Apple muncher's number crunching

Goldiegirl

I agree with what you said about food shopping. When I started reviewing my budgets, it was clear that food was a prime area where savings could be made, without adversely affecting our quality of life.

It does take a bit more effort - I've invested in a bread maker, so we make our own bread and rolls, and I cook from scratch most of the time now. I do a batch cook day once a month..... The only downside is the amount of washing up I create!

But so far this year, I've spent less than last years average, so it's worth the effort:)

Enjoy your break!

apple_muncher

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

Oh lovely, enjoy your hollibobs, apple muncher

Good idea to pop some money in the pension fund, my mum is just now looking at hers after doing part time for years and it's not the nicest of pictures. Definitely worth looking into what you can do now to top it up x

Thank you PM. We've had such lovely weather today - all caught the sun! And we're out all day tomorrow too! I didn't pack any suncream, so we'll just be sensible.

apple_muncher

Goldiegirl wrote: »

I agree with what you said about food shopping. When I started reviewing my budgets, it was clear that food was a prime area where savings could be made, without adversely affecting our quality of life.

It does take a bit more effort - I've invested in a bread maker, so we make our own bread and rolls, and I cook from scratch most of the time now. I do a batch cook day once a month..... The only downside is the amount of washing up I create!

But so far this year, I've spent less than last years average, so it's worth the effort:)

Enjoy your break!

Hello GoldieGirl - it's soo true about the food shop. I was looking back just to November, when I first joined and NSK challenge, and I was allowing us £100 per week for food. Ouchie! Now, I allocate much much less, and seem to be keeping to it. It's always great to see progression in my spending habits.

apple_muncher

apple_muncher wrote: »

We are all down on the south coast for a few days, which is lovely and peaceful. We brought dd's scooter so we can walk a bit further when out and about.

Still all in jamas, Cbeebies on (tweenies) and breakfasts being consumed. We're off laterto hunt for a particular playground that dd's seen on the 'play!' programme. Hope we can find it!

Dd has decreed that I should do a workout later and not now, so I shall obey. Might do Silent Killer with no weights and substitute a few exercises. Hmmm, sounds too finicky. May do 12 mins of dive bomber + pike press jump....

Time to make another coffee and think about getting dressed.

Well, the scooter was extremely useful as we went sooo far today - and dd went further as she never goes in a straight line!

We found the play ground and on the way back, dd went on trampolines, a humungous bouncy slide, and another bouncy castle type of thing. And once back, I dragged her out to another playground over a mile away. I have worn her out so much that she cannot sleep and is tossing and turning. I have reverted to sitting with her in an effort to help her stay a little more still.

I shall not be doing a workout today! But I have dyed my hair and already feel much better, less haggard, for doing it.

Not an NSD as paid for parking and trampolines, etc. But not bad, either. Dh got some food in for tomorrow's jaunt, so we have spent - tho I'm not counting it in my totals!!

The breathing is slow and steady.... Will stay just a short while longer.

apple_muncher

A lovely day spent at a kiddies' theme park today and dd had a whale of a time. Mse-wise, we spent not too much, maybe £14? It does annoy me how much one pays to get in and there's so little for thr big people to do - who've paid the same entry fee as the little people - except buy coffee and awful food and overpriced tat!! Thiat is why we don't do it very often!

Since getting back from there, we've looked a little into the annual Merlin passes and using tesc0 points to buy them. No way! The original cash price is £159per person; using point requires £50 worth of points. Now, if there was a quadruple points period, that would be very nice, thank you. But we can't bank on that happening. And I'm not sure we'd have enough vouchers even for that, as we rarely go to Mr T anymore.

Anyhow, I then thought about using the train 2for1 entry tickets. We'd usually use our oysters to go up to London, but it may be worth using the oyster to get to the station,andto use the tube, then the proper tickets on the train...with railcard discount... and for entry tickets. Number crunching needed.

The only reason we were considering the merlin pass is that we've been to legoland and I'd like to take dd to a sealife centre. Hmmmm. Certainly not enough to warrant anything annual!

Think I've resolved that one already.

No workout again today, but 10k steps done (did 16k+ yesterday!). However, the eating has been excellent - absolutely NO sugar since we came down here and for a few days before too. Go me! :T

Tomorrow will be a much quieter day methinks. Local town and charity shops and coffee, then playground. Yep, possibly that big one over a mile away, as it's right by the bridge that takes us over the river into town.

Dd went to sleep with no problems tonight - phew! So I've knitted anothrr fish and generally chilled out. Haven't had a headache since I decided to start sorting them out. A particular amount of good strong coffee in the morning - preceeded by about a pint of cold water - and persistent posture correction, seem to be doing the trick.

apple_muncher

I own a scooter :j:j:j! From a charity shop, with an extendable handle for bigger people. Result! Also got a couple of casual tops + jeans for me, a few tops for dd, books all round, and toys for dd. Came in under £20, which was pleasing - the scooter was £6.

And I've done a workout - Silent killer with bodyweight: 20x10/30: split squat L; squat; split squat R; squat; sumo press up; squat; V-up L; squat; V-up R; squat. Ooph.

This morning we were all in jamas til lunchtime! This afternoon's walk has done us good, but was enough.

The knitting has pottered on. I did a tree with fleece backing this morning which worked ok. 6 fish bodies and 1 full tree since starting the hol away, so not too bad at all!

Tomorrow we return home, tho still have several days before returning to work. Next door's little girl has had a very nasty fall while we've been away. The decision was made not to operate on her lip, but to let it fuse itself. She must be in a great deal of pain, poor mite. It'll be good to see them and see if we can do anything.

I've been ruminating about May already. I do like this planning one month at a time malarky.

Sunday is my next allocated sugar day, given that I'll have an Easter egg to scoff! Not quite the true meaning of Easter!! Must eat it all, otherwise 1 sugar day morphs into 4 or 5...

Habibiboo

:wave:

Gosh A*M, how did I manage not to catch up with you for so long? I could've sworn I made a comment a while back, especially when you started Silent Killer routines :eek:

Glad you finally managed to get jeans sorted and the scooter sounds great, I think you should definitely take it back to school with you for break-time crowd control! :rotfl:

Glad DD is doing well and hope neighbour's kiddie's issue turns out Ok - my son had a teeth-through-bottom-lip-fall once. He chose not to have plastic surgery to repair it at the time but often wishes he had done now (it was all his choice - he was in his early 20s when it happened). Trouble is there's no way of knowing how well younger skin will heal (or not). Our niece in NZ just had a playground fall and broke her nose and ended up with cellulitis and all sorts of infections, poor little tot! They're all different!

You're signature's looking impressive too and well done for managing to the middle of the month without dipping back into that £400! You're doing so well!

My monthly targets have gone to the wall a bit so I appreciate how well you're doing, just can't manage it myself at the mo! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve for May!

Glad you got cottage sorted - good result there! x

apple_muncher

Hello Hbbb! Thanks for popping by. I always have a giggle when I do the Silent Killer routine, as originally it was called Silent But Deadly! :rotfl: Not named by a Brit, of course! The name was changed pretty swiftly when the meaning was pointed out! It was designed in response to a workoutee who lived in a flat and couldn't do workouts involving a lot of jumping around.

Today's the day we pack up and leave. Sigh! Need to clean and tiday our friends' flat - we're the only ones who've used it while they're away, so they'll know who left a mess!

Once home, I'll probably need to go to aldee, but only to tide us over til Tues, the normal shopping day. Must remember to go for blood test on Tues too - vit D levels, so a new one for me.

Thanks for wishes for next door's little one. I don't know where her mouth was damaged yet, but my imagination has run through many possibilities!

Just under £290 left in bank til payday. All my ddebs go out v early in the month so it's all mine!! Actually, only 'ish', but I can't imagine spending that amount on 3 food shops!

In May I think I shall set a 'try to have x left at the end of the month' target. I've used my debit card a fair few times this month, which hasn't resulted in any overspending, but has meant I could do some Tilly Tidies :T. But I prefer to withdraw the cash and then use that, only getting out more when I've run out.

May will also see me checking in daily on the NSK challenge, and returning to 'today I am grateful for...'. Easy to let it slip.

I shall research train tickets for our hol in May too.

Ha ha! To taking the scooter to school. There are plenty of kids who are MUCH more skilled than I on the 2 wheeled beastie! Don't want to set myself up for mockery now, do I?!

Well, it's now after 8am and dd is still sleeping. Wow! Gonna send dh out later to get a 'thankyou' to leave in the flat while I pack. And will make dd a den to keep her busy. But until she surfaces, I see no reason to get off the computer...!

apple_muncher

Back home, and it isn't half cluttered compared with the flat! Took another bag to the Sally Army, and already have another one ready to go. Must keep plodding on with it.

Knitting is doing quite well. 2 trees with fleece backing and white shell decorations from a necklace. Very satisfying to make. Will be making more of them!

Dd had a lovely time playing with next door's daughter. Her lip is all swollen, poor mite, and rather a lot of damage was done inside her mouth - teeth and gum area. She's coping remarkably well with the pain, tho her mum's keeping her dosed up. Kids Klub are showing Frozen on Sunday, so she's coming along with us.

Have realised that in a couple of weeks' time, I start my exam board moderating. Better clear the dining room table and make space for a LOT of paperwork! The bed is going back to my generous work colleague on Sat morning, and given that dd doesn't have ballet, then I could have a go at that end of the room, to de-junk it somewhat.

Well, I'm up rather late for me! Dh is out, due back anytime; dd still needs moving to her own bed - a task that will become so much easier when she has a low bed. I'm sometimes in danger of overbalancing off the stool I need to use when lifting her into her bed!

apple_muncher

Dd is still asleep! Must be the darkened room that's helping her slumber on.

Today I may::
-wash clothes
-wash dishes
-go through under sink cupboard to tidy/clear it
-exercise
-mow

Or I may not!