forward to. A great weekend to look back on. :T

Lewby xx

retrocircles

Hey Lewby! Well done on the transfer. Definitely a big PLUS! Sounds like you had a lovely weekend.

Olderbutnotwiser

Big respect Oh focussed one

Lewby

A couple of days since my last confession ....... but nothing to confess!! I've been so good it's starting to worry me (and my OH!). I have avoided supermarkets, not spent anything I haven't needed to and today managed to walk past M & S without going in even to browse! This is better than therapy.

My meal planning is paying dividends. OH is looking at the list and even asking if he should get the meat out of the freezer tonight for tomorrow! Roast beef (reduced piece picked up at Christmas and tucked into the freezer) for tomorrow night as I'm working from home tomorrow afternoon so get put it on in time.

Feeling happy with my spreadsheets now it's all on LOB deals. We still owe a huge amount but at least the payments are whittling it down and are not swallowed up almost all on interest. OH is even looking at the spreadsheet to see how things are - a real breakthrough.

Have a quiet few days now til payday on Monday and can then throw some more at the cards. Grocery budget not gone as well as I'd hoped and I'm going to be nearer £300 than £250 this month but that's still a massive improvement on what I usually spend. Feb should be much better as have meals planned for first 2 weeks already and have almost all food in! (shows how much I've over stocked!).

Will get organised with some ebaying this weekend. Last bit of college work to finish and can then start thinking about decorating the kitchen. Starting to look forward to Spring now as I have some snowdrops coming out in the garden. I always love the Spring but feel more optomisitic this year now that our finances are under control. Roll on the lighter nights too. :T

Tomorrow I'll be back .....Must keep posting to stay on track! (my new strapline!) :rotfl:

Lewby xx

Different_Corner

Lewby
I agree that meal planning takes so much strain out of the day, I just seem to fly through the days, full of good intentions but always getting distracted, diverted or just pure procrastination !

You're making so much positive progress. I guess it's the little things that make the big things happen.

retrocircles

I think you're doing so well! You should be so proud! Payday for DH today for me, so I'm going to do the budgeting this afternoon. (Boooooring!)

Olderbutnotwiser

Lewby wrote: »

Tomorrow I'll be back .....Must keep posting to stay on track! (my new strapline!) :rotfl:

Lewby xx

Oye Lewbs that was 5 days ago...get back on the wagon NOW!!!!!!!

Lewby

Thanks for the kick in the pants OBNW! I'm alive and kicking - I've just been up to my eyes in college work and haven't dared to get on here. It's all handed in now so I can relax and while the hours away again with you guys!

I'm still on the DFW wagon. The meal planning has been a total revelation .... knowing what is for tea each night, having what you need in the cupboard or freezer and no reason to pop to the shops to get something for tea and spend £30!!! It's great.

I can't believe it's Feb at the weekend. A shiny new spreadsheet and time to draw the cash out of the bank to re-fill my purse! I still have £2.67 left for this month with 3 days to go. This month has been a long one but has also gone really quickly .... and it's getting lighter at night. Whoo hoo!

Hope everyone is ok. Off to find OBNW now to tell her I'm back in action.

Lewby xx

postingalwaysposting

Lewby, you are doing so will. Its great to see your oh starting to get involved in meal planning too. Its easier when there are two of you attacking this. Well done. Have you thought about next month yet? Are you ready for what that brings?