Get a grip !

Skint_yet_Again

What a difference a day makes ! Lovely warm sunny weather today. Walked the dog this morning and had to take off my coat, scarf & gloves as it was warm enough in tshirt and fleece. (and jeans lol)


Have done 2 loads of washing and almost dry outside, will leave it out a few more hours if it doesn't rain and bring it in around 4pm before it gets cold.


All food from stores today. I have updated my signature and now have £300 in my emergency fund so I feel a bit more secure. Also updated my loan .. only 2 payments left :T Once I've paid off the loan and 0% credit card I will bump emergency fund up to £1000.


There were lots of fireworks in the local area last night and poor puppy dog was really scared So will snuggle up with her on the kitchen sofa once it gets dark, all curtains will be closed and tv turned up to try and mask some of the sound. To be honest some of them were so loud it sounded like a bomb going off :eek: scared me too !

savingwannabe

Hurrah for your walking I have only been out twice all week off and am becoming v unfit I admire you for walking in rainy weather. Your emergency fund is looking great. Hurrah for only two more payments on the loan.

The fireworks were crazy last night I hope doggie is ok.

Let's hope the next week will be a good one.:j

Skint_yet_Again

Hope you have a good week too SW x

I tried my new bargain coat on again today. It still looks big and the bottom sticks out like an A line. So I made two small cuts on either side of the inside of the hem and using an old safety pin I threaded through the drawstring off another coat which didn't need it. I fixed the toggles on and tied the ends and hey presto it looks much better now it doesn't stick out at the bottom

Also realised I forgot to list my decluttering again

W/e sun 27 oct - parcel packaging reused. Old dog toy chewed in half - binned.

W/e sun 3 nov - tablet boxes & Medicine bottle from bedroom into recycling. Dozen bottles to bottle bank. Old Tshirt hole in front cut up for floor/ window /car cleaning cloths. Old lightbulb (been on kitchen worktop for ages. )- wrapped in newspaper & binned.

I don't think we will ever be clutter free. For every 1 thing I get rid of 2 bits seem to be kept "they might be useful one day" but the house is much tidier than it was & I am getting better at getting rid of stuff !

savingwannabe

Well done in sorting coat.

Ps you are so right about decluttering. I do some and then find lots of other jobs that need doing. I have a brand new coat which I put into a winter sack and now need to find it. lol.

Skint_yet_Again

Went to morrisons on the way home from work today and bought lots of items on offer including braising steak £2.69.


Also stocked up on hair mousse £1.00 each and hairspray 85p each, their own brand which I have used for years. Total spend £12.50.


I made a big stew in the slow cooker with the braising steak, and after tea there will be enough for 3 more portions.


I got a full refund for my faulty "waterproof" walking shoes which leaked and they offered me a 10% off code as a good will gesture. However I found a 20% off code online so ordered a new pair These new ones have good reviews so fingers crossed they will be waterproof.


Tomorrow I am out in the evening with friends for dinner. Just cheap & cheerful curry night at wertherspoons so should be under £10. I am driving so won't spend much on drink !

savingwannabe

The stew sounds delish. Yum. Im glad you had a refund - how on earth can waterproof shoes not be waterproof????? Did the Company not test them before they ordered them as stock? The mind truly boggles!

A cheap and cheerful curry sounds great. Yum. I hope tomorrow is a good day for you.

Skint_yet_Again

Thank goodness its the weekend :j


Had a lovely evening out on Thursday with friends I haven't seen for ages so was good to catch up. Curry night was lovely. One friend bought me a non alcoholic drink as I drove & picked her up and I got a non alcoholic drink included in my meal deal, total spend £8.25 :T


I didn't get home until 11.30pm then woke up with back ache around 4am and was at work for 6.30am. Felt very tired so treated myself to a bacon roll (& naughty chocolate ) from the canteen £3.20 from entertainment budget.


After work I went to Aldi total spend £24.65 and should last about 2 weeks with stuff already left in freezer/cupboards. I will hopefully just need to buy more bananas and milk. Meal plan -


Breakfasts - porridge, yoghurt, banana (work days)
weekend - cheese on toast, egg on toast, similar to McD sausage & egg mcmuffin = pork burgers (frozen from aldi) & eggs on muffins


Lunch - home made veg soup, scrambled egg & toast, beans on toast, jacket potato (with beans and/or cheese) cheese sandwich, egg sandwich


Chicken fajhitas
BBQ Ribs, chips, sweetcorn, garlic mushrooms
Chicken tikka masala
2 x lamb shanks in mint gravy, potatoes & veg
3 x Cajun chicken & rice/noodles and any leftover peppers etc
Leftover stew in freezer
Fish pie & veg
2 x fish in batter & chips & mushy peas


Today I am going out with friends for lunch & cocktails. I am a bit worried about the cost as I don't usually go to expensive places. I have set aside £40 from my budget to include taxis. It seems a bit extravagant as I am used to trying to spend £10 so I could go out 4 times for that amount but I have budgeted for this as a treat and will make sure I enjoy it

JennyJukes

chicken fajitas... bbq ribs... my faves, yummy!
the cocktails too.. but why are they always so expensive?! then again, you don't want them to be too cheap otherwise you drink them like juice and are sick by 10pm.. ask me how I know.
it's lovely to catch up and see friends and even better when you have budgeted for it - so enjoy! I know that when I have a last-minute lunch or night out I end up spending way more than I should so it's good you've already saved for it

savingwannabe

Hurrah for great food shopping. Your meal out is like the meals that my friends usually have and they always wipes m out whereas your usual meals are v value for money. You have budgeted for it which s great. I hope you enjoy it. Yum to cocktails.

Skint_yet_Again

I got home after walking the dog yesterday morning just before the rain started. Then it poured for the rest of the day.

In the afternoon I drove to friends house a few streets away instead of walking to avoid getting soaked and left my car there. She has made her own flavoured gin (adding fruit to shop bought gin, not making her own gin lol) and so we tested rhubarb gin & passionfruit gin before getting a taxi to the bar to meet the others.


Had a lovely afternoon full of laughs and chat and the food was nice but the drinks were v overpriced. I had one cocktail which was very nice and came in a tall glass, so it took me a while to drink and the others had 2 drinks to my 1. We all had food at similar prices, mine was £8.95 which was v reasonable. The drinks were the same price each or more than the food :eek: Then we shared dessert £5 each and a cup of tea each £2.10.


So mine came to around £25 and theirs came to around £35 each. Two of the girls had vouchers and then they insisted on splitting the bill equally which annoyed me as I hadn't had as many cocktails at £9 a time or more. So I ended up paying £30 plus taxis £5.

It wasn't worth making a fuss or falling out over and I am trying to let it go and not spoil the day. However I won't go on one of these expensive do's again. Really it was no better than my night out on Thursday with other friends at £8.95 in total.
But I think I sound petty so now I have got it off my chest I will let it go and just remember having an enjoyable time.


Plans for today -
walk the dog and pick up my car on the way back
get washing line dried - it is forecast to be sunny
hoover dog room


DS will be going to work shortly and his gf got in from work about 4am so it will be just me and the dog for most of the day. Will have some chill out time this afternoon.