From Blobby to Gobby

supersaver1000

Just been posting on Cherryfudge's thread about curry but realised I need to make a note here otherwise I'll forget. So I'm going to get myself to Sainsbugs for some tins of veggie chilli and a tikka rice pot. Its very curry themed today :rotfl:

I'm also going to do some baking this week

And need to get on with those tasks below - as well as look at my ppi claim - I've had a letter from berkeley's bank about the mortgage cover we had - seems that might be a done deal so want to do it myself rather than give a cut to the claims people. :T

My To Do list:

Started running again and feel so much better already. - Need to go for a run today

Got the bicycle going again - helps that the weather has been a bit better. Need to cycle to the shops today

Haven't:

Lost weight

Paid the extra to Avro/moved to One Select

[strike]Done the current account switch[/strike] Have done it now - yay to getting £150 and £50 in a year

Done my exercises

But I also haven't eaten any chocolate for a few days now Had 2 choc biscuits and a hot choc but not counting those

supersaver1000

To Do List

Been for a run - tick
Cycled to the shops - tick
Get freebies from Greggs - tick
Move utilities from Avro to Oneselect
Lose Weight
Stretch Exercises
Don't eat chocolate
Baking
PPI
Top up shop

supersaver1000

fatrab wrote: »

A few recipe ideas - https://thesavvyshopperscookbook.com/


Simple and cheap, I bought the book (used) for £4 on @mazon


Good luck with the interviews!

Thanks fatrab. I've been looking at the book on Amazon. Will have to buy that one I think. One of the recipes (beef curry) pointed to a slow cooker on amazon. I've got one, but this one allows searing on the hob to save using a pan. I might have to think about one of those - around £20, but going to think about it first. My slow cooker is really huge, but it is useable so not sure if it would be a good use of £20.

I also like the oat bars - I have plenty of peanut butter I need to use up and oats/golden syrup/sultanas. In the freezer I've got a pack of summer fruits frozen fruit and a smoothie pack from Aldi - contains beetroot and grapes - not very nice in my porridge so will need to find a recipe I think - might try a smoothie in the morning.

Looking at some of the grocery challenge posts - where some people feed a family for £100/mth I really need to be a bit more inventive. The savvy shopper book will be a real help - some nice ideas and I love the meal plans as its the ideas for menus that are the most difficult.

BTW - interviews - didn't get an invite for one that would have been slightly less travel, but did get an interview for the one that would have meant loads of travel. Decided not to go for it in the end, feel that quality of life is more important. And time at home means time to plan and be more inventive/economical rather than coming home exhausted and ordering a take away. I'm sure something will come up at the right time.

Just found this one - so I'm going to try it with the soft fruit tomorrow blueberry-and-oat-bars/

supersaver1000

Not a very relaxing day today. Was out at my first appointment by 8.30am, only to be kept waiting for 10 minutes.

Not really sure what I did for the rest of the morning, but DD was home so lots of chatting and so on was done.

Out for chores and shopping later - feel quite faint at the amount I spent on Day 1 of the new financial month. Cat things mainly - I was talking to the vet about setting up a payment plan - they do one for £10 a month and it covers all the regular things.

Won't be able to sort the finances out properly until next week, due to it being the end of the financial year. But I'm planning a £300 grocery spend this month.

supersaver1000

Hoping to have a NSD today.

Yesterday was very speedy on personal items:
£14.88 Bike lights which converts into a torch
£12.98 Bike light for rear
£60 hair

And the reason for one of the lights was that last week I ordered a new bike basket which meant I used £41.26 of my budget.

Cycling is my main form of transport now, love it for my health and its also quicker to get most places locally. Its been okay hanging things on the handlebars but is a bit unwieldy sometimes and then buying the basket means I needed a slightly raised light. I also wanted something better than my current lights, which were a cheap purchase to keep my going whilst I decided if I liked cycling.

I'm pretty much sorted with cycling stuff now. The only thing I would like is a cycling jacket and something to put under my helmet to keep my hair dry. But I'm going to take a chance of getting wet for a while.

I also bought a couple of items for the bathroom - a new shower head and a showershroom. I went for the second hand option on the shower head - its arrived with a small mark but you will never see that when its up. Not sure about the showershroom - it says it will fit a 2" plug hole but mine seems to be 1.75". Will check with MrSS before opening it up as could send it back.

Changed my mind about the food budget and have upped it to £350. £300 just isn't workable and I don't want to give up again.

supersaver1000

Showerhead fitted - Triton - works a treat. And was just over £13 on Amazon compared to £32-£36. Wasn't actually used but looks like a second with a small mark on the top - which you can't see unless you are around 10ft tall.

Have used the Amazon 'used' link a few times now - bike basket bracket £8 instead of £25, iPhone holder for car vent £2.25 instead of £25. They are generally just returns in the box but the boxes have been opened.

supersaver1000

Running going well and feel more positive about weight loss. Its amazing how many calories a good run can burn and how it lifts your mood.

Have set myself a target to lose 1 kg by next week.

To Do List

Run twice a week - tick
Start cycling more - tick
Do Current a/c switch - tick
Get more freebies from Greggs
Move utilities from Avro to Oneselect
Lose 1 kg
Stretch Exercises
Don't eat chocolate - this is going well
Baking
PPI claim

I've joined the 'get rid of your debt by Christmas' challenge - that will be a tall order but it is possible with a bit of extra effort and would be amazing. I'm also in the grocery challenge - I'm trying to keep groceries to £350 this month (but have a bit of leeway to £400 if necessary). Its just good to keep the food spending down - it feels like it has a habit of spiralling out of control, but to be honest I don't really know as I haven't been counting for a long time :eek: The idea is to get a grasp of how much we spend then try and reduce it down as much as possible.

fatrab

supersaver1000 wrote: »

Get more freebies from Greggs
Lose 1 kg

I'm not sure those two should be on the same list

supersaver1000

You are so right fatrab I guess I need to cycle to Greggs to get my freebies - that would help :rotfl:

The 'no chocolate' is going well - once I start I just can't stop :eek: so not starting is best for me

Bought some white vinegar and have been descaling the old shower heads. I had some HG Mould remover in the back of the cupboard and decided to get rid of a little bit of mould that had built up in the small bathroom - worked a treat and smells lovely (if you like that bleach smell :cool:) but I'm pretty sure it was quite expensive when we bought it. I will be using some more natural products - bicarb etc. in future. Better for the purse and for us.

So I then decided to treat us to a new shower caddy - the old one is really rusty and things keep falling off. I've bought a plastic one from fleabay - looks the same as the ones in Argos that are selling for a tenner more.

I'm aware that I'm doing things that aren't on my list - probably a bit of avoidance going on there

I'm going to alter DD's blind this afternoon and then start to tackle my list (I think I need to start at the bottom):

To Do List

Run twice a week - tick
Start cycling more - tick
Do Current a/c switch - tick
Don't eat chocolate - this is going well
Get more freebies from Greggs
Lose 1 kg
Stretch Exercises
Baking
Homework
PPI Claims
Move utilities from Avro to Oneselect

supersaver1000

Quick update on my to do list. Have made the utilities switch to Oneselect - estimated saving of approx £160 over current payment, but by switching company as well as tariff it will be a £2/mth saving. Not a lot I know but I thought if I'm switching tariff why not switch provider and save another £24/year.

To Do List

Run twice a week - tick
Start cycling more - tick
Do Current a/c switch - tick
Don't eat chocolate - this is going well
Get more freebies from Greggs
Lose 1 kg
Stretch Exercises
Baking
Homework
PPI Claims
Move utilities from Avro to Oneselect - tick