Mummytogirls - 100 years to be debtfree - I think not!

mummytogirls

Morning diary,

I am absolutely full of cold today and feeling rubbish. Can someone please remind me that we are in Summer?!
Working from home this morning and will go in for a meeting this afternoon. Dont feel like it but needs must.

WFH has enabled me to get 2 loads of washing out on the line :T. I am working as well though btw!!

Nothing to report really I dont think, just need to get back into the habit of posting again after my busy fortnight of work.

Hi Choo, my expenses are not too much money and its not that often that I go away its just its made me aware that I need to plan ahead. Your DH must go away lots if he has expenses every month!!
Soft play is ridiculous isnt it! My 2 both like the slush puppies and would not let me get away with not buying them one!!
Luckily we dont need to pay for us to be admitted too! I have just found out about another soft play thats cheaper and you get sibling discount. Plus you get a free drink with your receipt!! Will be trying that one out next time. Bet it gets packed though..

Right best get on xx

mummytogirls

Morning diary, nothing much to report on at all at the mo.

Im off work with both girls today, although I think DD1 played on it a bit when she saw DD2 was ill. She was ok when running round the garden as I was pegging out :cool:. Heyho its only nursery and not compulsory!

DD2 has had a temperature but shes perked up a bit now... god bless nurofen!!

So only thing I can report is that ive pegged 2 loads out hence saving money using the drier.
Nothing else to report!

Less than 2 weeks til payday xx

girlatplay

Last time Little Miss and I were ill I think she played on the fact that I was ill. By the end of the day she was jumping up and down playing on the wii whilst I had collapsed on the couch.

Better do some work now I suppose

Gap x

mummytogirls

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mummytogirls

Hello diary! Nothing much to report just popping in for my daily dose!!

Still got the cold and cough :mad: but feel slightly better than earlier in the week. DD2 seems much brighter today and DD1 is back at school.

So I would like to know how people manage their grocery budgets?

No matter which way ive tried Ive always got very little left at month end.
Ive tried trying to spend equal amounts each week but this never works as my first shop is always huge!

So my proposed plan is to do a big shop a month say £100 at Asda and buy everything we should need for the month in terms of washing powder etc. Then do a say £50 a week shop at the local farmshop.
Does anyone have say £10 put aside for a little midweek top up? Theres always something we need midweek no matter how hard I try and plan for this.

My dad is hopefully (fingers crossed) moving back out into a rented house in a couple of week, so that should make things easier. You dont realise how much extra food you need for another adult... especially a man who eats 4 chocolate biscuits per day :eek:. Even teabags we seem to need all the times aswell. As much as I love him I really cant wait for him to go!! I cant seem to be as MSE with him around!!

So if anyone has any suggestions please please pop in and suggest away!! I am open to ideas xx

girlatplay

Hi mummy

I don't know if this will be of any use or not. I am still new to this plan. I have started doing a big shop at Mr S once a month (delivered end of previous month or start of new month depending on delivery charges :eek:) I am using this shop to stock up on things like toilet roll, cat food, washing powder etc basically all the big, bulky, heavy or awkward items that I find difficult to carry. I would also buy tea bags using this method too (I rarely buy tea bags as I don't drink tea and Mr G who is a tea jenny likes a certain kind of tea so we get it separately. Although, in my local B&M they had tea bags for about half the price of the supermarket). It is working so far in that for the past two months I have not run out of toilet roll and we have enough cat food for a further month :rotfl: The bill is approximately £60 per month, give or take a £1 or so. I get tax credits on a Wednesday and they are used for fresh food like milk, vegetables and things for the lunches and teas and anything we might run out of that particular week. I am currently spending about £25-£30 per week this way. It is working so far for me but remember, I am only shopping for Little Miss and I and a part-time Mr G. I don't buy meat in bulk, I tend to buy it as I need it. I am not great at meal planning but I am working on it. I'm sure my grocery bill could be reduced if I tried but I am happy the way it is and I have cut down on so many other things that I don't want to change my grocery habits just yet.

Sorry if that was just a load of blah, it helped me

Gap x

choogirl

Hi Mummytogirls

I'm afraid I'm still searching for the "perfect" way to grocery shop. I've thought about doing one big shop at the beginning of the month as well and then leaving £10-15 a week for milk, yoghurts, veg etc. Might be worth a try and see how it goes. I suppose you just have to do a full inventory of whats at home and then do a shopping list based on whats needed immediately and whats going to be running out by the end of the month. I suppose another benefit would be the time that would be saved as well.

Hope you're having a lovely weekend and not getting rained on xxxx

mummytogirls

Good afternoon diary, what has happened to the weather! Are we really in July or are we in November?!

Re the shopping thanks for both your ideas. I think I will do one big shop a month buying all toiletries, cleaning products etc and then try spend £40 per week in the farmshop and maybe have £10 set aside extras?

GAP, I have to say I do like tetley tea. I bought some Morrisons the other day and they are sooo strong! Im more of a would you like some tea with your milk girl :rotfl:!!

Choo, it is very rainy here today booooooooooo!!

Nothing too much to report in. Worked in my step dads shops this morning to help out as theyre away. It was 9-1 so not too bad. I took my laptop and did some of my sage course to pass the time away.
Then took DD to her swimming lesson, shes doing ever do well.

Just chilling a bit now, DH is out walking with the kids and its raining so I predict 2 whingey children coming back through the door sometime soon.

Oh the central locking on the car doesnt seem to be working :mad:. The car wont lock at all, so weve just removed all the CD's and valuables. DH locked it from the inside and then climbed out the back. Could be a bit tricky doing it this way if he leaves the keys in the car or sommat!!!

Tomorrow roast chicken for tea. DD1 at a party so we need to go and buy a present for that in the morning. Will nip to Asda and buy a top or something! Not spending too much!

So thats about all from me, chill time in order this evening!! Catch up soon xx

mummytogirls

Right so heres my grocery plan!! My previous budget was £220 but since dad moved in id upped it to £250. Its been hard to stick to and for that im keeping my budget at £250 even once hes moved out (which just so happens to be 2 weeks :j:beer:!!) (sorry dad!!!)

26th July - £100 - delivery from Mr A
4th Aug - £40 - local farmshop
midweek - £10 - incase of top up shop
11th Aug - £40 - local farmshop
midweek - £10 - incase of top up shop
18th Aug - £40 - local farmshop
midweek - £10 - incase of top up shop

My grocery budget will then restart on the 26th August. Im hoping I wont need the £10 topup shops which would in that case take my figure back down to £220. Fingers crossed!!! Just half way through my MrA shop. Stands at £68 and all I need to order is fruit, veg and meat. I really hope this way works!!! xx

mummy2mygirls

Good luck with the plan Hope it works. Wish we had a nice farm shop near by