A few months and several questions

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

LOL glad to be of service

Though since I've discovered these emergency meals sold locally, I may be broadening the emergency-stuff-in-freezer options. I figure so long as it's cheaper than a takeaway and healthier I still win, and it saves a lot of stress. (My takeaway option at the last house was about £4 and could be collected, sadly now I would have to walk 20 min or drive, so even more reason not to do it.) Of course, pasta only takes 10 mins as well but it feels like I'm having to cook.

I usually have a few bits and bobs from http://www.lookwhatwefound.co.uk/ in the house.

Other than that it's cheapo-nastyo noodles from all the major supermarkets. Like a Pot Noodle but without the pot or the "flavour enhancers". Three minutes or so...

RosaBernicia

Am so glad I got a day out of the office today - which is a bit worrying given that I left at 7 and didn't get home til after 6 (I usually only commute about 20 mins).

Have slept really badly the last couple of nights though, and having sorted some chores and gone over to start a textbook thought 'I can't keep my eyes open, I'll just rest for 5 mins and then I'll take it in better"... woke up over an hour later. :mad: Just having a very late dinner and then going straight to bed. As today's meeting went OK and I got some stuff done on the train, I should be able to leave early tomorrow - basically taking back my extra hours straight away. So that will give me a longer evening free.

Am beginning to wonder if I should track all the stuff I would have spent if I wasn't DFW, just for comparison. Having the £10K milestone to think about made it easier today but I reckon I saved...
£2.60 by taking an extra 2 mins to eat breakfast and therefore not buying a fab bacon roll from the pasty company at the station
£1 ish by remembering to take a bottle of tap water instead of getting a drink at the station
£2.50 by only buying a coffee at the cafe where I was meeting a colleague (even though I could probably have got this on expenses, it means waiting a month)
£1.20 by inputting work onto the laptop instead of buying a newspaper when I realised I'd forgotten my textbook
£2 by only buying a baguette for lunch on the train (again, could have got a muffin or something on expenses), and another £1 for not buying a drink
Something - £2? - by remembering to heat up the remaining half a pot of soup tonight when half asleep instead of having the £4 emergency pizza

I make that £5.60 for good behaviour and £5.50 kept in my account for this month instead of funding expenses. :T


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

I usually have a few bits and bobs from http://www.lookwhatwefound.co.uk/ in the house.

They're good too, and for taking into work if you have a microwave available.

ZTD wrote: »

Other than that it's cheapo-nastyo noodles from all the major supermarkets. Like a Pot Noodle but without the pot or the "flavour enhancers". Three minutes or so...

Hmmm. I keep seeing the noodles I used to eat as a student in Sainsbugs and wondering whether to try them again - spookily, they even still have the same packaging 15 years later... then reading the ingredients and deciding they're best left in the past :rotfl:


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Grrrr, the interest for one CC has been added yesterday (I thought this fell after payday) so strictly speaking that adds £50 to my net balance on payday. :mad:

I can't cut the holiday money as am going to use up what's in that fund for train fare and lunches on the family weekend in early June. I could possibly cut the gifts fund down as it is running well ahead anyway so that would find £20.

Otherwise I would just have to cut my spending for the month down - not the easiest month to pick as I have an invoice to pay and my eyelashes need tinting again - fortunately am stocked on most stuff. One weekend am with family, the next there is a party at Drama Queen's, the others could be quiet/ cheap. It's a 4 1/2 week month as well - but will be away for work for the last couple of days so food will all be going on expenses anyway.

Still you never know what might turn up. And as I will have a couple of quiet weekends coming up and need to sort the wardrobe out, perhaps I should finally get on with Ebay... _pale_


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Today's good behaviour tracking:
£3.50 despite leaving in a rush today and realising I had no lunches sorted for work, only bought a salad in M&S, not all the rest that usually adds up to £6 or so. Not even Reversy Percys. :eek:
£1.50 saved by buying 200 cotton buds from the baby section in Boots instead of the cosmetics one. I have no idea why they do this except that people must be too lazy to look - cotton wool is cheaper that way too.
£4 ish by eating the nasty bagels to use up stuff rather than cooking something else (Waitross essentials ones, rather surprised they're horrible but they are and I will be going back to NYC ones), and having pasta tonight to use up the open jar instead of starting something new

so today was £8.50 less expensive than it could have been :rotfl: (

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hmmm. I keep seeing the noodles I used to eat as a student in Sainsbugs and wondering whether to try them again - spookily, they even still have the same packaging 15 years later... then reading the ingredients and deciding they're best left in the past :rotfl:

I'm not sure which ones you're eating, but there's not too many objectionable ingredients in the ones I eat.

But then again, I don't eat Roadkill Hedgehog flavour...

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Today's good behaviour tracking:
£3.50 despite leaving in a rush today and realising I had no lunches sorted for work, only bought a salad in M&S, not all the rest that usually adds up to £6 or so. Not even Reversy Percys. :eek:(

Are you running a temperature? :eek:

RosaBernicia wrote: »

£1.50 saved by buying 200 cotton buds from the baby section in Boots instead of the cosmetics one. I have no idea why they do this except that people must be too lazy to look - cotton wool is cheaper that way too. (

It's probably because women expect cosmetics to be expensive.

RosaBernicia wrote: »

£4 ish by eating the nasty bagels to use up stuff rather than cooking something else (Waitross essentials ones, rather surprised they're horrible but they are and I will be going back to NYC ones), (

NYC?

RosaBernicia wrote: »

so today was £8.50 less expensive than it could have been :rotfl: (

Every little helps...

kerri_gt

Ohhh Rosa, I do like Cook! they do some lovely food (their Millionaires Shortbread is to die for). I order my xmas dinner items from them and have done for the past 3 years - it's gorgeous and great having it delivered to my work so it's one shopping stress I don't have to go through at that time of year. The shop near me is a bit off the beaten track so I don't often think of going there...must stick a postit on the fridge to remind me to go.

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Are you running a temperature? :eek:

Nope, honest

ZTD wrote: »

NYC?

New York City bagel company. Nicer than Waitross ones.


Somebody brought doughnuts into the office a couple of weeks ago - I hadn't had them in years and now every so often I'm getting a doughnut craving. This is Not Good.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

Ohhh Rosa, I do like Cook! they do some lovely food (their Millionaires Shortbread is to die for). I order my xmas dinner items from them and have done for the past 3 years - it's gorgeous and great having it delivered to my work so it's one shopping stress I don't have to go through at that time of year. The shop near me is a bit off the beaten track so I don't often think of going there...must stick a postit on the fridge to remind me to go.

Sadly the shop near me is a whole 10 mins walk away. I don't want to make a habit of it but will pick up a couple of things for emergencies and treats. And now I will have to investigate the desserts section


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Have finally plucked up courage and emailed landlord about garden things and potential cat - since it will help with decisions as info about job comes through. Am going to have a proper think about what I want to do... and I mean deep musing, relationship, job, home all in kinda stuff... and am considering taking a day off to do that thinking.

Also shifted a few pots etc in the garden but not done anything major. I need a couple of obelisks/ similar for climbing stuff, which can be sorted next weekend after payday.

NSD yesterday, went to corner shop today as work liable to be manic tomorrow and wanted to know I had lunch ready. Only four days til payday now and about £30 left in the budget - trying not to spend much of it as anything saved will lower balance and contribute to the Sub £10K Effort.


Rosa xx