From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

You're right, it is striking the balance between budget and health. My aim has been between £400 and £550 a month but for 8 of us ( 9 when DD1 is home). This was exceeded by a lot in March. I do think there has been a rise in the cost of food. I always used to buy the cheapest butter which has gone up by 60p in recent months. I have compromised by using margarine in cakes etc but have found that pastry is not pliable in the same way and gets ruined so I've gone back to using butter for any pastry dishes. I do like to keep a fair amount of fruit in but it is only the basic apples, oranges and bananas. We tend not to have soft fruit unless it is ys or we've grown it.

Cherryfudge

Very sorry to hear about the chickens. I hope you can find a way to fox-proof the run though I don't think it's easy. I remember my Mum lost a pet duck when a fox dug under the wire fencing to get to it. They are clever at working out how to get what they want: Dad rebuilt the run with the wire netting sunk deep into the ground as well as high up.

On a completely different subject, keep a look out for discounted cream in the shops and make your own butter. It works out a lot cheaper to use a large pot of cream, reduced to say 50p, and which will make over 250g of butter. Just remember to add a good pinch of salt to stop it going off. It takes about 20 minutes with an electric whisk, or what feels like several years with a hand whisk (unless you need a workout ).

Honeysucklelou2

That is a good idea Cherryfudge, thank you. I will keep a look out for any reduced cream.

Ironically of the 7 hens remaining, one laid her first egg overnight. I knew they would start laying around Easter time.

Spent some time clearing through some paperwork and organising it into a concertina folder. It was rewarding as I found a packet of my favourite sweet pea seeds ( purple pimpernel):). There's just enough time to get them sown for summer blooms. I also found the paperwork for one of my window loans. Interestingly there is an option for accelerated repayments, which means paying £30 a month more but will clear the debt in 3 years rather than 10. A job for next week will be to ring up and see if that option is still available.

I've had a lovely afternoon enjoying the colours of a NT garden with most of the children, my parents and grandmother.

Spendless

How sad about the chicken and distressing for you to find.

March grocery bill does seem high, but there are a lot of you. Where do you shop?

Fingers crossed an option is available to pay your windows off more quickly.

kerron7

Sorry to hear about the chickens.

I!!!8217;ve always struggled with the grocery budget but this mth have really tried and it!!!8217;s looking at coming in below £440 I have set which is for 2 adults, 6 sometimes 7 children and 2 cats.

Honeysucklelou2

I generally shop at Tes3o and buy the saver or own label products. The £800 includes the Easter eggs and ingredients for simnel cakes ( about £50) and nappies/ toiletries/ washing liquid for clothes but that still leaves a huge amount spent on food. Lots of room for improvement!

Honeysucklelou2

£440 is a figure I'd like to get to Kerron. I have noticed that the busier I am at work, the more tired I get, then the quick and easy ( and more expensive ) options creep in. I holiday times I enjoy having more time to be creative with food and can keep the price down.

kerron7

I used to be awful at meal planning and end up buying takeaways, it!!!8217;s not easy especially with rising food prices. I!!!8217;ve bulk brought meat this month and that seems to have helped also using for things I would of previously thrown away.

Spendless

Food prices have gone up, but I've noticed it more in the bigger name supermarkets. I've been shopping in Aldi around 3 years now and it's a shock to the system if I have to go elsewhere. Aldi shopping took some getting used to as they don't have all items/brands there.

Honeysucklelou2

I've had trouble with the hub and broadband but the hub bounced back unexpectedly this evening so I can catch up on diaries!

A new term starts tomorrow. I've spent a fair amount of time getting ready for the new term last week. I must confess that I have spent more than I'd hoped last week, mainly from the older children wanting to go to places or do particular things. I took DD1 back to uni on Friday and got her a few groceries to get her set up for the new term. Her holiday this time was about a month in length - enough Tim to get used to her being at home again so quite a wrench to take her back to uni!