From debt to freedom...

WannabeFree

Merry Christmas HSL and family. Have a wonderful day x

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Wannabefree.
Christmas was lovely. We had 4 generations around the table . My grandmother is in her late nineties and enjoys being with the children. I did slump a little after the Christmas dinner had been cooked and eaten. I think I finished work, then rushed into Christmas preparations and after the lunch on Christmas Day finally stopped and relaxed!!

We had turkey pie today ( Wed) as part of using up the leftovers. I tend to get a turkey crown so that there is less wastage. There is a little left for Thursday but thankfully the teenage boy enjoys turkey sandwiches so I expect all will be gone by tomorrow. I froze 2 lb of the chipolatas I'd bought so that can be a meal for another day. I have a few veggies that could do with being used up so will try butternut squash soup. I can always freeze it to take to work in the new year.

Isn't it funny the things that work over Christmas. I'd made trifle and a pavlova as desserts to last over Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Thinking of the toddler I put a tin of mandarin oranges into a bowl and covered it with jelly. It went down so well I should have made 2 of them. The simplest things seem to work the best!

Apart from milk top ups I'm hoping that we can eat from the cupboards and freezer for the next few days.

Honeysucklelou2

I am appreciating being able to take the time and enjoy cooking for everyone. On a work day it seems to be a race to get a meal on the table as fast as possible whereas in the holidays I can think about what I'm doing more and enjoy it:).

louby40

It’s so lovely being at home. Trying not to think about going back to work.

Cherryfudge

I was surprised how my (grown up) children dove into a bowl of mandarins and jelly, too! Haute cuisine, huh?

It sounds like a lovely Christmas: quite something that you had four generations together.

Honeysucklelou2

Yes, every year I count my blessings that my grandmother is with us and can enjoy the day.

Honeysucklelou2

Have sat down this morning and gone through my spending for December. To my surprise the food spending was only £70 over the usual £500 ish which considering it covered all extra Christmas food and catering for more for Christmas Day, I'm pleasantly surprised by.

The bad news on the spending was that I spent £46 at McDonalds in December. I don't usually eat out but it's food bought when I've picked up DD2 from a late shift and she's had no food and when I've been to collect DD1. The answer will be to be more prepared and pack a flask and picnic each time.

I must confess too that I did put some Christmas spending on the credit card. Not a good move at all, though it is a 0% one. I did budget and spent as much as possible from income on presents but even allowing £50 a child, the excess ended up on the cc which will be a priority to pay off. I'm not happy with myself about that at all.:mad::(

louby40

Honey I wouldn’t be too downhearted about the cc spend - it’s such a strange time of year.

You sound like you had a sensible but still lovely Christmas.

elly68

hi honey whole thread read ,good info for me re university we live quite central in scotland so regardless what uni she chooses will only be max 1.40 away.she needs to start practicing for theory test we have a second hand carriage awaiting her lol happy xmas and hey we all overspend part of the fun off xmas is eating weird meals for the whole of jan .

Honeysucklelou2

Thanks Louby and Elly.

I like the weird meals through Jan! How true!

Yesterday was pay day so I sat down and budgeted for every penny. Did a menu plan for the coming week and did a food shop to pick up any bits and pieces that were needed. We obviously went at just the right time as we picked up lots of reduced items including nets of unwaxed lemons for 10p each:). I'm thinking lemon meringue pie for dessert, lemon sorbet to keep in the freezer and lemon drizzle cake:)