misscousinitt's MF Diary

misscousinitt

Cat was a bit better when I got back home last night. phew!

Got some spray pheromone from the vets (£21.65:eek:) - as could not wait to order online and wait for delivery. Have ordered the diffuser though. Got the cheapest supplier, went through quidco, had a £5 voucher and DH paid - so all in all very good there.

We feel that the only long term solution is to get a new cat flap that will only let our microchipped cat through - need to get her chipped too. Going to cost roughly £100 in all, but will be worth it. Less stress for us and the cat. Less smell (and less cleaning) and less cat food being stolen and having to be replaced! Need to get the cat a little destressed before I book her in to be microchipped, so that will probably be next weeks job. Just glad she is feeling a bit better now.

Payday tomorrow...can't wait - had to borrow £10 off DH to have something in my purse as used my remaining money on the cat stuff yesterday.

Tea tonight is Steak, Jacket Potato and Salad.

Need to make a shopping list for big shop - going to do it tomorrow so I get the 5p off petrol voucher as I need to get fuel too. Its such a juggling act going at the right time o get shopping so you can get the best deals and make the most of what they are offering.

Good thing DH is off work for the rest of the week, so only have to worry about me for lunchtime food as his mum will feed him!

MCI
xxx

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

misscousinitt wrote: »

Need to make a shopping list for big shop - going to do it tomorrow so I get the 5p off petrol voucher as I need to get fuel too. Its such a juggling act going at the right time o get shopping so you can get the best deals and make the most of what they are offering.

I tried to make the £50 mark to get the money off fuel... but shop only came to £39. Nevermind, I guess in the long run I saved more.

misscousinitt

Hi MRN

I've got a big shop to do anyway, so I will definately be over the £50 mark.

MCI

misscousinitt

Managed to get to the end of the month just 4.32 overdrawn for 1 day!

Shopping list is done.

General mealplan list is also done (for the month).

OP of £130 next week - all I can afford this month as paying for breakdown cover - will do much better next month.

Helped out my charity with £150 off the front end of the van insurance, it has gone up sooooo much - did a comparison and still couldn't get it any cheaper - the price hikes are beyond a joke - 50% increase on what we paid last year. Mortgage is important, but keeping the van on the road is more crucial.

Tarragon Chicken & pasta for tea tonight - its quick and easy to cook - good job too as will be wacked after shopping.

Hope everyone ok.

MCI

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Your tea (dinner from my upbringing!) sounds lovely as always. Chilli con carne here (but split in two for freezing prior to adding the vital chilli components).

misscousinitt

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Your tea (dinner from my upbringing!) sounds lovely as always. Chilli con carne here (but split in two for freezing prior to adding the vital chilli components).

Thanks MRN:)

Chilli is on the menu for us later in the week (or to freeze) - have a large pack of mince in the freezer and I intend to make bolognaise and chilli from it.

Have thought carefully about the OP this month and have shuffled some money round and I will make an OP of £150 on Monday.

I have also been thinking about meals and things that I use on a regular basis food wise - been checking out cheap family recipes web site again.

Going to try my hand at Hummus which I eat on toast for lunch quite regularly. Bought some tinned chickpeas to start with so I can try the recipe out before I invest in the big bag of dried ones.

Going to start making my own soup again too - not only a good as a filler for tea, but I like soup for lunch and I'm fed up of looking at the the salt content in the tinned soup and thinking that I should start making again!

Couple of small changes that might make a few £s difference to the spends.

Spent £68 in Mr T last night and got the 5p off voucher for the petrol, so will go and fill up tonight not far from work and then go to Herr A this evening to finish off big shop.

Having my hair cut tomorrow at the hairdressers for a change (£18) - its been 10 weeks since my last cut and I don't always go to the hairdressers as I have a lady who comes and cuts it for £7. But I feel like a treat and a bit of a pamper.

In the process of analysing the bills and my spends again to see what else I can put towards the OPs.

Might be going to watch some banger car racing on Sunday (free ticket) - but depends on the weather - hope its ok as it will make a nice change.

MCI

PS Forgot to say that I managed to get a couple of whoopsies in my shopping this time - oven bottom muffins pack of 4, 14p (bought 2 packs and put 1 1/2 in the freezer) also go some reduced bananas for 35p.

unhappy_shopper

misscousinitt wrote: »

Having my hair cut tomorrow at the hairdressers for a change (£18) - its been 10 weeks since my last cut and I don't always go to the hairdressers as I have a lady who comes and cuts it for £7. But I feel like a treat and a bit of a pamper.

I don't want to put a damper on your pampering session. But there is going to be a voucher for free haircut in tomorrow's Telegr@ph paper. :money:

Details here.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

misscousinitt wrote: »

Thanks MRN:)

Chilli is on the menu for us later in the week (or to freeze) - have a large pack of mince in the freezer and I intend to make bolognaise and chilli from it.

Since I froze the pre-spicy version, I'm hoping to pick another marrow, add the scoopings and serve with garlic bread for an easy mid-week dinner.

misscousinitt wrote: »

Have thought carefully about the OP this month and have shuffled some money round and I will make an OP of £150 on Monday.

Hurray

misscousinitt wrote: »

Going to try my hand at Hummus which I eat on toast for lunch quite regularly. Bought some tinned chickpeas to start with so I can try the recipe out before I invest in the big bag of dried ones.

When I compared, dried chickpeas didn't work as well and needed a really long soak in water to get them soft but still not as soft as tinned. I still prefer shop bought so gave up on HM.

misscousinitt wrote: »

Going to start making my own soup again too - not only a good as a filler for tea, but I like soup for lunch and I'm fed up of looking at the the salt content in the tinned soup and thinking that I should start making again!

Yes, can't wait till the colder weather kicks in and I can take HM soup to work for lunch. It's only backfired twice - once the tub opened in my handbag (I now have a lunch bag to limit damage of such disasters) and once when the microwave broke at work and I had partially frozen soup so was forced to spend money!

misscousinitt wrote: »

Might be going to watch some banger car racing on Sunday (free ticket) - but depends on the weather - hope its ok as it will make a nice change.

Sounds fun!

misscousinitt

Thanks for the haircut link US...but didn't pick it up till this morning.:cool: Pity...nevermind...enjoyed my pamper for an hour!

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

When I compared, dried chickpeas didn't work as well and needed a really long soak in water to get them soft but still not as soft as tinned. I still prefer shop bought so gave up on HM.



Yes, can't wait till the colder weather kicks in and I can take HM soup to work for lunch. It's only backfired twice - once the tub opened in my handbag (I now have a lunch bag to limit damage of such disasters) and once when the microwave broke at work and I had partially frozen soup so was forced to spend money!

Thanks for the tip on the dried chickpeas - never used them so totally in the dark. A tin is only 29p and should make quite a bit so there will still be a saving - going to expeiment later in the week.

Seems terrible to say you can't wait for the bad weather! I eat soup all year round for lunch, but more so in the winter. Fortunately, we haven't every had any mishaps with the work microwave - but the thought of having to spend out when you have made the effort to bring lunch in is :eek:

The stockcar racing (not banger car racing) was good - our neighbour we went to see came 21/29 (not bad considering it was only his second race ever!) - we saved £30 by having the complimentary tickets and DH drove - so he paid for the fuel!

My OP was foiled by my work colleague who needed to go out at lunchtime (we are short staffed at the moment), so it will have to wait till tomorrow.

Got the 50ps to pay in too and some expenses from a very short notice buffet I did yesterday and this morning (had to get sandwiches and nibbles ready for 20 people for 7.15 this morning!!! Done it for my neighbour, so mates rates (made about £13 in all).

Had £30 worth of M&S Vouchers as we saved 10% on our energy bill for last year. :jWas definately worth an e-mail.

Still need to sort cashing some euros in too...later in the week.

Tea tonight is fish with creme fraiche, pesto and cherry tomatoes.

MCI

misscousinitt

Left on my tod at lunchtime - so not going down the town to pay in and pay OP! Boo!

Weather looks like its going to be ok tomorrow, so defo going tomorrow...without fail.

Going for our one meal out in the month tonight - meal booked for 8pm - must resist going out for the rest of the month as we are spending far too much again.

Looks like I've had about £4ish confirmed from £co - so should get that on their next payment - that can go towards next OP.

DH is on holiday again from tomorrow - so need for making him sandwiches for the rest of the week - just got to sort myself out.

Hope everyone's week is going well.:)

MCI