Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

Jam saved :T ok, there maybe a few darker flecks in it, but it tastes yummy :A also saved heavily burnt pan by soaking it in washing powder several times. As it was 2 in 1 powder it's now silky soft too I assume :rotfl:

Need to get something out of freezer for tea. I'm thinking chicken and chickpeas for a curry. No bank movement today, lots of activity Monday with 1st falling at the weekend. All pots lined up ready to go.

PurpleFairy26

Last money shuffle of the month done (apart from any spare food spends which will be moved on finial day of pay cycle next week). Second month of totally separate food pot and so far so good. Definitely making me think twice about spending. Planning on saving the surplus for the c word I think. Time will tell.

Busy here, long run last weekend and another needed this weekend. Which is good but as I'm slow takes a while :rotfl:

Some more planning going on with the extension but we're moving along nicely and it's so good to see visible progress. Can feel some decent decisions being made this weekend

Have some items to sell, will help with more of decluttering and a few £ in. Must think if I want to fleabay it or put it in local sale. Aim to do a chunk this weekend.

PurpleFairy26

Definitely some decisions made this weekend. We put masking tape on the floor to mock up the kitchen. Showed us that it wasn't really going to work, although it looked good on paper. So we've changed it around. Well worth doing.

Did a top up shop post meal plan and we swerved a meal out saving more ££ £56 left in food budget to Thursday, so there will definitely be some excess there :T

More exercise today. Got a barginous pack of energy gels I use for running in L1dl yesterday :T will also have cheapo porridge for good energy for breakfast.

Happy days.

PurpleFairy26

Energy gels were indeed splendid value, so may pop back to see if there is more or swing by another if I may pass one today.

Today I'm doing something a little different. I'm taking a days holiday and me and my pal, who I don't see anything like enough of are going out for the day. I've booked something as a surprise for her and we're going to drink tea and eat cake too :T we decided a couple of years ago not to get each other gifts anymore so I really don't mind treating us for a few hours. It won't be extravagant but so good for the soul :A

In other news, money in the bank with 3 days to pay day :T

New freezer inventory done, will definitely be shopping from home for the next few weeks to keep the shopping bill under control. Or allow me to start getting a few bits and putting them by for Christmas. They tend to be cheaper if they haven't got a Christmas tree or holly leaf on the packaging :rotfl:

Need to do some stretching today after my longest ever run on Sunday :eek: just over 13 miles :eek: plus I need to get out the door at some point this week again and not rest on my laurels.

Had a free health check at the doctors, was very reassuring and proactive for the N H S. Well done them. :T

brizzlegirl

13 miles!!!! Yikes that’s amazing, well done.

Last week was a disaster for me exercise wise...too much work travel and well work...doesn’t help me find time for exercise that’s for sure.

Kitchen sounds like it’s coming together and love the fact that you made jam. It’s certainly turned chillier down here, much more autumnal....HM jam seems the perfect antidote

Have a good day x

brizzlegirl

Hope you have a great week PF x

PurpleFairy26

We now have a good stash of jams and a huge tub of blackberries frozen :T definitely feeling autumnal type jobs. That and some washing didn't dry on the line for the first time yesterday despite being dry as it was a little damp in the air all day. No matter, airer put to good use.

Next job will be going to the community orchard for a look out for apples. Will have to think of when we can do this as I'll need to have time to do something with them after.

Managed just a £3.04 spend in the supermarket this weekend and 2 more items used from freezer :T I'll need to do a slightly bigger shop at some point this week but really didn't have the time yesterday and didn't want to rush and cause unnecessary purchases :A

Did manage to make some biscuits to use up last of a cheap jar of lemon curd :T recipe said they last 3-4 days in an airtight tin, seems like a challenge :rotfl:

Talked myself out of an expensive purchase for the extension :A it can be retrofitted if need be in due course which I will save for if I decide it's still required at a later date. DH and I are needing to go and pick tiles and radiator this week :eek: job for later if he's not back too late.

Today I need to call and haggle with s£y, we only a pay a little amount but I'd like it to be less :rotfl:

Planning for a week of eating from the freezer, which will liberate some plastic pots too, which I can then fill up again :T just will double check meal plan and finalise shopping list. Happy days.

brizzlegirl

Sounds great and well done on the compromises on the extension fit out.

Have a great week x

PurpleFairy26

Evening all :hello:

Another busy week here and I'm exhausted, which has meant a nap on the sofa this afternoon. Pretty frugal week all round, small shop done with a voucher on Monday. Thinking we will only need a small one again this week, need to double check meal plan and then see what we might need. May go this evening to get it out of the way.

Haggled with s£y and got the package down to where I wanted it to be so am happy with that. Have also stitched a pair of trousers that were only a few weeks old that the cat clawed a hole in :eek: they look perfectly acceptable now again

Sold something that was getting in the way last weekend, had notification today the money is on its way. Only a few £ but it'll go straight in savings. Hoping to get some stuff on the bay this weekend too if I can find the energy from somewhere.

No plans this weekend but I'd quite like to get out somewhere tomorrow afternoon or Sunday for a few hours in the fresh air. Will use our membership I think so no cost. Will take a picnic.

Raspberries in garden are producing like the clappers, so much fruit of 6 plants looks like plenty more to come too :T

House build continues to happen around us. Really must take some pictures of this mid stage so we can remember.

Have a good weekend all. Purps.

PurpleFairy26

Great reminder reading my list post to take some photos. Need to obviously do this in daylight. Will try tomorrow.

Making progress on the build and it’s gaining much momentum.

Managed 54 miles running in September. Which was good across only 9 runs. Must keep momentum and not stop.

Had e mail about possible P P I claim due, will have to wait and see.

Still money in food pot despite being only just over a week until payday. Happy days.