WTBSEs 'Living within my means,saving for a better future' diary :)

WantToBeSE

Morning.

I have been up since 4.30am, as i was on the phone to 999, calling the fire brigade. My next door neighbours house had a massive fire. It was so scary. Luckily they weren't there.

They are very dodgy characters, with heavy involvement in drugs, and have caused no end of problems...but i felt sorry for them when they came back this morning to find their house gutted- those poor kids are only 1 and 3 (at a guess).

My house filled with smoke (we are in a terrace), so we were evacuated, and taken in by a lovely Polish couple down the road who plied us with tea The fireman went in and opened all of my windows to clear the smoke. Its freezing in here now, so the heating has gone on, not that i am complaining!

AlTeREgO

Blimey what an eventful night!! i can imagine it was very scary being right next door Glad to hear everyone is safe though
Is your house ok other than the smoke?

WantToBeSE

Thanks Alter,
yes the house is fine. The firefighters checked it thoroughly before we were allowed in, and deemed it safe.

My youngest is sufferring a bit with his asthma, so i will be telling his Dad to keep an eye on him (the kids are off to theor dads house at 11am), but apart from that, we are all fine.

Yes, it was really scary!

bettycrumble

Thanks for leaving me a message on my diary.

A big wave from me!

I've subscribed and relieved to see you're only 5 pages in. Phew! I'm going to have a catch up read when my children are in bed.

Nice to meet you

WantToBeSE

Hi Betty, thanks for popping over to say hi, hope you are all prepared for NOvember

bettycrumble

Oh a lady? after my own heart. You bake and scratch cook, you know times are tough but still trying to think of the future. Looking forward to getting to know you and follow you on your journey of getting by with a sparkle in your eye and a determination to better your circumstances.

Loving the pictures.

WantToBeSE

Thanks Betty

I love cooking from scratch. I never used to know how to cook, so taught myself really, and with the help of this forum obviously!

So, hello to all who lurk and post on my diary. If you havent alreadfy checked it out, i urge you to have a look at the 'Just say NOvember' challenge and sign yourself up if you need

Today i have written my meal plan and will be doing my online food shop to be delivered on Friday.
I had one of those 'we miss you, you havent shopped with us for a while, so here is £5 off your next online grocery order' type of emails from Asda, so this week i'll be using them to shop from, and buying the bare minimum. I have all i need for the main meals, its just the breakfast and lunches i need to buy for, plus the snacks. With 2 growing and active lads in the house, we get through a LOT of snacks

bettycrumble

Do you drive WTBSE? I can but we don't have a second car. I normally shop for the month and get it delivered and then top up in the coop but seriously thinking about shopping weekly and getting it delivered every week. I can spend £8 on a few basics in the coop every other day. I would rather get more value for my money and take the hit with the delivery.

I'm a bit eeeek! at the NSD's of the NOvember challenge and won't hit it if I need to top up at the coop. Decisions huh?

WantToBeSE

Hi Betty, yes i do drive. I live in a very rural town though, so i am always conscious of petrol prices (£1.35.9 at the tesco near me).

Its 20mins in either direction to a decent SM..although we have a Tesco here, and a co-op, but theor prices are stupid, and the tesco dont have everything in.
The nearest Asda is a 45min drive away, so never shop from there, unless its online.

WantToBeSE

bettycrumble wrote: »

Do you drive WTBSE? I can but we don't have a second car. I normally shop for the month and get it delivered and then top up in the coop but seriously thinking about shopping weekly and getting it delivered every week. I can spend £8 on a few basics in the coop every other day. I would rather get more value for my money and take the hit with the delivery.

I'm a bit eeeek! at the NSD's of the NOvember challenge and won't hit it if I need to top up at the coop. Decisions huh?[/QUOTE]

Sorry Betty, i missed this bit earlier on.
I think weekly shopping, eother in person or online, is the best way to go. As long as you get everything you need for the week, you wont have to enter a SM at all, which will reduce those £8 spends.
It may only be £8, but if you do that twice a week, thats £16 a week, and £64 over a 4 week period!:eek:

i used to be VERY guilty of just popping to the SM for milk/bread, and comming home having spent £12. These days i make sure i have bought enough eggs/flour/bread etc at my weekly shop (being mindful of my budget still) so i dont ever have to pop to the Sm to get anything.
The last few days i have been a bit out of sorts and have been to tesco a few times, but i am back on the wagon as from today