Thistlewhistle 2014 - A Fresh Start

Lois_E

Hi Thistle

You seem to be doing great. I'll be interested to hear how the zero budget thing works out for you. I've read about it and don't think it would suit me but I know it does wonders for some people.

I put all possible spending on CC and have the bill timed so that the DD goes out just after payday, and call it a mini-stooze.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Thistle, I'm sure you'll manage. It's amazing how much food people have and don't think they've got any. (Generalist opinion based on multiple discussions with people at work, church and friends).

Even if you don't like or enjoy menu planning, give it ago until the 9th. It really will save you money and more importantly use up your stocks.

Think of your freezer, cupboards etc as sources of cash. 4 tins of beans £1/£2 depending upon brand, same with tomatoes. Potentially £2/£4 sitting in a cupboard. Extrapolate that logic across all your stocks and it mounts up. Instead of thinking you haven't got money until the 9th, put a rough guesstimate on your stock and you may have £50 (or probably much more) sitting around.

Does that help?

Tilly x

Thistlewhistle

Oh my goodness Tilly, you're a marvel!!!

I've carried out your idea and I've probable got around £100 in the freezer alone!!!

Tonight were having a chicken and lentil concoction over a mass of roast potatoes from the Act!fry. Served with runner beans and broccoli.

Bit of an odd combo but scoffing up all the odds and sods in the fridge.

Going to make loads so I can freeze a couple of portions for later in the week when I'm working evenings. Anti-takeaway measures!!!:rotfl:

Spent £9.99 on groceries this afternoon - my meeting finished late so I missed the supermarket and had to buy in the local shop:mad:
Still, I took my own lunch so at least the £9.99 wasn't on top of a hotel lunch!!!

T:D

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning Thistle, how's the week going?

We are back to heavy rain which is

What's for dinner tonight?

Tilly x x

Thistlewhistle

Sorry I've been off piste for a couple of days - it's been manic here, working every hour sent!!!

You asked about dinner, Tilly...

A lovely piece of salmon, cooked in a fish stock with spring onions, mushrooms, peas and sweetcorn, then chucked in a cup or orzo to make a fabulous salmon orzotto!!! Delish!!! And totally free food too!!!

Today has calmed down. I'm off to SW group in a bit to weigh in. Think I've done ok - enough to get 2lb off at least!!

Need to get my budget spreadsheet finished as April is fast approaching.

But for now, I'm going to enjoy the morning with my buddies at group and have a real good laugh with them.

T:D

Ps operation freezer empty is going great. I found a lamb steak yesterday I never knew I had, yesterday!

Thistlewhistle

Morning all,

I lost 2lb at group yesterday giving me my 1/2 stone award so I was very much chuffed with that!

Also took the step of opening a S123 account yesterday and took advantage of their Credit Card too. It gives me a 0% rate for 18 months on purchases and cash back on groceries and fuel so I plan to stooze the balance. Could be lucrative, especially as the snoozing balance can help me reach the £3k level in the S123 account for maximum interest. Could net me about £150 a year or even more.

My Zero Based budget spreadsheet and spending diary is almost complete, just in time for April. I'm really going to have to pull my spends in as a brief audit of cashflow and impending commitments means it's going to be a rough six months.

Still, I'm taking on a few relief groups to up my income and a good Easter promotion should swell my own group which will help. I have 6,000 leaflets to deliver!!! I need to really raise my levels of member support too so that my retention stays high.

There's lots to do!!

Catch you later!

T:D

Thistlewhistle

OK here we go!

April 1st

Central heating has been ceremoniously switched off until November 1st and the switch has been taped over to remind me!!!

Zero Based Budget spreadsheet began at 00:00:01 this morning and is doing well. Planning to log all my income (cash in) and spends (cash out) this month and allocate very penny I own to a job, be it bills, debt repayment, spends or Savings

New S123 a/c is up and running
New S123 CC is activated and running

I'm all set....bring it on!!:D
Thistle is going places (up, hopefully):;)

T:)

Thistlewhistle

Pleased with today!

Earned £3.80 commission from stock sales.
Raffle made £4.10 net (not bad for a small relief group)
Don't know how much I've earned yet as it takes a couple of days to be calculated.

Only spent £2.61 (on a sandwich) and only because I hadn't planned properly enough. Won't be caught out again!

Paid £100 across to the new S123 account and started using my S123CC (earned 10p cash back!!!)

So on the whole a good day.

Tomorrow will be manic from dawn to dusk and beyond so may not get chance to post later on.

T:D

Thistlewhistle

It's 2am and time to hit the duvet
T:D

Lois_E

Hope you don't have an early start this morning then Thistle. :eek: