On the road to freedom!

curlygirl1971

Sounds like a good plan!

shala_moo

Anna_Glypta wrote: »

I've been reading with interest everyone's tips on meal planning and saving money and decided that it's time I had a go at actually thinking more than a day ahead - and then forgetting to take anything out of the freezer and going to the shops only to come out with something I shouldn't! Doesn't help the purse or the waistline!

I've created a new meal planning calendar and am going to start by trying to think two weeks ahead. This will sync with the calendar on my phone so at least when I go to the shop to get the necessary fresh bits and pieces I can check to see what is planned and at least have an idea of what I may need to get for use in the next couple of days, instead of wandering around looking for inspiration and coming out with no much for lots of cash. (Does that make sense? It sort of does to me!)

This week I will start by using up things that are in the freezer so that when I cook next week I will have some space for extra portions of things which will then help with the following two weeks planning.

Well that's the theory - let's see how it goes

I always print out and keep my menu plans so that i can reuse them for another week in the future. At some point i should have a full 52 wk year done and never have to menu plan again...

Sticking to it though is a whole different ball game :rotfl:

Good luck with your MFWing

Anna_Glypta

and thought of all of the unhappy bankers when everyone achieves their dreams.

:rotfl:

Anna_Glypta

So I've been doing a fair bit of batch cooking for the freezer this weekend. I've had to put a load of stuff in my Mum's freezer (there are benefits to living next door) but that's not any good for the long term, so I've bitten the bullet this afternoon and ordered a small chest freezer online as mine is full to bursting. Hopefully it will arrive before the end of the week.

My aim this month (well for May) is to use up what I have in the fridge & freezer and not buy anything that I can't get in the local farm shop (milk, bread, veggies) which should cover the expense of a new freezer - and having looked at the list of what I have in the freezer I was amazed at what was in there - I don't think we will be suffering too much!

Waiting for the password for my NSI savings account so that I can start moving the "extra saved cash" across ad hoc and also my membership card for the local fuel supplier which creates points spent on petrol which I can then offset against the household fuel charges. Every little helps. :j

Anna_Glypta

OK so nothing really MSE but I wanted to share that it has been an absolutely beautiful day here, and lucky me as I have the week off from work.

It's my little mans (dog) 11th birthday today so we had a nice walk after breakfast and have totally enjoyed the lovely sunny day. Sat outside in the sun before and after lunch and am looking forward to a trip to the other side of the rock in the morning and a low water hike in the morning with my OH - the dog will have to have his walk earlier and we will leave him at home, he would totally LOVE it but unfortunately it's a bit much for him and he will suffer so it's best to leave him snoring on the sofa and not let him know where we have been

Hope the weather improves for everyone else too.
AG :j

Anna_Glypta

Back to work tomorrow after having 10 days away from the office - we have a public holiday here in the Channel Islands today for Liberation Day so I extended my week off by one day (yesterday) and it makes a great break!. Been doing a bit more cooking - I have a big pot of Bolognese on the hob right now simmering away, smells delish if I do say so myself but it's destined for dinner tomorrow and the rest for the freezer. Going to the parents for dinner tonight so don't have to worry about food for today.

NEW FREEZER will be delivered tomorrow so by the weekend I will be able to move everything across to the new one and defrost the current one then really get to grips with making the most of the "whoopsies" (now I know what they are!). I pass by an M&S or a Wait*ose depending on which way I come home from work most days so I will be keeping an eye out for their end of day goodies. I am finding that by planning my meals I am eating so much better and hopefully this will assist with some weight loss as well - love to get rid of some lbs whilst saving some £s. :j

Just over a week till payday and I'm dying to transfer some more money to the savings pot to get to £5k so I can test the bank to see if they will accept an additional capital repayment on M1 - hopefully they will as the interest rate is higher than M2 but if they say no then I will pay the £5k off of M2 and hit it that way. Fingers crossed - I'm itching to make another overpayment!

Time to catch up on everyone's posts now.

Anna_Glypta

So first two days back at work and I'm glad it's Friday - need to get back into the swing of things next week.

Is it just me but....... I'm getting a huge amount of pleasure out of making proper food out of the list of items I have in my freezer, many of which have been languishing there for longer than I care to remember!! The previously uninspiring selection of frozen meats has been transformed to lovely dinners which have resulted in "proper" ready meals in the freezer - I've got scrummy sausage and lentil casserole, turkey and chocolate (really!! it's delish!) chilli, chicken and ham gumbo, Bolognese - tomorrow I will be making a big pot of chicken and sweet potato curry of which the leftovers will be going into the freezer.

I'm finding the hardest things to use are the "ready meals" - fish cakes etc., which I know I will use but don't give the same excitement as knowing that I'm taking something out of the freezer that I have made myself. When they are gone I can't see myself replacing them - I'd rather have a go at making them myself. And yes I know time isn't always on my side but the way I see it is, if I do some cooking when I can be a**** then on the days when I can't be a**** I can now take something out of my freezer that I have made myself which has to be better!

When I get the bottom of the use up list I may have to post it here to get some suggestions of what to do with it - you have been warned.

Happy Friday night everyone :beer:

DawnW

I love all that as well . I made a pot of chilli yesterday from some mince, and veg out of the bottom of the fridge. It did 2 main meals for both of us plus a little pot of leftovers that will do for me for lunch at work one day

Ditch the bought fish cakes - HM ones are easy, quick and loads nicer. Even if only made with a tin of tuna. I add loads of parsley and chopped capers, and they are lovely. (Though obviously I wouldn't advocate throwing away stuff you have in, or anything like that :eek:, just using up and not replacing)

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi AG, HM fish cakes are really quick, plus any left over stale bread can be whizzed up for the coating. I tend to whizz up any odd bread bits, including wraps, pittas, whatever is sitting in the bread cupboard and didn't get used before going too dry, throw them in the freezer and I can coat bashed chicken fillets, or fish, or fish cakes etc.

It's a great feeling taking home made stuff from the freezer for meals, and it really does save time and is definitely better IMO than shop bought.

Enjoy your cooking tomorrow.

TIlly x

Anna_Glypta

I'm definitely going to make my own fish cakes now! Just got three to use up and then we're on!

New freezer will be turned on tomorrow and then the home cooking can begin with a vengeance!!

Going to have a go at making home made Naan tomorrow to go with the curry so at least if they are a disaster I can whizz them up for breadcrumbs.

Oh a slightly worrying side - I think I may be turning into my Mum with all of this frugal and homemadeness ness ness ness! :rotfl: