How do you stick to it??

paulies_nixie

This weekend the lovely paulie asked me to marry him :j

And for some mad reason thats made me giddy - THREE takeaways this week already!
And stupid purchases at the supermarket.
AND I've thrown away food this week - it's sooo not like me.

On top of which I've had to take all three mutts to the vet and we're looking at a £200 bill.
Over spent on holiday 2 x over budget!!!! How the heck did that happen so I've got cred card to pay off which I'd just got rid of (Luckily 0%)
And now there's a wedding to save for - not till 2011 I'll grant ya, but better to start saving now.

Sooo the question is - how do you stick to your old style guns?
How can I stop giving in to the temptation of the eeeevil takeaway?

Only good thing this week is the chooks - all three laying like gooduns
Omlet for tea, scrambled egg for lunch, fried egg for breakie (joking :rotfl:- cholesterol would be through the roof)

Nix

Bitsy_Beans

Congratulations on your engagement :T

I don't always manage to stay on track (like this month and last month) and we are paying the price for it
I guess we don't rely on takeaways because I love cooking so much. It's only if I am dead beat or ill that I am more likely to be tempted. when I sit and think about how I don't know what's been put into them eg salt etc I tend to be able to put myself off them a bit.

PS. I didn't think eggs were considered that bad for you now and that they didn't increase bad cholesterol........?

flaire

First of all, my heartiest congratulations! When my husband asked me to marry him I was dumbfounded. I could only splutter incoherently for a good ten minutes. And I cried. Then I went all mushy, puppy eyes and sighing.



How do I keep on the thin line of Old Style? Well, I do sometimes fall. But I find it easier to destroy all take away menus the moment they appear through the door. There's something rather therapeutic putting them into the shredder, a certain glow of virtue.

I batch cook a few favorites to keep in the freezer for 'emergencies' - namely when I'm afflicted by the Can't-Be-Bothered flu.

Regards.

picklepick

I always write a meal plan for the week and factor in a takeaway once a fortnight. That way if i move it to another night i make sure i have home cooked on the takeaway night instead. Everyone deserves a treat sometimes and seeing as you're celebrating getting engaged i dont think its too bad! id be exactly the same tbh!

Oh and to prevent stupid supermarket purchases i get a monthly food plan worked out and get it delivered at the start of the month. Not very MSE getting it delivered i know but it stops me going "ooooh cookies.. i need those!"

xx_Jo_xx

I used to be bad for takeaways, especially chinese. When I see whoopies or really good special offers on that sort of stuff in Supermarkets, I buy them and put them in the freezer.

Then I have my 'homemade' takeaway night when I feel like it, without having to spend a fortune.

SunnyGirl

Congratulations on your engagement :beer: I used to be quite bad at going shopping, spending £150 then coming home and getting a takeaway as I was tired from unpacking :eek: :eek: Then came reality and debt clearance so things had to change. I now meal plan for about a fortnight in front and make the shopping lists at the same time. I'll put a takeaway down once a month or so but also try to have meals that are uber quick & tasty on nights when I'm tired. Omlettes are faves here served either with salad or chips a la the Belgium style (for the kids;)) I don't tend to have masses of homemade ready meals in the freezer as they all eat everything I make :rotfl: HTH.

jonny2510

If banning takeaways isn't realistic (and it doesn't sound like it is after 3 takeaways so far - though we've all done it ) why not limit yourself to one a week. That way you'll look forward to it / appreciate it more. (We usually have ours on a Friday evening after a hard weeks work).

For the other takeaways, lookup how to make Chinese/Indian/kebab/pizza shop "takeaway equivalent" recipes on the net.

We've so far successfully made authentic (UK takeaway) curries, chinese and thai dishes, and even home made doner kebabs! They're cheaper and healthier!

Due to multiple weddings, we did some serious overspending over the last few months, but the thing to do is start cutting back NOW, and ask yourself before spending anything, do I REALLY need it? You'll soon get back on top.

Then pay off as much of your cards as you can, and as soon as thats' done - start wedding saving!

As for the throwing out food I hate doing it too, though it is sometimes unavoidable (for me it's usually yoghurt, double cream, sour cream crème fresh etc that I bought for a recipe, and had no use for afterwards).

When cooking a meal, check to see what's due out of date first and cook that. If you really don't fancy something that will otherwise go out of date - freeze it, and use it at some future time.

HTH
Oh and congrats :beer:

paulies_nixie

I feel super bad now cos I do have some lovely home made curry's in the freezer.
Along with chili, spag bol - all the usual mince suspects

Thinking about it I got takeaway curry last night and would have been faster to nuke one of the ones in the deep freeze. <sigh> ahh well

Flaire - When I realised he was being serious :eek:, I cried and I've been grining like a loon ever since. I have cheek ache :rotfl:.
Does seem to have somewhat stolen my common sense tho - Ran the car out of petrol yesterday. Even a blonde moment doesnt cover that (and I somewhat resemble that remark so no offence to other blondies )

Thanks for the congrats guys

I'm gonna go home at lunch time and shred the menu's - but darn this interweb, all the takeaways have websites
Must must must stop spending
Mebbe I could pin a vauge idea for the wedding costs on the fridge. Or a picture of a dress I really like.
Mind you that doesnt help when dieting :rotfl:

Keep the ideas coming I think I needs all the help I can get at the moment

Thanks

tara747

Congrats and I second all the advice here!

Do make a wedding budget and look at dresses etc, that will keep you motivated!

mouseymousey99

Congratulations! As others have said I wouldn't be too hard on yourself.
I have a notebook and jot down all the bills that need paying, and try to budget around those.
Shopping - (I do mine on the net and Mr T delivers) seems that if I have one really big shop the next one is not so much.
Doing my shop on the web helps as I can 'wonder up and down the aisles' looking at the prices (and the cheapest is by no means always the best buy).
I've found doing a realistic shop is better as we spent a lot of money 'popping out for things' we always came out with a basketfull.
I have a butcher who delivers and lots of days when we have meat free meals.
What sort of meals do you like to eat?

xx_Jo_xx

tara747 wrote: »

Congrats and I second all the advice here!

Do make a wedding budget and look at dresses etc, that will keep you motivated!

I was just coming back on to say just that. Start planning the wedding....then when you go to spend £30 on a take away you will think, hmmmmmm that could go towards my dress/car/flowers/ whatever....

Plus it will also put you off the takeaways as EVERYONE wants to watch their weight before they get married, even if your already a size 6!