Sorting through my rubbish

trixiepix

Hey lovely lady,

I've finally got myself organised and back on here!!!!

I've not had chance to catch up on your thread (which i will do shortly!!) - hope you had a fab crimbo/new year and birthday:T

The move went ok (just a tad stressful - ((understatement))!!!), christmas was fab and now setting myself and my finances (ahem.....) up for the new year - bring it on!!!

Trix xx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trix,
Good to see you back, missed you:wave:
Glad the move went well and you had a good Xmas and NY, how did the ebaying go?

Not much to report here money wise, seem to be going around in circles but am managing to declutter and organise the house little by little.

Trying to budget for DS1 and 2's birthdays, just 2 weeks apart and both 'big' ones (well for them anyway!). Will seriously knuckle down to the money saving after that. Am trying to go cold turkey and save as much as I can towards birthday treats so eating out of the cupboards/freezer. Thankfully the Next sale has been really poor this time so all of the giftcards I had for birthday and Xmas have been paid straight off my debt.

Just a quick post as at work really.

'Speak' soon

321

trixiepix

Hey hun,

I know exactly what you mean about going around in circles!!!!

The pre-move ebaying went really well, i was completely focused on shifting stuff out of the house & earning some money and made a few hundred pounds in a matter of a couple of weeks, all of the 'leftovers' (which still amount to a fair few bags) are now happily sitting in the attic awaiting my attention - fairly pointless in January as everyone is broke and i remember getting very little for my listings last Jan, so will probably wait until Feb b4 any more ebaying.

Well done you on cracking on with the decluttering, i always feel so upbeat when the house is free of clutter - when we moved i made a deal with myself to keep on top of the house and as much as i am fed right up with moving DH/DD1 & 2 stuff from whereever in the house it shouldn't be back to it's rightful place i am really glad to see all of the rooms looking in order (well, most of the time:rotfl:) - i realise i get very moody when i lose control of the tidyness of the house. The cupboard under the stairs still looks as though a grenade has been thrown in but that's the only place that still needs organising (gotta have shelves put up etc), oh and the garden but that's a whole other story!!!!

I have to admit i was lured by my online VIP next sale slot & i did get some school trousers for DD2 & gym kit for DD1 half price but ofcourse ordered lots of other stuff too which i have to sort through this evening to see what is staying (and adding more debt) or going back - all kids stuff though, nothing for me.

Anyway, my CC have taken a hit from the move and then wanting some new stuff for the house ( i want it and i want it nowwwwwwwwwww - spoilt kid syndrome i think, lol lol) and then christmas, so currently have to work at getting rid of the £1500 that has gathered over the last few months:eek:

New years res is to not buy anything unless i actually have the spare money for it - so i should mostly be spending again in around 2045:rotfl:, and now that i've nearly read 'the richest man in babylon' (book my debt free friend offered to lend me to try to steer me out of poop) - i should be trying to save 10% of everything i earn - fairly pointless exercise until the debts paid though!!

Anyway, lovely to catch up & speak soon

Trix xx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trix

well done with the ebaying, that could easily have been money given to the recycling centre or charity shop. I ended uo making about £300 before Xmas, made it all worthwhile. Gonna start listing a again soon, have loads of stuff still in the loft.

Have been sticking to my 'using stuff up drive' - a few more toiletteries used, have sorted out the ones that need to be got rid off into one washbag, DD helped me and took a couple of items off my hands! Same with the food stocks, trying not to buy anything much - apart from bread milk and fresh veg anf fruit. Made 2 lovely banana and chocolate cakes today to use the black bananas up. Homemade lasagne last night and 2 portions in the freezer.

Have used £40 of my clothing budget for the year, Irreg Choice shoes in N'xt sale, my favourite shoes and a bargain at half price, have also ordered a couple of Lip$y dresses as I had one for New Years Eve and it fitted perfectly. have justified this to myself as had loads of vouchers for birthday/xmas and have loads of basic clothes so would rather buy a few luxurys this year.

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Spent a day washing and cooking today.

Used up food from the fridge/freezer and cupboards. Made....

• Banana flapjack (used up the last of the black bananas)
• Chilli Bake (very small pot of vege chilli from freezer, would have just fed one person, rolled up with soft cheese in suet pastry and grated cheese on top and baked. Very filling and yummy will make a change for the lunch boxes.)
• Winter squash soup. (Dinner one night this week with part-baked rolls left over from Xmas)
• Dinner tonight - Baked cod with soft cheese and tarragon topping (HUGE piece of cod from freezer given to us by our fisherman neighbour) and served with roasted mix veg from the fridge.
• Lemon and Blueberry tart - used up sweet pastry case, lemon meringue filling mix and quikjel from cupboard and blueberries from the freezer - Yummy!

Feeling quite virtuous now, have lots of goodies for the next few days and didn't have to buy any ingredients. I love making something from 'nothing'. Apart from bread and milk I'm going to try not to buy any food until next weekend, will keep you posted, not much left in the fruit and veg line so may be a challenge!

Rough meal plan;

1. Ham and pea risotto - have gammon in freezer and loads of risotto rice.
2. Toad in the hole, beans and mash - have all the ingredients for this
3. Winter squash soup and bread rolls - easy for OH and kids when I'm at work Wednesday Night.
4. Bean and potato curry with chappatis and rice - have all ingredients for this - loads of homerown beans in freezer.
5. Spag bol with meat free mince from freezer, last of the onions, peppers and mushrooms from the fridge.

That takes me to the weekend, will allow myself to go shopping then for fresh fruit and veg etc.

Had planned 2 NSD's this weekend but forgot DD had optitians appt, new glasses ordered so £30 spent after the NHS voucher, trust her to want the designer ones and not the freebies. Don't mind though as I had to wear glasses from the age of 6 and always had to have the hideous NHS plastic ones so I'd rather she had trendy ones that she likes to wear, in fact her best friend keeps trying to persude her mum that she needs glasses too.

House work all up straight, except ironing but plan to do that tomorrow night in front of tv. Got my 'easy' week at work this week, just one evening shift, almost seems like a holiday!!

Hope you've all had a good weekend.

Night all

321

trixiepix

Blimey - you have been busy - i'm in awe of your creativity when it comes to creating meals - i seem to struggle on a weekly basis to please everyone!!! and i am definately guilty of throwing out over ripe bananas on a regular basis.
I'm gonna add in 'toad in the hole' this week to my menu planner (ahem once i've done it - lol!!:rotfl:)

Anyway, i'm at work at the mo - so have to dash - i'll check in later!

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trix,

Nice of you to 'pop' in!

I do like to create recipes and I am lucky that my family will eat pretty much anything within reason. Eldest is a bit funny about fish though, he likes tuna and my homemade fishcakes but nothing else. However, he loved the baked cod and thinks he will try cod and chips from the chippy soon! Also likes the idea of salmon, bless he's only 17, can't expect too much :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Was having a peaceful baking session but once word got out the kids were in the kitchen like a swarm of locusts!! They are always really appreciative of my food, which is nice, and don't like the packaged versions as they don't taste as good!!

I think it is easier to be creative if you have a really well stocked store cupboard, which I do, well actually 3 cupboards, the baking cupboard, the tins cupboard and the pantry under the stairs! As well as 2 small freezers! My friends tell me they will head straight for my house in the event of a natural disaster, we could be holed up for weeks!:D

Right off to do some work now.

Back later

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Had a good day today. Busy, productive day at work.

NSD - took lunch to work.

Done a few surveys.

It's the anniversary of our first date so DH got us an indian meal from Mossies plus Baileys profiteroles, laid up the dining table with candles etc - the old romantic!!, the kids had what was on the menu planner tho!!!

Just had a nice soak in the bath and used up 2 more toileteries, that's 9 so far, making sure I use up the bits and pieces first, lots of half used products lying around!!

Finances are looking [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL], get maintenance on Weds, that's gotta go straight to the bills account and Tax Credits on Friday earmarked to tax car - will have to just do 6 months:(. Next month's not looking much better with the boys' birthdays but after that will be saving like mad to nibble away at debts.

Off to bed now

Night all

321

pennywisepoundstupid

How sweet of your OH, look on the positive side about the car tax at least you have the cash for 6 months and not putting on the CC, well done.

trixiepix

Hey hun,

Awww, so cute of your OH, i don't even know when our first date was!!!!!!

If it makes you feel any better our car tax is due at the end of the month and we will only be affording 6 months!!!

Oh and if there is any kind of natural disaster i'm definately heading your way!:rotfl:

At work again, so gotta gooooooooooooooooo

Have a great day

xx