Spend Nowt, Buy Nowt, Owe Nowt

XSpender

I forgot what I had put on the meal plan for his week so I have copied over from the Grocery Challenge thread so its easier to find.

Friday - SW Chicken and Chorizo Spanish Rice - Nope
Saturday - Cheesy Chicken and Bean Enchiladas and spicy wedges Yes but no wedges
Sunday - Sausage and mash, kale, carrots, cauliflower, gravy DH had l/o and I had nothing
Monday - SW Sausage and bacon pasta bake (HM) using SW chorizo style sausages and l/o sauce (diluted!!!!) from Saturday
Tuesday - SW Veggie pasties, mushy peas and SW chips (If I can find some more wraps in the freezer as DS wanted wraps for lunches)
Wednesday - SW slow cooker spicy pork and rice
Thursday - Veggie lentil chilli and wedges

Cherryfudge

Slightly worried that you didn't eat on Sunday... but you've got me wanting chorizo, it's perfect for cheering up grey days.

XSpender

Cherryfudge wrote: »

Slightly worried that you didn't eat on Sunday... but you've got me wanting chorizo, it's perfect for cheering up grey days.

That's half my problem, Cherryfudge, I miss meals too often and am still a stone more than my idea weight although I can't say I am actually overweight it was getting close before I joined SW in the summer. I got my half stone badge at SW last night, only taken me 8 weeks! Aiming for another 3lb by the end of the month

The chorizo and sundried tomato risotto in the recipe list on the grocery challenge thread is one of our favourite meals

Got £10 given yesterday and treated DH to a Chinese last night. Added £2.50 in cash to the tenner.

I have been number crunching today and want to aim to be debt free by 26.07.19, not too specific then:p:o and mortgage free by 2025. Just need DH on board.

No spending by me today but DH bought a sandwich at work. He took a RM today but is finding it difficult to get time to prepare it at work so we are going back to sandwiches/pasties/salads.

Frugality by stealth is this week's theme
* The food budget needs to be under £20 cash on Friday. I don't have any meal allowances to play with this week - Looking nearer £30 as can use £25 allowances next week
* Stick to the meal plan for this week OK so far
* Bake a cake and create a lunch for DMs on Saturday for 5 with what we have in (DM will provide ham and salad) as she has broken her wrist and can't cook and I have offered so we don't eat out which we can't afford this month - AGCJ Peach and White Chocolate tray bake, cheese scones, quiche
* Meal plan and check freezer to keep shopping list to bare minimum without DH feeling like there is nothing in and spending £30 on snacks at the weekend Done, will double check freezer
* DH pack lunch to work every day Done but back to sandwiches
* Keep going on Go Sober - 10 days and haven't missed it at all
* Get back on SW and lose 2 lb - lost 1lb this week, aiming for another one by Monday
* Exercise 5 days (dog walk or run) Oops

Treadingonplaymobil

Sounds like you are doing so well with all your goals, and great that you've got a (very specific!) DFD to aim for.

XSpender

I checked TCB last night and had £31 odd payable which I was going to use to kick start my emergency fund but they were offering 8% extra for M&S gift card so have gone for that instead. We are buying PIL a M&S hamper for Christmas which currently have 10% off so with the voucher will come in at £33 ish :money: I have covered the sweets DS buys them from a my work dinner allowance so all in all will have saved over £65 against my usual budget for them. I hope the voucher arrives before the 10% off ends at M&S!

I slept like a log after a poor sleep the two previous nights so am full of energy this morning and have a small list of jobs to complete:

• DS is moving up a grade in swimming so need to check if changing time or day. If day he can do music lessons
• Put SW spicy pork in slow cooker (meat is out defrosting already)
• Change our bedding
• Dust and hoover our bedroom
• Walk the dog
• Batch cook veggie chilli
• Send off my expenses!
• Order DH a replacement nectar card if I can do it on line/find his old one

Had a good chat with DH this morning about his fuel and have agreed to fill up his car on a Thursday evening at Sains to take advantage of nectar points and cheaper fuel. At £80/week for him this should build up well over the year for next Christmas but keep fuel costs lower too. We can also take advantage of the vouchers you get for so much off a litre of fuel. The cost of fuel doesn't impact on my personal mileage bill and didn't for DH (set pence per mile) but does now. I need to ensure I use Sains as well to fill up for the nectar points too.

XSpender

I managed 1 thing off my list yesterday and sent off my expenses

I did pick up the flooring we bought at the weekend and DH has arranged for the fitter to come at the end of the month. DH has now got a deadline for 1 more coat of emulsion and to finish the glossing of which there is a lot.

A school Mum has advised that's school music lessons are done at lunchtime so I will ring and check today. This will cost £65 a term.

We filled DH car up at Sains last night and collected nectar points We did spend £6+ in Aldi on essentials and £8 in Sains and the takeaway on non essentials. Dinner is half prepared for tonight and I need to use up the pork I defrosted too so that will be tomorrows dinner sorted too. That should free up some time to do the baking and prep for lunch at Mums on Saturday.

DH and I have decided against the large electrical item for DS Christmas and I am looking at a different 2nd hand/refurb item instead which knocks a fair bit off our Christmas budget We normally spend over £1200 on Christmas and this year with cutting back and vouchers etc. I was hoping for £650 but I might squeak in under £400 if I can keep DH under control

Today's List

• Ring school about music lessons
• Make pasta bake for tea
• Stay on SW plan
• Complete 3 pieces of work as deadline is close
• Make slow cooker pork for tomorrow
• Finish frugal meal plan and shopping list for tomorrow

Suffolk_lass

Hiya Spender :hello: It's good to see you back on track again after you went MIA after your house move. I just popped in to ask if your DH gets hay fever? you mention he has asthma - as do I. Mine is worst at this time of year because I get hay fever from the leaf mould of autumn. Much worse for asthma than Spring

XSpender

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

Hiya Spender :hello: It's good to see you back on track again after you went MIA after your house move. I just popped in to ask if your DH gets hay fever? you mention he has asthma - as do I. Mine is worst at this time of year because I get hay fever from the leaf mould of autumn. Much worse for asthma than Spring

DH does get hay fever and we have a lot of big trees near us so there are fallen leaves everywhere which could be contributing to it. I didn't realise that the leaves could cause a problem.


I actually managed to do everything on my list but put the pork in the slow cooker so that is a must for tomorrow along with cooking some frozen sausage rolls, a quiche and making a tray bake for Mum's. DS will help with the cake, he is a good baker for 7 I also need to do the food shop.

I've stuck to the SW plan today, will have a yogurt later, and have looked up a couple of syn free breakfast ideas including a recipe for quinoa and maple syrup bake/bar which will be great for travelling that is 1/2 syn a piece.

I have some wraps that need to be used up and turned into pasties for DH and I. May have these tomorrow and cook then freeze the pork.

Today's post was sponsored by the contents of the fridge

NSD today

XSpender

The pork is still in the fridge! :eek:

Super short list at Asda today but bought 2 Roald Dahl books for DS stocking and I haven't got anything in the pot for Christmas until we get paid at the end of the month.:o Also spent £6 on eggs and strawberries at the farm shop but the eggs have gone from £3 for 30 to £4 for 30 so may go back to supermarket eggs.

Was hoping for £30 spend but came in at £32.60 as I bought a couple of useful ys items but forgot fizzy water.

DS has made a cake for Mum's tomorrow but I think it may fall apart when coming out of the tin First AGCJ recipe that hasn't been a winner if it does. Will be nice with custard though if it crumbles. I've cooked a quiche I had in the freezer and some cocktail sausage rolls to take and Mum has covered everything else.

Day 16 of Go Sober for October and I could have murdered a glass of wine earlier but having a rooibos tea now instead :A

DH has beer so tomorrow and Sunday could quite possibly be NSDs

XSpender

Lovely lunch at Mums, all DS cake got eaten Mum also gave me an Emma Bridgewater tin she picked up at the charity shop for £1

There are a few pieces of cake left which is good as the boys appear to have scoffed all the chocolate bars that were for their lunches next week.

£8 spent on crips, fizzy water, tonic and a pizza for DS tonight.

DH has finished the leftover pasta bake for tea and I will find something in the fridge once DS is in bed.

DH is going to fnish the painting tomorrow while I take DS to rugby and get his homework done as he is staying at DMIL overnight.

I have booked a class at the gym for Wednesday night which will be really tough but I need to do something.