Sams shopping saga....... (very long post!)

Toxic_Lemon

BUMP.....can we have an update, Sam?

wanting2save

And again.......!!!!

sammy_kaye18

Hi all

Well update is we managed through Xmas - my child tax credit came in on the 22nd December so i had to brave the christmas shopping day (23rd December!) but it was ok - bf had little one so i was free to shop on my own so didnt mind the queues too much - i got my chicken and all that lot from work and my fresh veg i got from tesco. My £12 work freebie i got a joint of beef and 2 big boxes of maltesers. (gave one box and beef joint to MIL as her Xmas gift from us as we only brought her a teddy!)

We managed with christmas presents for his other son Josh too - my nan gave me £30 of argos vouchers as a christmas present so i used them to buy some of his gifts. Ben had plenty to keep him occupied in the day too - plus with all the BOGOfs i brought and swapped with my mil (she had my free one and i had hers) we are still eating some of them - infact bf has just this minute opened a box of chocolate biscuits that were in our Xmas cupboard adn theres still a box of terrys chocolates, a bag of flumps for little one adn a tube of jelly tots somewhere!! Plus when we had the in laws visit on Xmas day i had paid a trip to Iceland before i did my main shop and brought a big bag of cocktail sausages (approx 125) and a big bag of sausage rolls (apporx 100) adn it only cost me £2 adn once i got home i had a mass bakign day - made a vistoria sponge cake, fairy cakes, biscuits (choccie and raisin) and cooked up the sausages and sausage rolls. So christmas day was a success.

now that we are in the new year i have vowed to have an OS year. I have savings jars set up for 1 + 2ps, 5ps and 20ps which is going well (1/2ps are for sons savings, 20ps are my savings and the 5ps are going towards tescos saving food stamps for next Xmas - when i get a pound ill trade it in for a stamp) also i was lucky enough in December to win the 1000 points bonus with Tescos so i currently have about 1670 points on there but ive decided to swap these in for a trip to legoland as my little boys 3rd birthday present.

we are still struggling financially btu hopign we will becoem better off soon. We got our housing and council tax sorted on 22nd December and most of that is being paid for us. Plus we found out we are entitled to the milk token/healthy start tokens for the mean time so that will help with veg - im planning to take them to work with me and buy alot of the discount veg with them - they go down to about 20p each at the end of my shift so i figure i can stock us for a few weeks in one shop if i get it right! Fingers crossed we wont be like this forever - ive just applied for a second job too as a medical receptionist which is in the local health centre right behind my house, its 25 hours a week btu i can work that job and still keep the one in the coop which is good for us as we will still get the discount and either job doesnt interfer with the others shifts - it just means i will love my saturdays if i get it as its the only day i have off!!

Well thats my update for now - i am going to attempt to get Bruno onto Gusto dog food at some point, plus i still need my washing machine mended but ill get that done at the end of the month when my wages come in (if all works out i can keep a seperate bin of dry dog food in the kitchen as i just about have enough space for it).

but we are doing well - im discovering the joys of living off the freezer again and bf is takign the mick saying im an old soul in a young'uns body because im on about making a vegetable patch!! but i figure this would help us out even more if i can grow carrots, swede adn potatoes as these are the main veg we eat really!

anyway all i best be off to get little one to bed, his health visitor is coming over tomorrow with his speech therapist so she can do her first assessment of him and i dont want him too tired or cranky. Oh yeah plus ive managed to get our monthly shop down to £75 a month (without the vouchers as we technically havent had any yet - have applied for them though).

Hop everyone elses 2007 is going well adn look forward to talking to you all more soon

Love

Sam
x x x x x

loumac

Sammy,

Having read your plight before Xmas and your update now I just want to say a MASSIVE WELL DONE!!!!!!

You must be very proud of yourself. It seems to be that you work very hard to look after and support your family and slowly but suely things will start to get better.

Good luck for 2007 sent with lots of love and hugs. :T :T

moggins

I just wanted to say well done too! You managed brilliantly. It's amazing what we can magic up when our backs are against the wall. When we were living on £15 a week I used to have a friendly greengrocer who let me have all the fruit that was past it's best, I even learned how to make orange squash from dodgy oranges

wanting2save

loumac wrote:

Sammy,

Having read your plight before Xmas and your update now I just want to say a MASSIVE WELL DONE!!!!!!

You must be very proud of yourself. It seems to be that you work very hard to look after and support your family and slowly but suely things will start to get better.

Good luck for 2007 sent with lots of love and hugs. :T :T

I second that!!!!!

lynzpower

Sam,
you are an inspiration, and so energetic with it as well.

Makes me a bit ashamed tbh, I was managing 100 a month for 2, and ive fell off te wagon a bit recently, and now i feel so much more motivated :T

hows the situation with them taking vouchers at your work BTW? I do generally get quite a lot, but no one round here will take them, you are welcome to whatever I get if they are any use to you? (saying that my piles expired, but should get some new ones in the next few days)