A Thread for After Debt?

rising_from_the_ashes

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

... I'm in the process of bidding on trousers for Eliza on ebay as its all the 3-6m she's missing. if I win it all her whole 3-6m wardrobe (including new vests) will have cost me less then £30!!!

I'm so happy about it all

Wow! That is absolutely fantastic I know people who would spend that on a single item - which to me has always seemed silly as they a) grow out of them so quickly and b) they can get ruined so easily!


When I've worked my way through my rather large stock of chicken breasts (got them at the Co*op a few weeks ago - the packs started at £7 but were 1/2 price & then whoopsied to pennies;)) I'll get chicken legs!

JulieGeorgiana

SOT once you get your head round your freezer you will find it easy to get it work for you... I rarely throw anything out now... I used to all the time.

An outfit is £10-12 and a dress £12-15 (a friend bought eliza one for £20!)

I have potentially 6 tops, 6 trousers, 1 outfit, 6 dresses, 2 coats, 1 cardi, 2 hats, tights, 10 vests, socks and 2 dungerees (boy ones) which is way too much, but as its all 2nd hand and will go back to the charity shops...

And as i lost a bid, it'll be around £26 now

SOT2011

I don't throw much away, but I do sometimes end up eating some meals made with rather elderly discoveries in the freezer.

The Jerusalem artichokes I used in the beef stew the other week had been in the bottom drawer for over 3 years!

The sole advantage of not labelling properly is that you don't know quite how terribly old something is when it reappears at the top, so I tend to assume it will be ok and cook it all very thoroughly. I only have myself to poison now though and I am a fairly healthy robust adult. it isn't like I have children or any one elderly to feed. Touch wood I've not poisoned myself yet!

SOT x

SOT2011

I've been out for most of the day today driving to meet my parents nr. Birmingham as they are looking after the small dog for a few days so I can get my assignment done and sort the house out a bit too before I meet them at the rented cottage next weekend for a short holiday.

Missing the small dog like crazy already, it is way too quiet in here!

So, I will have to keep myself really busy, and the first thing I have done is my freezer audit. I am shocked. I have the basis of at least 36 meals in there :eek: plus fruit for puddings & some lunchtime things too. I had no idea it had got that bad, no wonder it is so full! I also have a food cupboard that is similarly chock a block.

Between tomorrow and Friday, every meal is based on something from the freezer, and tonight I am having leftovers from yesterday. When I get back from the cottage next week I shall meal plan for at least the following fortnight based only on freezer contents, to make a dent in it all! As I eat it up I shall cross it off the list so I keep track of what is still to be eaten. If I am over budget on the grocery shop this month then there is something seriously wrong!

SOT x

JulieGeorgiana

Well done SOT for auditing your freezer... I just did mine and I have 3 bags of frozen mushrooms! I never have mushrooms this close to the end of the month... so I threw half a bag in my lasagne today

You will save a fortune, I make a monthly shop list and worry about the cost... then a week before the big shop I do an audit and end up taking so much off as I always over estimate

I wish you luck x

backinbusiness

Back, but exhausted.

Will check in tomorrow.

Night all!

BiB

ps the trip was fab and the children were fab and the music was fab and the hotel was fab and the meals were fab and the craic was fab!

LianneH

discussed the car and house decoration pot with OH and we are both much more settled about both! I'm the Finance Manager of the House so really OH just needed to know what was happening!

Made £125 over 3 weeks from ebay - so pleased with myself! We have booked a day at Edinburgh zoo to see the Pandas a week tomorrow, this will be our DF celebration day, so excited and even better that its paid with my ebay money!

samtoby

Can't join in on discussions about freezers living at home so don't really get to do any food shopping my Mum does it all.....I actually miss it SHOCK HORROR!

new_leaf_88

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

Baby Roo did indeed arrive last night

Her name is Eliza Georgiana, born at 1.21am after a 1hr 35min labour. She weighs 8lb 8oz and is beautiful x

Hi JG A huge congratulations to you and your family, I am sure by now you are into a routine with your lovely new daughter.

I started reading this thread from the beginning yesterday and feel I know you all already, I could not stop reading until I know what your little new addition was.

I am not debt free as yet and will not be so for another 3/4 years however I came on here to give myself some encouragement and hope.

It has certainly worked and I cannot wait to be in the same positio of all of you. You are an inspriration to everyone who is struggling with debt.

I have not calculated my total debt wlthough I have a good idea of how much it is, I will post it when I finalise the figures.

I have started my spreadsheets and am involved in lots if the challenges to keep a check on my spending.

Thank you to BiB for starting the thread and thank you to all of you who have contributed to it.

A very special thank you though to the beautiful Eliza for keeping us in so much suspense.

Take care all xxxx:T:T:T

backinbusiness

Aw thanks New Leaf and welcome aboard!

Back to the grind today although still pretty tired and a little disorganised. The Band trip was great all round. If you remember I was a little apprehensive about sharing a room with a colleague, however, on arrival the Hotel had messed up the booking and put us in a double bed! Yikes! Anyway, they obviously sorted it out and I ended up with a £135 per night suite to myself instead - result! (The school obviously negotiated a much reduced rate!).

The food was very good indeed (2 French chefs) and we had cooked breakfast every morning, lunch on the hoof and a 3-course meal in the evening. All for the sum total of £nil to me!

We did go the Trafford Centre and as we don't have too many decent shops up here in the Highlands and I did spend a bit - but all accounted for in the "treats" budget.

All in all it was a fantastic trip away, and as the pupils were seniors, not too much "babysitting" either.

Need an early night to recharge the batteries tonight and get back into the routine - but we do all need a break now and again.

Have a good evening all.

BiB