Striking while the iron is hot.

Muser1

Not much to report. Worked over the weekend. Rubbish but overtime so well worth it.

DH made a spicy carrot soup yesterday out of some manky old carrots, potatoes that had seen better days and a few herbs and spices. Lush and made enough for 6 portions. They are all in the freezer and will do us for work lunches. We would have thrown these away before MSE.

Lunch out today. My turn to pay I think. Should be cheap enough and will be nice to have a catch up. I like Mondays! No work for me and no after school activities to rush to.

Payday next week. I don't feel very organised at the moment with money and have that awful feeling like I have forgotten something all the time. Hopefully that will pass. There have been lots of switching money from one account to the other as I have bought Christmas presents. Fingers crossed I have got everything sorted!

x

Muser1

Inspired by Tilly I now have my very own freezer inventory! After a very good haul at the butchers.( Who knew you could haggle??). I have enough things prepped to last me weeks. All made up and ready to go. Lots of sauces batch cooked and in indvidual portions and meatballs, burgers, chillis etc to go with them. I was so exited to use my breadcrumbs. I have seriously changed!

DH seriously can't believe the reduction in our food bills. It's really great and we both agree we are eating much better. Now if only we didn't like wine. :rotfl:

Rubber chicken did me proud yesterday. 6 Sunday lunches, 2 sandwiches and a several chicken soups later I think it's safe to say we had our monies worth! :j The veg I used was all super 6 from Ald1 so bargainous all round.

Also been baking our own bread. Went down very well with the little members of my brood.

Nearly payday.

Muser. x

Muser1

Rare day off for me. Child free and feels very odd.

Jobs so far include

• Washing done and drying on the 'horse'
• All dry washing ironed and put away.
• Toiletries sorted and organised.
• Bedding cupboard which was a disaster zone all tidy and organised.

I'm now under a blanket eating chocolate and drinking tea. Yum. Homemade chicken soup from our rubber chicken for dinner later. I will make a fresh loaf to have with it. Can't wait.

Still trying really hard not to have the ch on. Staying strong so far today.

I'm really enjoying the mse way of life. I feel very content. I'm not paying loads off the mortgage each month (at the moment anyway!) but I feel the changes we as a family have made have been very beneficial to all of us.

Muser. x:)

Muser1

Still plodding on. Have a good plan now in my head. I want to save £4k as an emergency fund. This is going to come from Ebay, selling sites, TCB (waiting on £111.00) and any overtime funds I earn. This leaves money factored in to the budget for savings to go in the holiday pot and general everyday savings for presents, hair cuts etc.

SHTF pot currently at just over £1000 so 25% of the way there. :money:

Meal planning, batch cooking and careful shopping have meant a vast reduction in spends. We are at about £30 a week! Compared to about £70 this time last year. I could divert this to the savings but it's making life more comfortable from week to week. It means we can go out for lunch if we fancy or have a nice day trip with the children. It also means if we have a cheeky take away or bottle of wine we don't go over budget.

Have really enjoyed half term with the children we have gone halloween crazy! Trimmed up the house, made pumpkins and went trick or treating. Lots of soft play and trips out. We even ventured to the seaside. It has been perfect.

Back to reality now.

xx

BlueMoo

Congrats on all you've done so far :T
Seems like you are really whipping your finances into shape!

Saw your post on the diary about wanting to live in the dream home in the future (gosh, can't remember who started that thread...dreadful memory..) so I thought I would come over and read yours as we seem to have similar goals.

Very jealous of your mortgage amount.

I don't do batch cooking as don't have the space in my freezer, but I do make sure I try and use up leftovers, and it has reduced the wastage in our household considerably.

Muser1

Hi Blue Moo!

Thanks for popping over. I really must keep my diary up to date more!

Mortgage is small but to move we need to add about 170k to that :0 so we need to get cracking! We live on the one street in our area that is not extortionate. I don't want to leave. Get lots of inspiration from here. :money:

Muser. x

Muser1

Motivation is low at the minute need a kick up the backside!

Just claimed a whopping £2.52 from TCB will put in the holiday pot (might add this to my sig) for the 2 holidays I have booked next year. Only cottages in the UK but I can't wait.

Disney On Ice later. Yippee can't wait. Have warned dd we can't buy any tat sorry I mean merchandise!

Need to go through Xmas stuff see what I have left to buy.

No heating on today so far :money:

Right I have 2 hours to -

• Wash the dishes
• Post a letter to claim some expenses
• Put clean washing away
• Hang wet washing up
• Make a picnic for Journey to Sheffield
• Make myself look presentable (yikes)

Best get cracking.

Laters

Muser. x

BlueMoo

Only cottages in the UK but I can't wait

Sounds lovely - I have done this twice (once in N.Devon and once in the Lake District) both were beautiful and I really enjoyed them. No stress of changing currency/timezones/passports/ the the like.

Where are you thinking of going?

Muser1

Hi BlueMoo we are going to Snowdonia and Northumberland. Have gone for luxury ones. Champagne on arrival and the like so should be lovely! Both on farms so the children will love it!

Do you have a diary? x

Muser1

Disney on Ice was fantastic. Both children thought it was amazing! Managed to avoid the overpriced tat. We took snacks and drinks and parked for free. Very cheap evening out.

Been to a local playgroup this morning £1.50 for 3 hours play and bottomless tea juice and biscuits. Nice and relaxed today. I'm often running about like a loon trying to stop DS causing havoc. He is now having a nap and I'm eating soup and cheese on toast!

Got all my jobs sorted yesterday so I'm giving myself a list again today.

• Wash dishes and sort out bomb site kitchen.
• Sort yet more washing in utility room and add to ever increasing pile of ironing.
• Empty the bin (least favourite job ever)
• Clean bathroom
• Hoover downstairs
• Make dinner

Off to catch up on some diaries.

Muser. x