8.8 years

Octobergirl

OH and DS don't eat bread, it's my downfall so I might end up like twiggy (ahem) as gluten free is too expensive to be making late night snackettes with. I think we'll all have a go, see how it goes financially.

the Tes@o delivery was very disappointing. None of the half price meat offers we're included, the main reason i did it. £40 spent on lots of bits that won't make a meal grr.

DS 4th birthday in 5 weeks,his first birthday party which he wants to be dinosaur themed. It's outrageously expensive for themed tableware....so need to start thinking creatively. Opened my £1 tin and have managed to save £85, which should cover most of the costs. Present already bought....love it when a plan comes together:-)

Octobergirl

Had a couple of NSD days, OH has been taking the car to work, so saved huge amount of petrol money - which shall go to the new blind fund.

The fridge and freezer are decidedly bare. I've frozen the extortionate gluten free bread and only take out the slices DD needs in the morning. As a result I'm not able to make my 8pm sandwich snackettes and have lost 2lb this week:)

bbh30

is there any way you could make your own gluten free bread? dove organic (I think!!) do a gluten free flour. you can also use stuff like xantham gum as a thickener eg in sauces, cakes etc. you might need to get this online though!!
for my son's birthday I just used ikea plates and cups which we already had!! nobody noticed what was on the plates- just think if you were going out somewhere for a party they would only use plain plates. your children are similar ages to mine- how much do you owe on the mortgage??

Sambucus_Nigra

£150 for blinds for one room - yowlch.

I don't think the blinds in our whole house cost £150.

Octobergirl

Hi BBH,
Mine are 7 and nearly 4. I read you're thread and saw you did your birthday for £12, which was amazing. It made me think twice about what I'm doing (hiring village hall and bouncy castle for £45) but I really don't want the stress of getting my house in order and tbh it's too small for 15 lively 4 year old plus parents:eek:

DD has had a few 'big' parties and i feel its only fair DS gets the opportunity- he has to play second fiddle to her a lot of the time because of her disabilities.

I've bought 20 craft sewing kits for £13 from yellow moon for the party bags. I've budgeted £20 for food, £10 for cake and £5 for sweets and balloons -you're right, ill just get cheap white paper plates.

I bought some gluten free flour yesterday, just need to dig the bread maker out and give it a go over the weekend. DD is not overly impressed with shop bought and it should work out the same price as a normal loaf. It's things like Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, stock cubes that I'm going to have to look into as they all have gluten in.

Very pleased as m & s have 3 for £10 on meats today and have 20 chunky sausages as part of the deal which happen to be gluten free. So, 2 meals for £1.50 each which is good. Spent total £60 on a shop including Mr Ms and have enough for 9 days:)

We have £83k left on the mortgage and reduced the term from 20 years to 10 years, it's £1k a month mortgage which is stretching us as I'm a SAHM. I'm hoping to start making some small OPs after the summer.

Octobergirl

Well, attempting to make gluten free bread, however it is just a slop at the bottom of the bread maker, not convinced its going to work. Rechecked the recipe and did as it says.....however, it does say to put in 6 tbsp of oil in which seems a heck of a lot, wondering ir it is a typo and should be 6 tsp?:eek:

Octobergirl

Well, it's been a good month, I've stuck to my budget, the jars are definitely working.

According to my spreadsheets, I should be overdraft free in May, and can start saving/ overpaying again in July. The dilemma is how to split the £300... I'm thinking max overpayments on the mortgage (£200) and £100 to the family loan.

Our fixed period ends oct 14, I could get it down to £71k for then with frugal living.....

My only dilemma is that we promised DD that we would go to disneyworld when she's 10..... It's 3 years away, but I would much rather be paying off the mortgage:( memories v mortgage free ?? Eek

Octobergirl

I've been playing around with my spreadsheets again:o

If I stick to my strict budget....
I should be able to pay my overdraft off by April and make my first overpayment in June :T

That feels better on the progress front, now I need to recalculate mortgage payoff date:D

Lois_E

Yay! Playing with spreadsheets is fun. And motivating. Which are both good.

Hope your plan works out. That first OP in June (or whenever it happens) is going to feel GOOD. (But not as good as the final one, of course.)

Octobergirl

Thanks Lois:)

A pretty good weekend spend wise. I've had the satisfaction of filling my jars ( I've split the month in two, payday til mortgage, and mortgage til payday, so I only have to concentrate on sticking to my budget 2 weeks at a time).

£50 spent on food, and a whole £2.50 on entertaining the kids at the swimming pool for the afternoon, i only have to pay for DD as DS and I are free:D

Today is the first day of my 5:2 fast. I have a whopping 56ilbs to get back to pre-children weight:eek: I've never tried dieting, the legacy of growing up with a mother who is a perpetual dieter. And having spoken to a number of friends who've tried it and lasted a week before gorging themselves silly, I wasn't that interested.

However, it was a kindle offer for 99p. Amusingly the book seems to have no scientific evidence whatsoever, and the theory is the wooliest I've ever come across .....yet I'm strangely tempted to give it a go.

So....2 bowls of hot and sour soup today, and I'm feeling a little peckish;)