I have lost my OS ways, help!

ginnyknit

Had a reasonably frugal time lately but the freezers are a bit bare - well meat stocks low but still managing to come up with meals. Made Mrs Lw's lentil soup today but sauted the veg first and used garam masala instead of other spices - the house smelt fab and Oh asked are we having curry? So think I had best do him one this week, he doesnt like soup so its his loss

Been very successful on fleabay with hubbys memorabilia which gave us a boost to our savings just in time to get bargain specs from Mr T...at last....been struggling with a pair of readers and pair of distance for nearly 3 years as the vari focals were beyond my budget last time. Hubby has already been and ordered his now its my turn. The thought of being able to see all the time without messing about switching glasses is so wonderful.

Caterina

Good morning,

Ginnyknit well done on fleabay and spec bargains. As you know I keep meaning to learn how to fleabay but haven't got around yet, my loss!

Today I am babysitting the girls in the morning, I am really looking forward to it because we are going to the cinema to see the Boxtrolls at the Kids Club of the Picturehouse. We will have homemade popcorn and packed lunch, so it is a frugal outing (for the mum). She only pays me for the hour and a half, I had offered the cinema, so not charging her for the extra time, I wanted to go see this film and will watch it on the cheap as kids club adults only pay £1.50. And the girls are a pleasure to be with, no hardship at all!

Afternoon plan: ironing. I have finally tidied away the laundry, although there is another lot breeding in the basket just waiting to hatch! Now that I have my new (gumtree £10 bargain!) stereo in the kitchen, I can put my music on, make a pot of hot tea and the task won't feel quite so arduous.

Yesterday I made a weekly food plan, but am already realising that this morning breakfast has to be changed as I have no eggs left, as we had bubble and squeak and eggs last night for dinner. Never mind, it will be hm baked beans on toast for the men and yogurt with fruit and nuts for me.

I need to do a top up shopping, got the A1di £5 voucher so if I have the time I might take a trip there before the ironing. It is a short drive and I know that my friend needs to go too, so it might another task for the day.

I have an ambitious idea to go for a gym circuit class tonight, I really need to start working out again. Since I gave up bootcamp I have got really slack in the exercise department and feel that I really need to do something about it. See how it goes, as I am always very tired in the evenings.

Have a good OS day.

moments_of_sanity

Not a very OS weekend for me unfortunately

Eldest DD came back from London this weekend as she is incredibly homesick, I had hoped that it would ease the longer she was away but it seems to be getting worse and to top it all off she doesn't like living in London. We live in a biggish town but we still have lots of wide open spaces, no traffic congestion and miles of lovely walks through woods, around lakes etc and she doesn't like the claustrophobic feel of the Big City. This is only making me worry about her even more and all the above topped off with a her having another severe bout of tonsillitis.

The first year DD has to spend in halls as she has now committed to being there and signed the contract etc but is looking at Maybe coming back here for her second year and commuting in although she said her and her bf might rent somewhere together if they can afford it (not sure she will be able to though and pay the £5,000 commuting cost), it is all such a mess! Still, not much I can do for her at the moment other than be here whenever she needs me.

Lots of washing done at the weekend (see above) :rotfl: and I need to go shopping either today or tomorrow, although, trying to wait as long as I can. Not feeling too great today either as I didn't have time to prepare and rest up for DD's visit so didn't manage to conserve energy before she got home (we had 10 hours notice) but hopefully it won't last more than 3/4 days.

I spent a few hours last night trying to find a cheap way to get to London this Friday to see DD but can only get a return ticket for £40, might have to look at maybe driving to Wembley and catching the train from there as that would make it a lot cheaper and certainly wouldn't use £40's worth of fuel. Normally you can pick up a ticket for anything between £3.50 - £8.00 and can only think that school holidays have increased the prices.

I hope you all have a lovely day

Caterina

(((MOS))) it is tough to be a mum, the energy expenditure in trying to keep our children well, safe and cared for sometimes takes its toll. Your DD is only very young and this is her first year away from home. I hope that eventually she will adjust and gain a sense of independence. Best wishes to both of you xx

moments_of_sanity

Caterina wrote: »

(((MOS))) it is tough to be a mum, the energy expenditure in trying to keep our children well, safe and cared for sometimes takes its toll. Your DD is only very young and this is her first year away from home. I hope that eventually she will adjust and gain a sense of independence. Best wishes to both of you xx

Thank you Caterina, I think having tonsillitis is making her feel worse so once she has been to the Dr's and got some antibiotics I am sure she will feel better about everything. I have spent the whole day worrying about her so need to try and distract myself with something else as it isn't helping anyone! I thought it was tough when they were little but the older they get the more stressful it seems to become. X

Caterina

Good morning,

MOS I hope your DD gets well soon x

Another sunny day! Today I am going to take advantage and go for a good walk in the park. But first, babysitting, only just over an hour so it will go quickly, the girls will very likely watch TV so I shall just drink tea and read. Easy gig.

I need to pop to the post office to send DD a letter, the student loan people are after her and we have to confirm that we support her. Which at the moment we do, even if she is not living here all the time.

Then, yes, my usual promise, I should do some ironing, which today I WILL, tell me I will! Because this morning DH was ironing his shirt and looking like a martyr. Only just to avoid giving him the satisfaction, today at least 5 shirts will hit the (ironing) board!

Then cooking and tidying, the usual wildly exciting activities of my sparking life. Ah, drum roll......going for a NSD (nearly fainted in anticipation LOL).

Really, I should not be flippant, as I am really delighted that I do not have to kill myself slowly every day at the office like I did for so many years. I am truly grateful for that and ironing is a tiny price to pay for this sort of freedom.

Have a good OS day.

tatabubbly

Stuffed with the cold today ladies! OH pay is a little late this month (grr) so I've popped what I can into my saving account!!

Dosed with the cold! Honestly! Feel like I was ran over by a bus! Plenty of tea being consumed here!!

Trying to make a plan for next year but with the wedding its hard to gauge how much we will spend! Been a bit slack at filling in my spends lately so it's time to start that as well!!

moments_of_sanity

tatabubbly, hope you start to feel better soon.

Caterina, how was the ironing? Don't you just hate it when men become martyrs, it really doesn't suit them!

I had to pop out for a little bit of shopping this morning but managed to keep it to £3.83p so very pleased with that.

Today, I have spent the day making 2 very large old fashioned style bread puddings, not the bread and butter one's but the one's that resemble more of a cake. My clan love them and as soon as they are cooled down enough to eat, they start on them! I am hoping to get one cooled down and in the freezer before they finish the first one, they make a really filling 'snack' in the day and loaded with dried mixed fruit a good sugar boost should you need one. DH finds these great for when he is rushing around doing his deliveries as they give him an energy boost.

Eldest DD's smart phone has given up the ghost so have bought her a cheap 'brick' phone (her description, not mine) which should be with her tomorrow and then I can get her phone sent back for repair. I would worry endlessly if she didn't have a mobile phone, no idea how we ever managed without them! Lol. Cost of new phone was £15.95 with next day delivery so bad enough but not horrific and at least she will always have a spare phone should anything happen to hers.

Doesn't it get dark early now, it feels like the day ends so early when I am shutting the curtains at 4.30pm. House is empty at the moment, well apart from 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 bearded dragon, 2 rabbits and a cockatiel.......going to enjoy a well earned cuppa before anyone here starts squeaking for attention (and that includes the humans) :rotfl:

Hope you all have a lovely evening x

babychick

:wave::wave::wave:

I've been lurking for a few days now and have read this thread from the beginning! I too, would like to join in as I've found I've lost my OS ways recently, having increased my hours at work and finishing later in the day, we've had an increasing number of sneaky take-aways and as a result, less money in my pocket despite my working more

I'm off this week with my monsters so hoping to get organised and get a few freezer meals made to help me get back on track...

villagelife

I am still trying to ne OS - taking lunches into work but need to meal plan more to save money and to stop having that feeling in the evening of what shall I cook.
I have taken my car in for its MOT and service - I dropped it off after work today for its service tomorrow. I then walked home the 2 1/2 miles - I had arranged for DH to pick me up from the garage later but decided walking would save on petrol.

Have started thinking about christmas presents and my DS's were always happy with pajamas,a jumper and socks all of which they needed.