Keeping up appearances.......

HappyNow

Hopeful1 wrote: »

I too did my 1st proper Aldi shop this morning & stuck to my list. I've a few bits to buy but should come in under my budget for the week for 1st time ever

Yay for Aldi! I love it, just wish it was closer. I prefer it to Lidl, but that might just be because our local Lidl is quite small. If you can chuck Home Bargains into the mix, you'll never look back! x

HappyNow

Domino9 wrote: »

Hi happy now,

Just read your diary- I started it the other day, and just got to the end now. It seems that you are doing really well, and have made some big changes.

Just wanted to make a cheap, healthy, and filling lunch suggestion - homemade soup! I know you said that you're not a big cook, but it's really easy to make, is a great winter warmer, costs very little, and freezes well, so you can freeze it in portions and just take it out the night before. If you have a micro in work just heat it there, otherwise use a flask.

A favorite in my house is carrot and corriander - just double or triple the quantities to batch cook and freeze (if you have a big enough pot!), but really it can be made from any veg you have/is on offer!

HTH

D9


http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/7003/carrot-and-coriander-soup

And would go great with the cheap bread you keep finding!

Hello D9, thanks for reading and for the soup suggestion . We do have a microwave at work and it will actually be easier than making sandwiches to just pull a portion of soup out of the freezer and throw a couple of slices of bread into a bag.

I didn't know that there WAS a BBC Good Food website! I've just spent half an hour browsing there and I've now saved it to my favourites. There's a really good vegetarian section, and I love how they are labelled as 'Easy' or 'Moderately Easy' etc (I'll only be looking at the Easy ones!).

Thanks again x

Shelski_2

Hi Happy,

I know exactly what is going out and coming in now. I'm determined to do this and make sure we still have a balance of life/ debt busting so i won't put up a SOA just yet. I know I'm on the best deals for utilities etc and have started to use quidco. We only withdraw money once per week (another big wastage area for us) now which is helping massively, but I'm not prepared to cut back on my DD's LIPA fees (£88.50 every 4 weeks) or DS' karate/ cubs etc. I'll be keeping a close eye on things though.
My first target is to pay for my new fridge freezer (mine broke down 3 days before Christmas) in June (Buy now, pay later) without using my credit card. In August a loan of DH's is paid up so that money will go away for Christmas so none of that spending will go on increasing the CC. This means that the CCs can only go DOWN! I've also paid, without the CC, for a caravan in April for a week so I can visit my sister. This was from the money I saved from the grocery spends last month. Feel like I'm finally on the right track. I've spent too long living in overdrafts and using the CCs for emergencies - and non emergencies. It stops now!

HappyNow

Shelski wrote: »

Hi Happy,

I know exactly what is going out and coming in now. I'm determined to do this and make sure we still have a balance of life/ debt busting so i won't put up a SOA just yet. I know I'm on the best deals for utilities etc and have started to use quidco. We only withdraw money once per week (another big wastage area for us) now which is helping massively, but I'm not prepared to cut back on my DD's LIPA fees (£88.50 every 4 weeks) or DS' karate/ cubs etc. I'll be keeping a close eye on things though.
My first target is to pay for my new fridge freezer (mine broke down 3 days before Christmas) in June (Buy now, pay later) without using my credit card. In August a loan of DH's is paid up so that money will go away for Christmas so none of that spending will go on increasing the CC. This means that the CCs can only go DOWN! I've also paid, without the CC, for a caravan in April for a week so I can visit my sister. This was from the money I saved from the grocery spends last month. Feel like I'm finally on the right track. I've spent too long living in overdrafts and using the CCs for emergencies - and non emergencies. It stops now!

Hi again

It sounds like you've put loads of thought into your finances and really got stuff under control. Well done for having your lightbulb moment before things got out of hand - I wish I had!

I agree 100% about not giving up things that are really important to you -you've got to get the balance right and there's no point making yourselves miserable - or your kids missing out on things - just to bring your DFD forward a bit. Personally I've HAD to cut out some stuff that I didn't want to - clothes, meals out, holidays, that sort of thing. But instead I have peace of mind, better sleep patterns and I finally feel in control of my life, so it's a good swap! And I keep reminding myself it won't be for ever - just seven years :rotfl:!

Hopeful1

Wow Shelski! You've done fabulously well so far. I too refuse to stop footie, karate etc but like HH i have had to forgo hols and have very, very few nights out etc. When I do go out it's on a minimum spend. No over indulging in hours of alcohol consumption I too know this won't be forever. According to the snowball calculator it will be for 10 years, but i'll be b8ggered if i'm waiting that long :rotfl:It's PaDding all the way for me

natdjay

:wave:Hi Happy

I've just sat with a few cups of tea (i'm tea mad too!) reading your diary from the start. Your doing SO well, really focused, and with a plan too, well done! :T

I don't really know how to do all the quote bits properly, but there were some great moments over the last 9 pages

I loved the OOD Finest meal you found, and not telling MrH, very funny and something i do a lot of, not telling MrDJ what he is actually eating

The toilet roll packet hiding is a great one, i shall have to try that

There were many more that i can't remember now. Congrats on a fab diary. Will go subscribe now

NDJ x

Shelski_2

Thanks,

I have to say most of our extra money does go on the kids. I don't drink and we rarely go out. Our meals out as a family have had to be cut back, especially our coffee/ hot chocs and cake when out in town shopping. (The town shopping has been cut out as well!) Can't believe this would almost cost £20 a time. I also know now what stuff in the supermarkets costs, whereas before I would chuck it in without a second glance and most of it would be chucked out the week later!!! Dread to think how much money went in the bin.

Had some wonderful (not) news this morning. DH's car needs a service to keep it within warranty and it comes to over £300!!! And he decides to drop it on me today!!! That will eat up all the money I've put away so far for the fridge freezer and some more. Thank goodness this month is council tax free month.
Best laid plans, heh.

poohbear59

natdjay wrote: »

The toilet roll packet hiding is a great one, i shall have to try that

There were many more that i can't remember now. Congrats on a fab diary. Will go subscribe now

NDJ x

I didn't find where the loo roll was mentioned so forgive me if this is a repeat. Somewhere on MSE I learned to squash the loo roll flat and then it is more difficult to pull the sheets off saving squares, and saving money

Hopeful, I still go out occasionally but have a pot of tea. Most pubs sell them for about £1. Everyone laughs at me but I have the last laugh as I can then drive home and have a glass of wine when I get home. It means I can keep in touch with friends too.

Shelski_2

Hello

Am going to take your advice and start my own diary. Can anyone tell me how please?
Thank you x

PinotGrigio41

Hey Happy,

How are you, just wanted to say hi and I haven't forgotten you ! I have been sadly neglecting my diary and everyone else's these past few days ! Looks like you have been busy though , I will settle down with a nice cuppa and an A£di Bournville biscuit or 10 later today and catch up properly

Shelski, looking forward to reading your shiny new diary when you have time to start one. I can't think off of the top of my head how you would start it, as I am in a bit of a rush . I think when I started mine it was a new thread under the debt free diaries. I am sure Happy can give you far more detailed instructions, she is sooooo much more organised than me !!:D