Carrot cake in the oven

supersaver1000

Well the good news is that the CCs are still under £15k :j:beer:

The bad news is that I've attacked the savings pot to pay off a large bill we had this month. (Its still over £5k though and I will not let it go below that!). I did think about getting another 0% and paying it over 12 months, but to be honest that's partly how we ended up where we are 'cos it gets very confusing moving things about. And although I know it will cost a few pounds in interest, this way I know exactly where we are, the card balance is coming down and I won't get kerfuffled about what we actually owe.

Its great that overall the figure is still reducing - the payments are higher than the interest and spending, so that's a bonus. I would love to get that figure under £9k, but I just don't have any spare at this moment in time - next month though I am coming for you. I have about £275 on a little card and that is in my sights! Its exciting to think that very soon we will be in the 8's. :beer::j

Debt-free by Aug15 (i.e £9k paid off) isn't looking very likely but I'm leaving it there as you never know. I think we will pay off about £3k in payments plus we should be getting a £3k bonus in August if things go to plan, which really only leaves another £3k but divided by 9 payslips is still about £350 a month - hmmm we'll see.

Its lovely to have now finally faced the finances and to know that they aren't such a disaster as I thought. Although DH confessed to using the emergency CC and said don't worry I'll give you the cash to repay it. No says I - you pay it off the CC - the balance was zero so you make it back to zero. I'm fed up with being the responsible one - he needs to clean up his own messes (hark at me :rotfl:).

Anyway, in the words of a song by the very beautiful but very very sadly tragic dear departed Whitney.......

Its not right, but it's okay, I'm gonna make it anyway..... (come on everybody join in - I'm going to play it on Spotify while I eat my porridge and then head into work - such a glamour puss me :rotfl:).

Bless all and have a great Friday!!!!!

supersaver1000

Okay, here is my Mexican Spicy Rice recipe:

2 tbspoons oil
1 onion chopped
1 red pepper chopped
2 - 3 mugs of rice
1 can of red kidney beans
Chilli powder
Tomato pur!e
Water
A stock cube
Herbs, salt and pepper
Small can sweet corn
Can of baked beans
Yoghurt and grated cheese to serve

Fry the onion for a few mins, then add the red pepper
Meanwhile put the kidney beans in a pan, cover with just enough liquid, add half a teaspoon of chill and simmer for about 5 mins
Wash the rice thoroughly then add to the onion mixture together with half a spoon of chilli powder. Fry for a minute or two.
Add the tomato pur!e (I added a whole small tin), herbs and seasoning and some water.
Keep cooking and adding water until it seems to be nearly cooked
Taste and add more seasoning if needed, then add the drained kidney beans, baked beans and sweet corn
You can add a spoon of white wine vinegar to sharpen before serving, serve with plain yoghurt and grated cheese.
Enjoy. I'm just wondering if Jack has a recipe in her book, but there are lots of different recipes if not.

SS1K

liltdiddylilt

Well hello there my beautiful and talented friend. I love the recipe idea, and the positivity in here. I see that the mood dipped a little but I am glad you have resolved yourself to what is to come and are still plugging away!

I am with you all the way!

Yay to making DH sort his own little messes out. Learning to take responsibility for things is the only way anyone ever stops making the mistakes over and over.

Sending you lots of little twinkling stars for your night sky tonight, so that it looks as fab as mine. Jellytot was pointing out of the open window at the dark sky and bright stars tonight, and I suddenly realised that I hadn't looked up to see and admire the beauty in our amazing surroundings. I hope you get a clear view of some of the brightest ones up there tonight. Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes and an untainted view of the world to make you realise the simple things really are the best.

Glad to be back. I missed you!

parsniphead

Phew supersaver I have just finished reading through your diary. It's taken a few sittings.

I'm really impressed, even with your ups and down you seem to be taking charge of your life and sorting it.

I hope you get all you want, you deserve it.

Have to go, DS asking for cheese on toast. No rest eh.

Greying_Pilgrim

supersaver - I'm just catching up a little around the boards, and I must say, I've loved reading your posts. You are positive, you have plans, you are in control, you are making the most - with what you have available to you :j It's a great read - you keep going girl!

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

Sometimes it takes a fresh pair of eyes and an untainted view of the world to make you realise the simple things really are the best.

Beautiful Lilty, and so true, esp the last bit

I'm orf now supersaver - but I'm leaving your diary with a smile Thanks

Greying

supersaver1000

Thank you so much, I was so pleased to read such lovely comments

Greying it is always an honour when you pop in. I rely on your thread so much for ideas of what to have for us tea. I've just popped in a gain and had a lovely reminder of HM pizza - how do I ever forget, but I do. I'm going to look for cheap olives next time I'm in the supermarket, yumbly in my yumbly. And I thought my 25kg of potatoes were good at a fiver, but £3.99 ! Amazing.

I've just been to MrT as had a fiver off £40 spend. Spent £44.61 but got a few extra bits for the store cupboard. My bean collection is building again - you're right - is it a help or a hindrance. I don't know. I picked up a 3kg bag of pasta for 2 squid. And 2kg of lentils but the offer had gone . It'll be back just like Arnie. So together with the 4kg bag of rice my cupboards are bursting. Wait til I get my tray of eggs next week!

I've also stocked up on loo roll and washing up liquid for the month and we are sorted for bits and bobs for the week (hopefully!) and a good supply of mapley syrup for DDs pancakes. . I'm trying to avoid Palm oil - real butter and Fl*r@ for us - DD also says dairy is one not to scrimp on.

Lilty Lentil :rotfl: I am so pleased you are back. Glad you enjoyed your trip but I have missed you too. Hope you settle back down okay. It's always hard getting back I to it.

Sadly I missed the stars last night. I think I was in bed way before ten, just felt exhausted. However I will look tonight and the next time I see the stars will think of you and your lovely words. I'm looking forward to catching at your thread soon. But I have two more jobs to apply for so I am going to be busy doing that yayyy to looking forward and fresh eyes :)

Parsnip head (:rotfl:sorry I'm just picturing your head and am really sorry if you do have a parsnip head :rotfl: ). I am amazed you read my thread. You'll probably be in need of a long lie down. :rotfl: Thanks for popping by and for your kind words. I have subscribed to you and will look forward to catching up once my applications are in and my homework done - yikes !

Bye all, thank you for keeping me motivated. I can do anything with you behind me :T

Whitefeather8

I completely echo Greying Pilgrim's comments about your diary and I loved Liltdiidylilts post.

I walked barefoot for 10 miles along a beach at a local beauty spot recently and hardly saw anyone. There were seals jumping into the sea in front of me and I thought to myself how fortunate I was that I had my health and that was true wealth, and I wanted to do everything I could to maintain that.

Keep up the great work x.

liltdiddylilt

I am crying laughing at the thought of a Parsnip Head... I never think of names literally, but looking around I wonder at some of the names now... :rotfl: giblet... haha!

I am very glad that my post touched a couple of people. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have a child to guide me through this world. I always thought it was the adults guiding the children, but since I had her, I have been viewing the world through new eyes, seeing it as she must, and it is a beautiful place we live. So I am thankful for the opportunity to look out of the window and see stars as they should be seen.

Whitefeather you gave me goose bumps. Sounds like a fabulous place you live. May your health and wealth long continue.

SS hope you've had a wonderful day. I've made some Rosemary and white pepper piadina's and can recommend. Homemade chilli and savoury rice and later rice pudding or ice cream with MOTD.

I probably ought to catch up with my diary too but I am still on a backlog of posts in other diaries!!

Hugs xx

parsniphead

It's more suede shaped actually but I wanted to come across a little more sexy and glamourous.;)

I think sometimes super saver that we focus so much on meeting a debt free date (which is fantastic) but forget that the debt is reducing along the way. It's so good that you recognise that it is going down and you are succeeding.:T

Thanks for the recipe, I'm definitely going to try it on DH. I can't try it as peppers make me I'll. Perhaps I will make a batch without the peppers.

Have a good day.

supersaver1000

Thank you Wf8, Lilty Lentil and Parsnip Head - I am trying to imagine what is glamorous about a parsnip, but I guess it is long and slender - the picture of your turnip like head is still not any better :rotfl:

Wf8 and Lilty You are right there is so much wonder in life - my journey in the morning starts with a lovely trip down a beautiful country track and d'you know I don't even notice it as we're usually late. Sometimes in the frost or when there's a pink sky we say that we must get the camera and capture this for when we make our move to live near Lilty. I'm thinking of that slipping through my fingers song again - must play that more often to remind me.

Parsnip Head do try the recipe without the peppers - that was just something I put in there as I thought it would go, there's absolutely no need for it - you could try tomatoes maybe. I also saw a recipe that added grated cheese in it, I'm definitely going to do that next time as we added a bit on top with some natural yoghurt and it was delish.

Thanks Lilty for the menu suggestions, I will definitely give those a try. DD is cooking a bit at the moment, so I will get her to give them a go - she is a lovely little cook now and her job and school are going really well. We are so lucky to have her.

Good health and good living to all I have 2 applications in for jobs at the moment and another one to send off tomorrow or weds. I've had two interviews in as many weeks which is a good sign - both I didn't really want for various reasons, but very good experience. Hopefully the right one will be here soonish. I had a very minor wobble earlier - but managed to talk myself out of it - I know I've got to be patient for the right thing.

In the meantime, you are right Parsnip Head, we are doing so well. CCs are under £15k yayyy. And if I were to pay all my emergency fund off (which I won't) it would be under £10k. Great milestones. Right off to do some work and so I can sleep easier tonight.

Take care all and good luck everyone xx