Sorting through my rubbish

trixiepix

Hey 321,

You're so right about the whole noise thing when OH is working nightshifts - the school 6 weeks holiday is going to be a challenge as i need to try and keep the kids out of the house for most of the day's (when i'm not at work) whilst working to a super strict budget and trying to save ('save' and 'kids' don't generally go together !!) - should be interesting!!!!

Quickie dinner at our house tonight as was running late and had a friend over, so delved into the freezer and threw a few bits in the oven!!! - Did a freezer inventory tonight, i didn't even remember what was at the back of the drawers as it's been so full i've just been balancing newly bought items on the edge , frightened to pull the drawers outin case i break my foot will a rapidly decending joint of pork or slab of faggots:rotfl:

My girlies had parents evening this week too, fortunately they are both doing well, which is a relief, my older daughter will start her last year of junior school in September whilst my younger one moves from the infants to the juniors at the same time (where have my babies gone!!!)

Have a lovely weekend - mine is going to hopefully be filled with ebaying, sorting out the inhouse 'rubbish tip' aka my kids room and usual chauffeur service to my girlies (they have better social lives than me)
xx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie

Your freezer sounds just like my two!! Did a list of what's lurking in there a couple of weeks ago and we are currently working to a meal plan to clear out some of it. Homemade pizzas and wedges for family film night tonight (with frozen cheese and pepperoni). Liver and bacon casserole tomorrow and Monday for OH, myself and DD, the boys won't eat it so a quick cheese and tomato pasta bake for them.

Just got back from Morrisons and got a huge 12.5kg bag of spuds for £2.50, that will do a few meals. Picked up a few bits n bobs for lunch boxes etc, spent £17 in total - not too bad.

Hmmmm, entertaining kids on a budget............... last school hols I met up with friends for a picnic by a river in the woods, took all 3 kids, the dog and DS1's girlfriend (thought they would be bored but they weren't), had a fab time, kids took their fishing nets and water cannons, DS1 and gf went for a walk, we sat a gossiped and read each others magazines. Everyone really enjoyed it and we were there all day.

You could always meet friends at a local park for a picnic. Don't buy icecreams from vans, pop to the nearest iceland or supermarket and pick up a multipack, you'll get 4 for the price of 1 from a van.
Whenever you go out with the kids take drinks and snacks, saves buying expensive items out.

How about 'swapping with friends' have a day at their house when hubby is sleeping and return the favour when he is awake or at work.

Do any of your local churches run a holiday club? Ours do, they are usually either free or very cheap and the children are occupied for a couple of hours each day and sometimes all day.

If I think of anything else will let you know.

Off to dust and tidy lounge and do some baking.

Have a good day

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Morning

Had a good weekend, made 2 huuuuuuge pizzas on saturday night, we only ate one so the kids have pizza for their lunch boxes today along with weetabix brownies (put an extra egg in this batch and they are much softer). Made enough liver and bacon and pasta bake yesterday to feed everyone again tonight which is just as well as it is one of those days when I go from one job to the other with just an hour in between.

Experimented and made a yummy but cheap pud, had some small pots of fromage frais that was going out of date so made up some double strength jelly (ie used half pint of water not the pint stated on the pack) and whisked it all together then poured it onto a digestive biscuit base (value digestives of course). Made a kind of strawberry cheesecake thing, the kids loved it, will deffo be doing that again.

Off to work now, may be back this evening.

Have a good one

321

trixiepix

Ooooh - weetabix brownies - that sounds interesting perhaps you might share the recipe??:D

Thanx so much for budget holiday ideas with my girlies, definately gonna plonk myself at my friends house's when OH is in bed and return the favour at a later date, they have offered before but i've never taken them up on it ! but hey being in saving mode i've got to be realistic about money spent on school holidays (half term next week - eek)

I make a similar kinda mock cheesecake dessert (my mum used to make it for us when we were kids and she was on a budget too), my OH calls it the 'stuff' (not very inviting) but mines made with digestive cheesecake type bottom then jelly dissolved in small amount of water and topped up with a large can of evaporated milk plus if i have any scrummy fruit hanging around (raspberries/strawberries) i through those in too - poor mans cheesecake i guess !!!

Have a fun day xx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie,

The weetabix brownie recipe actually came from another MSEer.

WEETABIX BROWNIES -
In a bowl put
4 crushed weetabix (I use value wheat biscuits)
4oz caster sugar
4oz self raising flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
pkt chocolate drops (i use a 25p 100g tescos own plain chocolate chopped up)
mix this altogether
then take 4oz of melted marg and stir this into the mixture along with an egg
mix well and put in a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes at electric 180.
I put this mix into a square tin which measures 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches. I suppose you could use anything a similar size it would just turn out a bit more or less deeper. I also line the tray with greaseproof paper to save any sticking. Once out the oven let it stand for about 5 minutes then turn out the tray and cut into squares.

I make twice this quantity and cut into 18 brownies, I added an extra egg last time and the mixture was much softer. They are really yummy, easy to make and keep well.

Met OH in Morrisons after work, we grabbed some dinner (DS1 fed the kids at home) and some QT without the children. Got some cooked chicken breast, sliced roast beef and mature cheddar with peppercorns in it all for 19p per pack, also some potato farls which we love with a cooked brekkie and choc croissants for 15p a pack - lovely!

Chilli out of freezer tomorrow as I am working 2 shifts again. Will cook some more and catch-up with house work on Thursday.

Had a nice evening, took DS1 driving again and let DS2 sit quietly in the back. DS1 is doing well after only 2 lessons. We went up over the hills and saw loads of rabbits and birds of prey and just as we were heading for home a dear appeared about 10m from the road and just stood looking at us, it was beautiful, both the boys were in awe - nice to think they can still get excited by something that isn't high tech!

Now watching Gaga's Monster Ball and chilling with a glass of wine after a Lush bath - bliss.

Night all

321

Eltee12

un-lurking to swipe the brownie and cheesecake recipes !

Thanks 321 & trixie

El

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Eltee:wave:

Feel free to swipe anything you like and hope you feel able to join us more often rather than lurking!!;)

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Right I'm back...

Just used to minimum payments calculator and if I keep paying min pymnts on my credit card it will take 37 years to pay off:eek::eek:, I need to keep to regular payments of £250 per month and it will be cleared in 2 and half years:T. I have redone my budget and think I can realistically do this and perhaps a bit more on a good month. Really need to get tough with myself and knock this on the head as soon as possible.

Off to double check my figures.

321

trixiepix

Good morning,

Back to work today, in light of it being half term i think this is the only rest i'm going to be getting this week!!! - definately some perks to working in an office, plus i only work part time so only in today! - yay!

321 Thanks so much for the brownies recipe, i'm going to give it a try this week with the kids - i'll let you know how i get on!!:D

Well done you having the courage to check the minimum payments calculator, sometimes it takes the cold hard figures in front of us to force the payments issue, my cc has taken a hit (only a little) over the last few weeks ( so little money, so much month!!:rotfl:) so i'm now having to be super strict with this months budget, its already proving to be a tad challenging (even though i've only just been paid) as it's one of those god awful near on 5 week months (between payday's that is). EEK:eek:
So, my food shopping budget has to be £62.50 per week - absolute shocker as although i was hoping to reduce my bill i usual spend around £90 - £100, but the freezer is pretty full and this week i've spent £62.55, (having checked out Morrisons offers online ahead of getting to the store and a very strict list based on meal planning )- i'm quite impressed with myself!!! only 4 more weeks to go :j

Have a fun day xx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie

School holidays can be a challenge in more ways than one! I'm having to work most of the week so have done a load of baking this weekend as I know the kids will be grazing all week and DS1's gf will be staying over.

Also had friends staying the weekend so the food budget has taken a hammering, will be buying the bare minimum this week and living out of the freezers/cupboards.

Your budget of £90 per week seems very generous, I try to keep to about £50 for 5 of us but i do buy all the reduced meat and cheese etc I can find and freeze for later use, meal plan and stretch out mince with lentils etc. All meals are home cooked as I find this cheaper, only buy ready meals when they a dirt cheap (ie 30p) and put them in the freezer for when DS1 is working and not eating with us. I buy fruit and veg in season or when heavily reduced and we do grow a little ourselves. I bake cakes etc for lunch boxes and bulk buy cleaning materials when on offer, recently got the 28 wash bottles of laundry detergent for £1.40 in Morrisons so bought about 12 of them, things like that don't go off. Also have you tried Approved Foods or Food Bargains ? They sell short-dated food really cheaply, stocked up my cupboards with loads of basics, flour, stir fry sauces, risotto rice etc very cheaply and their delivery costs are reasonable.

I have made an additional payment of £100 to credit card this week, will try and pay a bit more later in the month when I can see how the finances are looking, as you said it's a long month!! I budget and plan as much as poss but with 3 kids there is always some unexpected expense. That repayments calculator was definately the kick up the behind I needed though.

Have a good day at work, enjoy the 'rest':rotfl:. I've messed up today and forgot that I'm working from 9am til 10pm, thank god I put dinner in the slow cooker before I left this morning, at least I know everyone will be fed!

321