I want adventure in the great wide somewhere

roxy7699

Well done for finding your triggers, joining you on your journey.

belleandthebudget

That's so comforting to hear Lilt! Not that I'm planning to mess up my score but good to know most wouldn't hold an unexpected slip against me.

We definitely grew up with the best movies. It will be so lovely when your daughter gets involved - bedazzled princess dresses are the best!

And thanks, Roxy, it was surprisingly hard to work out where all the money was going to start with and also to realise that it was grocery shops really and not the culprits most blame like take away coffee, etc.!

NoOneAround

I think you have your head and heart in the right place and will have no problems reaching your aims:) .....with you all the way!
x

belleandthebudget

So proud today! I have just batch cooked 24 individual meals (it may be more - really I should half my lasagne portions and pile the plate up with veggies!) for the fridge and freezer. I've also got all the ingredients for 6 portions of macaroni cheese but 3 hours of non-stop cooking was my limit so that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

I made: beef chilli, spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne rolls, sausage casserole, and pasta with roasted veg.

My shop for everything (including new pepper grinder, and trays/freezer bags for storing) was £36. Even factoring those in I'm MORE than happy to say yay to meals for £1.20 each.

I know there are people out there who could make a lot more for a lot less but for a girl who doesn't really cook and can easily spend £30 on lunches for one week at work it's a pretty big deal!

Budget is doing okay. I popped into Primarni to grab two pairs of their £4 flat shoes and two pairs of £3 leggings so I don't look like a tramp at work in the coming weeks/months of autumn. I'd already done some charity shopping while visiting my parents at the weekend but I've moved things around in the budget to accommodate without touching debt repayment money.

Hope you're all having fantastic evenings. Thank you everyone who's taken the time to comment on my diary. Your support is so wonderful and has really buoyed me up!

Now, to spend the rest of the night catching up on the first new episode of Downton Abbey!

MissLaura

I was lurking and couldn't not stop and say hello.

I'm a similar age to you at 29 and I was super proud of your epic batch meal cooking, well done girl!

I'm subscribed to this diary now, so I'm on the journey with you. :thumb:

belleandthebudget

Thanks Laura - it was a serious marathon! I have to say it helped having the iPad on the counter with some Netflix going. Watched a bit of The Originals because who doesn't want trashy vampire drama while you're slaving over the stove?

financially_exposed

Best of luck belleandthebudget! I started my diary around the same time as you so I'll be following you.

I'm not sure what your condition is and whether you can limit carbs... I lost more than 15lbs last year by not eating sugar, bread, pastries, pasta, rice, and potatoes for about 3-4 months. I have not put back on the weight, mostly because I'm still trying to limit sugar (only have it from fruit), breads, and pastries.

belleandthebudget

Thanks FE! It's called Pernicious Anaemia - basically my body can't absorb any vitamin B12 which is needed pretty liberally throughout for cell production/nervous system/brain etc. so I have to have regular injections of B12. The weight isn't really related except that it crept up (a massive four stone in five years) from comfort eating while I was chronically exhausted/in pain.

I definitely wish I had your will power - sounds like you've done amazingly! I definitely need to cut out some of the carbs but I think portion sizes are my big killer... eyes are always bigger than my belly. Whoops!

freckles1_2

Wow, what an amazing batch cooking session! You did so well.

belleandthebudget

Thanks Freckles! I just tried the first spoils and the lasagne is delicious - I surprised myself!!