Rising to the top of the ocean - and staying afloat!

rising_from_the_ashes

Yeah ... was a bit p'd off - especially as the kitchen was (as always as I'm paranoid about germs) spotless .... was that noticed/commented on ..... errr nope!:mad:

So today I've been very lazy. Got up & fed the 4-leggeds & then went back to bed for an hour .... which turned into 3 hours Came back down at lunchtime, had breakfast, watched a film (not done that for ages!) and then took Maisie for a rather soggy walk on the beach.

Resisted shops on way back and ... have had my 1st NSD for ages!:T

Seem to have temporarily misplaced the c/card bill - haven't put it where I usually do for some silly reason (brain still not at full capacity!) - so haven't done the pot transfers yet ... really need to find it to do tonight / tomorrow.

rising_from_the_ashes

So .... 1st budget update for ages

House & Car:


£400 of this is currently propping up my main account (reduced OD level & therefore reduces costs each month ) BUT I'm probably going to have to put this back this month as a few things due:

House insurance due 21st May, budgeted £240 / renewal = £217:) (going to query as been given 10% discount for 1 years' NCD but have more than this)

Landline advance rental has to be renewed by 31st May @ £125.88

Broadband deal has now run out so back to £12.99 / month. Must phone them next week & see if I can get a new deal.

As you can see a bit of a shortfall on both the above BUT it can be covered within the pot:)

New fuel pot working well :T

Pets:



Just placed an order for wet food for Maisie (£26) and she also has 2 vet trips (£23) to come off so she's pretty broke :eek: - although May's £40 will hit before I need to pay for these so she's got about £30 in her pot. Cats are just as bad as vet trip for wee cat's boosters & some felliway to pay for (£50:eek:) - again May's £45 will hit before needing to pay for these so they've got about £25 in their pot.... not great on either front!

Others

Well, at least it's up and running!



As with the other pots, it's hard to get it going but trying to persevere! (Opticians didn't get off to a good start with a bill of £178 & nothing in the pot!! hopefully means I'll have enough saved by the time I need new glasses next time!)


So ..... overall I am soooooo glad I have the pots things are tight & I wish there was a bit more leeway in my budget so I could top things up a bit but .... there isn't and that's life I guess!:o

taxi73

you are doing well with everything so don't be so hard on yourself

amber03

I agree with taxi,don't be to hard on yourself.x

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks both - I'm really impatient and would love to see the pots build a bit:o However, as they're only just covering what I realistically spend just now, it's going to take a long time!

Well .... have had a lovely week off:

Monday - went shopping

Pets - stocked up as had a £10 off £50 spend at P@H. Maisie now has enough wet food to last 6 months (she has dry for around 3 months too!) Got stuff for cats too so they should be sorted for a good 2/3 months as well! Should only need to get litter - that should let their pots recover a bit!;)

Me - got a lovely top in M&Co with vouchers the girls gave me for my birthday :T Also got my rewards voucher so I've still got £7 left to spend!:D

General - it was a "pop here for x and here for y" type day - I also had to go and get a new windscreen wiper (£11.38:eek:) and made quick pit stops at Li*dl (really like their flavoured rice but they didn't have the ones I wanted:() and Farm*Foods (Nicky loo rolls:money:) and M&S for some new smalls!:p Busy day!!!

Tuesday bit of a recovery day ..... it was lovely so sat in the garden with Maisie for a while & we had a lovely walk on the beach.

Wednesday down to M&Ds for the day - got my hair cut

Thursday Went to the beach in the morning with Maisie & had a lovely walk. Had to go for review appt with Consultant at the Hospital in the PM. Slow progress .....

Friday Popped to neighbouring town & had lovely walk on the beach with Maisie (yup, we are totally spoiled and have several wonderful beaches very close by:D) and then stopped at Mr T - it was a fly around really quickly as I couldn't find anywhere shady to leave the car (usually I go later in the day and there's a shady bit at the front of the store - I always let them know I've parked there because I've got the dog and there's never been a problem, I always make sure I'm not blocking anyone, any spaces etc - anyway, the sun mustn't be blocked by the store until the afternoon so I'll need to remember that for the summer!)

Going to try to make some pasta sauce with turkey mince :cool: - honestly I couldn't believe how expensive it is .... £2.99:eek: ..... I used to buy it for Ben and it was only £1.60 :eek:

Really, really want something like bolognaise sauce & pasta but still can't eat red meat so .... not sure it'll work as well with turkey mince but couldn't think of anything else .....

Sorry .. whittering on

stitching_witch

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Really, really want something like bolognaise sauce & pasta but still can't eat red meat so .... not sure it'll work as well with turkey mince but couldn't think of anything else .....

When DH refused to eat red meat we always used either minced turkey or minced pork. Works a treat!

beanielou

Glad that you have had a good holiday

*Robin*

Hello Rising, :hello:

Sounds like you enjoyed your holiday; got plenty done including those oh-so-important-for-the-soul dog walks on the beach.

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Really, really want something like bolognaise sauce & pasta but still can't eat red meat so .... not sure it'll work as well with turkey mince but couldn't think of anything else .....

Have you considered the vegetarian option? Most of the taste is in the sauce and these days it's very hard indeed to tell the difference between beef mince and soya mince - especially if you're allowed to bend the rules a bit and soak it in stock made with a beef cube.
Then cook as normal (except the soya doesn't need frying off to brown it).

..Fooled my lot many a time with veggie-mince when I thought we were eating too much red meat.

Hope your turkey version tasted great!

rising_from_the_ashes

stitching_witch wrote: »

When DH refused to eat red meat we always used either minced turkey or minced pork. Works a treat!

I have to say .... it was absolutely yummy!:j

So much so in fact, that I'm thinking of buying another pack today and making a batch load for the freezer (really struggling for meals in there just now and it makes such a difference as I'm totally exhausted by the time I get in from work)

*Robin* wrote: »

Have you considered the vegetarian option? Most of the taste is in the sauce and these days it's very hard indeed to tell the difference between beef mince and soya mince - especially if you're allowed to bend the rules a bit and soak it in stock made with a beef cube.
Then cook as normal (except the soya doesn't need frying off to brown it).

Lovely to see you Robin - I didn't know you could get soya mince and I'll def be having a look at the SM today ... thanks!:T

rising_from_the_ashes

So ... last day of hols still I've had a lovely break and are feeling a bit more rested (that'll probably last a day when I go back lol!).

Sun's out again so off to get some breakfast and then I'll be heading off to the beach with Maisie with a quick pit stop at the SM on the way back.

Think I may have to find some washing to do as it's so nice .... I do have a rather ENORMOUS pile of ironing to get through at some point (didn't iron last Sunday so am down to the dregs of my clothes!).

F1 on later on so .... better get a move on!