Moooooving back to DFW - one Fresian's continued adventures in debt-busting

Hopeful1

I split loaves in half and freeze in 2 seperate bags. Always tastes fine to me. I always bulk buy bread on offer.

mooomin

Today I went to Aldi armed with my shopping list (reasonably sized) and my planned budget of £15.

Mr Fresian gave me £20 to put towards food shopping today, so he was allowed to ask for chocolate I therefore don't count the £4 I spent on that. That means that I bought everything I needed for just over £14 :j

We had a really good amount of slow-cooked chilli for dinner, and have two meals worth ready for the freezer too. I'm taking out a chicken for our dinner tomorrow and hopefully there will be leftovers (there should be four of us for dinner tomorrow)

Mr Fresian has also come up trumps today by buying me new ink for my printer - it costs £32 for four cartridges :eek: I want to start using digital stamps for my cardmaking, and ink is essential!

beanielou

Just checking you got my message on FB?
Yah for Mr Fresian :j

Hopeful1

I did my shop in Aldi too! I am pleased with what i've got. I think I will be able to buy everything for me and 2 boys for £40 each week if I do most of my shop there. This will include nappies and wipes :j

AND i've today written out my 4 week meal plan on different coloured card for each week. I have then used a matching coloured card for each week to list the ingredients required. Before shopping I can then check what I do and don't need for that particular week. I have tried to gauge which weeks I will need the big stuff eg nappies, washing powder etc I love having OCD :rotfl:

mooomin

beanielou wrote: »

Just checking you got my message on FB?
Yah for Mr Fresian :j

Yup got it, just forgot to reply Shame I won't see you tomorrow, but best to stay put if you're worried about the weather. We can catch up if it's ever sunny again

Hopeful1 wrote: »

AND i've today written out my 4 week meal plan on different coloured card for each week. I have then used a matching coloured card for each week to list the ingredients required. Before shopping I can then check what I do and don't need for that particular week. I have tried to gauge which weeks I will need the big stuff eg nappies, washing powder etc I love having OCD :rotfl:

Wowza :eek: My version of that was to put the menu plan on the fridge (Mr Fresian is v. impressed/scared by my organisational skills!) and then do my list based around that. Hopefully all I'll need midweek will be fruit, bread and milk.

I need to get myself used to being organised and do this every week. It's going to make things a lot easier for me.

beanielou

I need to get so much better at meal planning~it is not my forte :eek:

Hopeful1

beanielou wrote: »

I need to get so much better at meal planning~it is not my forte :eek:

It's taken until now for it to click with me. I usually give up 'cause I find the planning really boring. Now i've gone for it and done 4 weeks in one foul swoop i'm ok. I've also thought ahead about the nights I get back late or have to dash out for the eldest's activities, so haven't planned a 3 course meal for those nights The big plus is i've seen how much I could save on shopping, which is always a good motivater!

mooomin

Hopeful1 wrote: »

I've also thought ahead about the nights I get back late or have to dash out for the eldest's activities, so haven't planned a 3 course meal for those nights

It is useful for that. The good thing about freezing extra of things like chilli/bolognaise is that I always know I have homemade ready meals in the house for nights when I'm out and about.

beanielou

flying_fresian wrote: »

It is useful for that. The good thing about freezing extra of things like chilli/bolognaise is that I always know I have homemade ready meals in the house for nights when I'm out and about.

Which is really good and so organised of you both.

mooomin

Morning all

Hope you managed to stay warm this weekend :snow_grin
It's been a very quiet and reasonably crafty weekend in Fresian Towers, which is just what the doctor ordered. With two weeks to go until payday, the current state of affairs is:

PAD/Spends - £20.49
Entertainment - £22.31
Food purse - £55.72
2nd food purse - £1.30
My normal spendy purse - £27.98
Outstanding loan balance - £4011.20
ISA - £2800
Actual balance outstanding - £1211.20

My ISA balance will go down when my credit card bill arrives as I've paid for my cinema pass voucher now. I just need to try and take a flattering photo tonight so I can apply for the card again. If I get a bonus this year, I will return my ISA to its previous balance. If not, I will PAD until it's back at the current balance. Hopefully that makes sense!!

Meal planning is going well so far. Sausages are defrosting for tonight's meal which should be very tasty. Mr Fresian is going to be away visiting his mum for a week or two as of next week, so that will make the meal planning a bit easier and eke out the food budget even more. Any surplus will be put into the second purse for future stockpiling - and there's a trip to Costco in my future sometime soon too