Champagne Lifestyle Lemonade Budget (My attempts to get debt free by April 2010)

Claw_back_money

Yes if you ring them they may be able to credit the money to your card or give you credit next time you're there or whatever - but if you don't - there's a dead cert they won't! It probably breeches all sorts of your legal rights to get charged for things you didn't get. I'd be tempted to give them a ring too.

Cbm

Swinstie73

Hi SA,

Glad you had a good holiday, unfortunately you didn't send any sun to Scotland, ha! Worried the Euro will still be crap when I go on hols, hoping not to have to withdraw more money, eek!

I'd go back to Aldi too, but ring them if you won't be there for a while.

Sun_Addict

Thanks for the tips. Have put pen to paper as I am much better on paper than over the phone so will see what happens. Rather suspect I've left it too late to do anything but you never know. Last time I wrote a letter of complaint about the shoddy service I received when buying my laptop I got £100 worth of vouchers. Will be more vigilent next time I visit Aldi.

First full week back at work this week and it's been a killer! Thank goodness it's Friday. Have a good one everyone!

Claw_back_money

Hiya SA
Well done for surviving your week at work!
I wanted to ask you about the onion & mushroom lasagna and quantities; do you make it as per the recipe and does it give that many portions? I made less cheese sauce but the same amount of onions and mushrooms but they cooked down so much that I couldn't have got the same number of layers.. just wondered how you did it.

Cheers
Cbm

Sun_Addict

Hi all!

Cbm - re the lasagne - I use the quantities of onions and mushrooms stated but only use 4 lasagne sheets which makes 2 generous portions. I halve the sauce and only use ½ tsp sugar. Has always turned out very well so far it's just trial and error. Mushrooms just seem to cook down to nothing don't they?

Will be doing my end of month finances this week. Not looking great due to OH not being at work much. Will have to lend DS his rent and share of water rates and TV licence this month as he just hasn't earned enough to cover it all (he works with OH). We stand need to be lending out money but what can you do? April looks like it will be a better month though - as long as it doesn't rain all the time!

Claw_back_money

Thanks for answer re the lasagna SA, what I like to do is make enough for a couple of meals so might increase the onions and mushroom content of it. It was really tasty though, and I hadn't realised that caramelising was so very simple.

Good luck with the budget setting this week, funny how people on MSE seem to make money be able to go so much further .

Cbm

Sun_Addict

Hi Cbm - I tried caramelising onions without sugar as I'm always suspicious of mixing sweet and savoury and thought I wouldn't like it but they are much better using sugar. However, I only use half a teaspoon as I'm scared of it tasting too sweet! I am considering making this lasagne at the weekend as I love it so much and it freezes well.

Can you believe I went to Aldi today and they overcharged me again!!!! Luckily I checked my receipt before I left the store and they gave me a refund. What are they like?

Looking forward to 4 days off work for Easter. Hoping to get around to listing some CDs on Amazon as I have loads I don't play anymore. I must motivate myself.

Have gone way over budget in March grocery wise. Budget was £280 and I've spent just under £350! Bearing in mind we were on holiday for a week of it that's really bad! However, stocked DD up with food before we went and then had to restock loads when we got back. Suspect she was feeding other people. April's budget is £280 again and fully intend to stick to it.

Will be doing April's budget tomorrow when OH gets paid. Have a few goals for April to set myself too. Will report in tomorrow when I know what's what.

Sun_Addict

Well counting up the finances for March has finally come around. Not good as OH has earned very little but it all adds to the pot. As mentioned above spent far too much money on groceries and "other" items. This will need to be addressed in April when I am going to be a paragon of virtue (cough, cough).

At least the bills and spending credit card balance are covered this month, leaving a small amount to pay for food and some "pocket money" for me and OH. I had £35 left over in my purse this morning so this has gone towards my first savings goal of £100 float in my current account (just in case). Unfortunately I haven't been able to put anything away towards the August holiday so will have to make this up over April and May as I have to pay the balance by 16 June. Also put 4lbs on during my holiday and the indulgent days before and after so need to work on losing this from now onwards.

April's goals are:

1. Put some more money in the £100 float pot
2. Lose 4lbs out the 10lbs I would like to lose for my next holiday
3. Pay £450 towards holiday balance (IF I can)
4. Stick to £280 grocery budget
5. Put as little as possible on spending credit card
6. Have 3 days each week where I "detox", no alcohol and ultra healthy eating

Plenty to be going on with there!

Hope everyone has a great Easter weekend! :easter_ba

Claw_back_money

Sounds like you have some good goals there SA.
Where are you going for the August holiday.. same place? We're started to think about a summer holiday - I can't cope with doing that until we're debt free though - 2 years of being strict and now I can't let go of the purse strings!

Cbm

Sun_Addict

Hi Cbm - we're going back to the same place. We don't normally do this but as it's my 50th :eek: we wanted to go somewhere we know we like and we've always wanted to see Playa Blanca in summer. The one thing we've not given up is our holidays. We've given up nights out, weekends away and wandering aimlessly around the shops buying stuff we don't need but our holidays are the only thing that keeps us going at the moment. We spend a lot less on them than we used to however and will never go back to wasting money again even when things pick up.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Easter break. Hoping to go out somewhere for a nice long walk with OH today - maybe fit in a sneaky coffee or glass of wine at some point!