Sorting through my rubbish

trixiepix

Hey lovely lady,

So sorry to hear that health problems are still making life and work difficult , fingers crossed things will be on the up soon and the anti dep's will kick in - i had a spell going back a few years ago when i had awful panic attacks and as a result was on the magical anti d's for around a year - if i had the same issues again i wouldn't hesitate to go back on them and really improved my quality of life at the time.:o

Payday today :T - always takes the pressure off for a day or two!!!, shame about the other 29/30 days of the month:rotfl:

In the process of compiling a new meal planner on a two week loop,easier said than done!!

DD1 will eat almost anything unless it's a vegetable (except carrots, sweetcorn and baked beans!!) and DD2 eats like a sparrow, loves vegetables but is most tetchy with food textures, DH on the other hand is a bit caveman 'ish' and thinks a meal without a slab of meat isn't a 'meal' and hates fish and then there's me who eats so little meat (little bit of chicken and fish on the odd occasion) that meal planning is always interesting!!
DH has lost all concept of the cost of food shopping and i'm sure he thinks we should be getting £150's worth of food for our £80 shopping budget!!! - i find it really hard to keep on top of snacks/crisps/packed lunch fillers etc as DH is always munching on something or other which is so blinking frustrating, as much as i tell him there is no more money in the budget to replace stuff he snacking on he seems to think i can pick a couple of tenners off of the tree in the garden!!:mad: - rant over!!!

Oh and i was accepted for the 0% CC, so £1450 has been transferred over to that one, still have £900 on the other card though (tut!!) plus the N*xt cat bill and the loan and it goes on and on..........

Anyway, must fly as allegedly at work!!! - take good care hunny xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie


Hope you are well and keeping to the straight and narrow? How did the meal plan work out for you...any suggestions of cheap and easy meals gratefully appreciated.


Finding meals a bit of a challenge at the moment with Hubby working nights and me being back at work fulltime, there is not a huge window of opportunity for cooking between me getting in and him going out! Did manage a kind of roast dinner last night, chicken cooked in the slow cooker and then frozen potatoes and parsnips (horror of horrors - would never normally contemplate these) chucked in the oven when I got home, along with pigs in blankets and Yorkshire puds, was a passable imitation and just ready in time for hubby to eat before going to work! Actually I have to say that the frozen parsnips were ok, will try putting honey on them next time, and they were much cheaper than buying fresh!!


I'm still not on my fulltime wages so money is tight, have been keeping grocery shopping to a minimum. I have splashed out on a meat order from Westin Gourmet which is due today, heard good things about the quality of their meat and managed to get a good deal with free delivery so thought I'd give it a go, will let you know what its like, I've never used an online butcher before.


I see Ebay are changing the charging structure as from 13th May. We are loosing the 100 x free listings for items 99p or less and they are giving us 20 x free listings for any category (apart from motors and property) at any starting price, any additional listings are at a fixed 35p fee (gone is the sliding scale of fees). I think that sounds good, been thinking I should probably get myself in gear and list some of the huge pile of clothes at 99p before that option disappears though!


On a personal money saving note, I was getting gel nails done every month, up until Christmas when I had them removed to go into hospital, my nails were left in a right state! I have found this nail system which gives a gel like finish (but goes on and comes off like a varnish) and nourishes the nail, there's also an oil to paint on each night (takes seconds). It has worked a treat, my nails are in great condition and longer and stronger than they have been for years - and it has saved me a fortune, the whole lot (oil, clear and pink gels, taupe colour and top coat) has cost me less than one trip to the nail bar!!


Anyway, no pearls of wisdom to impart, keep up the good work hunny and take care


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Hun


I hope you have had a good Bank Holiday weekend and enjoyed the sunshine.


We have had a quiet time, DH was working Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and so was sleeping during the days. My sister and her family came to see us on Sunday, had planned an easter egg hunt for the girls but rain stopped play so they had an easter themed crafting session instead.


Yesterday we had an impromptu barbeque, just us and DS1's mates, lovely group of lads and great fun. They have been friends ever since primary school and are always at our house everytime he is on leave.


I have tried the meat from Westins, all really good quality, I got 22 LARGE chicken breasts, 3 packs of bacon and 8lbs of lean minced steak, really well packaged and all for £44 which I thought was really good. I think the steak and the bacon would have cost that alone in the supermarket. I will definitely be ordering again when there is a good offer on.


I have updated my signature as I have bought a few items of clothing ready for the summer. I think it is working really well for me having a set budget (£5 pw spread over the year) as it is making me think carefully about any purchases. I saw a denim pinafore in Treds the other day, really like it but it was £40! Went home and spent a few days searching Ebay and found a brand new, almost identical one for £8.99 - result! I have worn it a couple of times and had nice compliments. I have bought a couple of nice tops that can be dressed up or down and will go with loads of my existing wardrobe, I have also spent a HUGE part of my budget on some Birkenstocks but they were a bargain at £22 and I have wanted some for a long time.


Well that's about it, I should get a full month's pay this week, first time this year!! So am aiming to make an additional debt repayment. I have also applied for another 0% card so will be transferring some of my debt to that, need to get this sorted once and for all.


Take care hun


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Payday tomorrow!!!!!


I need to repay some money to my savings account and pay (half) for some fencing panels and a new lawn mower. This is going to impact on my debt repayments but I should have about £200 extra to pay off.


Need to sort out my accounts, get these 0% transfers sorted and plan what to pay off first.


Don't need much food shopping at the moment, freezer is full so will keep spends to a minimum (seem to always say that) and see if I have anymore money left at the end of the month to pay off debts.


Dh has a day off today so I am hoping to go home from work and find the house spotless and my dinner cooked


Take care and I'll update my signature etc over the weekend


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

PAYDAY!!!!


Hubby is working double shifts all weekend, so the plan for this weekend is decluttering!!


Our bedroom, DDs bedroom and 'storage room' are all disgusting, I haven't had the energy or drive to anything for so many months now and no-one else is going to do it! I am going to have a ruthless sort out of my wardrobe (and floordrobe!!), anything that hasn't been worn for a while or doesn't fit is going.


Then it's on to DDs room, clothes and toys need downsizing, and finally the 'storage room'which houses DS1's stuff while he's on base but also has an overflow of DDs toys!


I have decided to try using Music Magpie for the clothes as I have loads that I was going to ebay AGES ago but never got around to it and after the hassle factor and fees involved I might end up with just as much profit. I may still facebook/ebay any brand new items as I should get more for those. If MM works out ok I will make a start on the bags of clothes in the loft.


Will start car booting again this summer, didn't do ANY last year due to poor health and will aim to do them only when DH is around to help me this summer.


Also planned for this weekend is a re-arrangement of my credit cards and debt repayment programme (which due to sickness and lack of sick pay has not yet started!!) Been offered another 0% card so need to organise that and work out which one I am best transferring it from.


I also need to get back into my cooking and baking, meal planning etc, have been extremely slack in this department whist I have been poorly and has resulted in a lot of food wastage (the food bin was full last week - usually only has one bag in it!) and cost. I really need to get us organised again.


DD back from her residential trip tonight so I expect she will be minging and tired, so hot bath and early night planned for her with a lie-in tomorrow. DS2 is off to footy with his best friend (getting buses and trains - very independent) and DD1 is back to base on Sunday


Well that's my plans......will let you know what ACTUALLY happens


Have a great weekend


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Hun


Well the weekend didn't quite go to plan (there's a shock!!)


Started off well, DD had a great time on her trip, didn't shower once though so was straight in the bath when we got home and I had heaps of laundry to do. She was exhausted so early night after a huge pile of her favourite cheese and tomato pasta.


Got up bright and early on Saturday and cracked on with laundry and decluttering. Sorted out my summer wardrobe and packed away the winter things. Tidied and organised our bedroom. Was horrified when I pulled things away from the walls at the amount of mould so bleached that all down. Also attacked the vertical blinds in DS2's room has they had a bit of mould on.


Cleaned bathroom and put up new shower curtain, washed a couple loads of towels (makes a difference when DS1 and g/f are staying).


Finally stopped in the evening and had a bath before hubby got home from his long day.


Sunday did not go to plan. I woke up in the early hours with a splitting headache and feeling sick, took painkillers and used headache bar but couldn't shift it. Tried to sleep it off but very broken sleep. Didn't get up until 11.30, cooked a fry-up for everyone for brunch (wanted to send DS1 off with a full belly). Helped DS1 sort out his stuff in the storage room and loaded his car up (was great to get stuff moved out now he has his new car and wasn't limited to what he could carry onto a plane!). Waved son off on his journey (1st trip on the motorway and it was a 4.5hr journey - I was worried sick! He got there safe and sound and thoroughly enjoyed driving his '14' plate!!). Needed groceries but couldn't face the supermarket so paid more and went to the convenience store (luckily didn't need much) and then went home and collapsed on the sofa until hubby got home and 9.30pm!


Disappointed I didn't get more done but happy with what was achieved in the circumstances.


Trying to be more organised with dinners this week. Salmon and spinach pasta tonight and then spag bol tomorrow, lasagne with the left overs.


Didn't get my accounts sorted out so will try and do that this week.


That's all for now


Take care


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Forgot that I need to confess to some spends on the clothes challenge!!


I spent £32 on my Next account (which I will clear in full), I got a pair of dark skinny jeans (£10), a cream angora mix top (£8), a cashmere mix grey sweater (£8) and a cream and denim blue striped lightweight scarf (£6) all obviously in the sale and the 2 tops were hugely reduced.


Not a bad haul for the money, all good solid basics in quality fabrics that will be worn all year round.


There I have confessed my sins and can relax now!!


Edit: I have just realised that this spend takes me over half of my annual budget and we are NOT half way through the year yet but I feel that I have made some sensible purchases so far and have already got new vest tops, flip flops etc for the summer and the Next items will do summer and winter so I am happy I will be able to stuck to the annual total.



321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie


Had to leave work early yesterday as I had what I think was a migraine (felt the same as on Sunday - extreme headache and nausea), never suffered from them before.


Bought some migraine tablets from the chemist and went home for a sleep. Still not feeling great today, will see how things go, may be a short day again.


Once I was feeling a bit better I sorted out my credit cards, put another £3100 onto 0% interest. Need to amend my signature.


DH cooked the pasta last night and has put the spag bol in the slow cooker this morning - bless him.


That's all folks, brain not functioning enough to write anything interesting!!


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Hun


Well got sent home again yesterday with the migraine but this morning I woke up and it had gone and I had my period instead, thinking there may be a connection (I know, it's probably my age!!!).


The 0% balance transfers have gone through, to be honest my accounts are a bit of a pickle as I have a bit of 0% on each card, but once I FINALLY start my repayment plan I should be able to make a dent in some of them.


DH booked us a holiday last night, a real bargain, 5* hotel with spa etc, in turkey, all inclusive for £1200 for the 4 of us!! He earned almost enough overtime this month to pay for it outright!


I have been coveting the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but could not bring myself to part with the money plus £3.95 postage. Have been doing some research and found that the No7 Hot Cloth cleaner compares with it favourably, is about 2/3 of the cost for twice as much plus on 3 for 2 at the moment, plus I had vouchers so popped in last night and got some, along with my S&G shampoo (also on 3 for 2). So for £20 I got the equivalent of £90 of cleanser from Liz Earle!!. That should be me stocked up for a while, still got loads of other bath products left from Xmas. Used the Cleanser last night and it's lovely, removes my make-up with no effort and my skin felt great, really pleased. I'm at an age now where I need to pay a little more attention to my beauty routine and I have started investing in quality not quantity now, I don't wear a lot of make-up but what I have is good stuff and my skin care products are better than I've ever had thanks to DS1!!


We had spag bol last night (as planned) in between dance lessons and haircuts. Not enough left for a lasagne so will make a bolognaise pasta bake tonight, topped with cheese sauce, similar but makes a little bolognaise sauce go further!!


Need to plan the meals for the rest of the week, use up what we have in the house, minimal spends again this weekend, bread, milk cheese, should just about do it, actually I might go to the convenience store again, worth paying a little bit more to not get distracted by 'bargains'!!


DH working long days again this weekend, so will pick up where I left off last Saturday, decluttering and re-organising and hopefully send some things off to Music Magpie (which I didn't get around to last week).


Oh and I have a new app on my phone to monitor spending, breaks it down into catergories so I can see how much I'm spending on what! Will hopefully help keep me under control!


That's all for now, hope you are ok


321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Nothing much to report today.


Actually managed a whole day at work - migraine was manageable!


Got home from work to find hubby cooking pizza and salad for tea so we will have to pasta bake tonight.


DD had brigades last night (had to pay £18 subs!) and while she was there I had a coffee with a dear friend.


DH working the late shift tonight so I will probably do the ironing in front of the tv, aided by a large glass of wine!


No great money saving plans today but no spends planned either.


Have a good day


321 xxx