It begins again!!

icontinuetodream

Oh dear! It's all gone a bit wrong!!:o

Time to fess up....I have been totally out of control over the past few weeks and I have just done a final tally of the situation! :eek:

CC has crept up to 1k which is horrifying, I have £100 left for groceries for the rest of the month and I have to get firmly back in control asap!! Although it is a grim situation, I have been in a lot worse so I know that I can get through this and come out of it better off in the long run

So, I am going to rejoin the 'don't throw food away' challenge and make that £100 last as long as possible If I can get the cc down by Christmas, I will be happy - I would like to cut it in half by then, so a lot of work ahead!! :rotfl:

mortgage_girl

So good to see you back ICTD. Don't worry, we all splurge occasionally and with a bit of focus I'm sure you'll get back on track.

Hope you're well?

MGx

icontinuetodream

Story of my life - it all went wrong!!

Current situation - I am not working, I have re-done all our budgets and have decided on a plan for the next year.

Mortgage OP's are important but my life is changing dramatically again in the next few months as both of my dogs have terminal cancer. By the summer, I will in all probability, be a dog free household for the first time in over twenty years. Despite being devastated by the forthcoming losses, I know that I will have to have something to distract me when it happens so redecorating and sorting my house is the thing I have chosen.

I have incorporated a 'house' fund into the budget and all other savings from the budget will be split 50/50 between house & op's. When I go back to work eventually, the whole thing will come together a lot faster, but at least I can start the process now!

I will do a food inventory on Sunday as I am out tomorrow and will do a list of meals based upon that. I am going to really clamp down on food waste from now on and be as inventive as possible with what I have. I currently have a £300 monthly food budget which I want to reduce as much as possible and I have lots of insurances due for renewal in January so will shop around for those.

The plus point is that the first mortgage op and house fund contribution has been made so at least I have made a start!

Merry chrimbo everyone!!

mortgage_girl

Happy New Year ICTD. So sorry to hear about your dogs but it's good that you're planning some lovely things to distract you.

Well done on your mortgage op.

MGx

icontinuetodream

Thanks MG and happy new year to you too!

Financially, I have pretty much organised myself, tomorrow I will begin to sort myself physically - a lot of my time today has been spent trying to re-inspire myself with food - my diet has been extremely poor recently and I'm certainly noticing it - I am going to quit smoking tomorrow (it's a lot easier when everyone is back to work and out of reach of my inevitable murderous mood!) and I will continue with my alcohol abstinence which is now in it's sixth week!

I have been really good with food waste - yesterday I found three bags of baby peppers and a leek lurking in the fridge so pan fried them all in olive oil, chucked in some olives and capers and made a fennel, orange and date salad to go with it...nom nom!!

Tomorrow I will check my bank balance and see if I have any pennies available that I can throw into the pots!

icontinuetodream

Well it's day three of the non-smoking and I haven't killed anyone yet! don't think that I have made any friends though..:rotfl:

I have started to shop around for the insurances - certainly won't reduce my expenditure but hopefully won't be increasing it too much.

I haven't thrown any food out either and other than a few bottles of sparkly water, I have spent nothing:D

So far so good!!

icontinuetodream

It's been a long time again and things still exist in chaos! I have no chance of getting very far at the moment as I have massive regular vets bills and food bills for the dogs but I am still adjusting things to try to get my budget trimmed to accommodate a little progress with the mortgage

I am changing my methods of shopping a bit - I am trying to utilise as many fair trade, organic products as possible now. This has increased my expenditure somewhat, but mentally its much better for me. I have done loads more research on my dehydrator to give me more ideas on what i can use my juice pulp for and I have dug out my soya milk maker so that I can cut down on that expenditure and make my own tofu. I have also found a number of recipes which use okara so it will be a real cost cutting exercise

My main aim is to live as impact free as possible - I have bought hair products from Lush, i am making all my own cleaning products, I have sourced a local producer for organic fruit & veg and I am buying all my dried goods from a cooperative. I am getting some compost this weekend along with a new kitchen compost bin and will get my tomatoes and salad in this weekend.

I have the MOT due next week so will have a good look at my financial position once that is done. The first few months of the year always seems to be a trauma moneywise...house, car & breakdown insurance, car tax & MOT!! :eek: Thankfully, just the MOT left and then a full examination of where I am! I shall report at the end of next week and hopefully it will be good news

SueP19

Hi I continue

I joined this board in December and I will follow you as I have carp time too, it's so carp people often don't believe me lolol

In 2014/15 we spent £2,500 at the vets with our dog, it was all very heartbreaking so I do feel for you at this time.

A tip, keep up your diary, these guys are so supportive. I have found to be able to come on here and rant anonymously is wonderful.

Good luck xx

K9sandFelines

icontinuetodream wrote: »

Thank you bexster and Cath!!

I have drawn all of the grocery money out of the bank ready for the month ahead and had a quick mooch in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. I haven't planned a menu yet as I never know who is eating or when, much to my annoyance :mad: but there is enough food to see us through the week other than milk.

For those of you who remember me from my other threads, I have gone back to vegan (I had been vegan for over a decade but had jd honey when worse for wear and changed diet as a result! ) A few months ago, I discovered jim beam maple...problem solved!;)
Anyhoo, I have decided that I am going to have a lot more salads to try to improve my f&v intake....last night I had a bowl of leaves with blood orange balsamic, a chopped nectarine, chopped apricot, green olives, grated carrot, grated beetroot, grated apple and a spoonful of homemade tapenade - it was lush!!

My courgette plants and bean plants are doing really well, I am going to make some raw 'mince' this weekend and have courgette spaghetti with it, along with a mixed bean salad. I need to sow some leaves this weekend too 😊

I have applied for a job, not a good application in all honesty but it's a way to get myself back into the swing of things...I am going to use the next month to get into shape so that I have a bit more confidence in my appearance when I start going to interviews again - I have been having far too much fun while on this sabbatical and have become soft and flabby things need to change!

I am checking my bank account later to see what the state of play is...I am hoping to make an OP this time next week 😉

I was looking on the boards to see if you were still about. Your vegan store cupboard thread has been resurrected and is such an inspiration, could you please come back and join us :A?