The Marching Minimalist

angelpye

So tonight I started my spending diary including todays shopping for the week. I really don't have much and what I do have I want to be in control of and know what I did with it.

The spending diary is all about keeping me focused and retraining. I was so glad today to do my shopping within budget even though I did get a couple of things that were not on the list. I actually stood at the checkout knowing the money I spent was totally within my means. I also went to customer services when my discounts hadn't come up - saving £1.80. I had to be a little bit pushy about it but so proud as previously I would have just put it down to experience and accepted the hit.

Knowing also that I won't be needing to fit in a 'top up' trip at all this week has also removed some pressure...time is precious in the pye household and I also want to use that wisely.

Onwards and upwards.

mummytogirls

Well done for getting the money refunded for your offers. I bet the supermarkets make loads because people just do not check!! xx

angelpye

Thanks mummytogirls, being on here certainly makes me more brave about these things! And yes I think you are right, I never used to check offers so I wonder how much I have just blindly given away.

So how was this week? I am staying on budget with a few necessary tweaks due to a couple of changes. I have still to get a grip of a thorough meal plan...everything takes up so much time but I know once I am in the swing of it then I will get faster and it will become more natural. Meal plan is to be finalised tomorrow.

I forgot cheap biscuits for snacks last week so DD and I baked for the first time in a while. She really enjoyed it and the goodies were much nicer than any cheap biscuit so this will become a regular thing. I have all the ingredients for a few different things so I will pick up some cheap cake cases and we will be all set!

At the moment I am enjoying the challenge and mainly seeing it all as a positive learning curve. I do get low at times but then I did when money wasn't a problem. Going out last week meant I didn't feel the urge this week and happily plodding along at home

I have been to the gym again this week and I used the membership again today with DD, still early days to decide whether to keep it but at least I am being active. Going to the gym is also great for mood - I had forgotten how much better I feel after even if I don't always love it when I am there. I have diarised gym for next week and seeing this as my alternative to going out. I weighed myself this week and its not as bad as I feared - 6lbs should see me at a more ideal weight which is totally doable without a complete overhaul that I don't have the head space for.

I have also started a survey experiment to see if that can bring a little extra in. It's gone ok so far with the equivalent of £27 made this week which is part vouchers and part GBP. If I get to a point of cashing out a voucher I will put in the presents fund and free up the cash for elsewhere (likely debt repayment or small emergency fund).

Still yet to start selling on Eb@y but I will see if I can set aside the time at some point next week.

Marching on...

EssexHebridean

Thought I'd pay you a return visit!

The thing that works for me on the tidying up front is working in 15 minute chunks - I read something a while ago that said you can do anything for 15 minutes and generally speaking I have found this to be very true. (The exception is ironing - nobody should have to iron for 15 minutes...or in fact at all, through choice).

Meal planning is the future - 5 minutes spent reviewing what you have and what you need to buy saves a fortune in time and money. Plus anything that saves you spending time in supermarkets MUST be a win, no? There's loads of different ways of doing it too, it's about finding what works for you. I generally work pretty freestyle, some people base it roughly on days of the week. One thing to remember is that if you have one night of the week when time is particularly short, pasta is an excellent option. I've got a list of different types of meals that we enjoy to dip into for inspiration when needed too.

angelpye

Well hello Essex! I would offer you tea and cake but haven't baked again yet! Cant say I have been ironing instead because I just don't buy clothes that need that kind of maintenance!

Pasta is definitely my go to...cheap and easy plus DD will always eat it. I have a few recipes for pasta that are healthy and make huge batches so I can freeze. I want to get into making batches of things I usually buy pre made like potato croquettes...these are my go to comfort meal when DD is away usually with veggie sausages and peas. Unless they are yellow sticker they are pretty bad value.

So here goes:
Sunday - simple roast (roast sweet potato for Mondays chilli)
Monday- veggie chilli and jps (chilli in wrap next day lunch)
Tuesday - spanish omelette and salad (making enough for lunch next day)
Wednesday - veggie chilli and rice (don't have time to cook in the week and will still be enough for freezer)
Thursday - h/m mushroom stroganoff with rice from freezer post gym
Friday - likely to be a chip supper with a friend if not falafel
Saturday - h/m carrot and bean burgers from the freezer

Breakfasts will be overnight oats or cereal for me and cereal for DD.

Lunch either leftovers or hummus, tomato and salad sandwiches for me and school dinners for DD.

Snacks of fruit, yogurts, cheap cheeky biscuits and homemade delights.

Need to buy: eggs, bread, wraps, hummus, cucumber, cake cases, squash.

There, not so bad. Not terribly exciting and ok I did shopping already but enough left in budget to get the few its we need.

Thank you for the incentive Essex! All food decisions made...more head space for Netflix...must cancel that!

Marching on...

mummytogirls

Meal plan for next week looks good Angelpye! We love baking here but the problem is it doesnt last 2 minutes!! xx

angelpye

mummtogirls...shows how good it is!

EssexHebridean

Nice meal plan! "Rolling over" a meal from one day to another, and making double to freeze for the following week are tricks that work brilliantly for me too.

And no, no high-maintenance clothes here either!

Bobarella

All sounds like it's going really well Angelpye good luck with your week ahead.

JoJoC

Your meal plan looks great angel! Very organised!

We have been meal planning since going back to work in January and have mostly stuck to it (it's hard when husband works late and I'm on my own with the kids unexpectedly).

Spanish omelette might find its way onto our plan for next week!

I also buy low maintenance clothes. No ironing in this house!!