LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

MFM - I started doing that later in the tax year, but because the accountant was slow and my paperwork wasn't up to date I found myself panicking. Also I drew too much - end of. I am being much more careful this year, needless to say! I will try and keep much more in a reserve account and also send the accountant the paperwork earlier too.

Hope little MFM is enjoying Christmas!

X

greent

Hope you had a lovely Xmas, brizzled - here's to a fantastic 2017
x

Seasidegal58

Have a very happy New Year brizzle. X
_party__party__party_

lucielle

Have a great 2017 Brizzle.


L

brizzledfw

Thanks everyone for popping by

I am not sure I am quite ready to do a long post, as plans are still stewing (or is it brewing?!) away..but for starters..

1. The tax bills are all paid or the money is in hand, which is great news. I plan to pay the final one this weekend to get it out of the way.
2. We went away for Christmas..and yes it was skiing. So lift passes and my lessons were pricey, but we ate in the van most nights, took packed lunches onto the slope and didn't do any apres-ski! Our accommodation costs were also €90 for 9 days.. :j OH is now away for work for best part of a month, and then the next few months will be the same...so plan to use this as an excuse to practise some mindful frugality. I have been reading a new blog..Frugalwoods..which is a U.S one, nicely written which was discovered via MMM.
3. I am going to try and build up a massive gap between our income and spends for the next 2 months and see how we go. I must pay down the debt and start getting the savings back on track.
4. Updating MSE signature for Jan to help guide me and sustain me. Going back to having targets for sales, AFDs, LSDs and NSDs as well as a savings rate target (see 3. above). Have meal planned (which is the routine now, has been since the Autumn ) and as it's using a lot of store cupboard stuff, additional spends hould be minimal. For the first month ever we didn't overspend our grocery budget of £20 per day for 5 of us...whoop
5. I am thinking of doing Dry January..and aiming not to drink for 25 days out of 31.. here goes

Fortune_Smiles

Happy New Year Brizzle!

Fortune x

brizzledfw

Thanks FS..and I hope fortune continues to smile upon you

Seasidegal58

Goals all looking good brizzle! Well done on the frugal skiing hol. :jI've never been but listening to people at work who have, they seem to spend a fortune!

Will check out the frugal blog!:T

brizzledfw

Thanks SSG.. yes it's the best way to do it, but if you want to fly, go catered chalet etc reckon you'd drop £6k maybe for a family of 4? At peak times anyway. We save thousands going in the way we do.

So far today...

1. Shopped for food for this week, bought some reduced bananas for banana cake, 2 reduced veggie quiches (in freezer for a meal with baked potatoes and salad) and reduced washing powder. F&V shop was closed so bought a couple of items from SM instead but will see if they are open tomorrow. Hope they are as planning to bulk make cottage pies for week ahead. Also planning to make an apple cake for breakfast, trying a Nigella recipe but will use 00 flour to use up what I have, rather than buying bread flour. Should be fine, we shall see, fancy it with a coffee tomorrow
2. Done a PC survey, gathered some bits together to photo and sell, and reminded OH to sign up for air miles, you never know! We have managed a hotel stay or two in the past on them.
3. Lovely friend is looking after us today so being treated to late lunch. She's a great cook and brilliant company so can't wait. Just need to grab a bottle or two from stores to say thanks. No spend there.
4. And finally.. had forgotten that my extreme frugal streak is trying to get the food spend down to £400 p.m or £2.50 per person a day.. now there will be quite a lot of days when as OH is not here etc it'll be easier, but this should be highly interesting/testing/challenging! But oh well, here goes!!

mfmaybe

Ah skiing. I miss it. Can't wait until DS is old enough to go

Hmm you know I've never worked out a cost per day for meals. DH was annoyed that our food shop was still £70 this week even without booze, cleaning products etc. But that's £3.33 per person per day. OK DS is tiny but he eats a lot, wastes a lot, and gets all the expensive stuff. OK it could be better, but it's not horrific I don't think.