Bang...and the debt is gone! (Hopefully!)

MissShoes

Should start thinking about Xmas. Will head to £ shops for wrapping paper, have enough cards (don't send any), need to compile list and budget.

MissShoes

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:
:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Have realised that meal planning has gone out of the window over last month. The result is, we have had regular takeaways which is costing us lots of £££ and lb lb lb.

So I am proposing a takeaway ban until xmas. 64 days to go. First step- a freezer audit:

1 whole chicken- will do a roast, stirfry/curry and a soup
1 pack pork loins- will do 2/3 portions
2 huge packs of steak- for steak/stew/fajitas/pie-8 portions
10 chicken breasts- for lunches/casseroles/salads- 10 portions
3 packs of chicken thighs- curry/casseroles/pie/stew- 9-10 portions
7 packs of marinated pork loins- 14 portions
1 large minced beef and onion pie rtc- 4 portions
3 packs of lamb steaks- 6 portions
2 x m/wave pizzas for OH- 2 portions but he has snacks not meals
4 packs of beef mince- spag bol/chilli/lasagne- 8-10 portions
1 pack sausages- 4 portions
chicken wings- snack/side for OH- 1 portion
1 bag frozen peas

So much food- why have we been ordering in? Poor organisation/time management/forward thinking/effort.

Need to dust off slow cooker and get organised.

Plan
Have defrosted pack of mince- I'll make spag bol tomo

Head to a1di to buy their super 6- potatoes/carrots/onions/parsnips/cabbage/cucumber- perfect for slow cooker dishes

Check herbs and spices- I know I need nutmeg, chilli, cloves etc.

Check carbs stocks (spaghetti/pasta/rice/pearl barley/cous cous)

Ordered oats, need to add lentils/chickpeas/beans to Mr T order

Need to up fruit/veg intake- will think of cheap ways of doing this


Must get in habit of prepping dinner before work, leftover for lunches and starting meals with soup etc to bulk things out.

MissShoes

Ok Mr T shop updated. Have added lots of pulses, carbs and herbs. Got everything I need I think. Need to sort rest of budget for this month- have lots of expenditure so need to make sure it's all covered. First small paycheque for 2nd job should be with me around Nov 10th.

MissShoes

Have decided to cancel another purchase- £84 due back, will chase this tomorrow.

Still no further forward with budget.

MissShoes

£46 refund cleared today. STill need to chase larger refund.

Cooked from cupboard today although did buy lunch from work cafeteria.

Will take sandwiches tomorrow.

OH payday tomorrow. 1 day til mine.

TV license due at end of month, plus OH needs to MOT his vehicle.

MissShoes

Aiming to earn £45 on 2nd job tomorrow. Should be NSD if remember to bring lunch/snacks.

Time for bed, didn't sleep well last night so woke up feeling fuzzy.

Tomorrow last opportunity to finalise the budget- must sort this out.

Hiddenidenity

Hope all is okay xx

Have a nice weekend x

MissShoes

Hiddenidenity wrote: »

Hope all is okay xx

Have a nice weekend x

Hey hidden, hope all's well with you. I'm about to post an update, cuppa first! x

MissShoes

Ok update time from me.

Have chased up £84 and £20 refunds, both should be with me before Friday.

Purse balance: £4.99

Bank balance: £14.90

Credit card available to spend:£307.22 (plus £84 and £20 refunds)

November Grocery Spends (budget £100): £0.00

19 days til OH payday, 22 days til mine.

Have got home insurance DD to come out (no idea why it hasn't, need to make sure policy hasn't finished- if it has i'll jump on qu1dco and see what deals are about), still need to pay phone bill of £52. Then need to cover:

2 meals out
1 dentist appointment
1 whitening appointment
1 birthday present
1 big g/e bill- this could wait til payday then set up DD
purchase supplies for 2nd job
fuel
food top ups

On the food front I'm eating down the cupboards as much as poss, especially things like mixes/sauces. Currently chowing down on pumpkin risotto that was free- got 3 packets. Bit bland so have added far too much cream cheese and cheddar.

Later on, we've got tandoori chicken using spice mix from store, chicken breast from freezer and value low fat yoghurt from fridge. Have got a packet of naan bread mix from AF so will use that up. Could do pack of microrice if OH wants.

Next meal is chicken, chorizo and butter bean dish. Again chicken from freezer, last 2 chorizo sausages from back of fridge, butter beans from store, can of chopped toms from store, passata from store, onions and mushrooms from fridge, herbs/spices/garlic/chillis from store.

No excuse for buying any more- even avoiding some great deals on AF as I don't NEED to spend.

Grocery spend for November: £0.00 (but did have Friday night takeaway which was my treat).

Aiming for £100 or less, inspired by Jackie0, who still has 40% of her October budget left! I suspect this will go on milk, bread, fruit, veg, cat food, cheese, tom puree. We shall see. 3 days down, 27 to go.

Out both this Sunday and next for a meal- will peruse the menus for cheap/filling options.

Away with friend for weekend at end of month (after payday but within grocery challenge) so may have to get a couple of frozen pizzas in for OH!

Have cut £72 a year off redundant phone contract- still have to pay until April but every little helps.

Expecting £100 from 2nd job at some point this week. Have worked hard this month so next month's wages is looking like £335.

Towards Jan's wage, I've earned £75 so far. Will try to hit £500 as a target.

Struggling to keep heating off as it's so bitterly cold, will peruse threads and see what I can do to stave off the cold.

Need to check water/oil/screenwash/tyre pressures on car. Also need to check MOT date and get booked in.

Phew. Lots happening. Also need to dryclean my winter coats so may drop them in today. Will see how motivated I am! Need to pop out later for bits for 2nd job, may tie that in and get some screenwash too. Although it is so cold I am dreading leaving the house!

MissShoes

Purse balance: £98.49

Bank balance: £14.90

Credit card available to spend:£236.82

November Grocery Spends (budget £100): £0.00

Refunds cleared onto credit card. Took cash out for my spends. Have 2 more meals to go to this month so need to use cash for that, for the dentist and for any food top ups etc.

I have a £5.00 Mr T voucher- will print that off at work as no sign of it in the post. Will use that when I HAVE to spend towards groceries (milk, bread etc) to keep the spend at nil or very low for as long as possible. 25 days to go.

Another takeaway purchased last night- not by me I hasten to add- OH couldn't resist even though I offered to cook. He bought from his personal account and there is enough for his meals today (he's at home). Tonight will be the chicken/chorizo/butter bean concoction.

Need to purchase winter quilt and electric blanket. Bedroom radiator is useless as it just heats up but it has no effect on the room. Will price up and get on payday.