A Thread for After Debt?

rising_from_the_ashes

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

When I worked fulltime i struggled to keep costs down because I didn't have time to plan and look around! My DH says I more then earn my wages

I think that's part of my problem - I'd love to be able to cut a few hours / week and am sure my health would benefit (have some health problems as I've got Crohn's Disease and Arthritis - both of which can have a huge affect on your energy levels!) but being the sole person in the household .... just not an option:(

I'm trying to batch cook at weekends and freeze portions for during the week as I am often literally exhausted when I get in from work - and my tummy is a lot better when I do this ...... it makes meal planning practically impossible as there are many days that my tummy dictates what I can eat, rather than what I'd like/planned to eat.

I really need to try to do some this weekend as I'm down to the last few meals in the freezer and they're all the same thing!:o

Also, the distance for me to get most places and the fuel costs mean that the savings have to be big to make it worthwhile. I do go to the big retail park around every 3 months or so and stock up on loo & kitchen rolls, rice (Tilda for 99p:D) etc at Home Bar*gains etc but ........


Note to self: must try harder at the batch cooking!

QueenB.

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

I agree, staying home does give you time to budget better, get the best deals by shopping around, look at charity shops, mending, baking and cooking. All of which helps keep the budget under control and keeps your spending lower.

When I worked fulltime i struggled to keep costs down because I didn't have time to plan and look around! My DH says I more then earn my wages

It definatly gives great satisfaction!

PS. My DS is also doing better at school since i gave up work!

My Oh loves the fact that i can really organise our life now, he is happy as long as he has a list to work to:D

My Kids are happier and Im not always stressed and tired, between us me and OH had 3 full time jobs and I was doing an MA add to that the fact we both worked in education there was always work to do at home on top of all the usual daily life demands and tons of hospital visits split between my DD & DS1:(

I am not very good at batch cooking just not enough room in the freezers.

AlyBaly

I work full time and agree that its more difficult as it is easy just to buy something quickly because your tired, no time, other commitments BUT I am getting better. I used to nip to the supermarket daily or every second day for bits and bobs but it costs a fortune, now I try to do one main shop and send hubby for bread milk etc that way I am not tempted. Years ago we used to bulk cook and freeze it and I really don't know why we stopped because it is a lifesaver after a long day at work, might be an idea to do this again, Sunday cooking day.

Been good tonight , sat and did £7.20 worth of surveys :j Put my left over weekly money in my Christmas pot £10.50 also looked at the recomended spreadsheet and think I could work with that , thanks rising .I am off a couple of days next week so will take time to start completing it. If I don't you all have permission to stab me with a fork !

JulieGeorgiana

Okay so this morning I added a new financial (Apr 2013 - 2014) year to my finances (to see if after Roo we can afford just 1 more baby...) and while doing that I found mistakes in my current year (Apr 2012 - 2013) and they added up to an extra £115 into the ISA!!! WooHoo!!!

We are hoping to look into moving in Aug 2012, but we think we can consider buying our first house in April 2014! That depends on how much the bank will give us and if 10% is a big enough deposit! But I am still excited about it

Rising I just cook extra whenever I cook a meal rather then batch cook at the weekends. Maybe plan to cook once or twice a week for 6-8 people and you have 5 portions to freeze... after a while you will have a whole selection of meals and be spoilt for choice! I normally cook for 8 people, as we are three, we eat it twice in one week... 2 portions in the freezer!

I understand about having to eat what you can and not what you would like... only mine will no longer be a problem once Roo is here! It really can cost a lot of money catering for your bodies requirements!

QueenB That's how my family feel, more lists and less stress!

AlyBaly how do you get that much in surveys in a day??? I am struggling because they keep sending surveys to me... start them and I am not elegable, even though I have a profile! I have yet to actually get enough with any survey company to get payment! One I have £19.50 and need £25 to claim and not had a survey in 2 months!

JulieGeorgiana

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

I do have a fantastic one for recording all my spends - Cheryl's one (CW18) from the Frugal Living Challenge which is absolutely fantastic & I would highly recommend to anyone looking for one for that purpose - it has an annual budget, lets you see how much you should've spent up to that particular month in the year, several separate sheets to record groceries & direct debits etc and then shows the monthly spend .... oh I love it:D but I do need something to track my savings pots on.

Wow! It's very OCD isn't it? Much more complicated then what I have! I suppose it's a good way of keeping track of spends... but not for budgeting and knowing what money you have and where.

But, thanks to that spreadsheet I have just put a worksheet in my spreadsheet to keep track of grocery spends and savings! I think it'll be a good tool for reviewing. Although i am just putting in a recipt per line and not splitting it down by what products I bought! So far in January I have saved £14.73 on bulk buys and offers! yay me!

Marco_Panettone

Regarding 'having it easy' I can see this point of view. That's why we all work so hard to clear the debts we've created. That's the goal - an easier life where the money I have and earn ALL belongs to me.

It certainly doesn't mean GETTING THERE is easy, or that being DF means champagne and caviar every day (or any day!), but the self-control learnt on the journey and the financial control at the end will make life 'easier', even if that simply means living within your means. This is easier if you know what your means are!

rising_from_the_ashes

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

I found mistakes in my current year (Apr 2012 - 2013) and they added up to an extra £115 into the ISA!!! WooHoo!!!

We are hoping to look into moving in Aug 2012, but we think we can consider buying our first house in April 2014! That depends on how much the bank will give us and if 10% is a big enough deposit! But I am still excited about it

:j Fantastic to the extra money to the ISA (chuckling at baby No 3:)) and fingers crossed to the new house.:)

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Rising I just cook extra whenever I cook a meal rather then batch cook at the weekends. Maybe plan to cook once or twice a week for 6-8 people and you have 5 portions to freeze... after a while you will have a whole selection of meals and be spoilt for choice! I normally cook for 8 people, as we are three, we eat it twice in one week... 2 portions in the freezer!

That's a good idea ....... I rarely cook at all during the week as often literally exhausted (side effect of the Crohn's) but will remember that for when I do!:)

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Wow! It's very OCD isn't it? Much more complicated then what I have! I suppose it's a good way of keeping track of spends... but not for budgeting and knowing what money you have and where.

But, thanks to that spreadsheet I have just put a worksheet in my spreadsheet to keep track of grocery spends and savings! I think it'll be a good tool for reviewing. Although i am just putting in a recipt per line and not splitting it down by what products I bought! So far in January I have saved £14.73 on bulk buys and offers! yay me!

TBH I don't get a lot of Whoopsies (sm around 18 mile round trip so not worth the trip near closing time "just in case") - but I do note when I've got something reduced which often doesn't show on the receipts (eg if something's rolled back from £3.50 to £3, it only shows as £3 on the receipt) - these are a bit of a pain as you've got to remember what price they should've been:eek: but I tend to write the full price next to the item on the receipt as soon as I get home in case I don't update the spreadsheet straight away.

I also find it great for the pets as I bulk buy their food / big bags etc when I find a good price online - and it's great to be able to record the price I spent and what the RRP is (I guess a bit like people recording the price of groceries in their spending diaries to look back at, which I know some people do).


Well, have had a lazy day so far was up mega early (about 5) as usual but decided to go back to bed to read a book (and save putting the heating on) and fell asleep again!:eek:

Foot's still really sore from the cortizone injection yesterday (which was horrible as always & I really thought they were a thing of the past after my surgery in Sept so was a bit disappointed about that) - hopefully it will be the last one!:)

Heading over to a friends after lunch and staying for dinner which will be lovely (I think you always appreciate it more when you have to make it every night:)) but not really looking forward to the drive over as it's my clutch foot .... unfortunately twisty narrow rural road = lots of gear changes but should be OK though as only around 7 miles.... fingers crossed!

JulieGeorgiana

I always told my DH that with a 10 year age gap between 1 and 2, that i would like a 3rd not to far behind (2 years later) but with being so poorly with this pregnancy my friends think I am certifiable even thinking about a 3rd!

I just dug out all of January's recipts and found most of the savings are not listed on the recipts... lucky I have a good memory (and it's only a weeks worth)! I just have a savings and a total cost column... I simplified it

I never thought about adding the Rabbit food! I am quiet excited about keeping track of grocery spending. We already do a monthly check on our spending so this will help some

Thos injections are nasty, I hope you feel better soon.

My DH always smiles and says 'free food?' when we get invited out (especially to my mum's or his)! He loves eating at others just because he's so thin people feel sorry for him and overfeed him big time! He says he doesn't have to eat Breakfast or lunch the next day so it saves us even more money! :money:

Little_bit_dizzy

Hi everyone, I hope all of you are well.

Had a really good day on the spreadsheets on Thursday and wanted to do a bit more but haven't had a chance since as work's been crazy but I'll find time over the next couple of days.

So the grocery shopping came in on budget this week, and I did pop into Azzie's earlier, borrowing £10 from next weeks budget but only because i was going past the door and I don't think we can possibly need anything else now (except milk and biccies for DH) until the week after which would be a result. I've meal planned a fortnight too.

Hope that your foot is a bit better now rising and that JG (and Roo) are doing ok, JG, I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a rough time of things for what sounds like most of your pregnancy.

DH is watching some noisy nonsense on the telly so I've plugged in my ears and turned up my music, mooching on here and tomorrow is earmarked for a little bit if housework and then doing a bit more of the cross stitch I'm doing for Mama Diz's 50th birthday.... She'll be 62 next week :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

Little_bit_dizzy wrote: »

doing a bit more of the cross stitch I'm doing for Mama Diz's 50th birthday.... She'll be 62 next week :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Sounds very like the tapestry I started for DM's christmas present in ...... 2006!:rotfl:

Had a lovely afternoon at my friends and the "free dinner" was lovely - first "proper" dinner of the year (roast beef & trimmings & pud!).

Very full so will need to do the spreadsheets tomorrow - please can someone nag me tomorrow if I don't say I've done them!