9 areas of my life are a mess, I will make each area better every day in 2010

renovation.girl

Thank you!
No reply from said blokey. I think I am destined to stay alone. Chin up as they say..xxx

Today (Thursday) is children day. I found a tenner in the pocket of some jeans, so I'm going to take my DD2 to some charity shops and buy her something, she wants a hoody and I want a jigsaw for us to do together for the rest of the hols xx

hypno06

melabarrie wrote: »

Remember, when you ask life for strength, it gives you the opportunity to be strong.

I love this, thank you!

renovation.girl.....so many of your areas to work from strike a chord with me, and probably with many others - when you used to post regularly I know that several of us pinched your ideas, and that you helped us to identify our own areas for "work". I look forward to doing the same going forward.

Here's to 2011, with a lovely bloke for each of us at some point.....!!!

startagain_2

renovation.girl wrote: »

thank you so much for your reply, you have restored my faith in human nature, was feeling a bit isolated there for a moment. :T

You are not alone...... definitely not. As a compulsive list maker I love the way you have seperated all the areas out and I shall be following suit for 2011 where it applies. I have only 1 grown up daughter who lives far,far away but certainly am with you on the other stuff.
I shall be reading your posts with interest and support. Good luck...;)

SA

renovation.girl

Thanks hypno, 2011 has got to be a year for love for us. I'm just trying find a man with a good heart, not too much to ask is it? Meanwhile, I know looks are not important but I'm trying to sort out my appearance, need to lose a stone (and a half...) and need to sort out my wardrobe, some of my clothes are yuk. Good luck to you hun xx

And thanks to startagain, lists are great and it is so satisfying to cross things off. I have to admit sometimes I add something to a list of things I haven't done, just so that I can cross one thing off to motivate me. Actually, I think I'm a bit screw loosey lol...xx

glittermonster

I love you diary and organisation!!

Well Done you

Good luck for the new year!

renovation.girl

Thanks glittermonster. Goodness all these lovely replies is making me feel a bit human again!:)

Just made a massive turkey curry with turkey from freezer with a pataks condensed sauce that i picked up reduced in tescos for 80p. I mean massive, with the veg it made 5 meals to refreeze!! just got to add rice xxx

SuziQ1962

Hi Renovation girl-just to say i am so impressed that you have 3 WEEKS of shopping for £85,I meal plan but can't seem to get my bill under £70 for one week for 6 of us! I would love to know how you do it :-D
Have tidied my house over the past couple of days and it's true -you can think better when not surrounded by c**p

renovation.girl

SuziQ1962 wrote: »

Hi Renovation girl-just to say i am so impressed that you have 3 WEEKS of shopping for £85,I meal plan but can't seem to get my bill under £70 for one week for 6 of us! I would love to know how you do it :-D
Have tidied my house over the past couple of days and it's true -you can think better when not surrounded by c**p

First I got my two daughters to tell me their favourite meals, which were shepherds pie, lasagne, pizza, bangers and mash, fish pie, curry, spag bol, tuna bake, beef stew with dumplings, roast chicken or pork, etc, so I had 14 days worth of dinners planned. I studied nutrition with my open university course so can see when our diet is lacking in certain vitamins or minerals. Then added 14 days worth of non-dinner necessities (breakfast/tea/snacks) fruit, dairy, muesli bars (make my own flapjack with cheap oats), cereals, juice, tea, coffee, laundry things (using soda crystals and knights castille soap), bathroom things inc. tampons, (for three of us!!) loo roll, shampoo etc and cat food. I broke down the meals & everything into individual ingredients and voila 'shopping list' for two weeks. Then shop around for everything. Pound shops, supermarket bogofs, lidl, car boots, markets even freecycle has food or bathroom things given away on it. When you know what is on the list you get used to seeing it when you are browsing and can get things really cheaply, there's a little shop in the village near me that sells 2kg lentils for £2.30 etc. (I hide lentils in virtually every meal). We have a takeaway once in a blue moon. I empty the cupboards/fridge/freezer monthly and cross off my list what we already have, sometimes I get a whole week I don't have to buy anything. My freezer is full of pre-made dinners in tupperware, half price pints of milk, stewed down fruit from hedgerows and neighbours gardens and reduced bread. I love coupons and I own a shopping trolley which comes out with me every trip. I spend most of Sunday batch cooking. Hope that helps xxx

edit, every few weeks I put in an order here http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/static/About_Us/ postage is £5 or so but if you make a big order its worth it , most stuff is at least half price and often unbelievabley cheap.

Tried to get my DD2 out shopping but she just wanted to play on the wii, o well, i will have to have a go at super mario cart and pacman i spose lol xxx

SuziQ1962

Wow, Renovation girl, you have inspired me! Will be following your advice,tonight I have asked the kids to tell me two of their favourite meals to include in the menu planning and tea cost us less than a fiver for 6 of us-cajun potato wedges HM £1,pizza £2.49 for three but only used 2,mozzarella 49p (to make the pizza nicer!) and a pack of peppers £1, bit of olive oil and they loved it- Thanks for your good advice!Have decided that if i can keep to my budget then we will have a takeaway once a month on payday!

renovation.girl

SuziQ1962 wrote: »

Wow, Renovation girl, you have inspired me! Will be following your advice,tonight I have asked the kids to tell me two of their favourite meals to include in the menu planning and tea cost us less than a fiver for 6 of us-cajun potato wedges HM £1,pizza £2.49 for three but only used 2,mozzarella 49p (to make the pizza nicer!) and a pack of peppers £1, bit of olive oil and they loved it- Thanks for your good advice!Have decided that if i can keep to my budget then we will have a takeaway once a month on payday!

Oooh, cajun potato wedges yummy, with pizza brilliant idea, thank you too xx