To be debt free by 30 I need to start now! - Gingernutbizkit's 2010 diary

gingernutbizkit

Thanks Miemie .

I have been having a good think about my grocery shopping as this really is an area that can get out of control. I have decided to go back to cooking from scratch as this will help both the £'s and the lb's . Started tonight with homemade soup (made out of bendy veg), bread and choc and banana loaf (2 banana's going brown).

In the past my plan has always been to have a well stocked fridge/freezer and storecupboard to ensure that I always have plenty in to eat. However I am changing this way of thinking. I plan now to buy as little as possible for the next few weeks so that I can dwindle my stock. I want to get to a point where I am just shopping weekly and my freezer is filled more with leftovers than anything else. Tomorrow I will be listing all the meal I already have in the house..... I'm guessing about 20???

Ging x

tking

Hi, very impessed with your work so far - you seem to be very organised. Just thought I'd comment on the seasonal depression (or seasonal Affective disorder or whatever it might be called). I have a relative who also finds this time of year a struggle but has recently been using a light box for 30mins a day while he uses his computer and has found it's made a big difference - he feels less tired, sleeps better and generally fells his mood is improved. Might be worth a go!

Good luck with it all!

gingernutbizkit

Thanks Tking. I have considered a light box before but never been sure about the benefits.... still cheaper than a holiday abroad for the sun I guess

gingernutbizkit

Quite a good day money saving wise .

Teatime yesterday I found out that half Mrs Ging's family were coming over for lunch today. normally that would have meant a £50 trip to Mr T's however not today. I sent Mrs Ging out for small bits needed and made leek and potato soup, two types of homemade bread and a homemade rice pudding. All in all 13 people fed, all happy and only £7.20 extra spent :T.

This afternoon I started a base for 5 portions of curry that will then be in our freezer ready for the nights we fancy a fake-away.

Then I emptied the freezer, reorganized it and made a list of everything in it. I'm deeply ashamned to say that there is the start of 44 meals in the freezer alone . Just need to add fresh veg, homemade sauces etc

Off to create my menu plan and shopping list for next week......
Ging x

MessyMare

gingernutbizkit wrote: »

This afternoon I started a base for 5 portions of curry that will then be in our freezer ready for the nights we fancy a fake-away.

Fake away, genius Well done on your achievements by the way!

gingernutbizkit

ColleenPamela wrote: »

Fake away, genius Well done on your achievements by the way!

Thanks CP. We love indian take away but for the 5 of us the costs really add up so hopefully this will help. Something else I did that is working well is that I bought from Mr T some of the big indian party sacks that were on offer after xmas.... samosas, pakoras etc and divided them into meals for five people or two (as once a week Mrs Ging and I eat separately from the kids so we can have a meal without constantly telling someone to close their mouth/use cutlery properly, slow down, speed up etc ) and popped them in the freezer. In total I spent £7 but I have frozen enough for 5 family meals and 3 couple meals so I think that is a bit of a bargain.... no doubt someone on the OS board will tell me to make my own though! Today I'm going to make my naan's and freeze those two... made them before and actually prefer them .

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Week's menu planned.
Shopping list for tomorrow done - not as much on it as would usually buy
Bread rolls rising ready for the oven then to be frozen to use as needed.... trial as I've never done this before. If it works I will do a large batch to keep for the boys lunches - I have been buying cheap bread and freezing sandwiches every month but I would prefer to give them more wholesome food on budget if I can.

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

The boys have FINALLY all gone to school today and so I am taking the day off and enjoying the peace and quiet.... not had much of that for the past month :cool:.

Mrs Ging had to do the shopping yesterday as I was stuck at home with the kids. She actually stuck to my list exactly:eek:. This morning she asked if I could spend some time today think of way we could save some money or use it more wisely :eek::eek::eek:. She's obviously committed at the moment so I'm not going to let this opportunity pass. She'll be home at 9.30pm and I intend to hit her with my list (not literally obviously:D).

Off to get started.......
Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Grrrrrr :mad: Kids off school again. As lovely as it is to have them around they are pretty demanding and having so little time to myself to 'recover' is not easy. Plus I am really far behind on everything I wanted to achieve this year.

Mrs Ging was too late getting home (and hence not in a great mood) so decided not to go through my list with her :rolleyes:. I will at some point though becuase there is quite a bit we could do.

What would be on your list of things to do to save money?

Ging x

gingernutbizkit

Just cancelled my Virgin Media contract... switching to TalkTalk Approx £25pcm cheaper