This is it *ping* lightbulb!!!

kindofagilr

Afternoon all

Well what a start to the day, there has been roadworks roundabout work away for about a year now, its a pain in the butt, but they started even more roadworks this morning, before we leave the house I look on google maps app on my phone to check the roads (it's colour co-ordinated so if it's red its heaving and gridlocked) we decided on a route (all were red but the one we chose not as red)

Well what a nightmare! took us 45 mins in the car to get to a point that normally takes 20 mins, then we stopped and didn't move, it was 8.45am by this point, the hubby was due at his first day at uni for his teching degree for 9am, I will still ages from work, there was no way he was going to make uni if he took me all the way to work, so I did the lovely thing and got out of the car and walked the rest of the way, it took me 45 mins to walk and I am fast walker, think it was 3 miles or so, which will help my step count lol

My son's school boots are falling apart, I am so annoyed, they are coming away at the seams, we bought the pair on august and had to have them exchanged mid october for the seams coming away, and now again they are ruined, tweeted clarks yesterday as I would like a refund (had some issues with the store staff first time round who said he had gone up a size at all we would have to pay 50% towards the shoes which I didn't agree with, if he had gone up a size in 6 weeks then surely he wasn't measured properly in the first place) so I had a reply this morning asking for a photo of my receipt, so fingers crossed I am getting a refund

I had a look on line as I wanted to get him kickers (he is nearly 9 and a size4, but he can't do laces) and they had to be velcro, and thankfully studio catalogue had some for £32, my mam has an account so gave me permission to order them, so I have ordered them for him, if we end up with a credit note for clarks rather than refund that's not the end of the world, as my daughters clarks school shoes are fine, so any credit note we can use for her (to be fair to them, we have used them since he was a baby and this is the first time they have been bad, I think its a design flaw in the shoe/boot he has currently)

Decided to post my meal plan on here every week to keep me on track

• Sunday - Gammon, Chips and Peas
• Monday - Beef Hot Pot
• Tuesday - Chicken Fajitas
• Wednesday - Spaghetti Bolognese
• Thursday - Corned Beef and Potato pie (HM) and veg
• Friday - Egg fried rice, chips and curry sauce
• Saturday - Home Made Pizza

I best get back on with work now have a nice day all xx

Homegrown0

How irritating about the school shoes! I'd be annoyed as well, but I'm glad Clark's seems to be doing something about it. I tried to exchange the size of a shirt that my son was given by a relative. The shop that begins with P and ends in rimark said they don't do any kind of exchange or refund without a receipt. There was tags on it and all i wanted to do was go the size up... annoying. At least it was my oldest son's so we can keep it for my youngest to grow into.

Your meal plan sounds lovely! I don't ever cook with beef unless it's minced or in steak form - your hot pot sounds delicious. Is it a specific recipe/ method you use?

The roadwork situation sounds horrendous! I hope your husband managed to get to his class on time.

kindofagilr

I have had a reply from Clarks and I am getting a full refund in the form of gift card which is fine as I can use it for my daughter's school shoes as hers have been ok, so I am pleased about that

That is really annoying!!!! you would think they would let you exchange it!

It was so delicious I have made this recipe three times now this is the one I use https://www.bbc.com/food/recipes/beef_hotpot_59730 I don't use the red wine, I just make extra beet stock, and I use frying steak as it comes out super tender, I tried it with diced beef the first time and it wasn't tender enough for me, the steak works out fab, and it's only £3 in A$DA I think

I have changed tonight's meal to beef burrito's I haven't made them before (been scared of wrapping them lol) but I am going to give it a go, I didn't fancy spag bol and we have everything in for burritos

Thankfully the traffic was fine today

I am LOVING YNAB, I can see me using it forever, after watching the video tutorial it's just clicked, I love it

Have a nice day all xx

kindofagilr

Just updated YNAB with my spends for today, went to asda for a couple of bits for tea that we needed in and grabbed some yogurt coated fruit flakes for the kids packed lunch (they were reduced, so got them from there as I normally see if poundland have them in as they are at least twice the price in asda normally) which will come out of this sunday's grocery budget.

Done all the housework, and some washing, I am sitting down with a coffee now and watching Maze Runner Death Cure (I lose sky movies n 2 days lol)

I am looking forward to watching Bird Box at some point this weekend, I have heard lots of good about it

I hope everyone has a good day xx

Homegrown0

Thanks for the recipe - I find the same issue with diced beef so will be taking on your suggestion of using the frying steak! Nothing worse than chewy beef

Productive morning in your place - enjoy some downtime!

Glad Clark's saw sense and refunded you - next paid of school shoes is taken care of for your daughter at least and you won't make that mistake again with your son's style of shoes.

Lifeisforliving19

Just come across your diary and have subscribed. I am not new to the MSE boards, but have had to change my user name. It appears we have similar amount of debt, so thought it might be interesting to see how we both go on. I will be starting a new diary soon
Good luck

kindofagilr

Homegrown0 wrote: »

Thanks for the recipe - I find the same issue with diced beef so will be taking on your suggestion of using the frying steak! Nothing worse than chewy beef

Productive morning in your place - enjoy some downtime!

Glad Clark's saw sense and refunded you - next paid of school shoes is taken care of for your daughter at least and you won't make that mistake again with your son's style of shoes.

Yeah chewy beef is just horrid isn't it, the only way around it I have found other than steak is doing it in slow cooker, but you end up doing most the work on the hob first so it's just easier to do it in a casserole and then in the oven, the steak was really lush, I will be adding it to our menu this week as well lol

I am pleased Clarks saw sense too it will get her nearly 2 pairs which is good (hers were £32 and the voucher will be for £58 yay)

Lifeisforliving19 wrote: »

Just come across your diary and have subscribed. I am not new to the MSE boards, but have had to change my user name. It appears we have similar amount of debt, so thought it might be interesting to see how we both go on. I will be starting a new diary soon
Good luck

Hey lifeisliving, thanks for stopping by, I hope it all going well with you?? I look forward to you starting your diary, good luck xx

Just back from the school run, DD had to go to school dressed as a super hero as they are starting super hero's this term (real life one's though like police etc), so she went as batgirl, looked super cute

Not much planned today, I need to do the menu plan, and then the shopping list, and then order it, going to check what we have in the freezer first and use up some of that if I can.

Other than that, I need to do a load of washing, and the dishes, then hoping for some chill time so I can continue making a crochet blanket for a special someone that's coming to us soon (I can't say anymore than that just yet, my brother doesn't want anyone other than immediate family to know in case something goes wrong along the way (not that anyone knows me in real life :rotfl:), but I will be able to say soon)

Have a nice day all xx

kindofagilr

Just done my online shop, menu for this week is:

Sunday - Bangers, Mash and Peas
Monday - Chicken and Chorizo Burrito
Tuesday - Spag Bol
Wednesday - Fish, Chips and Peas (freezer food, I don't get home till half 7)
Thursday - Beef Hot Pot
Friday - Grilled Cheese sarnie (I never really eat much on a friday night, I don't know why)
Saturday - Steak, Chips and Peas

I have changed tonight's to Grilled Cheese Sarnie as well as I don't feel too hungry xx

Willowtree222

I need to do more meal planning. I haven't been prepared at all this week and my energy levels are low as a result. You have motivated me!!

kindofagilr

Yay I bet you can do an awesome meal plan

Sorry if I am boring you all with my YNAB talk, but it’s so good! It’s already taught me how to check how much I have before buying and really has made me think twice about if I need something xx