EH is Back - and going Onwards, and Upwards!

se999

I have a lever arch folder with plastic envelopes for recipes. I can print out ones from the internet, use magazine ones, or photocopy ones from recipe books (I can never find the book/recipe otherwise), then can make comments for tweaking. I do seperate out the 'tried and tested' from the ones I just want to try at some point.

The plastic envelopes make it so that they don't get messy too.

Pippajo

Great idea Se! I've got lots of recipes I've taken out of magazines, plus a few books. I think its just that I think it will fail and it will be a waste of money if we can't eat it - plus to stock up the store cupboard with some of the herbs and spices costs quite a bit.

Yep, I'm talking myself out of things already :rotfl:.

This might be added to my Christmas break things to do, I have folders and wallets, or i could laminate my real favourites :T

EssexHebridean

*Waves at Mineallmine & Palema*

Thanks for keeping the thread warm while I've been away for a few days ladies!

Pippa yes, the larder is exactly as it was built when the flat was built in the mid 50's - the majority of the flats have taken the shelves out and the doors off and used them to house either fridges or boilers - we'd much rather have the larder though!
SE and Mineallmine excellent ideas re mealplans and recipe storage - I've considered doing a long term meal plan in the past but have always gone off the idea on the basis that it would end up changing anyway as we tend to shop on the basis of what is the best value, particularly so far as veggies are concerned. For example, last Friday the farm shop yielded a large crown prince squash, 2 cauliflowers, 3 x russet and 5 x braeburn apples (all locally grown) for £3.45, so I need to get those used. I now wonder if I'm just creating excuses not to do it though. Hmmm. It was Memorygirl wasn't it who did about a 6 month meal plan or something - that's a bit ambitious for me I think but perhaps I WILL do a one month one based on what we have in.

Good food show was excellent as always - we have LOTS of cheese in now. I don't count the stuff we buy there into the grocery budget as it's a day out as much as anything. We spent £120 this year which sounds like a scary amount but considering the amount we staggered back with isn't bad, plus it includes quite a few bits for christmas.

Need a list for today I guess, although probably a short one as I'm over at Mum's later. Now need to take our PC over with me too as our monitor has gone kaput - seriously bad timing. Just hoping and praying that it IS the monitor not the PC itself - fingers crossed and positive vibes please.

SO:

Washing from machine onto airer DONE!
Sort out next load of washing DONE!
Dirty stuff into dishwasher DONE! (until the next lot!)
Avon books to deliver DONE!
Load graphics software onto laptop if it will work OK with Vista Loaded on - fingers crossed it will work
Pop into Tesco for pack of cheap A4 paper Went in and forgot the paper! Grr!
Drop 3 bags off at charity shop. DONE!
Start filling in form relating to departure from old job.
Flea Treat cat
Send list of customers to Avon Area Sales Manager
Read electric meter DONE!
Send readings to B Gas DONE!
Finalise and print invoice for regular client ready to take in tomorrow
Plan out business estates where I can leaflet drop to find other clients. Started - thanks Mum!
Refill bird seed.
Exchange some more Tesco vouchers for days out one while they can still be done at 4 x value.

Post with financey-type update to follow I think.

EssexHebridean

OK - quick end of month update I think:

Grocery budget - not bad in the end. Ended up averaging at £2.96 a day so just a smidge under last months. I'm happy with that. December starts on a £9.76 spend already thanks to Catfood, Tesco 3 for 2 baking offer, and a huge tin of chopped toms bought on the market, plus some other bits. Need to break out some mince from the freezer and do a batch cook of bolognese I think to use the toms. As ever am aiming for a lower spend this month than last - we'll see!

Christmas shopping is approaching done - still got OH's parents to buy for although we do have some photo albums for his mum already. I suspect his Dad will end up with a bottle of something and a book of some kind. Brother & Sister in Law's are sorted, Niece & Nephew are sorted. My parents are heading for sorted. I still need some oddments for OH. Not too bad.

Last Avon order went in at over £300 which I was pleased with - the system is showing my earnings level at £88 odd although that will drop as I've bought some bits for customer free gifts as there was some good offers this month. I've also capitalised on things my customers have ordered to get myself a new hairbrush (needed) for 25p and two bits from the Planet Spa range - which I love - for 50p. I may have also *accidentally* ordered a Planet Spa face mask (89p) and a couple of lip balms (65p each) on promotional offers, bad EH! One of the lip balms is probably going as a customer freebie though, and I may well swap the other over with a brand new unopened one I have in the drawer here too so that will be "money neutral" if so.

Holiday savings fund is mounting up fairly well - and I have a £40 odd payment from Quidco on the way too which will go into there too when it arrives. I also need to transfer some money from my account into there - once that's done that will mean we can colour in another section on our all singing all dancing bar chart! :rotfl:

Keeping a careful eye on the electricity readings at this time of year - finding the meters App on the iPhone extremely useful for that. Determined not to scrimp too much though, it's so flipping cold right now and I don't want this cough that is still about to linger too much more so will keep the dehumidifier running daily and the heating at a reasonable level.

I give this months invoice to my regular clients tomorrow and they've indicated that they will pay it straight away. Looks likely that my days for them will change a bit over the next few weeks - I have an Avon order coming on an "odd" day, and they have various events they will need to be attending with their kids, so we can compromise on agreeable days to suit up all each week. Handy!

Must remember to do my Tesco voucher exchange tonight or tomorrow - better add that to the list!

Lemon_Tree

sounds like you've got a busy plan, yet everything is under control, only wish i could achieve that.

EssexHebridean

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

sounds like you've got a busy plan, yet everything is under control, only wish i could achieve that.

My god I must be convincing!!

I think of myself a bit like a swan - all calm and serene and yet paddling frantically to keep going under the surface! :rotfl: (And THAT might be the comment that nudges my Mum out of lurkdom on this thread, as she'll be in stitches by now!)

Swinstie73

How did you get on with the Tesco hoover Essex? The suction in mines is getting bad, may need a new one at some point!

EssexHebridean

Swinstie73 wrote: »

How did you get on with the Tesco hoover Essex? The suction in mines is getting bad, may need a new one at some point!

Still deciding what to do with it to be honest - got another couple of days to get vouchers changed over yet so must get back to thinking about it again.

taxi73

you always look so organised to me as well

EssexHebridean

Now, considering that I consider you and Hypno the Queens of "Debt busting organisation" on here, I consider that a major compliment Taxi - thank you!