If i could turn back time i would............. (my diary)

**Kat**_2

You are doing amazingly, don't let £10 get you down, just think, that is a payment you can defo cover come pay day and you are donig more for your family by doing that and making sure you get home safely. Hope your head is better today xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Good day, feeling brighter today about yesterday, also remembered that BC take pay off highest apr first so thats good.
Recieved a £10 amazon voucher today from surveys, have decided to buy a little sofa bed for kids living room, have seen one for just over £100 on amazon so thats my current new year target to make enough in amazon vouchers to buy it, have £15 so far.

Nipped to bank this morning and paid in a couple of cheques kids recieved for christmas and was very good and didn't spend a penny in any shops:j.

General tidying today, lasagne for tea and need to make some flapjack, kids have had there sweet rations for the day and i have been good and not had any, think i've been eating to much carp as feel sluggish and skin looks awful.

Payday tommorrow:D.

mummytogirls

Ooohhhh lasagne sounds gorg, the flapjack sounds even nicer!!! Think that will be on my meal plan for next week. Fahitas for us, yum! oohhhh ive just thought I might do some nachos with the leftover doritos....oooohhhhh excited much now ha!!

Yay to payday tomorrow aswell, I was paid before Christmas, so its going to be a loooooooonnggg January til next one! Glad your brighter today, I think getting back into the routine makes things seem better too x x

pennywisepoundstupid

Meter readings done for this week and pleased as its much better than last weeks which were very:eek:, so we have used

Electric= £19.19
Gas = £10.91

hopefully once back at work/school next week these will go down, especially electric, as with kids being at home it seems there is 2 tv on at once, one being watched the other playing the wii, wii also using electric, lights seem to be on more, ds being charged, dishwasher has been on twice a day with having all meals at home.

Also just recieved a £4 survey payment into paypal, but this will be counted in 2011 incomings as can't withdraw until there is £6 in there;).

pennywisepoundstupid

Good morning just a quick one as trying to get kiddies ready as going to lidl.

Payday today so need to sort months budget, pay BC and withdraw money for envelopes, also had an email this morning to tell me i've won a book:), hopefully its something i read or could go in the gift drawer as might do for an xmas/birthday pressie.

**Kat**_2

That's cool, do you only find out what book it is once it arrives? If it's not good for either you could sell it on Amazon or Ebay so whatever it turns out to be it will be useful xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi KAT the email did state title but i've forgotten:rotfl:, should go and google it and find out what its about.

Well shopping went well, spent £50.36 between lidl and sainsburys, had to nip to sainsburys as they didn't have some of the things in lidl and a couple of things were actually cheaper in sainsburys, did well really, bought huge box of washing powder and dishwasher tablets for the month, floor cleaner, bleach and disinfectant, packed lunch stuff for next week and loads of fruit.

Have also meal planned for eight days, read somewhere on old style board that some do this, should save some money if i do a weeks shopping every 8 days, s o shopped on a fri this week next week will go on sat and so on, see how we get on with that one as it means an extra meal a week out of the same budget, which is ok at the moment as we have loads of left overs from christmas.

so this weeks meal plan is as follows:

FRI- sweet and sour crispy chicken and noodles
SAT- Pork chops, sauteed potatoes and veg
SUN- Pasta bake (using whatever is left over in fridge)
MON- Sausage casserole, mash and peas
TUE- Jkt spud, beans and cheese
WED-Gammon chips and peas
THURS- Beef casserole, mash and veg
FRI- Prawn korma, rice and naan bread

Will bake this weekend and make soup from veggies we have in, house is full of biscuits and sweets, lunch boxes next week will be egg/tuna or cheese sandwiches, fruit, yoghurt and h made cake, hubby can take left over casseroles etc as he has a microwave at work, so well and truly sorted for the week and should not need to enter a shop until next saturday, Also have £20 asda gift card but want to save that until i really need it.

Also filled car up with petrol £37.50 and have put left over £22.50 in envelope, don't think £60 will be enough for the month, will just have to see how i get on.

Budget done for month and envelopes filled, going to be a tight month, but will do it somehow, christmas is over, let frugal living commence:D.

mummytogirls

Hi Pennywise,

Well done on spending £50 for 8 days thats fab!! Does that include all the meat and everything?

Im sure ive tried the 8 day thing, but it didnt seem to work for me. I think that was bad planning on my part cos I didnt buy enough yoghurts and stuff for the whole 8 days!! Hope it works for you.

Meal plan sounds yum x x

pennywisepoundstupid

Yep icludes meat, well to be honest only bought chiken breasts and pork chops as have loads in freezer left from christmas, doesn't include milk as have that delivered but do budget seperate for it and £20 has been put in an envelope for the month, budget is £60 a week for groceries and then £5 a week for milk, which is slightly more than we use its about £4 ish a week but rounded up to £5 at least then its there in case i order more, any money left over will be thrown at BC.

Going to have a go at the 8 day week and see how we get on, if we fail well at least i've tried.

**Kat**_2

That's a great idea. I think I need to start weekly shopping rather than monthly as I'm sure you end up spending more if you do one big shop with the "small" weekly ones inbetween.