overwhelmed new member

Coco114

Well , I am nearly a week into a rigid spending diary & it makes pretty interesting reading.

Food, food & a bit more food ! I also went through last weeks receipts & it's the same pattern. In fact the only non grocery spend really is petrol , stamps & a magazine. In some ways it's a relief - because if I can get this super organised my unnecessary spends would decrease a lot. Even our treats are based around food , a takeaway or popcorn etc. It's defiantly food for thought - if you pardon the pun :rotfl:

Nothing exciting to report today - busy , busy as am in tomorrow but then off till next weds :T
Weather doesn't look great for BH which is good in a way as I have a lot to do!

0.14 p to rounding account. It's pay day on Friday but I am going to be super strict this month & see how much I can trim off.

No response from secured ..... I suppose they are busy exploring all the ways they can help me .... Not

Coco x

Coco114

Oops also bought the jumper & bag ........ But that was an exception

dory22

Coco114 wrote: »

Yes will have to be something like that I think

Trouble is because I dont organise food / meals very well , I tend to shop without a list (when I haven't bothered to meal plan !) so I find that half way through the week there is stuff running out & a quick dash to shop leaves me £30 poorer !!

Bills / mortgage aside our biggest extravagance is food !! If I could get that spend down I would be very happy - I also have a nearly empty freezer so I really have no excuse ! So that will be my focus for now - it will also make my life a darn sight easier. I hate walking in the door at 6.30 with no clue what to do for dinner ..... Watch this space !

Other than that - its been a fairly quiet week really (I should learn to enjoy the peaceful times ) nothing exciting to add .... Buts it Thursday already tomorrow :T

Hope everyone had a good day !

Coco x

do you stock up on the reduced meats, veg, milk etc at the supermarkets i got 3 bags fulls of food the other week from the big T for £8 and £2 of that was flowers, i go from work about 5.30/6 if you go later it gets cheaper at christmas time we went oout 23rd and got so much for about £30

dory22

Coco114 wrote: »

Well , I am nearly a week into a rigid spending diary & it makes pretty interesting reading.

Food, food & a bit more food ! I also went through last weeks receipts & it's the same pattern. In fact the only non grocery spend really is petrol , stamps & a magazine. In some ways it's a relief - because if I can get this super organised my unnecessary spends would decrease a lot. Even our treats are based around food , a takeaway or popcorn etc. It's defiantly food for thought - if you pardon the pun :rotfl:

Nothing exciting to report today - busy , busy as am in tomorrow but then off till next weds :T
Weather doesn't look great for BH which is good in a way as I have a lot to do!

0.14 p to rounding account. It's pay day on Friday but I am going to be super strict this month & see how much I can trim off.

No response from secured ..... I suppose they are busy exploring all the ways they can help me .... Not

Coco x

why dont you buy a bag of popcorn kernals and make your own they can work out a bit cheaper then the made up bags plus you can make loads of different flavours from one bag, also do you rent dvds? why not see if you can swap some dvds with a friend for a couple of days that could save some pennies.

MoneyMission

Coco114 wrote: »

Take or leave chocolate ?!

If my house were on fire - I would escape with a boy under each arm & a bar of cad***y whole nut tucked under my chin

Brilliant priorities. I like!

Rowan_tree_2

Hi Coco114, I've 'popped in' from another thread and wanted to say that I've read your diary and have been amazed at the strength you have shown through a horrible time. And you've kept your sense if humour and integrity (re your ex) throughout it all.

Many moons ago I was in a different, but similar, situation and am living proof that bad things happen, but that you can come out winning!

I'm not going to send a great long post, you've had sensible advice abiut the money situation, but, good luck, and I really hope things turn around for you really soon. Also (!) I'm an organiser, and your last posts said you wanted to save in the food shop. Well, here's a few good tips!

I often make a meal to serve twice. A favourite is to make a double helping of bolognaise with lean mince, serve half with spaghetti, cool the rest quickly, refrigerate, and serve a couple of days later with jacket potatoes, done in the microwave for quickness. Sprinkle a bit of cheese on top, grill a couple of minutes and serve with salad. It's yummy and an entirely new meal in its own right. Same for chilli con carne, save half and serve as above.

Quorn sausages are tasty too, (and only a pound a pack in some stores!), coat in pickle, onion pickle is fab, and grill slowly, serve with mash, veg and gravy or grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. Also, I always cook more potatoes and carrots etc than needed, refrigerate them and fry up with the Quorn bangers or bacon and egg. Yummy!!

Truly, heaps of good luck vibes coming your way. You will get there!!! R xx

Coco114

Ah thanks so much what a nice post - it's nice to hear when things turn out ok.

Ref the food - I always double cook & freeze half , the issue for me is getting organised enough to cook in the first place !! Have done ok the last week or so , but , I am way too found of cooking a big bowl of pasta , grating some black pepper , throwing on some cheese and calling it dinner !
After my long weekend I intend to be organised

0.12p to rounding - it's payday tomorrow so the super strict budget begins ..... But - I am NOT on fumes today - because I had a petrol budget !!! Go me:T

Coco x

Verbatim

Well done Coco. looking forward to hearing about the new
(super strict :eek:) budget.

Mr_Toad

Well that's another week of my life I'll never see again. I'm not sure if it's just me but the weeks seem to go so quickly.

I'm off out with friends tonight for the usual Friday night get together followed by a Chinese takeaway back at one of their houses. If it stays nice we can sit out.

I'm being picked up tonight, I drove last Friday, so I can have a few beers. Happy days.

I've been living out of the freezer for a while now and it's getting to the point where there's not much left. I plan on picking up a load of ingredients when I do the shopping tomorrow and cooking up some meals to freeze.

I shall have to decide what I'm going to cook before I do the shopping. Buying random ingredients with no idea what you're going to cook is a bad idea!

Have a good weekend everyone.

Coco114

Evening All - it's BH weekend :T

So pay day & super strict budget :
I am going for £120 a week. That's groceries , petrol , spends etc - everything basically ! Everything else has been moved to DD account & savings acct. Mortgage paid & 1/2 sec - will pay as much extra as I can , week by week. Feeling quite happy with that. I reckon (if I am strict) I can make up the whole amount .... There is £100 out of the way as EF - if I dont need it - I will pay that as well

Hoovered through , changed beds , all cleaned up. Basic grocery shop tomorrow AFTER I clear/check cupboards & fridge !

Busy day tomorrow (visit day !) then I can get on with my weekend ! Really want to hire carpet cleaner & do that this weekend - but it's £40.... Will see how well I do with groceries first

Masonn , hope you enjoyed your evening

Coco x