Ok, here goes nothing!

Bobarella

Laura you are doing so well!

I really hope you get your bonus

My only thought was whether you do any meat free nights? It's an easy trick for pushing down your food bill. Worth a thought anyway

LauraB89

Hi Heraeth- never had them done??? It's certainly worth it for a treat
But for me, yes, better spent elsewhere.

Bob - excellent suggestion! I might try making falafel next week. Maybe some tzaiki (sp?!) Pittas. Olives. Mm! Great idea!

I hope I get it too - either way I have my phone interview tonight so onwards and upwards!

xxx

LauraB89

OK- made it through the day with no spending! Woo hoo!

Cooked my gammon - twas delish in my chicken and ham pie. Used some leftover mash for bubble and squeak mm!!!

Had a phone interview for a new job, not sure how well it went. And I haven't found out about my bonus (and I won't until tomorrow) but who cares.

Only 8 days until pay day. I have a motown dance class tomorrow (£3.50) and my ballroom and Latin on Wednesday (£7.00) but no other spending plans this week.

I can do this!!

Hope you're all having a great start to the week. If you aren't, I highly recommend some ham. That shiz is the bees knees. Not only fed 5 of us (with a spare portion for seconds - everyone loves pie!) But there is plenty of meat left over for my lunches!

Not only all this, but no fewer than two people told me I've lost weight today. Two! I thought I was piling on the lbs.

Happy Monday people xx

LauraB89

Evening all,

Another day, another dollar (NOT SPENT!)

I am a bit gutted today, because I was supposed to be going to a dance/fitness class, and it HAS ONLY JUST OCCURRED TO ME that I don't have the car.

But, the silver lining is that I haven't spent any money I suppose.

Tonight - toad in the hole, fancy kale, probably roast new potatoes.

Lunch today was a meeting, so half a ham sandwich with some crisps - but for free so no complaints and about 4 apples (we have these free at work, and currently they have the ones I really like!).

Got dancing tomorrow night, so will probably be another £7 - although I think it's the Mr's time to pay this week,so might be alright there.

Bonus chances are looking good - fingers crossed there- which will make paying the deposit for the photographer painless and help with my credit card not to mention Christmas!!!!

All in all, spend-wise I have had a good day - even if I cried at work twice... Time for a glass of wine.

Hope you all have a frugal Tuesday for Frugday as I like to call it.

Tomorrow let's all have a non-spendsday Wednesday!

Ahh... it's this kind of nonsense that gets me bullied in the workplace hahaha (no but seriously, harassment is no fun and I am not a happy bunny).

PEACE OUT xxx

Bobarella

Laura I am really enjoying your diary, you have such enthusiasm for life, love it!

LauraB89

Ah thanks Bob - I try

So today - another non spending day - although we should have gone to dancing, work was horrible so I came home and I have a HUGE shepherd's pie in the oven (50% lentils - that's as close to meat-free as I think I am going to get away with this week!).

So... despite work being just awful, I have a plan to get it all sorted out, AND I have been applying for other roles so something will give at some point and then I will be free!

Had a really tasty ham (you'll remember from Monday's diary) omelette at lunch, which definitely cheered me up. Oh, and about 5 apples - the shiny, red, crunchy ones - holy mackerel they are the best. Plus, I could imagine that I was munching down on a certain person's stupid, empty, head. Satisfying.

How was your no-spendsday Wednesday?

What are the plans to keep Thursday thrifty?

I am going to have another omelette, lots of apples, and FREE DINNER with my director and team. Should be tasty and hopefully I can hold it together to make it through smiling and not crying my eyes out hahaha.

ONLY 7 DAYS UNTIL PAY DAY - so let's do this people.

Also - excited for the Fantastic Beasts film in a couple of weeks, going to make sure I get to the gym a couple of times to get my point for my free cinema tickets. Woo hoo!!

Got me a big glass of wine and I am snuggling up tonight to watch black mirror - hey, with all the recent *ahem* news - it doesn't seem so unrealistic.

Have a great Tuesday evening everyone xxx

LauraB89

Ok - how was Thrifty-Thursday for everyone?

Mine went swimmingly - meal out with work NO SPENDS. That makes 4 days in a row. 5 if I get through today - definitely a record of some kind!

Aaannnnnnddddd - guess who is getting their £900 bonus? You are right. It's ME!

So, done a much more detailed budget for next month, which takes into account getting my hair done and some Christmas spending. So £250 of my bonus will pay the deposit for the wedding photographer, and the other £350 will be used to pay off my overdraft (£250) and a boost to my Credit Card payment (extra £100) so expect to see that signature change in a BIG way on the 15th!

Getting sorted with my Christmas gifts early this year, making my traditional Christmas jam (it's normal jam with edible glitter and stars included) - I call it... SPACE JAM. I am so sad. Also making some chutney and biscuits for cheese.

Spoke to HR about the work insanity, and I think I am making progress on that front.

SO - tonight I have some chicken thighs to eat - and lots of veggies. I am thinking maybe a stir fry?

Got to try and get through the weekend without buying any more food until TUESDAY (payday) which could definitely be interesting. Time to go freezer-diving hahaha.

It's Fri-yay and I am finally feeling good about work again - even if the stress from the last couple of weeks has resulted in me feeling totally ill today. Onwards and upwards I suppose - worked really hard this week, which has resulted in a sloowww Friday afternoon at work (clearly as I am updating my diary at work).

Time for a no-spend-weekend if that is at all possible for me - I have £15 in my bag that I have already counted as spent - so I think that will hopefully cover brunch tomorrow!

Have a great day everyone xxx

LauraB89

Ok people, I have an IRON WILL - came home last night, finished THE WEEK FROM HELL at work with a terrible headache and feeling like a limp lettuce leaf. AND I DID NOT ORDER A TAKEAWAY.

I DID NOT ORDER A TAKEAWAY.

For real.

And instead of going out for our traditional Saturday morning brunch, Mr B89 and I are staying in. I saved even more ££ by doing my own nails - a friend lent me her nail kit and they are looking amazing.

Happy days

We are going to watch the rugby this afternoon at a friends house (great.) and then an engagement party tonight!

Tomorrow - probably lunch with the parents and a chilled day.

Got some fish in the freezer, going to make some fish fingers on Monday night, try and make it through to Tuesday before going food shopping. Got to keep the spend down this week.

Think my menu will be;

- Giant sausage roll
- home made fish fingers
- fish pie
- Bolognese

Also got some carrots hanging around and a couple of sad looking leeks - it's time to get cooking! You guessed it - SOUPer Saturday! Cheap and healthy lunches sorted for the week

Anyone else got much frugal food planning going on for next week??

Cannot wait for Tuesday - excited to update my signature with all my plans!!

Peace out xx

Bobarella

Wow it's all going on chez Laura

Chicken thighs, I'd probably opt to slow cook rather than use in a stir fry. The thigh is quite a tough cut compared to a breast for example. I'm a big fan of wings. You can get loads for less than £2....

Leeks to use up? Good for risotto too...

LauraB89

Thanks Chez Bob - you would be very pleasantly surprised at the delicious texture of chicken thighs in a stir fry - they can take a higher heat so get a lovely bit of crisp-ness (check out some of my tasty inspiration from some of the Wagamama recipes!) - but I also agree that they are amazing slow cooked. MMmm!!

Would never have thought much about wings, might give that a go next week! The boys will love wings night - fantastic idea.

Risotto is great, we love a chicken and leek risotto - once again, brilliant suggestion. I was considering some kind of stew perhaps to use up all my old veg. Maybe a whole chicken casserole, or maybe a roast chicken one night and the left over meat in a hearty soup? Perhaps some type of cassoulet? The possibilities are endless

So yesterday was really fun, we went to a friends house to watch the game, the boys had a few beers and it was nice to chat with the girls for a while. Then we went to the pub for dinner, I spent £30 on dinner and a couple of drinks, and then on to the engagement party which was really good but an hour from home and I was really tired. So we got back around 11, and I don't feel bad about spending a few pennies and an impromptu meal as it was lovely and we had a really good time.

Today, should be saving Sunday because we are going to my parent's house for the day to generally chill out and eat!

Had a very productive day yesterday, speaking with a couple who had bought their house where we want to buy and they have recommended a great solicitor who is local - so we should be ready and raring to go by the time spring rolls around.

AND my mum has said she would buy me a nail kit for Christmas, so I don't have to live my life without my nails done - life is always better with your nails done.

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend

LB xx