Saving money and getting more organised

thriftylass

Phew done the right thing :j, never too sure about those comparison sites. But I just read an article by Martin that said EDF Blue + pricepromise is the cheapest for gas and leccy just now and it's fixed. Glad I changed now (still waiting for final change over though). I'm probably like a lot of people - vary of change, not trusting better offers for stuff like leccy and gas. But it's worth changing. Hopefully it'll make quite a difference to our bill. ATM I pay £110 for both with the old supplier by DD and just about paid off last winter's debt :eek: (only had it on 19-20C in a few rooms for the baby). Our house is wall cavity insulated (had the free scheme done a few years before we bought it) but it doesn't have very well insulated eaves (sp?) and metal double glazing. The wee one is bigger now too, so more blankets and warm sweater and a few degress less

Getting a cold AGAIN, so hopefully that will help to stay off the cigs.

Will definitely need to do a top up shop tomorrow, gonna pop to L!DL during lunch as I found one of they're brochures and almost everything I need is on offer or def cheaper than T3sco or the green grocer (as much as I like him). Try to meal plan a bit more tonight for next week with other things that I still have or are on offer to avoid a big shop and use things up that are lurking at the back of the freezer/cupboard.

thriftylass

Succesful day, didn't spend a penny. Made a lovely pasta carbonara of which I have enough left for two work lunches and hubbies lunch tomorrow. Also the brisket chili is in the pressure cooker for tomorrow. Fixed my friends bike and gave mine a once over too.

Also started making little changes like using the cold water tap rather than the hot water tap (unless nessecary) which is easier to reach, sounds silly but I'm sure in the long run I'll save cause the hot water isn't kicking in as often.

thriftylass

Today wasn't a very productive day as I wasn't feeling great, but managed to go out for a wee top up shop groceries for £12 (fruit, veg, tatties, pasta, a chicken) and some other stuff like baby wipes, socks for £10 (multipacks) which will hopefully get us through most of next week. I hardly ever buy chicken breasts anymore as they always seem to be pumped up with water (well the cheaper ones I used to buy). Now I always just buy a whole chicken and butcher it for various meals, as I guess a lot of you do anyway. Forgot to buy peppers but then hubby pointed to the green house, nearly forgot

thriftylass

Well, had a lovely weekend out and about and at a BBQ. Spend a bit too much money though, £2.80 on stovies and a bridie for lunch, £4.80 on ice cream, £10 on a selction of salami on a market, and some groceries for the BBQ about £27 (fresh fish, beers), but got to take leftover food home with us. Had an NSD today though and a lovely roast dinner for tea using the chicken carcass for making stock.

Need to sit down tomorrow and make a meal plan and a list for DOTAD.

I also need to spend as little as possible the next two weeks as my grocery money already stands at 133 out of 150 (but I think I also counted stuff that was more treats than groceries). Luckily it only has to last till the 26th as we go on holiday after that and that money is already put aside separately.

thriftylass

Ok, here’s my Meal Plan for the following week:

Breakfeast: cereal
Lunch: HM sandwich or one of various leftover meals from the freezer

Dinner:
Mo: leftover chili and pasta
Tue: bangers and mash
Wed: meatballs in chorizo sauce and pasta
Thu: sticky chicken wings with chips
Fri: chicken/veg/ pesto/pasta
Sat: fish pie

And the list for DOTAD

Mo: [STRIKE]count change, make chicken stock[/STRIKE] DONE
Tue: [STRIKE]bake bread[/STRIKE] DONE
Wed: [STRIKE]tidy desk and vacuum[/STRIKE] DONE
Thu: start making Christmas deco from felt and make list of things to make and what I need for it
Fri: start the T3sco order for Sept/after the holiday
Sat: either start doing up the shed or clean the conservatory inside

thriftylass

Managed NSD number 8 today :j. Had to go to the dentist but found a free parking space in town and I won't be charged till the actual treatment next month. Was really tempted to by cigs today but dropped the wallet off at home first before going to work and the shop is to far from home now.

Tomorrow I'll pay in £10 worth of change I had in the house and cancel my DD for leccy and gas before the switch over. So need my wallet tomorrow but hopefully can keep it shut.

thriftylass

I managed another NSD (9) yesterday but unfortunately not today. Tonight I got a few things on my to-do list like decluttering some places and starting to make that big shopping list for September. Maybe I'll find a few things to sell even. Tonight for dinner will be again whatever I can find in the freezer and cupboards, prob as planned chicken, pesto, pasta with HM bread.

Our plan for the weekend is to have a quiet one and maybe declutter some more and unpack some boxes that haven't been touched since before the move over a year ago

Cancelled my DD for leccy and gas today and the milkman for a while as we won't need it.

thriftylass

Had a really nice weekend and managed NSD number 10 today. Hubby finally started dealing with his boxes in the guest bedroom :j and managed about half. I tidied one of Baba's wardrobes and the coffee table. But that was about it, life kinda got in the way , everyday things like household chores, fixing clothes, washing, taking the wee one out to play. But it was a good busy weekend with loads of sun. Today I also started my big monthly Tesco order for September, need to be more organised and save money again as I have to pay another £200 :eek: for our holiday soon and that's my rainy day stash down again . Need to make a meal plan soon for the following weeks and update my DOTAD list. As soon as I have a plan sth else creeps up and comes in the way. Need to be more persistent and actually stick to my plan. Started off really well, got my bum off the couch and got things done because I knew I had them on my list. But sometime after a day at work, the wee one, dinner and the dishes, I find it hard to motivate myself at 9pm.
Also need to try next month to spend only essential. Luckily there are no birthdays or anything so not visits to Am@zon etc for me either

thriftylass

Well, I let things slip a bit. But here I am again. I'm already skint for this month but at least that makes me more creative with what were having for dinner depending on what's left in the freezer. Yesterday we had spag carbonara the traditional way (no packet) and today we'll have spag bol and ribs in the slow cooker tomorrow.

Spending got a bit out of control (but savings almost still on track), never mind the NSD challange. But new month, new start.

Made the wee man a halloween costume out of felt etc I had in the house and saved a few pennies that way.

thriftylass

Somehow I manage not to spend towards the end of the month when there's no money left. How come I can't do that at the start and biuld up my saving more? :mad:

Anyway, next month I want to do it properly as I promised myself how many times before....:o

But I also need to make some purchases, even more of an incentive to not spend otherwise. We need a new microwave as our ancient 30+ year old one is probably leaking microwaves now and is hard to open. Also need curtains in the living room (stupid size so made to measure needed, but found a deal which can be paid for by just not smoking!!!) and buying just the fabric wouldn't be cheaper than that deal. Also need a front door curtain as we definitely feel the cold draft now coming in. Oh and car road tax