Dot's Diary - MFW as part of simplifying my life!

Dot_Common

So, we've now had another 'shopping with the meal plan', and as long as I ignore a few super-bargains that I've stocked up on, we've got it below £100 for the week. Not exactly frugal, but at least an improvement.

We do buy a lot of fruit - my boys are very reluctant to eat veg but will happily scoff all kinds of fruit, so a weekly shop includes apples, oranges, bananas, dried apricots, a combination of kiwi/blueberries/pears/strawberries. Hence trying to grow my own, but it takes time for that to make any difference and it's so seasonal.

Dot_Common

Not had a chance to post with half term this week - but I have unexpectedly saved some money as it turned out that my child carer wasn't available this week. Though I've had no chance to work!

The work I mentioned has now been confirmed, yay! Plus I've got some new work to do next week, only a day but every little helps.

Will update total savings to date once I've caught up with myself.

Meal plan still gong to plan, it is definitely making life a little easier, if not yet significantly cheaper.

Dot_Common

Back again! Bit of a delay again, but for good MSE reasons. Since I last posted, Mr C has been working away from home during the week, but getting great rates for doing so - and I've picked up a 3 days a week contract alongside my other freelance work, so it's all been go go go with earning money.

I'm really tired with managing the house and kids alongside my work without Mr C around, and there have been a few logistical nightmares when I've had to be away overnights (thanks to my mum for stepping into the breach), but I keep telling myself "think of the money!".

The balance isn't quite right, but I'm expecting my contract to finish May time, and Mr C will be back working locally by then, so I'm trying to make hay while the sun shines!

Meal planning going ok - though it's more a case of quick and easy meals for one during the week. And the old freezer is now in service, and storing food bargains and leftovers. Finally!

Dot_Common

So, things to do in the next couple of days:

- send in two invoices :T
- pin down Mr C and check out business account (I don't have access at the moment) - plan dividends and therefore OPs
- take unwanted clothes I bought online to the post office for returning (did get a few great sales bargains, but I have been good at deciding not to keep anything that isn't just right)
- meal planning and food shopping for next week
- get on the phone and negotiate a reduced rate for a course I have to attend, and organise childcare for it
- sign up to a free course I'm being offered (and organise childcare)
- find or sort out a replacement P45, as HMRC want a copy :eek:
- car tax due at end of the month
- expenses!! (still a bit rubbish at doing this promptly - which means I have to hunt around for the receipts)

Must focus!!

glitterjunkie

Hi dot, just wanted to say I've really enjoyed reading through your diary tonight especially your goals for a simpler life at the beginning. Im trying to do the same especially with de-cluttering and meal planning. Now you're quite a few months in do you feel you're getting there? I only started my MFW diary about 2 months ago but already feel it's made a huge difference.

I will subscribe if you don't mind, would be interested to follow your journey x

Dot_Common

Hi glitterjunkie, thanks for dropping by!

On reflection, part of my drive for a 'simpler life' was a reaction to how unhappy and stressed I was at work, and the changes I've made to how I'm working have gone quite a way to helping me feel more in control. But I have been doing a lot of decluttering and meal planning - both of which have been about making life easier to manage. I have a four week rotating meal plan that means I don't have to make any decisions about what to eat if I don't want to - i will go off plan if I fancy something different, but I love not having that "what shall I cook for dinner?" stressed feeling every day. Plus it does save money by reducing waste.

I've sorted out my clothes too, and have two weeks of work wear that I rotate too, trying to avoid the "what to wear?" decision that I need to make at 6.15 in the morning in 5 minutes before I have to get the kids ready. Boring maybe, but works for me!

So cutting down my work hours, being in charge of what work I do and don't do, getting rid of stuff to make it easier to keep on top of the house, and creating routines for some of the day-to-day decisions have all helped free my mind. So I have been able to chill in the garden, play more with my children, hang out with friends, in a way I didn't before. Still more I can do (and with Mr C away with work, it's been harder), but it feels like we're getting there.

Have you come across the idea of decision fatigue? I think it's a really interesting idea. There's a good article in the NY Times about it-
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/magazine/do-you-suffer-from-decision-fatigue.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Hurdler

I only started meal planning when I started using My Fitness Pal to help me with the whole losing weight, getting back to exercise routine... but it has helped enormously in terms of reducing costs - for example -if I buy parsnips and carrots for soups... I know that I batch up 5 fave soups which is about a month's work of soups for lunch... so I know I don't need to buy them again for a month - saving.

I also batch cook - so now the Hurdler is in full on Operation Eat-What's-In-The-Fridge-And-Freezer!

Dot_Common

I could definitely could do more to make the meal planning more frugal, and batch cooking should be a big part of that - at the moment, I'm in a bit of a "whatever gets you through" phase! My boys seem to gradually be becoming less fussy - like actually eating vegetables! - so it's making the process less painful.

It's easy to get distracted by earning more, and forget about saving more - I can't remember where I read it, maybe in the Millionaire next Door book, but there was a point made that if you change your habits to save £5 a week, then that's £5 a week forever - and £5 a week off the income you need when you retire, which when worked out as an annuity, is a significant sum.

Dot_Common

Gorgeous weather here! Just back from a lovely (no spend!) day out with the boys - and hoping to get out in the garden tomorrow as it's a non-work day. I need to clear my raised bed ready for some seed planting. Mixed salad worked well last year, saved us a lot of money vs bagged salad, and tasted sooo much better - only issue was we've got a southwest facing garden so they did tend to bolt a little too readily.

Had to spend this weekend - I've had to buy more school uniform for my 6 year old - he just keeps growing! (and lost a jumper at school somehow).

As I've been thinking about my goals for the week, I've been thinking about a) earning money b) selling things c) avoiding spends d) get things more cheaply if I do need them and e) make my money work harder.

So goals for the week so far:
- expenses (again) - need to submit some to two different clients and file some for the accountant
- one invoice to submit (yay!)
- get some clothes photographed and written up ready for the next free listing weekend on ebay
- find some use for a whole block of Stilton cheese that was left over from having some friends to dinner as it will go out of date soon (maybe soup...)
- buy salad seeds

Will no doubt be more, just can't think of more at the mo!

Dot_Common

Just done an extra supermarket delivery - stocking up on multi-buys and half price offers of things we normally have anyway. So I now need to find some space for multiple boxes of breakfast cereal, lots of laundry detergent, toothpaste, hand wash and dishwasher tablets...