diary of strugglin working mum

BartGirl

Hi KM

Thanks for posting..

The salmon was cooked in the oven in foil. Then rice cooked separately with seasoning added; chilli powder, salt, pepper, maggi cube (fish flavour!) and i added some new postatoes to the rice while it cooked. It was fab! I 'flaked' bits of the salmon off once it had cooked and added it to the rice - mixed it all up - then served like that.
With a dollop of natural youghurt with tiny bits chopped coriander. Super cheap; super tasty..

Just telephoned Provident. Upto 5 flippin days for a call-back..whateva!

Popped into Tesco on my way home - spent £1.20 on baguette and lettuce. Chicken soup on hob as we [STRIKE]speak[/STRIKE] write;)

BartGirl

Dragged my big box of books out to list on Ebay only to discover that there's free listings weekend for anything under 99p..so i think i'll hold fire until this weekend..;)
am pretty shattered anyway and have an early start tomorrow with the car going to the Dr so think I'll have an early night tonight..

doshunta

thanks for keeping us informed...we're all very impressed (it's not easy and every story helps us all work harder!)
:T :T :T

BartGirl

Have just drooped car off at garage. Hopefully done by midday-ish..
Used my Oyster card for the bus home. DS enjoyed the ride home..!!

Also had the Provvi lady call me at 8 a.m. I should have £2 in my possession by 9a.m. tomorrow morning!! :j

Apart from that shall visit a friend in the afternoon and hope to take it easy..

Shall also try and new slow-cooker recipe from here - using lamb chops..shall let u all know how it goes;)

BartGirl

BT bill arrived. AAARGH! I'm due to pay £35 by DD a few days before i get paid. That covers this quarter so is the least i ever pay - which is miraculous for me..but shall call to see if they can amend the DD date for me.

Amy taking DS to a mum;toddler morning at our local farm for a learn-feel hour session. Although not v.money saving cos i think it'll be about a fiver for both of us to get in.If the provvi lady does come at 9 as promised then could use that towards it!

Last night spent £3 in aldi on cream, bread, butter and milk.

Not sure what i'm gonna make for tonights dinner but need to come up with something..

BartGirl

I'm having a quiet moment while everyone's still asleep..altho DSs liable to awaken at Any Time!!

I had quite a productive MSE/DFW day yesterday.

• Did laundry
• cooked a meal using a tiny piece of chicken breast - that filled us all!
• spent £2.80 in market (bananas;cauli;mushrooms;okra)
• spent £4 in supermarket £1.60 on 8 yoghurts and £1 on reduced cabbage and brocolli.40p cream £1 onions
• used bread slices instead of buying a baguette
• put 7 items on Ebay - 1 of which generated a Q within half an hour of listing!

SO! This morning I have woken early to do my 'accounts' for the month end. I like to know where I am in advance so that once I get paid, I am in a position to allocate the money accordingly. Does that make sense? This is important for me because I am trying to ensure I pay at least £100/month towards yucky Vanquis. I need to tackle my CT arrears - which although i'm paying off monthly anyway i'd like to see if i can do it in 1 lump sum this month.Think i owe in the region of £200-ish.:eek:

I really need to hit this Ebay-ing on the head cos i used to like to try to aim for an extra £100ish a month from there which would go straight into my savings. Now although I didnt often hit that target, sometimes even half that would be somthing more towards my savings which is what I've been trying very hard to build up.

Other than that I have extra things to put on EBay today. More books mainly. Plus i also need to sort out my electric with Southern Electric. We're on Economy 7 but on their new prices we'll be paying £65/month for a small 2-bed flat! :eek: I have all saver-bulbs, switch most things off at the wall etc etc but it seems they may actually still be the cheapest! I'll have to do my homework tonight and make a final decision..

Here's to another money-saving day!..:T

Keeping_Motivated

Hi Bartgirl you never cease to amaze me with your ability to cook amazing food and how far you spread it!

What is CT arrears? I only ask because you said you are going to try and pay the 200ish arrears off in one og..Does this have interest on it? If not you may be better paying 300ish off the Vanquis instead? And keeping the monthly repayments to CT as they are? Just a thought.

KM x

pavlovs_dog

wholeheartedly agree with keeping motivated. unless the council are threatening you with action then continue to make your minimum repayments to them and chuck every spare penny at vanquis. as your debt comes down so will your minimum repayments and the amount you pay in interest, giving you more money to play with each month.

BartGirl

KM and Pavlov:

Thats really useful advice. I would not have considered that At ALL!
The only reason I was tackling the CT arrears is i guess 'psychological'..let me explain!..

I felt that once i pay off those arrears i'd have to pay them £120 monthly instead of £175. Hence giving me 'more to play with'. No they are not pursuing me though - its all under control

I now owe Vanq £ 900 and pay £100/month so i guess your suggestion is far better..i never considered it cos in terms of the Vanq card i always feel like since i pay well over the minimum; that too is 'under control' but once again i appreciate being enlightened !! SHall give this some thought and update here..

Keeping_Motivated

Hi Bartgirl I do see you logic regarding the CT arrears but if you pay £300 off the Vanquis this month that is a third of it gone and probably a big saving in interest? Not sure what the rate is on that but I guess quite high.