How do you stick to it??

LameWolf

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS!

Can't advise re takeaways - we don't ever have them, because we actually don't like them.

If I've got food that needs using up, I look specifically for recipes that use it - either on this forum, or another site I use is http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/
There are others that you can search by ingredient also, I'm sure. If all else fails, I make something up and serve it up as "experiment".;)

I always make a list before grocery shopping - not just before I go, I have one on the go all the time, and when something runs low, list it to buy a replacement. And I stick rigidly to the list when I'm in there.

Just a thought, but can you maybe make your own wedding stationery on the 'puter? I did this, because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted in the shops, but it did save a fair bit on the expense. If you start designing it now, you've got lots of time to make alterations and tweaks to it.:o

paulies_nixie

Ohh yes I've got vauge ideas for invitations, "save the date" cards (I didnt know these existed??) and I'm gonna make the cake then just like you say I can have exactly what I want

Right so this evening will be meal planning from the cupboard I think. Could be many "interesting concoctions" :rotfl:

shazzle

Heu Nix , Congratulations to you both.

Dh and I were very bad, wasteful frivolous folk until I discovered here.
Now a fledgling, flylady, oldstyler the cash we save is much welcome. £20 takeaways really are a thing of the past as I now make good quality, authentic recipie food and freeze portions for the cant be bothered days (about twice a week!!) usually at 5am when i cant sleep weekends!!

You have the most amazing day to focus on and if that doesnt keep you "straight" I dont know what will....

Repeat after me

" I will not waste money, food, energy" lol x x x
(good luck and I find half an hour reading here also does the job x)

ubamother

It's not a competition - and you haven't "failed". Having a takeaway - if that's what you want - is not an OS sin! If you need a little splurge - in whatever form works for you try and budget it in. If OS becomes a daily grind of denial the enjoyment can go out of it. I find if I treat it like a battle against the supermarkets, utility companies etc. and me saving money as 'beating' them it amuses me far more than thinking if I don't buy this treat I'll have saved £3.20. Find whatever tactics work for you!

Raini

paulies_nixie wrote: »

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

Wow! CONGRATULATIONS!! :T:j:D:j

As for the takeaways, as others have suggested, use your wedding as motivation to not get them - or limit to once a fortnight or something. xx

Butterfly_Brain

Congratulations on your engagement
Now to the hard graft of household budgeting, the things that you learn now will stand you in good stead for the future.
It is a big shock when you have to do it yourself and not rely on your Mum

• Meal Planning is a must, set yourself a budget and stick to it. Weddings are expensive these days (We did ours on a budget 24 years ago and it turned out great it is surprising how many friends are willing to help by pitching in )
• Look at takeaways as a luxury that are only a once a month treat.
• Batch cook and freeze for the days that you really don't feel like cooking
• Insure your pets! It really can save you hundreds of pounds and for a small outlay each month it really is worth it.

Trinny

paulies_nixie wrote: »

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

Hi There

You sound pretty happy and not a bit giddy - congratulations on your engagement. Take a deep breath in and settle yourself down.

2011 will be here before you know it - MSE is probably going to be your best means of saving towards the BIg DAy.

It looks to me like you have the best incentive already to stick to OS thrifty ways.

Good luck - ihope you willbe really happy

Trin

ceridwen

Indeed....I hope you will be very happy and many congratulations.

Sometimes things come along (of the nice type in this case...) that "throw us" a bit and we've strayed a little off "the straight and narrow". Life happens...tomorrow is another day...its understandable sometimes...so - for right now enjoy it...and tomorrow you'll get "back on track".

We're all "human" after all....and its VERY difficult to "keep your eye on the ball" all the time after all....

All the best for the future...

Meenu

Congrats on engagement and upcoming nuptials.
I have been trying to lose weight for a year now! From personal training sessions to quite frankly bizarro diets anyway longstory short 2 weeks ago someone i know was not well (they are getting better now) and i got caught up giving them a hand and as a result ended up eating 1 meal a day for a fortnight (and my tummy wasnt rumbling i was just super busy with that, going work and life in general), ive lost 6lbs and the thing is now i feel fuller quicker. Eat what u like just eat a lot less of it. Altho for quirky diets apparently Saachi (nigellas husband) ate 5 hard boiled eggs a day and lost 5 stone!!
oops that wasnt really a long story short ne'er mind! x

Meenu

Lamewolf You must live in the wrong area we are surrounded by great, good quality food, cheap takeaways here in west london!!