Flying gleefully into 2009 - One Fresians adventures in debt-busting

mooomin

laura2481 wrote: »

Hotel I'm looking at is on Princes' Street so I know everything is pretty much walkab from there. I have been to Edinburgh before but I was working so all I saw was walking to and from hotel, and out of hotel window (which was at least over-looking Princes' Street and the Scott Monument) So I am looking forward to seeing it properly.

If you're looking to stay on Princes St then before you book call the hotel and ask for:

A) A room that doesn't overlook Princes St directly
A hefty discount if it does as you are aware there are major roadworks on

Just haggle your little MSE butt off.

laura2481

flying_fresian wrote: »

If you're looking to stay on Princes St then before you book call the hotel and ask for:

A) A room that doesn't overlook Princes St directly
A hefty discount if it does as you are aware there are major roadworks on

Just haggle your little MSE butt off.

Ha ha! Good MSE tips! I'm actually booking it as a package with train ticket (through TCB too so will get some money back ) so don't get a say on what room, but if I did that would be a good idea as I bet it's extra- bit like a sea view in Scarborough! (last time I went to scarborough I got a lovely view of an alley and a wall:rotfl:)

mooomin

Ooh heck, I've been so busy perving around the recipe threads and giving Laura tourist advice that I have forgotten to post my usual update

I need to sit down and figure out my money again (As blooming always!) as I need to make sure that I am putting money aside for:

• Early repayment of loan/Oh Sh*t I'm Redundant Fund. This is obviously the priority for me at the moment
• Edinburgh Funtimes. I want to go to loads of shows during the Festival, and want to start saving now! I have sent away to renew my Friend of the Fringe membership (You get 2for1 on some shows and more importantly the Friends booking line opens two days before the public one, so you get some really popular shows booked early!)
• Christmas. Last year I used the money from stopping smoking to pay for that, this year I will have to save as my non-smoker savings are now part of the budget
• Cat emergencies. I need to renew the kitties vaccinations soon and will have to pull money [strike]out of my *ss[/strike] from somewhere to pay for that

So, what to do? I was going to use my Sealed Pot for Christmas, but I won't have that many people to buy for as I did some serious sales shopping and have been buying Clearance Bargains in Boots when I see them. I'm hoping that by doing this I will have less things to buy at the time. I think I am going to have to break into my Sealed Pot to pay for the kitteh vaccinations. To be honest, I have no problem doing this as I was always saving this change for something I just didn't really know what! I will start another Sealed Pot as soon as this one is broken into. I have only spent coinage under £1 once this year, and it was some kind of caffeine emergency

So, a major case of the Mondays at work today, but I did get to leave work early and go to the supermarket (Not exciting, but I did get some essentials for much cheapness. I really am starting to rate Morrisons as a good place to get offers. If you're interested see my post on the April Grocery Challenge for my bargainous day! I also noted with interest that they have good deals on Kenco and Gold Blend, so if you're a coffee snob like me get thee to Morrisons!)

I came home and cleaned the kitchen out, but also degunged my fridge - that's been on my Flylady list for flipping weeks! It is now shiny and lovely. I have made dinner which was Shepherds Pie I made ages ago and dug out of the freezer. I was meant to be going to the pub tonight, so that was my home-made ready meal, but my friend cancelled. It's a shame, but it's money saved and a nice clean fridge, so I'll take that too!

Mini Creme Eggs were 26p in Boots today....I may have indulged...!

What else? I think that's about it for today tbh. I was doing well on BingoPort, but I'm nowhere near a blooming Amazon voucher and I don't want to redeem my points for real gambling as I am not good with temptation. I'm off to spend my points on the slots again in the hopes of winning my Amazon voucher!

The_Golden_Goose

Talking of coffee, I bought Morrison's own brand de-caff in an attempt to save some cents. Well, I am sure arsenic tastes nicer.

Flipping gutted, so I am. No coffee to drink in the house and I am seriously getting withdrawals. Do have posh coffee but takes time putting it in the posh thingymabob, not to mention it seems like a right ton of effort and wastage for just one cup of caffeine. I soooo crave it..... Coffee Coffee Coffee.

Saving the pennies on the coffee, so that I could remain DFW/MSE was a sheer falsehood. Who suffers? My cravings that's who.

LOL!

Hope you are having a bonza evening.

mooomin

Well in Morissons they have Gold Blend for £3 a jar I think instead of £5something.

They also have the mahoosive jars of Kenco with 50% extra free. If it wasn't for the fact my mum is coming down I would have indulged. She always buys me coffee and still makes me "care packages" I normally get coffee, tea, washing powder, homemade cakes (Yay!) annd biscuits such as Hobnobs. I love it when she visits! You wouldn't think that I left home 11 years ago........

I have also spent a very productive 10 minutes doing an inventory of the food in the house so that when I go to the supermarket this weekend I don't buy sh*te I don't need. Beans for example. I have 9 tins of beans. We haven't had beans in weeks, not since I discovered the joys of home cooking. I am going to make the most of the parents being down at the weekend (Having a car to use when I go to the supermarket) and stock up on heavy things like tinned tomatoes and cat food.

It's been a very exciting night Chez Fresian

5*shopaholic

flying_fresian wrote: »

Well in Morissons they have Gold Blend for £3 a jar I think instead of £5something.

They also have the mahoosive jars of Kenco with 50% extra free. If it wasn't for the fact my mum is coming down I would have indulged. She always buys me coffee and still makes me "care packages" I normally get coffee, tea, washing powder, homemade cakes (Yay!) annd biscuits such as Hobnobs. I love it when she visits! You wouldn't think that I left home 11 years ago........

I have also spent a very productive 10 minutes doing an inventory of the food in the house so that when I go to the supermarket this weekend I don't buy sh*te I don't need. Beans for example. I have 9 tins of beans. We haven't had beans in weeks, not since I discovered the joys of home cooking. I am going to make the most of the parents being down at the weekend (Having a car to use when I go to the supermarket) and stock up on heavy things like tinned tomatoes and cat food.

It's been a very exciting night Chez Fresian

i am so glad it isnt just me that gets food parcels from her mum. i am sure they think we cant look after ourselves lol
it is nice but when i tell my friends they do laugh! more fool them lol:j

tomtombeanie

i would love food parcels from my mum! not really practical as she is in the US, but she does feed us over-well when we visit (and we stay 4-5 weeks at a pop!) and won't take anything for our keep. mums are great!

mooomin

Morning tomtom

I'm just off to do my dishes then pop your chili recipe in the slow cooker!

Will let you know how it turns out

*edit* Looks good so far. I tend to figure that if it looks ok when you put it in the slow cooker it will be pretty hard to mess up. Famous last words perhaps!

Primula

flying_fresian wrote: »

Hey you!

I have no idea what I would have spent the money on tbh. Maybe takeaway dinners and things of that nature, but that wouldn't account for the £2000 I have cleared. Probably clothes, concerts, things like that. In the past it would all have gone on my credit card. I have only spent £16.50 on clothes in 2009 (1 dress from Monsoon in the sale) and the concerts etc I have paid for this year have all been paid cash. Especially when I found out I saved about £12 a time by going to the Box Office instead of using Ticketb*stards.

Weirdly, I feel as though my standard of living has actually gone up, as I'm cooking more home-made food and trying to eat better. I don't feel like I'm losing out in any way as when the debts are cleared I will feel so rich with all this extra money floating around :rotfl:

Well done again, it's interesting to read your comment about feeling your standard of living has gone up, I know exactly what you mean there, I just need to give myself a kick up the backside to get organised every week and not just the Monday and Tuesday after the weekend!

Primula

flying_fresian wrote: »

Beans for example. I have 9 tins of beans. We haven't had beans in weeks, not since I discovered the joys of home cooking. I am going to make the most of the parents being down at the weekend (Having a car to use when I go to the supermarket) and stock up on heavy things like tinned tomatoes and cat food.

Just thought I'd share this recipe I "stole" from my DD's student cookbook. :T Tastes a lot nicer than it sounds and a good cheap and easy meal and filling too and it would get rid of some of your beans lurking in your cupboard!

MONDAY PIE

Mince
1 Onion
1 Garlic Clove
2 teaspoons worcester sauce
1 beef stock cube
1 tin beans
Potatoes

Brown the mince, onion & garlic. Add the beef stock cube (no water, just the dry cube). Add seasoning and tin of beans (the value beans are fine) and worcester sauce. Put in an ovenproof dish. Slice up raw potatoes and layer all over top of mixture. Heat in oven at about 180 for 50 to 60 mins or until potatoes soft.