£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

emmie26

If you get to the bottom of keeping to the shopping budget let me know because I just can't seem to. I shop at Aldi with Tesco for little bits. I write a list, we cook from scratch and I still go over budget. I thought going veggie was the answer but obviously that isn't the case (thank God)

GeorgianaCavendish

Aldi have passionfruit in their Super 6 this week I can't wait to go grocery shopping for this reason, I never usually buy passionfruit because I feel like they aren't very good value.

Do you buy the Aldi Greek yoghurt? I think its much tastier than FAGE Total but it has the same creamy consistency of Total, so much cheaper too!

Treadingonplaymobil

Expensive day today, but a day of financial wins and losses...

Loss
I did overspend in that we stopped in a cafe for a snack (and it was an insanely expensive cafe, as it was in a farm shop). I have to say that I did spend the entire time we were there thinking 'this really isn't worth the scrabbling I am going to have to do later to balance the budget.' A good reminder that going for the 'treat' option isn't necessarily a treat at this stage in our lives.

Also reminded me that things like cafe trips are very much for me - a chance to sit down and have the DCs sit nicely, as they are easily bribed with food and drink, to break the day up, and to have a cup of tea in nice surroundings - rather than for the DC, who, although they are very happy with juice and cake, are equally happy to have juice and cake from home when we are out and about. Which means that really if I want to stop in a cafe it should come from my kitty rather than the family entertainment one, which is rather a good way of stopping myself being tempted, as it would be my treat money I'm spending, rather than family treat money.

Win (sort of)
BUT I did come away from the camping shop with only walking boots and gas canisters, as planned, despite the oodles of nicer cool boxes, lanterns, camp kitchens and the like. The boots were really not cheap though (I have v awkwardly shaped feet, so it's hard to find ones that fit. Ended up with men's ones that are more over-engineered than I actually need, but they are comfortable, which is fairly important) at £130 - I was hoping to spend more like £80-90. Hopefully they will last the best part of a decade, as the last ones did though. The extra £40 will come from my business clothing account. Not what's it's intended for, but needs must.

As a result I held off on looking at waterproof coats, although I will have to get one before the holiday at the end of August. Only needs to be a dirt cheap one for walking though - the last one I had was £14 I think, and lasted a good couple of years. I have longer (and more stylish) waterproofs for everyday, but need a short one for walking. Which I'm sure you all needed to know.

Win
DH came home with £90 in work expenses, when I was only expecting him to come home with £40 - one tank of diesel which I'd thought was personal use (and YNABed as such) was work, so got paid back. So that's taken the pressure off the end of the month slightly.

Loss
Aldi food shop (which includes some meals for NINE people when camping, as someone else has generously paid for the camping for us, so we are taking responsibility for a few meals) came in at £79, and will only last up until next Wednesday. Shall we not add up what that makes this month's food spends?

Win
We do have tons of food in the cupboards and freezer left from this week though, so even though it's not useful for camping, there's plenty of food around for the odd days we're around in August in between camping trips (a whopping 48 hours between trips next week).

Win
Got a nice email back from the architect agreeing with my suggestions, timescale and design limitations. I know this is to be expected when you are paying someone to do work for you, but I was still pleased he was on board with the extended timeframe and reduced scope.

to do today
1. Weed front garden. Not done. ARGHHHH. If I don't do this tomorrow someone please give me a slap.
2. Food shopping list/mysupermarket for camping to check budget. Done.
3. Tidy the lego. DH is doing this as I type, apparently. Looks suspiciously like playing with lego to me.
4. Social media for work. A bit done, not enough though.
5. Research presents for DC1. Not done, although DC1 has started the birthday list apparently. I did have a brief conversation about it being tighter than last year due to saving for extension, which was met with precisely zero drama.
6. Squeeze in an hour's work. More like 40 minutes, but done.
7. One laundry load washed and ironed. Um. Washed, anyway.

to do this week
1. charity shop run. Donations still cluttering up hallway.
2. take snacks and picnics for days out with the children - no unplanned cafe trips! This is going surprisingly well.
3. pack for camping.
4. buy walking boots. Done, for DH, DC2 and me. Hurrah!
5. make a decision on house extension and email architect. Done.

Aims for July
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. Well, a whopping £15 paid on top of the minimum payment so far, hoping to make another payment before end of month.
2. Pay for camping holiday commitments out of self employed income rather than adding to debt. So far so good, but there is one more camping trip to cover in August.
3. Stick to the budget even more closely than in June!

Just thought of another win
I mentioned to my closest friend today (the only person apart from DH who has even the slightest inkling of our finance levels - she knows we are in serious debt, although not exact numbers. Although she knows I'm on here, so if she's been on then she does know exact levels! Too tactful to mention it if so) that I hadn't used a credit card since January and she was so impressed. She and her DH have been in and out and in and out of debt for years too, so they get it. Anyway, her praise really reminded me how far we've come and perked me up a huge amount. If we can carry on paying off even at minimum rates, and not using credit cards/loans, we WILL get there in the end, however terrible we are at food budgets and everything else.

Lucy5781

We're currently able to spend more per month on food shopping but I'd like to reduce it so we have more 'spare' for emergencies. Getting some good ideas here already, thank you!
We're two adults, one almost one year old between us and my almost eleven year old stepson who's with us three nights per week.

quintwins

Do you have a regatta/tresspass outlet near you? they always have cheap waterproof jackets.

Sounds like a pretty good day all round.

debtaghh

I also wanted to add that I do think prices have gone up and you are a family of five so don't be too hard on yourself.

Cherryfudge

I would love to comment on all the things your thread makes me think, but you don't want to be up all night reading! I'm impressed with the way you keep on working at the finances, though, and really pleased you have had some positives.

Waterproofs: if it's just shower-proof pack-a-mack type things, Primarni has some for £9. Not really weatherproof but good for showers and very light weight.

I was going to suggest a food shop SOA, but I think you're there ahead of me. I would echo EH's mention of Jack Monroe's recipes. They are healthy, modern and very cheap. You don't have to buy the books as there are plenty of recipes on her blog..

Oh, and green smoothies: it's taken me till today to discover that frozen spinach is vastly cheaper than fresh, even if it does resemble broccoli while in the bag. Maybe that would cut costs? It won't solve the treat element of going out to cafes, but to do that I think you will need lots of will power and maybe a caf! budget. :0

Treadingonplaymobil

Cherryfudge wrote: »

I would love to comment on all the things your thread makes me think, but you don't want to be up all night reading! I'm impressed with the way you keep on working at the finances, though, and really pleased you have had some positives.

Waterproofs: if it's just shower-proof pack-a-mack type things, Primarni has some for £9. Not really weatherproof but good for showers and very light weight.

I was going to suggest a food shop SOA, but I think you're there ahead of me. I would echo EH's mention of Jack Monroe's recipes. They are healthy, modern and very cheap. You don't have to buy the books as there are plenty of recipes on her blog..

Oh, and green smoothies: it's taken me till today to discover that frozen spinach is vastly cheaper than fresh, even if it does resemble broccoli while in the bag. Maybe that would cut costs? It won't solve the treat element of going out to cafes, but to do that I think you will need lots of will power and maybe a caf! budget. :0

Already there on frozen spinach! I have it with eggs for lunch a lot. Also frozen broccoli, as we always seem to leave half a head of broccoli when we buy it fresh, so frozen makes more sense. Occasionally frozen cauliflower too, although that gets a little soggier than broccoli. Not bad for cauliflower cheese though.

I have the first Jack Monroe book (there may be more?) and we have a couple of recipes from it as staples, but I will give it another read for more ideas.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 24: Day 6

Morning! Lots of camping prep going on here today - DC1 is off to cub camp at lunch time, so he and I need to get his stuff all packed up and bake some treats to take with him, then I need to start packing for the rest of us to go camping on Saturday (DC1 will join us on Sunday afternoon. Luckily cub camp only an hour away from our campsite).

I'm oddly nervous about going away and not having the accountability of my diary here for a few days - I'll probably check in, but if the wifi/phone signal isn't great, I won't be able to be here as regularly as I usually am. I like having you all to bounce my money saving/spending ideas off, so you can talk me down from me excesses and cheer my victories on. I will have to be my own cheerleading squad for once.

My smaller business has been ticking over a bit this week, doing the equivalent for me that I think surveys do for many of you - something to do in spare odd minutes here and there. Profit of around a tenner in the last couple of days. A couple of orders to pack and post today

to do today
1. WEED FRONT GARDEN. It will be a forest by the time we get home if I don't.
2. Bake cakes for DC1's cub camp.
3. Tidy the lego. Shockingly DH has not put it away.
4. Social media for work.
5. Squeeze in a bit of work once DH is home.
6. Ironing.
7. remove gel polish in case it chips while camping.
8. Put an iron on patch on DC1's trousers before he goes, so they last the weekend - hate buying new stuff for cub camp, last year they all had their shoes stolen overnight by a youth group camping nearby, and he lost something else I think.
9. pack orders for smaller business.

to do this week
1. charity shop run. Donations still cluttering up hallway.
2. take snacks and picnics for days out with the children - no unplanned cafe trips! This is going surprisingly well, one planned and underwhelming trip yesterday.
3. pack for camping.
4. buy walking boots. Done, for DH, DC2 and me. Hurrah!
5. make a decision on house extension and email architect. Done.

Aims for July
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. Well, a whopping £15 paid on top of the minimum payment so far, hoping to make another payment before end of month.
2. Pay for camping holiday commitments out of self employed income rather than adding to debt. So far so good, but there is one more camping trip to cover in August.
3. Stick to the budget even more closely than in June!

quintwins

I'm glad your friend perked you up, she is right your doing brilliantly!!!

I use frozen cauliflower to make cauliflower rice when I'm doing lower carb days, I boil it and mash it like I would potatoes then I throw it into a tea towel and ring it out and then fry it it fry light, it works really well and i get about 3 times as much as I would if I do fresh.

Your busy as always. lego is the only thing always put away in this house because with a toddler about I hoover it up if left sitting, only had to do it once and they caught on and put it away now.