Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

Sun_Addict

I buy the microwave rice/grains packets, they're handy to keep in stock. I know folks will say it's lazy and not cost-effective, but there's only me who eats rice/grains in our house and it's such a faff to cook a tiny bit for one and then it often goes out of date before I can use it all. I usually use half the pack of the microwave rice then freeze the rest in a tub, probably not supposed to freeze it but it freezes well and I'm still here to tell the tale. It's fab in stuffed peppers I've had the tahini one from Aldi's freezer too, very nice indeed. The boil in the bag rice is good too (think it's Tilda?). There's enough in a bag for a very decent-sized portion, it looks nothing when you take the bag out of the box but swells up when you boil it.

Seasidegal58

I'mrather like you about the rice SA - there's just me to cook for and when I get in from work sometimes I just need a dinner that's quick to prepare and the microwave rice/grains are so easy. For instance tonight - microwaved packet wholemeal rice, peas, sweetcorn, cherry toms and grilled sliced cauliflower sausages (good old Aldi again and you wouldn't think they were made of cauli!) all mixed with a sweet chilli soy sauce - lush!:D

Sun_Addict

I haven't seen cauli sausages in Aldi, they sound really nice. Cauli makes lovely mash, I also like cauli rice. My WW leader lives on her own and she swears by frozen peppers, butternut squash, onions etc to make something quick when she gets home from work.

Seasidegal58

I have quite a bit of frozen veg now in my freezer SA. It comes in so handy. I've also bought some of Aldi's spicy sweet potato balls which I'm going to use with spaghetti and tomato sauce for tonight's dinner.

END OF SCRIMPY WEEK 1 - FEBRUARY

Friday went a bit awry - I forgot my lunch through rushing out the door because I was running late. Ended up buying soup and bread in Pret - it was nice though - smokey veg chowder.

Budgeted spends was Amazon voucher for DD's OH's birthday. I also bought two books on Kindle - a vegan recipe one from the BOSH boys and a historical crime thriller set in Restoration times ( one of my favourite historical periods) by Andrew Taylor called Ashes of London. It's the first book in the series so I'll see how I get on with it.

I've managed not to spend the Ad Hoc money this week so an extra £20 to the pension fund!:).

SCRIMPY WEEK 2 - FEBRUARY

Yesterday i lost one pound on the weigh in. Then I met my friend for lunch - I had Malaysian veg curry and we both shared a bottle of Pinot - plus coffees - £28 from Entertainment budget. Lost the plot a bit on the way home and treated myself to a vegan chocolate Oreo cake from one of our local cafes that makes lush cakes - £4.65 - :eek: but it was lovely!:smileyhea. I think my emotional eating is coming to the fore again.

Today I was supposed to be meeting DD and OH in London for a vegan exhibition. They are in London anyway this weekend for OH's birthday but I decided not to go in the end because it would take me so long getting there and back to the venue because of the weekend work on the trains and underground that the powers that be have decided to carry out.

Not much coming up this week - nails and I may be meeting a friend after work.

So today I'm going to make a list of things I'll need for my holiday. Plus ironing later on while I watch Miss Marple!:D

Sun_Addict

Well done on losing another pound, going in the right direction. The lunch sounds lovely

How long now until your holiday?

Seasidegal58

We fly out on the 21st of this month so not long now SA. I can't wait!

HappyNow

All looking fab SSG.

I really hope you manage the Icelandic horse riding, it will be brilliant. Do they have an actual weight barrier that you can't exceed or is it just your own feelings of what's 'right'? Anyway, even if you don't manage a ride you'll get to hang out with them and it will be special.

milann

Your holiday has come around so quickly. I really hope you manage the horse riding - give yourself a final push before you go. Fingers crossed for you as it sounds amazing.

Sunshine_girl2

Not long till your holiday, keep going . Don't blame you not venturing into Central London if the railways weren't working . Well done on your weight loss , keep going for the last two weeks before you go.

Have a good week.

Seasidegal58

Thanks guys!

Happy - there is a weight limit so I'm now going flat out between now and when I go away to lose some pounds. Of course it's the story of my life with weight the last few years - I start off excellently then I scupper myself.:( One bright spot is that the ride is right at the end of the cruise, I'm booked on a few walking tours and the vegan menu onboard looks super healthy! So I might lose a little more here as well. Fingers crossed!:o

On checking the cruise details I noticed that if you use your credit card on board it has to have at least three months on it till the expiry date! It always bugs me this sort of thing - it's the same when you have to have at least six months on your passport when you're only booked for a two week holiday at the most!:mad: So I've had to ring Santander and ask for the expiry date on my Zero credit card to be extended. They're sending me a new card which should get here within the week (hopefully).

One bright spot though - when I got home tonight I had £28 in M&S loyalty vouchers waiting for me!:j

Have a good evening everyone.