Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

OMG, can't believe it has been so long since I posted. Have got really lax with my diary, must buck my ideas up.
I am trying hard to save as DS1 is 18 next year and would love to have a party for him. It's so difficult saving and trying to repay debts as you want to be able to split the money 2 ways!! Had so many car bills etc since the start of the year it's been really tough BUT I have managed to cover them and not put them on a credit card so that's good.
Think our family car may need a new clutch soon so a summer holiday is going to be out of the question this year (we only go camping) but we have a couple of weddings etc to look forward to so should be ok.
Had my 1st delivery from Approved Foods this week, I was really impressed by the speed of delivery and the way in which it was all packaged and presented:T. I have used both Big Brands for Less and Food Bargains before and thought they were very good but AF is definately a class above!
My friends hubby has just been laid off and I told her about the sites but she didn't seem impressed and said her family wouldn't touch out of date stuff! I say if it's tinned, jarred or dry goods it won't hurt them!
Off to make lasagne for tea with some spag bol I made earlier in the week, 600g mince bulked out with oats etc, it's already fed 7 of us and will do 5 more tonight.
Need to start meal planning again (I have got lax with that too!) as both freezers and cupboards are bulging and I need to save some cash. Think apart from the fresh 'bits' I'm going to try and go 'cold turkey' on buying food for a month, will record on here what I buy so unless I see any amazing bargains it should be bread, milk fruit n veg only!!! We will see what happens!

Have a great weekend
321 :beer:

claudiac_2

Hi 321, I have been following your diary and am well impressed with your efforts. Not sure how you manage all of the work and three kids, but well done!! Can I just ask a quick question - you say you bulk out mince with oats or lentils, so how much would you use for a pack of mince? Thanks

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Claudiac

Thanks for reading my ramblings!! Not sure how I do manage it really, I'm lucky that the kids are very low maintainence and quite self sufficient even though the 2 little ones are only 12 and 6!! They all have their chores and help around the house. Both of my jobs are very different but I love them both so that helps, would be a nightmare if I hated my work!

When I bulk out my mince I cook it in the slow cooker with a couple of grated carrots, a large handful of value porridge oats and a large handful of lentils plus whatever other ingredients are needed depending if we are making chilli, spag bol or cottage pie. This means that the 500g of meat that used to feed us for one meal now does 2 and we are getting a lot more nutrients. Haven't had any negative comments since I have been doing this and in fact my fussy friend who only eats expensive meat etc said it was the best chilli she had had!

I have had a no spend day today, not even food! We had crumpets and cheese from the freezer for lunch. Bubble and squeak, bacon and eggs for dinner to use up stuff from the fridge and I have just made a batch of Weetabix brownies for the kids to nibble on. Still haven't done my meal plan for next week, will try and do it tomorrow. Also planning to wash the dog, clean the bathroom afterwards and make a batch of scones and a dessert to take to our friends (we are going there for dinner).

Have a great evening
321

claudiac_2

Thanks for that - i bought some more lentils and a big bag of porridge today, so that I can test it out on my lot. They usually just eat whatever I cook so not too fussy!

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All,

Hope you've had a great weekend. I've just got back from a lovely afternoon/evening with friends, very tired but very chilled!

Well the cold turkey didn't last long, I had to buy drink and ingredients to make a sweet to take with us and whilst I was in Mr M's I spotted some whoopsied bacon and also got a couple of baking ingredients so that I can make some goodies for the kids. Spent about £15 so not too bad I guess.

Managed to bath the dog, deep clean the bathroom and make a dessert but didn't do my meal plan or make any scones, will have to do tomorrow now!

Right off to bed now as working tomorrow.

321

PS CLAUDIAC - good luck with the mince, if you don't have a slow cooker just cook it long and slow so that the lentils cook properly and remember that the lentils and oats absorb quite a lot of liquid.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Well so far I am doing quite well with keeping the food spends to a minimum. I didn't buy anything yesterday but today my OH suggested a BBQ as we were all at home. Managed to time my shopping with reduction time and got the stuff for BBQ plus tomorrows tea for £10 so not too bad.

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All, Happy Easter:EasterBun

We are making the most of this fantastic weather and have spent most of the last fortnight outside. Been planting up the garden and the greenhouse so should have lots of 'free' produce in a few months time. Had the long awaited easter egg :easter_ba hunt in the garden this morning DD couldn't wait and woke us at the break of dawn!
I have been trying to stick to my 'not buying food' plan but have had mixed success. I haven't really bought anything day to day but have had a couple of unexpected expenses. We met up with my sister and her family for a picnic the other day but because I was working two shifts the night before I did not have chance to make much (except for a quiche and weetabix brownies), we had also run out of fruit and crisps so (unfortunately) DH was let loose in the supermarket and spent £20! Of course the kids are on hols so that has meant they are raiding the cupboards when I am not around! I did manage to do a pre-easter shop yesterday for £4 (hit bargain time again) so that was a bonus.
Made a huge pot of curried veg soup yesterday which we had for tea and will have for lunch today. Gammon joint (from the freezer) and mixed roast veg for dinner and may make a bread and butter pud for afters - yum!!
Still need to do a meal plan especially as we have visitors next weekend and I need to feed them but keep spends to a minimum. Will have to do loads of baking before then.

Anyway off to enjoy some more sunshine.
Have a great day
321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Good Morning All

Well I am managing to keep food shopping to a minimum. Monday the kids had pasta bake, DH and & I had salmon and cous cous all made with food from the cupboards and fridge. Yesterday I was in a rush between work and a meeting so popped into Mr M's on way to get DS1 from work and picked up some bargains, spent £5 and got food for next two evening meals, 3 very large blocks of cheese, 16 cheesestrings for packed lunches. So within 15 mins of getting home we had chicken fajita bites and a full salad (cost £1.50 in total) and I got to my meeting on time - phew! Tonight is stirfry, between work, picking up kids from school and going back for an evening shift! (Total cost £2 = 40p each).

Getting paid this week so will have to sort out my finances for the month, seem to have spent loads with the kids being home, did manage to pay an extra £150 off my credit card though so that was good, hope to do the same this month.

Have sorted out DS1's car insurance and driving lessons, should be picking up his car this weekend, scary stuff, seems 5 minutes ago I was taking my driving test ! He's a lucky boy and is very excited about it.

Anyway off to work now, have a good day.
321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi

Been keeping food shopping to the minimum, making everything last and using up toiletteries but still fianancial progress is sooo slow.

Got day off today so after I helped my lady with her hoovering etc will come home and do housework, tidy my wardrobe and do some baking. Also need to check out my freezer and see what meals I can make over the next couple of weeks.

Right off I go.

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Popped to Morrisons with DS1 this afternoon, he wanted to hand in a job application, managed to time it with the reductions, got £59 of food etc for £10! Included cheese and ready meals, all reduced to 9p or 15p and the large cartons of [EMAIL="Innoc@nt"]Innoc@nt[/EMAIL] Smoothies for 25p, well chuffed as I was feeling exhausted and we have all just had a ready meal, smoothies and a berry dessert for dinner and I didn't have to cook a thing and it only cost £1.15 for all 5 of us!!!

Hubby has been in the garden all day in between fielding calls for work, it's so much nicer know he works from home at weekends.

321