Dancing in the Rain

doingitanyway

Thanks Orange Ena. I decided to turn my reluctance to sell stuff online into a positive by donating to the CS. As long as I get it out of the door...

INOD I don't know how to do cash-back so I'll explore it after this post. Thank you.

A WFH day for me today, so the house, though not brilliant is not madly chaotic....and I made quinoa with roasted veggies and tahini sauce

Today was the second NSD in a row.

I am anticipating pay day and although I no longer have to pay my health club membership, I will be paying for the dentist and I’ve decided to pay for annual gardening waste collection too by cutting back on my shopping costs, so once again I have an extremely tight budget.:(

This is the last month of such a tight budget. It will loosen in (a bit) July, so I plan to use that extra to buy my passport, a few train tickets and buy a few key items of clothing and some make-up. So, I just need to get through the next 5 weeks really…:)

In late July/August there is a further loosening. So then I increase my debt repayment first. :)Then I can start my emergency savings. I can also start to do jobs on my house that will be ongoing at the same time as debt repayment. I will also be able to do some stuff personally. Of course I will do it frugally but to have even a small budget for clothes, shoes, make-up, hair and to be able to see a film once a month or so and socialise a bit more…:D

So, June/July month won’t be easy but July/August will be easier and August/September even easier.

I plan to keep busy for the next 5 weeks.
I will start my free yoga/zumba/circuits classes :T

But crucially I will turn my gaze forward and remind myself it will get easier soon

Have a good evening
DIA xx

in_need_of_direction

Don't your council collect garden waste? Mine do and provided me with a second bin free of charge as I still have hedges whose cuttings don't bag up easily.

doingitanyway

You know those days where everything you say you are going to do, you do? One of those…

My 3rd NSD in a row.

I ate left over supper for breakfast as there wasn’t any breakfast food. It felt odd but tomorrow I am paid and on Saturday and Monday I can fill my fridge once again. Tomorrow, I will get up early and cycle to Lid* where I will spend the £2.50 I still have. I’m thinking eggs and mushrooms…yum.

I planned a creative day today and took a day’s holiday to do so. It worked. I’ve worked creatively all day and I feel great.

I planned to vote before 6pm and I did.

3 good things

Listening to all the travel nightmares due to the flooding whilst safe and dry at home and away from the madness

Voting and living in a democracy

Creativity. Making something beats buying something, every time for me.

Have a good evening

DIA xx

doingitanyway

I’ve let my slow cooker go. It’s waiting to be dropped off at the Savvy Army CS and hope it goes to someone who needs it. I’ve had a long relationship with my slow cooker (and its predecessors) but there’s a question mark over the glaze used on mine (although the manufacturer says it is perfectly safe and it probably is) so I’m letting it go. I also want to move away from meat and I only use the slow cooker for meat dishes. I don’t have an oven but hopefully I will have one before Christmas in time to stick some turkey in the oven;)

I bought a Lid* food processor. It cost £19.99 and the reviews are good. There are lots of vegan/veggie recipes I can do now and soups are back on the menu.;)


I cycled to Lid* for shopping. I always used to get a bottle of wine as a Friday night treat but since starting this diary I allow myself a bottle of wine as a monthly pay day treat. But even that has lost its charm and I didn’t want one today. I did spend more than I thought, so I now have a budget of £3.50 for food until next week…so no Ald* trip for me now. Never mind. I can still create a weeks worth of food based on what I have…:)

Today my organic veggies and chicken carcasses arrived

Lots of stock made from my organic chicken carcasses. I froze 3, used one. Froze chicken livers from the carcasses too.

I made up a batch of quinoa to keep in the fridge.

I cooked Hemsley and Hemsley’s aubergine and courgette curry to be served with toasted walnuts and coriander. I used the chicken stock. This dish is gorgeous and I will make it again.:D

I made a lentil, tomato, chicken (from the carcass) and kale soup

I made Thai red pork burgers

I prepped a salad

I have little pears, cheese and nuts for snacks and eggs for breakfasts

That should take me through to Tuesday or Wednesday, both WFH days when I shall batch cook again.

I hope you have a peaceful evening
DIA xx

beanielou

I sometimes buy a mini bottle of rose.
Think about a hallogen oven~~ they are just fab.

doingitanyway

Thanks Beanielou. I hadn't thought about a halogen oven.

beanielou

I think they are really fab.
I just don't use my cooker ovens at all.

doingitanyway

I got a £20 overdraft fee withdrawn for being £4.87 over my balance. I haven’t been overdrawn for years and I thought it was disproportionate. They agreed and removed it. I hate talking to my bank and asking for stuff so I’m pleased with myself. :T

I didn’t have any hand wash this morning but I did have some shampoo my hair didn’t like so I put it in the empty hand wash bottle. I wouldn’t have done that last year. Progress as it shows my mindset is changing.:money:

I got bargains again in Waitro**

Organic yoghurt x 2 £1.58 reduced to 25p each. Despite doing incredibly well and purchasing high quality protein it is still an expensive shop as I only have £120 this month so I now plan on 5 NSDs in a row as a challenge (Sunday to Thursday)

Free range chicken breast fillets 6.12 to 1.89
(pack of 2) 5.33 to 1.65
6.39 to 1.98
6.49 to 2.00
Sea bass (pack of 2) 5.49 to 99

Whole boned parmesan 7.49 to 2.55
tomato chicken

Welsh lamb loin chops 6.10 to 1.88

Welsh lamb rack cutlets 6.01 to 1.86
7.12 to 2.20
Garlic chicken breasts 4.19 to 1.25
Welsh lamb fillet strips 5.00 to 1.25
Eggs 1.54
Paper 2.90 to 0
Coffee 2.15 to 0

Total bill = 23.97

Total worth = 80.97

My days off start now

Happy Saturday reader
xx

beanielou

Great bargains
Well done on getting on OD fee returned :j

milasavesmoney

You are rocking this frugality lifestyle!!! Impressed!!!