Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

Enjoying_life_more

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Good idea for buying breakfasty stuff that will see you through the week - we make either home made muffins, or flapjacks, and have those for our breakfasts most days - they can be made for pennies and either keep for a good fortnight in an airtight box (flapjack) or freeze brilliantly (muffins).

HM pizza...Mmmmm!

Great idea about the flapjacks and muffins - I will look into that as Its good things I can just grab if i'm running late and haven't prepared anything the night before. I usually make up and take porridge to warm in the microwave but it can be time consuming if i'm late.

thanks for the ideas!

Enjoying_life_more

No spends today !!

I've enjoyed the gym and catching up with family after work.

Found some delicious looking recipes for pizza's and priced up ingredients - quite surprised how cheap I can make them for. Food shopping tomorrow - I have a list and unless there are any absolute bargains I WILL NOT deviate from it ! I'm hoping to get what I need for about 12 pound - I will update the result tomorrow.

Enjoyed catching up on diaries tonight - it's a great way of keeping motivated and getting tips / ideas.

Going to enjoy a bit of TV now - I don't usually watch a lot of telly as I prefer radio or music but just feel like a lazy hour watching tv.

EssexHebridean

Somebody did some experimenting with "quick cook, microwave" porridge, home made style, a while ago...it was on a food blog somewhere...hmmm...wish I could remember where. If I remember rightly they gently pulsed the oats in a food processor to a finer texture, and added a small amount of sugar and some milk powder, then they were able to just add water and blitz.... If I find it I'll pop in a link. Far easier than taking made up stuff, and nicer than re-heated I would think.

Doh - how did I not remember it was from Jack Monroe?! Super Express Portable Porridge

Enjoying_life_more

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Somebody did some experimenting with "quick cook, microwave" porridge, home made style, a while ago...it was on a food blog somewhere...hmmm...wish I could remember where. If I remember rightly they gently pulsed the oats in a food processor to a finer texture, and added a small amount of sugar and some milk powder, then they were able to just add water and blitz.... If I find it I'll pop in a link. Far easier than taking made up stuff, and nicer than re-heated I would think.

Doh - how did I not remember it was from Jack Monroe?! Super Express Portable Porridge

Thanks you so much - i really appreciate this Essex !!!

Enjoying_life_more

Just a quick update re the food shopping - well I did deviate BUT it was for a bargain pack of 6 juicy oranges reduced to 15p- plus the whole shopping came in at 10.90 - lots of value branded stuff but all tried and tested before - so i'm feeling good about today and enjoying the feeling - it was a challenge and I met it !!

EssexHebridean

Superb! And yes, leaving those oranges would have been ridiculous - smart shopping there! :T

Enjoying_life_more

This weeks budget going well - I've a hair trim tomorrow and a night out to pay for but got plenty enough to cover both and hopefully have some left over to transfer to my savings account - not much maybe a few pound but it all helps.

Glad it's Friday as I've not had the best of weeks at work. Walked after work and got slightly drenched but I still enjoyed it - I find it clears my mind.

Looking forward to the weekend and the night out tomorrow it'll be nice to catch up. Also going to family for Sunday lunch so no cooking !

Enjoying_life_more

Had a nice day so far. Had hair trimmed and styled. Nice dog walk. Called at local supermarket for rest of Pizza ingredients (hoping to make tomorrow). Prepared and blanched some veg for casseroles, potatoe wedges and chips - they're all bagged up ready to go in the freezer (makes life much easier in the week when I can just cook from frozen). Called to see family which was nice. Now back home going to have an afternoon snooze before getting ready for my night out. I have a budget of 30 pound for tonight which includes taxis - so I need to stick to this - will update tomorrow.

Enjoying_life_more

Ah well it soon comes round to Sunday night/ Monday morning! - had a good night last night and managed to come back with 13 pound out of the 30 budget - it could be due to me not feeling too well (started with a nasty cold) but anyway whatever the reason I have change !!!

Pizza's turned out fab - why have I never made my own before? - so cheap to make and twice as nice as shop bought!

Managed to find a gap in the horrendous weather long enough for me to get out for a 1 and half hour walk - much needed due to the need to eat the home made pizza.

I have to sort my loan out this week as when I took out the loan as well as paying my own debts off I also helped a family member out by loaning them six thousand pound which they have been paying me back at 140 pound a month. They are now in a position to give me back what they owe which is now five thousand pounds (I haven't got the heart to pass on the interest) so I need to pay the five thousand off the loan when they give it me and then look around to get another cheaper loan to pay off the balance as I will need lower payments now that I haven't got their 140 per month, as my current loan only reduces the balance and not the repayments.

Looking forward to very low spends this week and lots of exercise.

EssexHebridean

Home made pizzas truly are one of the triumphs of cooking from scratch - what did you use as a tomato base? I usually go for half and half tomato puree and ketchup, to which you can add all manner of other things - garlic, herbs, and copious amounts of smoked paprika are all favourites in our house!