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

Cherryfudge

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

Had to do a top up shop today - £6.82 on baking ingredients, a toothbrush for DC2 and tealights for camping. I have realised that 'hosting' takes a noticeable portion of our food budget - the £3.50 or so I spent on baking ingredients today was after baking stuff for guests today (and using the ingredients that I need in order to bake for camping tomorrow), and I've mentioned before that around £25 a month of our food budget seems to go on having friends over for lunch or similar. Not huge amounts, but it's where some of the extra is creeping onto our shop. I'm not sure I want to eliminate it, as I like having friends round, but it's becoming clear that if I want to stick to anything around £400 a month, the weekly food shop has to be seriously tight every single week to allow for those extras.

I'm playing catch-up so sorry to be replying to an older post.

Oh no! re the car expenses. That is a lot to have to find but I'm impressed you didn't put it on the card but found it from actual real money. That's such a big thing.

Regarding food budgets and feeding extra people: we do similar and I expect that pushes our food bills higher too. We have family round for Sunday lunch so instead of feeding two or three, it can be up to seven, and we often have one or two of them around in the week as well. It matters because it helps us all keep in touch. Sometimes we go to DS's, DD brings a contribution or FiL takes us out, so it's not entirely one-sided.

You can't put a price on treasured people, but feeding them costs money, and I'm sure you're right in saying that's taking a toll on your food bills.

Treadingonplaymobil

Lordy. Hellish drive to my parents - 4.5 hours to do a drive that is usually sub-2 hours. Felt fully justified in stopping at the services and spending £3 on sweets for us all (me and three DCs).

Knackered and falling into bed before early start for work tomorrow, so just updating my lists...

to do today
1. pack for camping/week at parents'. Done.
2. feed sourdough and kefir and figure out a way to transport them safely! Done, and safely transported.
3. gel manicure (I say it every time - fabulous purchase) for work tomorrow. Not done. I'll be doing that at stupid o'clock tomorrow.
4. clear emails/work enquiries. Done, looks like I have another booking for September.
5. plan work this week - I have a child free weekend and need to make the most of it. Not done.
6. check budget balances after a few days of inputting things without cross referencing with bank account. Done, no hideous surprises.

to do this week
1. Plan DS1's birthday with him.
2. Squeeze in work at any spare moment.
3. Reproof winter coats (needs a tumble dryer, which we don't have, so my parents get the joy of me doing it there ).
4. Reproof the tent and awning.
5. Start a list of camping supplies that need replacing/repairing for next year - will he much better to do that in stages over the winter than in one big spend next May.

to do this month
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. More than the £15 I managed in July would be nice.
2. Find ourselves with more than £228 in the savings account on 31st August.
3. Keep that overall spend figure down below £3,900 (baby steps!)
4. business planning and scheduling, so that I am ready to start making some immediate profit in September when DC3 starts preschool.
5. think outside the box with the food budget and keep a close eye on anywhere it might be going wrong.
6. Try not to need the child benefit money to balance August’s money, so it can go towards Septmber’s (it is paid four weekly, which is currently falling towards the back end of the month, so I have balanced the budget to work without it, and will aim to put it towards September’s income rather than August’s. We’ll see).[/QUOTE]

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 27: day 5

It's been days since I've been here. Always tricky at my parents' house - it's not like I can say 'ooh, can you mind the children for a moment, I just need to go and post on the internet about my monumental debt which you know nothing about.'

Budget is looking horrific after car service and paying music lessons for next term. I am currently looking at at least a £75 shortfall :eek: . Business account not looking much better as I had to fork out £170 for website stuff, which has had to come off my meagre savings (to cover things like accountant bill, gradual saving for replacement computer etc). Again, I can't see us getting through without the credit card, which is frustrating in the extreme, as I would have loved to have continued to proudly say that we hadn't touched it since LBM, but needs must I suppose. There's been very little spending that i'm embarrassed about though - I feel like we've been sensible with food and family entertainment money, it's just a confluence of unfortunate and essential big spends.

Slightly less depressingly, I've got a potential booking for next week (it's going to be a logistical nightmare, but beggars can't be choosers), and another enquiry for a well paid day's work in London in September. If all the 'possibles' came off, I'd be looking pretty healthy in September, but inevitably a few fall by the wayside.

Please hit me with plum and apple recipes - there is a fruit glut here! My parents' fruit trees are groaning.

to do today
1. bake sourdough.
2. catch up on work emails.
3. menu plan for DH/DC camping this weekend (and My Supermarket to keep it on budget).
4. food shopping for camping.
5. make leek and potato soup (at my mother's request, as she has a glut).
6. find something inventive to do with kilos and kilos of plums and apples.
7. plan in when I might take the DCs uniform shopping - I don't think we need tons, but some bits have definitely been outgrown. Suspect new shoes required all round too.

to do this week
1. Plan DS1's birthday with him.
2. Squeeze in work at any spare moment.
3. Reproof winter coats (needs a tumble dryer, which we don't have, so my parents get the joy of me doing it there ).
4. Reproof the tent and awning. I think this will get put back to a later date in favour of fruit preserving.
5. Start a list of camping supplies that need replacing/repairing for next year - will he much better to do that in stages over the winter than in one big spend next May.

to do this month
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. More than the £15 I managed in July would be nice.
2. Find ourselves with more than £228 in the savings account on 31st August. Ha. Ha. Ha.
3. Keep that overall spend figure down below £3,900 (baby steps!)
4. business planning and scheduling, so that I am ready to start making some immediate profit in September when DC3 starts preschool.
5. think outside the box with the food budget and keep a close eye on anywhere it might be going wrong.
6. Try not to need the child benefit money to balance August’s money, so it can go towards Septmber’s (it is paid four weekly, which is currently falling towards the back end of the month, so I have balanced the budget to work without it, and will aim to put it towards September’s income rather than August’s. We’ll see). Again; Ha. Ha. Ha.

redofromstart

Plums - there are some nice plum and almond tray bake type cakes which are at the expensive end because of the ground almonds. Not sure how expensive they are in Aldi. I have been known to whizz a packet of flaked almonds in the blender and work with those instead. Jam? crumble obviously - plum, plum and apple, apple, apple and dried fruit. Plum sorbet? I really like home made dried apple rings but you can't fit that many in the oven at one time, its on low for hours and the children appear and they all go in five minutes which is both satisfying and annoying. Stewed plums are nice with yoghurt/muesli/porridge if you like that sort of mix. You can freeze them both stewed. I end up with lots in the freezer usually.

Some apple varieties you can store as long as they are not touching each other - I have never tried on a big scale but if you are in the supermarket and can pick up one of the bumpy cardboard fruit trays its worth a try.

I love baked apples, always have. Core out, score the skin round the middle, stuff the middle with sugar/cinnamon or sugar/dried fruit and bake for a bit. Its a good one when the ovens on for chicken or something.

Kantankrus_Mare

I also got a load of plums given me. I discovered a recipe for plum sauce (on another debt busting thread) which I am planning to use with pulled pork which I have never done.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/07/nigel-slater-plum-recipes

I am taking the rest to the restaurant where I work where they will no doubt do plum crumble.

PurpleFairy26

The apple braid recipe on here is a hit in our house (post #14)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/367959

Frankly, you could put plums in it to. The other recipes are lovely too

Treadingonplaymobil

Yesterday's lists, before I start on today's...

to do today
1. bake sourdough. Done.
2. catch up on work emails. Done.
3. menu plan for DH/DC camping this weekend (and My Supermarket to keep it on budget). Done.
4. food shopping for camping. Half done.
5. make leek and potato soup (at my mother's request, as she has a glut). not done.
6. find something inventive to do with kilos and kilos of plums and apples. partly done, more to go.
7. plan in when I might take the DCs uniform shopping - I don't think we need tons, but some bits have definitely been outgrown. Suspect new shoes required all round too. not done.

to do this week
1. Plan DS1's birthday with him.
2. Squeeze in work at any spare moment.
3. Reproof winter coats (needs a tumble dryer, which we don't have, so my parents get the joy of me doing it there ).
4. Reproof the tent and awning. I think this will get put back to a later date in favour of fruit preserving.
5. Start a list of camping supplies that need replacing/repairing for next year - will he much better to do that in stages over the winter than in one big spend next May.

to do this month
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. More than the £15 I managed in July would be nice.
2. Find ourselves with more than £228 in the savings account on 31st August. Ha. Ha. Ha.
3. Keep that overall spend figure down below £3,900 (baby steps!)
4. business planning and scheduling, so that I am ready to start making some immediate profit in September when DC3 starts preschool.
5. think outside the box with the food budget and keep a close eye on anywhere it might be going wrong.
6. Try not to need the child benefit money to balance August’s money, so it can go towards Septmber’s (it is paid four weekly, which is currently falling towards the back end of the month, so I have balanced the budget to work without it, and will aim to put it towards September’s income rather than August’s. We’ll see). Again; Ha. Ha. Ha.

warby68

So will you manage to cover everything except for the car stuff?

In context, from where you started 6m ago that wouldn't be too bad. Its all about the reality of what your income has to cover and, unfortunately, how little leeway you have for optional spends. I know you've reasoned why you won't give up holidays, even for one year, but if you had, you would have covered the essentials.

Its not pretty but its back to the fact you have limited income versus what you have and want to spend right now. I argued you should have a properly frugal year to balance the books, put a little cash in savings with a view to then easing off when your predicted income rise kicks in in less than a year.

That wasn't acceptable for you. I get why, too much too soon, keeping up with the Jones' just a little bit, what you want to give your children etc but its still important to realise the choice was there and this is the consequence.

If I'm honest though, I think simply standing still with no more debt would be a very good first year result given the length and amount of your previous overspending (plus your strong attachment to certain lifestyle things) so credit where credits due - you've paid a chunk off and very nearly balanced the books as well

Keep going - get a full grip on your non-negotiable spends over the whole year and then see how you can allocate the rest between debt and future plans.

I'm good with the lectures but rubbish with the plums - can't stand them! I have an apple scone round recipe somewhere which is scrummy(and cheap) but its in a box which has mysteriously disappeared so a bit cross about that.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 27: day 6

My potential booking for next week has been cancelled, but on the bright side it means I have time to actually pack for our family holiday, so I can't complain.

So much work to plough through this weekend - hoping DH leaves promptly with the DC for camping this afternoon so I can get stuck in.

Budget still awful. Filled up the car yesterday and used a credit card to ensure there was enough money in the bank to allow the credit card payments to clear. I am so annoyed about this, and I'll definitely need to keep a seriously close eye on credit card usage to make sure it doesn't creep up. CC spends that got 'forgotten' was a huge factor in our debt growth.

to do today
1. bake more sourdough.
2. pack for DH and DC camping.
3. batch cook biscuits.
4, More plum and apple preserving.
5. make leek and potato soup.
6. plan in when I might take the DCs uniform shopping - I don't think we need tons, but some bits have definitely been outgrown. Suspect new shoes required all round too.
7. make pasties for camping lunches.

to do this week
1. Plan DS1's birthday with him.
2. Squeeze in work at any spare moment.
3. Reproof winter coats (needs a tumble dryer, which we don't have, so my parents get the joy of me doing it there ).
4. Reproof the tent and awning. I think this will get put back to a later date in favour of fruit preserving.
5. Start a list of camping supplies that need replacing/repairing for next year - will he much better to do that in stages over the winter than in one big spend next May.

to do this month
1. Pay some extra off the MBNA card - I'd like this card gone asap. More than the £15 I managed in July would be nice.
2. Find ourselves with more than £228 in the savings account on 31st August. Ha. Ha. Ha.
3. Keep that overall spend figure down below £3,900 (baby steps!)
4. business planning and scheduling, so that I am ready to start making some immediate profit in September when DC3 starts preschool.
5. think outside the box with the food budget and keep a close eye on anywhere it might be going wrong.
6. Try not to need the child benefit money to balance August’s money, so it can go towards Septmber’s (it is paid four weekly, which is currently falling towards the back end of the month, so I have balanced the budget to work without it, and will aim to put it towards September’s income rather than August’s. We’ll see). Again; Ha. Ha. Ha.

Verbatim

I make damson ice cream following a Delia first book recipe. I think plum would be almost the same. (In fact the recipe might be for plum, can't check as on hols). As you're away you could freeze some fruit to take home and deal with at home, or leave in freezer for puds etc later in the year?