2014 - keep crunching away

cazmanian_minx

Have you got an indoor washing line? This sort of thing:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Artis-Retractable-Mounted-Outdoor-Washing/dp/B00DVL13U6

As another tumble-dry-free household, I couldn't manage without one, especially in winter. I've got it in the annexe here, but in the last place we lived I had one over the bath and just retracted it when not in use. Brilliant, brilliant things.

DebtFree2012

Ohh no, I have a fold out things which I move around however I could put one of those in the loft as it get warm up there and it wouldn't be in the way - good idea thanks. I'm sure the neighbours are adding their washing to mine - I never get through it.

DebtFree2012

Ok so this week I return to work tomorrow (the office, part time) and it's going to be a shock to the system. I thought I'd better see what damage has been done over the last 6 weeks or so where everything's been upside down and spending's a bit crazy. Here we go. Previous on left, new on right.


SLC £3318.9 / £3318.90 / £3185.11 / £3049.43 / 2725.47
CCV £11483.44 / £11312.60/ £11312.60 / £12013.48 / £11675.29
CCT £5490.04 / £5440.09 / £5382.04 / £5329.04 / £5276.04
CCR £3957.65 / £3918.07 / £3878.89 / £3840.10 / £3801.69
NTW £14451.24 / £14185.79 / £14185.79 / £13708.55 / 13708.55
OD £946.28 / £892 / £1000 / £1000 / £750

£39902.21 / £39302.15 / £39157.04 / £39139.60 / £37937.04


Things are at least heading in the right direction still. I've taken off the Next account which was couple of hundred as I'm paying this out of my pocket money. The SLC had a large payment this month, 3 times the norm as did the CCV due to a misunderstanding!


I've been lucky enough o get a pay rise which means I should have around £90 more a month from this Friday. Naturally I was wanting to put it all to debt but I'm wondering whether it's worth saving some, even a small amount.


I've had lots of sales on ebay so need to get them out asap - however I made very little. It's all better than nothing of course and the post office is 2 minutes away so I'm not losing out in petrol.


Got some onions planted this weekend along with the lettuces that have come through from seed. They are getting a good watering at the mo as it's started tanking it down. The chickens are laying so at least it's one less thing to buy.


As mentioned, I'm paid on Friday so would like to get a meal plan organised. I was thinking about getting Tesco delivered or use the collection service. I haven't been shopping in Tesco for months and months as I detest the place however I went to Ald1 at the weekend and I'm surprised I didn't kill someone as it was crazy - idiots day out too, without sounding judgemental! I honestly could live in a field with very little outside contact!!! Grumpy old bag! However I am spending more and more again so was wondering if I get Tesco to deliver then I can plan my order (money wise too) and plan the meals for the coming weeks. I'd still top up at Aldi.


I also dread to think what my heating and electric bill will be from working from home for so many weeks!!!

DebtFree2012

Afternoon

Back at work today. Lots to do so it keeps me going however it was so strange coming back into the office.

I had a look online last night at Tesco and their prices are crazy compared to Aldi but if I'm adament about not going to a supermarket then I'll have to work something out. There's a lovely farm shop near the stables so I can pop there for fruit during the week. I wonder if they sell milk too.....I already get the horses carrots there but never noticed. Will check tonight.

So a meal plan's underway for next week and a meat order's in with the butcher however some of the meat will last me a good while.

I've updated my money forecast to include correct new pay and budget so I will see how next month goes.

I've put my metre readings in now that I'm back in the office so that should show in a day or 2 and I got my washing out first thing this morning so I'm pleased about that as it's not rained!

DebtFree2012

Decision made. From Friday, when I get paid I am going to get a weekly delivery from T£sco using their £1 delivery offer and top up at farm shop for fruit and veg. I'll freeze milk.

I'll go to Home Bargains or such like at the weekend to get washing powder and soap, shampoo and such like.

DebtFree2012

Right £50.01 spent in Tesco which will be enough food and milk for next week once I have a done a top up at the farm shop. I've done a meal plan for a week from today. As I make meals I will try and save portions for the freezer.

The meat will be around £50 however I'm going to split that with next month which is when it will see me through until (cheaper to buy in bulk).

So that's £75 from food budget spent. Leaving £110 ish.

I'm going to make HM bread on Fri to have with HM soup on Sat.

I need a slow cooker leek and potato soup recipe now.

DebtFree2012

Morning diary


I went to the farm shop for horse carrots last night but didn't go in as it was nearly closing time and the owner was packing everything away so I just paid him outside and took a sack (they're outside too). So I shall investigate on Sunday what they sell and if they sell milk for example.


I also went to Tesco, before the farm shop, with a £5 off voucher and was upset before I even went in! I parked in a parent and child as had the 2 rug rats with me and a car was in the one next to me - the driver was just finishing eating something out of a carton (those white plastic horrible ones) and instead of using the nearby bin, threw his carton on the floor only to then get out and head to the entrance. Of course he had no kids with him but was in P&C spacing too. Frustrates the life out of me. Then inside there were 3 teenagers, male, loud and swearing and generally getting in everyone's way as they were looking for their things.


This is why I hate going to supermarkets and which is why I am willing to pay that bit extra to get it delivered.


I do need to draw up a list of base items I need weekly, such as packed lunch food for the kids and salad for our lunches, milk etc. Then I'll take the evening meal menu plan and add the items I need for that. The intention is to have a plan that flows, so Monday will be using LO veg from Sunday dinner and so on. I don't expect it to be brilliant straight away but we will get there.


I think my heating might be going off until the winter now. We have the log burner and wollies for emergencies.


Right, off to check accounts are in order then do some work.

DebtFree2012

Morning world

I've woke full of the joys of Srping today. I feel great!!!! :j

I had an AMAZING jump on the big girl last night. We both loved it! She is fantastic! Pony is still full of himself. They can hopefully go in the fields soon and he can run it all out of his system. Vicious circle as I don't like DD riding when he's like that (she's too young and inexperienced) but the less he's rode the worse he gets!

Pay day today so I've wrote the livery chq out for the month, need to buy wormer and feed but no shoes this pay, oh and settled the vet's invoice. Other DD and SO are coming out over the next few days so I just need to sit tight for that. I've over paid the CCV by £30, taking it from the pay rise I've had. The rest is going to the OD. Diesel and groceries are the ones to keep an eye on this month.

Grocery wise I've got my first delivery coming tonight, had to add more on at 6am this morning when I realised I had no tin foil, salad cream or tomato sauce (2 kids remember!). I've got my menu plan for next week and that MUST be adhered to, to stay in budget.

My meat order's arrived and I was bang on with the estimate £50. That's 24 chicken breasts, 5kg mince and 5kg diced beef, a full pork loin (will get at least 4 Sunday lunches from this) and a pack of 12 ish sausages. I need to check my menu plan to see what the month of meals will do to the meat amounts and how much I will have left, or not!

Meter readings are in but no idea if the useage is up or down as it's not said.

I've ordered some wool and needles so I can start my next knitting project

DebtFree2012

This morning I've been quite anal and have set up a new spreadsheet devoted to my meter readings

Using my latest bill I know what I'm charged and how they work it out so I can predict if the money I'm budgetting each month will be enough. So far it is so that's good. I will get a reading around pay day each month so it remains consistent. The average cost per day is coming down nicely as we leave winter behind us.

Now for the grocery one and the meat order.

DebtFree2012

Couldn't wait - did the mean/menu plan over lunch. I get rather excited about these things!!!! Bigger fools and all that.

Anyway - the chicken will see me through 2 months if I am careful. Next month I will have whole chickens for Sunday lunches meaning we will have LO's. The diced beef we will use this month - just realised how much red meat we eat in various forms. Easy in the SC though. Mince easily 2 months. Sausages will just see through this month too.

I've included lots of new recipes that I've sourced online and therefore we have a month of home cooked meals ahead of us. Soup will be a Saturday lunchtime staple though coming into summer not sure how the family will react - I don't fancy cold soups one bit.

By the end of the month I've balanced out to include fish, white meat and red meat with veggies each week. We also have a junk night which might be sausages or nuggets etc.

Tonight is a special night and is steak and wine - we don't normally live it up like that lol