108 spiders are a girl's best friends

sassychick2014

Hi

Chop up your veg, cover with water & let simmer on the oven for about an hour. When it's done remove the vegetables (put in a stew or if there's really not much life in them, bin 'em) and leave to cool down. When cool pour into ice cube trays and freeze.

When you then make a stew or gravy or whatever pop out however many cubes you require (I usually use 2 for Littley & me) and add to your cooking. It really is that easy and tastes so much better than shop bought. xx

Whitefeather8

Thanks Sassy, I will start doing that. I have always been wary of stock cubes because they contain a high amount of MSG monosodium glutamate.

I spent an hour, 6 weeks ago working through this list, asking the companies to advise me whether I had ever had a loan/CC with them and if so did it have PPI on it.

I was convinced that I had never taken out PPI, but MB*A said I had and although it only turned out to be £82.95, with interest that has turned into a payout of £141.94.

I would recommend giving it a go. That has got November off to a very good start, so I have smashed my 10% extra income target and the difference will now be put towards December’s target. I will still pick up any extra income that I can find, which does not encroach too much upon my time this month, it is a fine balance.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/reclaim/2012/08/ppi-reclaiming-getting-easier

Spider Step 19 – Finalise Fitness plan, which is now in draft form, and post tomorrow.

sassychick2014

Hey hon

That's brilliant, well done!! xx

supersaver1000

Thanks for the link Wf8 and also for the stock recipe sassy chick, great ideas.

Whitefeather8

Your welcome Supersaver.

Fitness Plan - Starts Today

Park the car for free 30 minutes each way from the training centre, and walk the scenic route – three days a week – 3 hours exercise.

1 x Zumba session a week on my WiFi with friend – 1 hours exercise.

Family walk, cycle at the weekend – 1 hours exercise.

Yesterday, we were at the hospital seeing a thoracic surgeon, as there was some concern that DS may need to have chest surgery for a condition that he has. Fortunately he does not need the operation, but exercises were recommended for him to do daily. I have said to DS that I will do them too, with him.

I thought Nintud's exercising for charity was a brilliant idea and I think that would be a great motivator for me too.

I have a huge pot of change in the house and two sealed tins that I got for 0.99p each. One of them has an owl on it, which will be for a wildlife charity and the other has a child on it, which will be for a children’s charity.

Each time I do an hour’s exercise or a stretching session I will transfer a coin into each of the pots, and at the end of the 108 days donate the proceeds to two relevant, local charities. The kids and environment are our future, and I will get a lot of pleasure from this, without any unbudgeted expense.

sassychick2014

Hey chick

I think that's a fantastic idea and a great way to help yourself and others at the same time.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be slim and trim and the charity will be a bit richer very soon! xx

Nintud

Your fitness plan looks like it will work for you. Writing a clear plan increases your accountability and putting it on here even more so.

I'm hoping to squeeze a swim in tomorrow. I've been very lax recently and need to make the time, 'finding' it just isn't working for me at the moment. I need to schedule it into my week and say 'no' to the things that have pushed it out recently. I'm bushed today, only just sat down about half an hour ago as I've been on the go since I got in from work (5.40 - don't be fooled by the 3.15 school 'finish'). Just thinking about exercising now makes me want to weep!

Whitefeather8

Thanks Nintud and Sassy,

I did my walk yesterday, to the training course and back, took sandwiches and a flask, put coins in the pots, and felt like a rich, student (is that an oxymoron?) and so we are off.....

I also phoned up my gas/electric company (dual fuel), to check that I was on the cheapest deal. I wasn't!! They were able to move me onto their best tariff immediately, for no charge, and reduce my DD by £25.00 a month ...... £300.00 a year. They are also sending me out a free booklet, which outlines further savings that I can make .

Spider Step 21

Mum, has so many charges on her account, going back years, that it could make me weep, weep, weep, but I have decided to look at this positively.

She does fit a number of the criteria for re-claiming them, so I am going to send the MSE template letter asking for a comprehensive list of transactions and charges for the last 20 years, under the data protection act, enclosing £10.00, and then I will start the re-claim process. I am looking forward to it, and will be in a position to administer the money WHEN we get it .

Whitefeather8

The SAR was completed, yesterday, for mum, and one of my sisters is going with her to hand it in to the branch today. Mum is spending £15.00 a month for a packaged current account and she did not realise it or need it, so I will put in a claim for that too when I get all the information back.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/

Spider Step 22

I have been looking at this areas weather trend for the next 14 days and we have a very cold snap predicted to start on the 19th November. Today I am going to do a winter clothes audit for DS and I and see where the gaps are and how much it will cost to fill them, so that we are both snug as bugs in rugs through the coming months.

sassychick2014

Hey hon

Not sure if there's an Aldi near you but I noticed today they have a lot of winter clothing in there at quite cheap prices. xx