Taking back control

Bobarella

Little--fish wrote: »

I know, and at least I realised before it was time to pay!

Just wanted to say that I'm reading through your diary Bob, it will probably take me a few days (children-permitting) to get to the end but I'm really enjoying it and I think you sound amazing! I also think it's lovely that you are so supportive to so many people on here.

I will be posting on your diary once I reach the end, I never want to risk it until I've read the whole thing in case I miss something crucial and say something daft!

That is so nice of you! Thank you so much.

mummytogirls

Evening Little Fish,

Hope I'm not boring you too much ha!!!

I did have to laugh at you in the supermarket, so glad you realised before you got through the till!!! xx

Little--fish

Not at all boring mummytogirls! I love reading the diaries on here, I find them really motivating and inspirational - and yours definitely is

Just a quick update tonight as we are all feeling under the weather here (eldest off school today ) so I'm heading to bed early with my trusty hot water bottles and book - the kids were asleep nice and early too which is great.

Another NSD which is great and takes the Jan total up to 9 :j I really want to challenge myself and try to get to Friday without spending but....... I have run out of chocolate! I don't think I ever have a day without any so this could be a bit too much of a battle. Actually I do have an open bar in the cupboard but it is 95% dark (Lidl had them in over Christmas and I wanted to try it as I love 85%) - and it is only just tolerable - certainly won't hit the mark like a Dairy Milk I'll have to see how strong my willpower is tomorrow!

Hope everyone is well tonight!

Bobarella

Hope the illness is just a short term thing.

Little--fish

The Universe was on my side today!

After my worries about the lack of chocolate v NSD I was amazed when I arrived at work to be greeted by my friend with a box of chocolates in her hand asking if I wanted them. She'd been given them as a pressie and couldn't eat them due to her dietary requirements and so she wondered if I would like them? YES PLEASE!!!

So, thanks to that amazing good fortune (and my lovely friend), another NSD clocked up - total of 10 now :j

Eldest a little better but off school again and my throat is sore, but we are all ok and she'll be in school tomorrow and I will be in work. I was very organised before work this morning and took some turkey stew out of the freezer and put a loaf in the breadmaker to be ready when we got in. So a healthy tea and I've made sandwiches for tomorrow from the leftover bread

I'm still not meal planning more than a day or so in advance but I'm hoping to plan ahead for the whole of next week on Sunday. The kids usually have few hours at their Dad's house on a Sunday so I get a little bit of extra time for planning, jobs, etc. Also need to chop up more firewood and do some batch cooking Oh, and catch up on washing, tidying, garlic planting, etc. etc :eek: Suddenly a few hours doesn't seem all that long!

I have been thinking about what I need to aim for this year with my money and have decided to do it in steps. So:

STEP ONE will be to pay off the CC by the end of March.

It's interest free until May sometime but I think if I try really hard I could get it done by March. And then it will be targets for saving - which after years and years with some sort of debt hanging over my head (totalling well over £10 000 at its highest) will be very exciting

Hope everyone is having a good evening

mummytogirls

Glad the little one is feeling better now LF. My DD2 was off 2 days last week with tonsillitis, I blame this extreme weather! It was actually quite warm today and I was outside in short sleeves!

Good luck with the planning over the weekend xx

Little--fish

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update tonight as DD is still up (enjoying being in front of the fire!) but she is tired so I want to take her up shortly. She likes to stay up with me a bit later sometimes when DS is in bed - a bit of 'girl time' she calls it!

I will update properly (hopefully with a proper meal plan!) tomorrow when the kids have a couple of hours at their Dads and I have a bit of spare time, but for now:

- the car passed its MOT yesterday which I was very pleased about. It's 10 years old and although it seems to be running fine there's always that worry that they find something and it is expensive to fix. Not this time, phew

- no NSD for Thursday and Friday (groceries and MOT were paid for) but had one today so that takes me up to 11 for Jan :T

- we've had some lovely healthy meals over the last couple of days, nothing is being wasted (although I don't meal plan much in advance at the moment I never waste anything) and it feels like we are eating better than ever because of this diary and being frugal!

- work went really well last week. It was just one of those weeks where everything went as it should and I got a lot done - it doesn't always happen like that so I appreciate it when it does.

- chopped up loads of wood today (branches we'd collected, driftwood, bits people had given us) and stacked it and swept out the wood store - I love it when that's done. The kids played happily in the garden while I did it because the sun was out - I can't wait for Spring, they are so much easier to look after then as they just play outside all the time.

- we are feeling a lot better from our colds today. DD was back in school Thursday and Friday and I definitely feel better today. Mummytogirls I hope your DD is fully recovered from her tonsillitis - that can be so painful for children.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend

Bobarella

So pleased the car passed! And that the lurgy is going away too. It's so cold tonight, am very envious of your lovely fire

boxofpaws

Little--fish, great news on the mot, it sounds like you are doing well on all fronts.:T

Little--fish

Thanks Bob and Boxofpaws!

Feeling very tired tonight after a 5.40am start with DS :eek: He did try for a few minutes to go back to sleep but just couldn't manage it and so we had to start the day. Multiple night time wake-ups have been the norm in our house since DD (now 6) was born and I've (unfortunately) had to get used to it - but when combined with an ultra-early start as well it is a bit of a nightmare. Fortunately, they had a few hours with their Dad today so things weren't quite as full-on as usual and I pottered around and did things at my own pace

So, grocery shopping was done - in an utterly relaxed manner without the kids! I feel a bit awful saying that because they are so fantastic, but things like grocery shopping can be very stressful with them if they are not on form - and the difference going on my own is massive. It was so leisurely - compared to the usual, get in, grab what I need and get out!
Got everything for the week ahead and it came to £23 so that's ok. I also filled up the car with petrol (£42) and am hoping that will last a week. I'm aiming now for three NSD's in a row - I shouldn't need to spend anything before Thursday but we shall see!

Just tried to write my meal plan but my brain is a bit too tired tonight and I can't seem to think ahead more than a couple of days. I know what we will have tomorrow and Tuesday, and I have ideas for later in the week (and only shopped with those in mind) but can't seem to settle it into a week's plan. Hmmm, will try again tomorrow night but tomorrow is:

Porridge with blueberries and apple
Packed lunches (pittas with cheese and beetroot), yoghurt, fruit
HM soup (butternut squash, made today) and salmon omelette (to use up some leftover salmon) with veg.

Oh, and I topped up my Esaver to £200 - this is my emergency money in case I get overexcited and pay too much of the CC and end up short for the bills. If it's in the Esaver I know I can just transfer it across if I need to. Once the CC is gone then I will save more into the Esaver as an emergency fund/next car fund.

Right, night all, sorry this has been a bit rambly, but it really does help me to keep focused by writing it all down here