Our Journey to a Debt Free 2016

PinkPoppies

Quickly checking in with nothing really to say today!

Made do with simple pasta last night. Didn't manage a weekly shop but grabbed a few bits to do some sort of chicken thing in the slow cooker, will probably bung in whatever needs using up and hope for the best!

Refund still not in account, will have to ring up and do some foot stamping if it's not there by Thursday morning.

Feel as though I have run out of steam with the debt busting this month, and I'm looking forward to starting afresh when November kicks in... which is silly really but nevermind!

Only 3.5 days until November, bring it on! :j

ETS it was bothering me ending the month on 16.9% cleared so have transferred another £40 onto the CC to round it up to a round 17%!

DebtFree2012

I know exactly what you mean with running out of steam and looking forward to the fresh month lol. I was the same (mine has just started).

I find the bung it all in options are sometimes the best

Keep smiling x

PinkPoppies

I think it is hard to go wrong bunging random tasty stuff in a slow cooker! I actually had the ingredients for one of my simple favourites- chicken, chopped onion, garlic, a tin or two of chopped tomatoes, and some tarragon- with cream mixed in at the last minute and served with pasta! Yum! Usually put some mushrooms in too but alas, no mushrooms yesterday.

Had two chicken breasts left over so have a curry in the slow cooker today for DH and I, padded out with a tin of chickpeas, smells good! Once the children are in bed we are going to crack open a bottle of wine and enjoy The Apprentice! Simple pleasures!

I've had quite a productive day today. Whilst the children were engrossed in a DVD I got a fair bit of work done.

Still no refund (grrrr) but I think DH might get paid tomorrow so will indulge myself and update my spreadsheet for November a day early

PinkPoppies

Sod it, I'm starting November right now! :cool: Signature updated for the fresh month, and with the loan payment about to go out!

So impatient :rotfl:

DebtFree2012

Haha I know the impatient feeling...I love your simple pleasures, they really are what counts!

What did you out in the SC for your curry if you don't mind me asking.

x

PinkPoppies

It was an ancient back of the cupboard curry jar job this time, with onions, chick peas, and green pepper.

Usually do my own sauce though- easy, tasty and cheap once you have the spices in: tin of chopped tomatoes, onions, plenty of garlic, some garam marsala, turmeric, cumin and chilli to taste, and finished with a bit of plain yoghurt or creme fraiche. Oh and some fresh coriander if I happen to have a surviving plant of it on the kitchen windowsill!

Pay has gone in the morning but still no sign of refund. DH reckons he'll give them one more day and chase it up tomorrow.

PinkPoppies

RIGHT. November focused head ON.

The aim this month is to get the debt under £30k, so another £858 to pay off.

Plan of action!

• Very frugal grocery shopping- lots of vegetarian evening meals.
• More focus on Swagbucks- aim to get 1 survey done per day.
• Dedicate lots more time to my own freelance work to get money coming in.
• Find 5 things to ebay, and get them listed.
• Chase up the bloomin utilities refund!!

Just meal planned for the week. Pinto bean chilli, mushroom stroganoff and vegetable biryani are on the menu. Will have our usual roast dinner so hopefully some left over meat can be stretched and a little added to some of the meals too. Going to make a BIG spaghetti bolognaise this evening bulked out with lentils and veg so the freezer can be stocked with portions of that.

Off to do my shop now! Be interesting to see how much I save by not buying as much meat as usual.

pennywisepoundstupid

PP you sound very determined, good luck with your frugal month.

I'm planning on lots of soup this month, it's cheap and warming and can be padded out with beans, lentils etc which are all filling.

DebtFree2012

Hi lovely ladies

Great to hear such positive vibes and planning going on. PP I'm going to join you in your list as I could have wrote that myself, bar the refund!
I shall be doing a SC curry too at some point, so thank you

PinkPoppies

Thanks PWPS and DF!

Weekly shop came to £66 which is the most we have spent on it in ages BUT they finally had some pansies in so snapped up some for my hanging baskets! 4 for £2, I bought 12 for £6!

A bit indulgent maybe, however since our summer hanging baskets died the house looks so dull and sad... I get a disproportionate amount of pleasure from pulling into our drive and seeing colourful hanging baskets!

Did a good recycling job on the old ones! Pulled out the dead stuff (cutting back and keeping the geraniums as they always seem to come back in the spring) and planted the pansies in the existing compost with a bit of plant food added. Children enjoyed helping too.

Been a long day amusing bickering children, I'm shattered! Half term has whizzed past though?!