Debt Free 2017

Bobarella

A beauty advent calendar sounds interesting. Better than chocs too.

Mrs_Hainsworth

The advent calendar is amazing, although very expensive (£35 + £35 spend in M&S). I bought it before I decided to focus on getting down the debt but I'm justifying it on the basis I will not be making any beauty purchases until I use everything up.

Mrs_Hainsworth

Gone for lots of soups and stews on the meal plan this week:

Saturday - Mushroom stoup and dumplings
Sunday - Roast squash soup
Monday - Celariac soup
Tuesday - Meatball wraps and salad
Wednesday - Chickpea, chard and mushroom soup

Thursday night we're off out and Friday I might be visiting my parents but if not I'm sure there will be plenty of leftover soups!

Bobarella

Well you have to make the most of the things you have bought so enjoying the calendar makes total sense.Nice meals for the week ahead.

Mrs_Hainsworth

Tonight's roast squash soup was amazing. I used the crown Prince squash I bought at the farmers market last week, hollowed it out then filled it with all the odd bits of cheese in the fridge and a pot of cream, seasoned and baked for a couple hours, the result was unbelievably delicious I also have loads left over which I'm going to freeze.

Plus another NSD even though we went to the Christmas market (didn't see anything I liked). And I've finished off my big knitting project (which I've been working on, on and off for over two years) and fixed a crochet blanket that I don't use because it had a hole in it. I feel like I've had a pretty relaxed yet productive Sunday.

EssexHebridean

I LOVE soup done like that! We sometimes buy the little individual acorn squashes and similar and do those in the same way. Delicious!

Bobarella

Sounds a wonderful soup!

Mrs_Hainsworth

The soup was delicious and I've been enjoying the leftovers!

Had a few spendy days this week. Went to a concert on Thursday night which I'd budgeted for but was still an expensive night out.

Yesterday we got a Christmas tree, I think the one I bought was pretty good value but this was followed by some unplanned shopping to buy pastry ingredients to make mince pies. Plus we bought fish and chips for dinner. But that said we had a nice night watching Christmas films and drinking mulled cider to go with the mince pies. Sometimes you just have to do nice things and relax I guess.

I'm going to try to finish up my Christmas shopping this weekend so hopefully I'll be feeling more prepared - only 15 days to go!

Mrs_Hainsworth

Feeling rather embarrassed right now, ended up totally going over budget with the Christmas spend plus I still haven't managed to sort gifts for everyone

Looks like I'll end up in my overdraft again before the month is out but I'm determined to have a thrifty few days to try to do some damage limitation.

Bobarella

Don't be embarrassed. At least you are being honest here. It's all about practice isn't it.