NST; January Challenge- The Money Saving Game

mothernerd

Hugs for Lilt (if it doesn't make the pain worse).

A SFD (many more expected). Still very tired and knew as soon as I woke up that I had had too much sugar yesterday (my right eye doesn't open - bit like when you have 'sleepy eyes'). Traced it down to the cough medicine. Finished the 'grue' medicine but there was a full bottle of lemon and honey (must have been bought by or for someone who wouldn't take the 'grue'). Sore throat and cough trying to make a comeback (thought that was contributing to the sluggishness) so took cough medicine instead of co-codamol as it was a lower dose. But it's 50% sugar - good job I didn't have the maximum allowed.

I have also chopped my way through a veg mountain but mine are all bagged (some separate/ some combinations) in the fridge, some of them in garlic and herb dressing (I use the little pots DS3 gets with his takeaway pizza) so can have roast Mediterranean veg or can use up in most recipes. Also used the dressing when making wedges so chopped up the remaining potatoes from the pre-op shop (have newer ones bought on 20th December) and had some with a breaded fish fillet and the mushy peas I brought home from mum's.

Been craving a bacon butty (every programme I watched seemed to mention them and I kept thinking 'not had one for ages') so defrosted a pack of bacon (have several ideas for the leftovers, including a new recipe) and two slices of bread. Don't use marg only tomato ketchup - bottle had been sitting on it's top so that dregs drained down, turned it this way and that to get them out and then added water, shook it and have returned it to the fridge to be added to whatever tomatoey thing I decide to make.

So no firm plans but now there are enough bits in the fridge to spark off meal ideas for next few days. Also cut more cucumber sticks and cauli florets so need to make another pot of dip. Noted a link to a recipe for making your own wholegrain mustard (still have some so will wait till the jar is emptying). It was a Paleo site (know people have mentioned that before) - was interested in the sweet potato brownies (not sure they would be okay for me with diabetes, certainly not the 'frosting' but have the ingredients to make several of the constituent parts so will look again - date paste, yum -sometime when I am more together.

Continuing with my sewing, will be doing that most of the week if not all month - it just tidies up lots of little bits and give me 'thinking time' as well. Creative ideas often come indirectly, when you just let your brain wander where it wants.

DS3 has come home, slightly depressed (him not me). Gf's family thought he was not appreciative enough of their gifts (boxers, pjs - is this Jasper Conrad supposed to mean something he asked me, the boxers (Arseda) are the wrong material so got stuck at his thighs) and spent too much time in his room. When he made an effort, no-one wanted to do anything with him.

They don't say anything to him, they talk to the gf who then tells him. They also left him (without asking) in sole charge of 'the child from hell' who proceeded to throw two large toy trucks and a real drill at him - he managed to deflect the drill, otherwise it would have broken his laptop. Last time he saw the gf, she proposed to him (they don't want to get married, she just wants to be engaged). I never saw the ring as TCFH stole it before he came back home. The child has problems, they are not coping but have just given up and give in all the time.

DS3 is now unsure about going on holiday with them in April. Luckily it's now in this country rather than abroad - "Not going anywhere I have to get on a plane to get away from them." Latest game is not selling well, so he's worried about money, the future and any chance of being able to live with gf.

Today I am grateful for candles (used the last one today) for flowers (the ones I was given are still lovely and that DS3 liked his presents (did ask what the heart shaped place mats were for).

Fmess

Synonymous I use Aldees blue Almat non-bio liquid tablets and have had no problems with them.

Long day today, off to visit little sister who is away working for 6 months or more and this is the last time we'll get to see her until May. Hoping for a SFD as parents are driving and taking us for lunch but I will offer to contribute for petrol and food (it's a 6 hour round trip! hence being up so early )

Hope you all have a lovely day, there is a freezing fog here at the moment

blubella

My 3rd SFD today..needed dog food yesterday so thought i'd get a few other staples to make a few meals and save me spending on another day. It was a pretty successful trip and I stuck to my list apart from a 241 pasty temptation and my sore sore throat craving sorbet..spent a grand total of £19.15.

It has certainly helped to go through the cupboards and freezer to see exactly what's lurking and can be made into something. Have been leafing through cookbooks for inspiration...veggie burgers look really tempting and I must get back to baking bread, pitta, pizza bases.

speakingofart

Morning all! Sorry I didn't update yesterday - went out for dinner and it was already today when I got home, so had missed it Spendy day yesterday as planned, filled up the car on the way to the pub for dinner as it was quite rural so didn't want to take the chance with half a tank; as it turned out didn't need to but at least now my tank is topped up probably beyond pay day! SFD today and hopefully most of the week - I will have to pay for car parking for my exam on wednesday so will try and do any other shopping then.

Groceries until 15th January £0/£31.16
Groceries 15th Jan - 15th Feb £0/150
Fuel until 15th January £20/£20
Fuel 15th January - 15th February £0/£60
Spending Money: £20/27.65 until Jan 15th.
Lunch to work: 0/20
Food bank 0/£3
SFDs: 2/18

traveller

Hi everyone.Well yesterday was a sad day. Tyson our cat of 13 years passed away in the evening. My youngest was distraught as he has always had him around. It is sad and I still find it strange he's not around. I do wish I forced him in the carrier. Perhaps he would have had a chance. This time last week he was full of beans well at least he's at peace now :A

Well today should be a non spend day and as morbid as it may sound, i'm taking the Carrier back. It was unused and I don't want any reminders. I also need to finish some de cluttering.

Lilt, you are very brave and always a active, I would never have guessed you had that to contend with. Well done you:T your meal plan comment reminded me of the Shirley Valentine scene when the husband wasn't impressed with having chips and egg and not steak on a thursday:rotfl: please tell me I'm not the only one old enough to remember that:rotfl: well have a good day everyone and take care

traveller

FMess enjoy your trip:j Mothernerd, your poor son.That family sound like a nightmare :eek:

sazzlebgood

traveller sorry to hear about your cat.:grouphug:

NSD 2 claimed.called at Tes@o and bought lots of yellow sticker goodies and took the kids swimming this morning but was budgeted for.
Found jelly in the back of cupboard so will make up for everyone to have in their pack lunches tomorrow.Its only a month out of date(best before Nov 2014)

stewby

My honest thought traveller is that I am kinda glad you didn't get your cat in the carrier... he could have died in the vetinary surgery with no-one around him. Instead he passed on in comfortable, familiar surroundings with his family all around him. I hope that doesn't sound too offensive. I just thought it might ease your guilt a bit about not forcing him into the carrier.
Hugs to you and your family.
:undecided

Today is a spend day... £31.61 given to morries. However, this was due to a phone call from my dad about their yellow labels. I now have enough meat to last more than a month (all reduced), spare toothpaste (we are down to our last tube and this one was on offer) and we have downgraded our bread to morries which is only 59p (compared to tescimos which is 75p).


Currently got 2 pork chop things cooking in the slow cooker (with ginger, soy sauce, sugar, etc). One of my goals this year is to try and cook more... so we are trying a small amount to see how it goes then next time will make a decent portion.
Hopefully it will go well.


Heading back to work tomorrow... and on to the diet. Fingers crossed I do better this year compared to last years "effort".
:eek:

Hugs to everyone who needs them.

apple_muncher

Cheese scones are smelling yummy and bread is in the breadmaker for dh to take to work. And I shall claim a 3rd NSD.

Curried parsnip soup awaits being portioned up and mixed with hm coleslaw for work lunches, the first of which is tomorrow and will be a shock to the system!

liltdiddylilt

Oh Traveller I am so so sorry about your kitty don't blame yourself or torture yourself with what-if's please. Just remember the lovely life that he had with you and you with him.

I am not brave, just stubborn good for you taking the carrier back! Dob;t forget to claim that SFD too

SFD #3 today. Am currently lying in bed stealth typing. Jelly has had an hour of alternately screaming laughing and screaming crying and has whacked herself out so she is trying to nod off beside me. I keep getting dirty looks for typing too vigorously, and have to keep turning the classical music I am playing up and down to suit her!

All of my batch cooking is in old takeaway containers, and everytime something freezes, I remove it from the container and put something else in.and repeat. Have enough meals to take to work for the entire month of January plus a sunday dinner and some other odds and ends to have other days of the week. Nice to be prepared for once. Still working myself up to baking bread but will have to unless I want to have a spend day purely for that tomorrow. Getting a big list of other non critical but getting there items to buy so will have to do that one of the next 2 days before I go back to work!

Feeling a bit more human today, and managed 6 hours sleep in one go so feel much better overdid the scrubbing of the kitchen, hands and knees scrubbing.. will regret it later!

Hugs to all xx