Getting there...slowly.

girlatplay

Nothing major to report today. All pots are healthy-ish. My pot for yearly insurances, etc, is looking a bit low. That's the one I have been dipping into recently as it had a really good balance. It will cover everything I need it to but I like when it is pretty.

Up to £7 on OnePoll. It is a bit annoying as I can't do the surveys that need Flash Player at work as my computer won't let me I keep forgetting to do them when I get home. I had 5 waiting this morning! It is now down to 3.

Called the new bank yesterday to use the switch service. That is it all set up ready. Switch completion date is 27th August. It means I will need to pay myself on 28th this month instead of 26th like I was going to. However, I should receive my lovely £100 within 45 days after that

Off out for lunch in an hour to catch up on my friend's gossip. I never have any

girlatplay

Over the weekend I gave myself a good shake. LMG's and my diet is getting ridiculous. Since we came back from our hols it has been really difficult to get back into the grocery routine. It was so nice having other people cook for us that I just couldn't get back in the swing of it. I was struggling to meal plan, well overspending the budget and not buying enough food come grocery day

On Saturday we went to B&M and I bought enough washing and dishwasher tabs to last us a couple of months (bleach and stuff too). On Sunday we went to Lidl and to Morrison's with a proper list and meal plan, and bought decent food for the week. Grocery day is normally a Wednesday but we can't go on like this. I took money from the yearly insurances account and I will replace it bit by bit.

I cleaned out the fridge. It absolutely sparkles. I am so pleased. Cleaned out vegetable cupboard (and inside of washing machine, was on a roll!) too. I only put out one bag of old potatoes (it was actually disgusting, hiding at the back of the cupboard having been there for a *very* long time), a jar of pickled gherkins and a quarter tub of bicarb of soda (BB 06.2009) so no major waste.

We have a firm plan in place. We have a clean kitchen. LMG realises that she needs to help with the meal plan so we are finally working as a team. I have only nagged for 13 years to get to this point :cool:

The only thing I need to get my head round is noticing the dishwasher tabs lasting a month. I just seem to buy more when we run out. I don't actually know how long a box lasts us. I need to notice how long a box of washing tabs lasts. Same with shampoo, body wash, deodorant, etc.

I am feeling better about things today though. Even although I spent about £90 over the weekend to get that feeling :eek:

Payday next week. Might have to do a bit of shuffling to get the pots to add up but it will be worth it

giblet1979

Sounds like a really useful re-focus gap...probably needed to get things back on track, and I'm sure you'll make the money back in no time!
What kind of things have you got on your meal plan? x

girlatplay

Yes, I feel better already. Clearer in my own head.

The meal plan is one that we can chop and change to suit whatever night we want. Depends on how we feel.

Chicken, baby pots & courgettes shallow fried in garlic and herbs (this was Sunday night's tea. Was really good )
Steak, baby pots & spinach (this was last night's tea. Was GREAT! )
Chicken fajitas tonight (sis is coming for tea - parents are away on hols).
Lamb casserole (still not used the lamb yet. This is one that will have to be planned the night before as I need to take it out the freezer).
Tomato, mozzarella and basil pasta (this is our go to. If we are struggling to think of something one night it is easy).
Baked potatoes with cheese and beans (can't always get LMG to eat the beans though :mad:).

That is all I can remember off the top of my head. Covers this week anyway. I have to pick up pork ribs next time I am in the supermarket. I do them like THIS (the recipe is further down the page) and they are delish! LMG LOVES them so I promised we could have them soon. Don't you just love MemoryGirl (Elaine) and her brilliant blog?!

Car insurance due for renewal next month. I got my renewal email today. Came in at £157.94 which is a good price. I did the dutiful comparison anyway and found the same company at £155.82. I called them (had to call anyway as they didn't have my card details) and he confirmed everything so I got it for the £155.82. Only £2.12 of a difference but look after the pennies and all that...

The Yearly Insurances account is completely empty :eek: *insert panic smiley* :( I will be able to transfer back £29 once the insurance payment has updated on my credit card balance but my YI account is never that low so I feel a bit uncomfortable. I pay in £100 per month to cover the year so August's is due at the end of the month and then each month due thereafter. Also the next yearly payment is not due off until mid December but I like having that wee buffer that I can borrow out of if necessary.

I am doing well with remembering to bring proper lunches to work too. I always bring lunch but sometimes I don't bring enough and I am left hungry. So far so good this week

girlatplay

Chicken Enchiladas! I knew I had forgotten something off the meal plan list.

I need to buy the ribs, some more chicken, cheese and some deodorant on my next supermarket visit, which probably won't be today as I have the dreaded dentist *groan*

I forgot I had put the B&M stuff on my cc. I thought I had paid in cash but when the cc updated I could remember putting my card in their machine. Oh well, at least I have enough to cover. £7.10 has gone to the Yearly Insurances account for now.

I had a boiled egg and one of LMG's homemade blueberry muffins for breakfast. I have a teacake to toast in a few minutes for my break. I don't get a lunch break on a Wednesday (because I finish at 2pm) so I am trying to find different ways to fit food in. Sometimes I forget to eat if I am not hungry and that is just not good for my body. Also with having the dentist today I don't want to be eating right before I go. I will pop home and brush my teeth and it will all be fine

giblet1979

Yum to the food.....sounds amazing! I need to be more creative with meals and focus more on cheaper options rather than the carnivore household with huge portions as we can be. I'm going to steal some of your ideas if that's ok

Boo to the dentist...hope you got on ok??? x

girlatplay

giblet1979 wrote: »

Yum to the food.....sounds amazing! I need to be more creative with meals and focus more on cheaper options rather than the carnivore household with huge portions as we can be. I'm going to steal some of your ideas if that's ok

Boo to the dentist...hope you got on ok??? x

Of course it's ok! I steal ideas from mooomin and mummytogirls all the time! I try to balance our diet and keep the cost down. Luckily we have no boys in our house so we are happy to eat veggie stuff a lot.

It was the hygenist I had to see. She was off sick in June when I went so I had to rearrange. I prefer to have the hygenist and the dentist both on the one day to get it over and done with. It was all fine, thank you.

I ended up spending £30 (THIRTY QUID!! On what??) yesterday. It was all needs (apart from the Galaxy - 4 for £1) but still. It didn't seem to be good value for money. Then again, I popped to Sainsbury's instead of Morrison's as I thought it would be easier. Hmphf! LMG and I are going to go to Lidl again on Sunday. This is going to be our regular thing to keep our shopping bill down and to get us moving on Sundays.

I remembered I have chicken in the freezer so that will do the enchiladas. I bought the ribs (would definitely have been cheaper in Morrison's), some asparagus and a courgette so that is another meal ready to cook. We are meal planned up to (including) Sunday. Perfect.

mummytogirls

Afternoon Gap,

Ooohhh I never thought my menu ideas were that good but im flattered that it helps you plan your menus !

Glad all was well at the dentist, were there next Thursday. Im ok with it as I had a brace when I was a teenager and got used to going all the time.

xx

girlatplay

LMG has a brace. She doesn't complain either. She is such a good girl. I have dental phobia. I moan all the time! My dentist and his team have been brilliant with me. Once upon a time I couldn't even say the word dentist without feeling faint and nauseous. I HATE going but at least I go now.

It is so hard to think up menu ideas all the time. I like yours and mooomin's ideas, mummy, as they are things that we eat. I did a take on mooomin's chicken jambalaya once and it was ace!!

Off out for lunch today with the friend. Her turn to pay :j Thank goodness as I am really feeling the pinch right now. Paying out left, right and centre for my sis's hen. I wanted to put my £40 from OnePoll towards either the mortgage or the house deposit but it looks like I will have to put it towards the hen When they got engaged on Christmas day they said 2016 for the wedding. Suited me just fine, plenty time to save. But no, typical gap-sis, wants everything yesterday and changes her mind like the weather (which, by the way, was thunder & lightening and massive hailstones yesterday and today I am roasting in a t-shirt at work!)

Chicken enchiladas for tea. I remembered to take the chicken out the freezer

Up to £10.50 on OnePoll so far today. The surveys are quite regular at the moment and not too long so it is bearable.

gib - if you are reading, I am working my way through your diary

anothermoneysaver522

Loving reading your diaries girlatplay - you've inspired me with your pots and money organisation to the penny! I have subscribed :-) stupid question maybe but I'm curious...do you keep the money in lots of actual pots? Or different banking accounts online?