NST: May the NST force be with you

misstara

A wee spend today at the supermarket.

Happy - spent the day with friends and then one of OHs came for tea so a day full of chatting and laughing
Kind - feeding OHs friend (no warning that he was coming for tea, he just appeared)
Frugal - meal plan and take a list to the supermarket, this is where I've completely lost it this month and blown the food budget

Off to bed soon, picked up a short shift tomorrow morning with 2nd job so that will be an extra £25ish on Friday

mothernerd

I've also blown my food budget. Panic over the builders coming and not sure how much access I will have to the kitchen. Also worried about the Vitamin D deficiency and wondering if I spent too much time on using up what I had and not buying things (yoghurts/ crispbread/ low fat cheese spread) because there were no deals on these items and 'full price' is extortionate. Maybe I have been having too many of the same things and missing out on others.

I had a list and didn't deviate much. Freezer shop followed by the SM. Lots of salad items, bread and cooked meat. Lots of salad reduced (although middle of the day prices not tiny prices) and saw the girl collecting lots of meat from the shelf and hoped I would arrive at the shelf just as she put it out reduced (I did).

Stocked up on tins as I knew I would be getting a taxi home - probably half of what I have spent could legitimately come out of next month's budget. Think I have been spending more on 'little shops' as one or a combination of tablets is making me dizzy so feel better that I have a full cupboard.

What made me happy - lots of healthy food in the house, reading, starting to look like I am getting somewhere with making space for the builders (DS1 came last night, took his parcels away and helped with putting some things away). Stood in DS3's room going through things and shouting at him (whilst he was in the bath) and assigning things to bin/ recycling/ cs/ put away - got to get him when he is in decision mode. Helpful security guard looked after my full paid for trolley, whilst I went to get a bottle of pop (taxi woman said it would be 3/4 hour - very restful, sitting on the front of Rupert the Bear's car as SM has moved the bench.

Kind deed - not killed DS3 yet. He refused help from DS1 to get this single bed upstairs - he keeps insisting he can do it by himself.

I also put toiletries into the food bank box at the library and more at the SM even though I've already made a £10 donation this month. Took old long life light bulbs to the recycling facility.

Bobarella

Sounds a useful shop Mothernerd glad you are winning the battle of the declutter too.

How am I doing this month Well. Slower progress on debt repayment than I'd like ideally. I hit the mid way point for my debt this month early on and since then have only managed to reduce by a further 1%. But we have had some big extra costs like my sons quartely dance school fees. Which would have been even more had they not reduced it becauae of the lessons missed when I was in hospital. So that was cash we had to take from available debt repayment. £100 there. We also paid cash in full for the annual gas saftey check at the flat which came to £120.

Upsides I saved a hell of a lot on my business insurance renewal at £800.
I made £11 interest on my emergency fund. Woop de doop but i will take it
Have 1 more month of hard work ahead then end of June we will have around £1400 extra for 2 months in the budget.

Frugal stuff Have been shopping at Icyland a lot this month. I had never bought before from that store but the £1 mince offer lured me in and then I saw that their fresh food offer in dairy and meat is alao good. Although fruit and veg is poor. As in tiny offer. But as I live in south london and have wonderful street markets on tap I am less concerned about that.

Todays efforts, have a 1.5kilo pork joint in the oven which cost only £3.50 from said Icyland. Im doing pulled pork for dinner. Using up a pack of YS baps for about 34p from Mr S. A bag of YS watercress for the same cost. Home made coleslaw for pennies and sautee potatoes.
Mr Bob can take it for lunch all week and I may do some of the lovely home made baked beans I do and have it for tea with those midweek too.
Have also been building up my freezer stash from there too as I was impressed at how cheap they do big bags of veg for. You may all make a stasher of me yet.

Anyway think that's it for me. I just have to tick along for 1 more month and then I can make a big dent in the remaining debt.

apple_muncher

I gave up making today my 16th NSD as my neighbour told me that our aldee had all the gluten-free stuff well reduced. So up I went and bagged five loaves of gluten free bread for the usual price of one in the big supermarkets. Result!

Both dh and I are all out of energy, so it'll be cheese and biscuits for tea.

crazy_cat_lady

Hi everyone :wave:
Sorry I haven't checked in - it's been a busy old weekend. Spent much of yesterday running around after the kids, then most of the night in A&E with dh. He had fallen on Friday morning and hurt his foot, and was given some rather rubbish advice at the urgent care centre so I had wanted a second opinion. He has a broken ankle. We were there until almost 3am but I think it was worth it to know for definite...
I'll be back later to post properly.

Bobarella

Apple cheese and biscuits is the best tea ever. Glad you had a good haul

Cat Still cant believe they didnt realise the poor man had broken his ankle. When I used to play hockey in my 20s I had several wacks to the ankles that took me to A and E and the first thing they did was an x ray. Seems odd. Anyway hugs to him.

Calling14

CCL poor you and yr hubby. Really have your hands full.

Nothing to report a SFD added today.

Went visiting relatives haven't seen for over a year, had a good laugh, healthy lunch and made plans for attending wedding this year- feel so much better now as going alone.

Need to sort out ironing, messy house so off I go.

Bob won't be any major debt busting from me for few months, need to boost my EF.

mothernerd

Hugs ccl.

Quick check in as I'm so very tired. Things are going quite well. DS3 moved the bed first thing this morning (has since taken 3 quilts upstairs but the 2 mattresses are still waiting).

I have been busy, lots has been done (I have a list but won't bore you to death). Just resting now and waiting for my second lot of painkillers to kick in. If I can sort my paperwork and sewing into 2 boxes and two bags and do a little more in the kitchen I will be happy. Couch stacking is the last thing to do before we go to bed (DS3 is working/ occupying the large one).

DS2 has been and taken the Christmas decorations and my mum's bookcase (+ 6 tubs of DS3's ice cream stash) back to his flat. I have done a lot of cooking - took out 4 mini-roasts (may be the same as Bob's but I did the 4 for £10 deal, cooked, cooled and sliced them up - now back in the freezer in portions. Used the extra space to accommodate a loaf (in 2 slice packs), and the fresh meat as individual chops and steaks plus a few other bits.

I am happy because the end is in sight and for the most part, things are fitting in the places I had them in my head. The paperwork, possibly sewing and the remaining tools and kitchen stuff can be sorted when the builders are here as long as things are near to their final destination.

Not been kind apart from not killing/ shouting at DS3. Really looking forward to my bath. Still not added yesterday's spends - everything is divided into 'must do before builders come' and 'can be done when they are here'.

apple_muncher

Ccl, glad you got a second opinion re dh. Hope it's not too painful for him. For some reason, I can imagine you hiding his crutches... Will he get any sick pay?

Mothernerd, so pleased to hear you say the end is in sight, and things are fitting in the places you imagined them. Well done for not killing DS3 - again!

Looked at my siggie and realised that I have already got my 16 NSDs - go me! May yet bag another 4 if I manage to cope back at work...

dizzyblnd

Miss Tara I have completely blown my food budget this month too as my list has gone out the window. That is my personal target for next month: back to meal planning, healthy meals n a shopping list!