Dancing in the Rain

doingitanyway

hex2 wrote: »

Sometimes you only know what you wanted when you hear the outcome. Don't forget the value of your free time as well.

Thanks hex2

doingitanyway

Orange_Ena wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the job DIA but if your first reaction was relief then I'm happy you didn't get it. Yes you would have done it but you may have grown to resent it. And you do already have your teaching job as a second income, more than enough I'd say.

Please don't be disappointed that your DF is a month extra to what you had planned. You have done incredibly well to get where you are, to get mortgage free etc. One month extra is nothing compared to the rest of your life living without debt and without owing anyone a penny. That's pretty amazing. Think of all those choices you will have. Save? Spend? Work less? All options that you'll have when you're debt free in 7 months from now :T

Thank you Orange Ena, for reminding me of how far I have come. I am so looking forward to taking all those choices at once!

doingitanyway

Today was fine. I took breakfast, lunch and snacks in to the office. I get fed up with carrying so much stuff but it does save money and ensures I eat properly

Food planning
So, with eggs for breakfast and enough fruit to last 5 days the following should take me up to Wednesday when I can do another food plan…

Chicken and butter beans in feta and tomato sauce, celeriac mash and steamed green beans

Chickpea wrap (bacon, rocket and tahini sauce)

Chicken, avocado salad with butter beans and beetroot humus

Mushroom pate, salad and toasted chickpea bread

Chickpea wrap (beetroot humus, avocado and rocket salad)

Tomorrow
It is so nice not to have to go to work tomorrow. It has been a struggle as I recovered from being poorly but I made it and tomorrow I will be having a chill day

Health
I need to find a way within the budget I have to maximise my health and wellbeing. My gym membership will be costly. Yes, I know I can walk and run do all sorts of free things, but having a space I can go to for swimming, yoga and fitness classes works best for me. Lately it has become obvious that my health needs addressing so June will be the month I join the gym again. I’ve been saying this since March! Must do it!

I have a dental appointment in June so I need to find £75 to cover that

I keep saying I need glasses and I do. I read of people choosing between eating and heating and I feel sympathy until I realise I too make similar choices all the time. In June it is my teeth or my eyes. Not having much money takes up so much head space. That is why this diary is so important to me.

Happy Saturday MSE folk
DIA x

doingitanyway

I paid £45 off my debt today because I had it in my ‘house’ account because I did not do anything on the house this month. This brings my debt down to £10,447.00

I gave my friend £50 yesterday to hold for me so we can have a treat for her birthday when we meet up at the end of June. Getting rid of my debt is important but friendships are also important and this is a very dear friend with a special birthday. She did something wonderful that I could not be part of this time. We planned something nice for this time next year when I will be debt free and there will be more money.

I made lentil and rocket soup with bags of rocket that were reduced from £1.35p a bag to 15p

I am defrosting one of my Christmas turkey joints for protein, but today I will make do with soup.

I bought shop made stock but it was £2 and not organic so expensive I thought? Next time I will do my own but in bigger batches.

I make loads of soup so next time I go to IK3A I will buy a big pot. I will also buy a huge bag of lentils as I use them a lot. I will stake out the ethnic shops. The plan is to make soup once a fortnight instead of every 3/4 days. I can also do pot roasts with larger joints. This should all save on gas and time.

I went on to the A3da website and it isn’t any cheaper than Ocad0 although delivery costs £1 cheaper at A3da. So, not swapping

I am beginning to resent my head being full of all this money saving stuff. I was thinking next year will be easier and it will, but I will be using the debt amount on saving for a new bathroom so not much different really.

I have options. I am doing this. It is all progress. It is all good.

Have a good day reader

doingitanyway

I have stayed off the forum for a few days due to computer issues, but I am plodding along.

I heard back from the rubbish bank who I complained to. They have now resolved the complaint and sent me £50 too. I plan to use this on a large stainless steel pot so I can save money and time and fuel by making huge batches of soup that I will freeze :T

I used to spend over £5-£6 on aluminium and paraben free deodorant from a health shop. I have found a substitute for £2 (£1.50 on offer). My face wipes are 65p instead of £2.50. I find toiletries/cosmetics are where I have been able to make changes without any compromise on quality at all. :T

My Tesco mobile fiasco is still outstanding despite a letter 10 days ago stating they will resolve this issue within 7 days ago. A bill came today so I need to get back on to them again :mad:

My spending hasn’t been great on food and day to day bits and pieces AGAIN. Sigh.

Decluttered (bin) a pair of shabby shoes after walking in the rain and ending up with wet feet.

Lid1 have vouchers for £5 off for a £30 spend so my plan is to cancel my Ocad0 shop and use 2 vouchers with the £10 I save for a taxi home

I taught last night. I am loving my teaching role

My chest infection has almost gone. Maybe that is why my mood is improving, or maybe it’s because I know it is pay day next week

I hope your week is ending well reader

parsniphead

Good to hear that your chest infection is nearly gone.

I feel your pain with the money on the brain constantly thing but you are heading in the right direction. In a few months you will be in an amazing position.

Enjoy the big soup pot when you get it. There is nothing like homemade soup.

JoJoC

Glad your chest infection is almost gone – that’ll be one less thing to think about!

I hope you enjoy selecting a lovely big pot for your soup? Sounds like a lovely treat, but a practical one. I invested £17 in a tall pot from Aldi a couple of months ago and it’s been great. It was very similar to one my parents bought in France years ago and I’ve always lusted after it so was a great find, and surprisingly good quality too. Enjoy!

doingitanyway

Thanks JoJo and I wish I had seen the tall pot in Ald1
Thanks for the encouragement Parsniphead. One day our heads will be full of things other than balancing budgets. Won't that be nice

doingitanyway

A good day at work but trains not running led to higher than average fares:(

I kept lunch costs to £1.80 by eating a YS lunch and drinking coffee in the office

So, my freezer is rapidly emptying out and I rely on it to keep my food bills low. Today I went YS hunting on my way home from work.

filleted chicken thighs 4.54 4.70 reduced to 1.49 and 1.49
organic chicken breasts 6.82 to 1.16
a whole free range chicken 6.95 to 2.25
tomatoes 1.75 to 79
pears 3.14 to 65 (X2)
organic kiwis 1.10 to 55 (X2)
blackberries 2.10 to 54 (X2)
antipasti 3.70 to 94

I am pleased as I could have picked up other stuff but I stuck to fruits and lean healthy protein. I also put back stuff that could not be freezed. So, £41.14 for £11.62. Go me

I looked up frozen fish from Lid1 and they have a fair range so there is no reason I cannot cancel my Ocad0 shop and use Lid1 this month.

There is so much my salary needs to do for June and I want to eat healthily and well but I need to watch my food spend if I am to reach my goals

I hope your Saturday was a good one

doingitanyway

It seems to have taken me most of the day to come up with recipes for the next few days using what I have. I also wrote my list for the big Lid1 shop next week. I swear if I gave up eating I would have so much time. I would also be dead so maybe not…;)

Two lots of washing done and on the line

Cooked a chicken, stripped it, portioned and frozen carcass for future stock.

Cooked a frittata.

Utilising eggs this week as high protein and cheap, so…

Breakfasts
Yoghurt and fruits and seeds

Main meals
Frittata (with bacon and broad beans) and salad
Red Thai chicken salad
Vegetable frittata (green chillies, potatoes) and salad
Chicken salad
Jerk chicken thighs stuffed with quinoa and salad
Grilled vegetables and tahini sauce and pine nuts with coconut flatbread
Leftovers night

I don’t really have anything for lunches so leftovers or nothing will have to do.

Tired today, so just going to keep plodding and I will leave a clean kitchen if nothing more.

I hope it is sunny where you are