A little home to call my own

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks indigo:)

My plan for April is to use up as much as I can again from cupboards, freezer and fridge keeping my food spend as low as possible. After defrosting the upright freezer this weekend, by the end of April I would like to be able to defrost the chest freezer. This will mean using up as much as I can so I can transfer everything into the upright.

I will try and record what I put in and take out over the month on here so I stay accountable. Obviously with the food delivery coming tomorrow evening, this will bolster the stocks temporarily, but will all be used up over the coming month. The task will be to use up as much as I can from the stocks I already have!

To try and make this easier on myself, all new food from delivery will go straight into the upright freezer which is being turned back on tomorrow morning in readiness for my delivery. There should be just enough room in there to take everything (have ordered extra bread and milk to freeze).

I will aim to get the stocks in the chest freezer as low as I can during April. As I am off work for the first half of the month it should be pretty easy to monitor what goes in and what goes out. There should be nothing going 'in' to the chest freezer, just stuff coming out. All new stuff will go in the upright (including leftover portions)

So off the starting block:

1st - one bag of yorkies, small pack mini sausages

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all, hope everyone had a lovely Easter Sunday?

Roast was delicious, plenty of meaty leftovers for out chicken and ham pie tonight:D

Out of freezer:
1st - one bag of yorkies, small pack mini sausages
2nd - one pack yorkies, one pack pastry

£1 TT this morning and signature adjusted

Have just switched the upright freezer back on in anticipation for the Tesco delivery this evening.

Plans for today:

Early start as going over to friends this morning so we can work on our motorhomes. Her BF is going to help me fix new lights in the dinette area:)

May pop into Lidl to pick up cheese and a couple of bits I can't get from Tesco. Also looking for some come again salad seeds and compost. Last time I did this, I saved a fortune in the summer not buying salad from the supermarket:) Home Bargains is right next to our Lidl so will pop in there too:)

This afternoon I will sort out the pantry, stuff needs shuffling around before the delivery comes, so need to get that done.

Have a great day x

indigowarrior

Sounds like you had a great day

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all:)

A small TT of 62p to travel fund this morning:)

Tesco delivery arrived on time last night and complete! I was sure that ordering £200 worth of stuff, loads would be unavailable, but it was all there! Adding to this my almond milk from Sainsburys as it is on offer there, I have spent a hefty amount already this month, but it should last us with only fresh bits to buy.

The kids all helped to bring in the shopping and put it away which was good as there was so much of it. I managed to fit all the freezer stuff into the upright, the pantry and cupboards are now fit to bursting! It looks like we have enough food to feed an army:eek:

Out of freezer:

1st - one bag of yorkies, small pack mini sausages
2nd - one pack yorkies, pack pastry, raspberries, stewed apples
3rd - one bag chicken breasts

The chest freezer is slowly going down and space is now appearing:) I must try and keep it that way :rotfl: Made mini apple and raspberry crumbles for pudding last night...delicious:)

Banking is done, and jobs planned for today are:

Make curry in slow cooker
Make mushroom rice from new recipe
Book service and MOT for van
Book grooming for dog
Book opticians for DD
Some housework
See what I can make with leftovers in fridge
Make stock from chicken carcass (if I have time)
Make red cabbage (if I have time)

We will be having a takeaway for my birthday tomorrow (separate budget for this), then straight back to the menu plan. Expecting some visitors during the day...need to get a cake...I object to making my own birthday cake so I will either buy one or go without:D

Picked up compost for my salad growing yesterday, need to buy seeds next time I am in town. Pots also need holes drilling in the bottom, another job for later on this week.

Had a lovely morning with Bestie and her boyfriend yesterday, new lights now fitted in the dinette area of the van, they look very posh:) DS3 came with me and he enjoyed watching Simpsons on her Sky TV and playing in her reclining chair:D

Finally feel like I am on holiday now:)

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

TT'd 4p to travel fund this morning. Last of the big savers :rotfl:

Busy day today with lots of visitors popping in and out as its my birthday. 45 today, how did that happen? Picked up a lovely cake from M&S (no more expensive than Tesco TBH) same one as last year as it was so nice:) Take away tonight...still haven't decided what I want yet (kids suggesting McDonalds lol).

Figures are in for total food spend for April, after my large Tesco shop, a few smaller ones and my almond milk purchase at Sainsburys... £236.21. This leaves me with £113.79 for the month if I want to hit £350 (which is reduced from my normal budget of £400). I think I can do this! Should only be milk, bread and fresh bits for the rest of the month (fruits, veg, ham, salad). I am sure I have enough meat and cupboard stuff to last:D

Freezer update:
1st - one bag of yorkies, small pack mini sausages
2nd - one pack yorkies, pack pastry, raspberries, stewed apples
3rd - one bag chicken breasts

I don't think I will be taking anything out of freezer today, but will be adding some stock which is cooling in the kitchen. Made from Sundays chicken carcass and will be used for chicken soup over the next month.

Curry last night was yum, as was the mushroom rice I made from a new recipe. So nice. Will be having leftovers for lunch today:T Only small amount of various other leftovers in fridge, which the kids will eat today for lunch.

Booked van in for MOT/Service and new tyres. Dropping off on 10th and will collect when I am back from London on 13th. Also booked the dog in for a grooming on 10th.

Jobs for today:

Book opticians for DD
Make red cabbage
Pack stock into 400ml containers and freeze
Make Twinks

Popped into work while I was in town yesterday and managed to pick up 4 x 12 hour shifts for the coming month (after my holiday). Also put in my holiday form for may half term week:T

Kids are still asleep, so I have nothing to open yet, so will make myself another birthday cuppa:D

Have a lovely day all x

greent

Happy Birthday!
:bdaycake::coffee:
x

beanielou

Enjoy your birthday.
Enjoy the takaway of your choice

indigowarrior

Happy Birthday hope you have a great day!

JAMIEDODGER

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone. Had a lovely day, lots of cards and gifts, fab cake and plenty of visitors:) Chose kebab as my birthday meal which the kids also love so that went down well:)

Off to Surrey today to visit my cousin and meet her baby who was born in August:T I have downloaded a couple of films to my phone to watch on the 2hr journey (each way :eek:)

Managed to pick up another few shifts from work for after my holiday so now I am completely booked up for 2nd and 3rd week back:D

93p transferred to holiday fund today. It's still slowly creeping up:)

Didn't manage to do most of the jobs on my list yesterday but they will now be done on Friday. The chicken stock has been portioned up and has gone in freezer.

Out of freezer:!

1st - one bag of yorkies, small pack mini sausages
2nd - one pack yorkies, pack pastry, raspberries, stewed apples
3rd - one bag chicken breasts
4th - one bag chicken breasts, 4 gammon steaks

The gammon steaks are for our dinner tonight, easy tea with chips. DS2 is at work so won't need feeding. I slow cooked a bag of chicken breasts and they will be shredded to be used later in chicken soup.

Lots left to do before I leave this morning and head to train station so I better get on with it:D

Have a great day!

beanielou

Glad you had a good birthday