saving my future self from debt

pennyforthepot

Scores on the Doors Today:

Spent Today/Spent This Month/Monthly Budget

£3.74/£232.40/£250 food
£0/52.49/£50 stockpot (overspend)
£0/£50.95/£60 kids
£0/£25.05/£40 misc
£0/£63.43/£85 petrol
£0/16.90/£20 me
£0.24/£8.48 OP
£1.18/£45.22 electricity
£28.59 Daily Available Spend

Ran out of gf bread and broccoli - couldn't hold out for 3 days!

PFTP X

pennyforthepot

Goodness I was up with the larks this morning, then again I did drop off to sleep around 8.30! I do love waking with the dawn of the day as the mornings get lighter earlier, though not so much in the Winter. It's still a bit dark and damp out this morning but hopefully it will brighten up a little.

I was hoping to have a NSD yesterday but DD ran out of gf bread and the only one left cost £3 :eek: . I popped into Sainsburys as it was on route back home from a friends who's sons birthday card I had to drop off so I also picked up the bits there that I normally get from my beginning of the month shop - namely nuts as they are cheaper than any where I can find. That was an £11 spend but I will allocate this to June's food budget. I did the same with petrol as I drove past a cheap petrol station that I don't normally go to and as I'm not sure I'll get to Asda this week I filled up with £20 despite having a good 60 miles left to see me through the next two days. Again that will be allocated to June's budget.

I had a really productive day yesterday, catching up on chores and admin as I try and reduce my to do list for the end of the month. There always some things that keep rolling over to the next month - they normally involve the word 'clean' followed by one of the following: car, Windows, patio, vacuum! A full day at work for me so I'm not expecting to cross much off my list today.

I've been reading a few diaries where people set monthly goals. I think this is such a good idea so I'm going to have a little think about it. I think what I would love is for me to be organised enough that my days to run really smoothly without me having to think about what needs to be done. For example I know that on a Monday breakfast for DD is X, lunch is y and dinner is z, (I have created a meal plan for X and y but z is yet to be completed thoroughly) and that I have to clean a b and c and my admin is d e and f. I think I need two days in June where I finalise my meal planning for DD, get my total shopping list created and identify the shop to buy each item from. it's half done and create a spreadsheet of everything that I have to do on a regular basis and then allocate them on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. I've started it but unless it's complete there's not much value to it and it's easier to plan it all out in one go. Not that my life is overly busy but I just thrive on organisation, detail and planning. I'm also thinking about a bullet journal as I know some people swear by them - any info about how people use them would be great.

Well that was a 'thought-dump' post

As this is my diary Im going to add my weight and health journey at the bottom so people can skip reading it (there's a high possibility I will fall off the wagon by the end of the week!) but I just feel that writing it down makes it easier to track and makes me more accountable to myself. The numbers are irrelevant to everyone else as we each have our own goals to achieve, some large some small. I only want to lose a few ponds but to me those few pounds make me feel uncomfortable in my skin. I'm not dieting per se just cutting out my evening indulgence and trying to adapt my in take since I had to give up running 4 months ago so the loss (if there is one) will be slow and steady. And yes I do weigh myself every day. I have done for the last 16 years since I lost my pregnancy weight and it's kept me on track to remain the same weight over those years as it's easier to lose a pound than it is 10.

Anyway enough of my thought dumps. Have a good day
PFTP x

1lb loss (124lbs) sauna style bath again last night so it may not stay off!

beanielou

Like it! Thought dumps!

pennyforthepot

May Monthly Food Breakdown:

spend % category
£47.69 20.4% veg + salad
£47.29 20.2% fruit
£19.75 8.5% dairy vegan
£17.49 7.5% nuts seeds+ dried fruit
£12.12 5.2% drinks
£11.83 5.1% breads + wraps
£8.82 3.8% sauces
£7.93 3.4% snack
£7.50 3.2% convenience
£7.04 3.0% cereal
£6.63 2.8% fish & meat
£6.50 2.8% toiletries
£6.25 2.7% meat replacement vegan
£5.89 2.5% oils vinegars+dressings
£4.95 2.1% dairy
£4.05 1.7% dips
£3.34 1.4% pasta rice noodles
£2.95 1.3% pulses
£2.40 1.0% base (tinned toms/puree)
£1.65 0.7% herbs &spices
£1.50 0.6% flowers

£233.57 100.0% total

Things of Interest:

• I bought 19 avocados :eek: at a cost of £9.45
• I still spent £15 on fresh berries (not sure when I decided to change to frozen)
• My biggest 3 spends were GF Bread -£3.Vegan Icecream - £3.75, GF vegan pizza £5
• I bought 271 individual items
• I was £13 under budget and £63 less than my previous budget
• I saved £54 YS and deals
• Food waste - 0
• Eat it up challenge items eaten = 4
  

This data excludes the stock items that I purchased (except amount saved) which would skew the data in terms of category and monthly cost.

This has been the such a useful exercise. Ideally I probably need a good 6 months worth of data as some things are not bought every month and stock data needs to be added into create an accurate picture. I'm pretty happy with my spend on food this month. Room for improvement on the berries possibly.

Gotta love a spreadsheet
PFTPx

doingitanyway

I don't have an oven but when I do I will be making buckwheat loaves. I think that will be cheaper (unless you are lucky with YS) def better for you as no pap in the bread and taste will be better too. Just a thought.

beanielou

Useful as you say to see the breakdown.

apple_muncher

Those avocados were only 50p each. Well worth every morsel of nourishment!

Gemsy81

Just discovered your diary and have worked through it....really enjoyable reading, and inspiring me to get started on my own diary! For some reason I'm feeling nervous about it!! Some great budgeting tips too, thank you

PS....I also don't count dark chocolate as sugar!

pennyforthepot

doingitanyway wrote: »

I don't have an oven but when I do I will be making buckwheat loaves. I think that will be cheaper (unless you are lucky with YS) def better for you as no pap in the bread and taste will be better too. Just a thought.

Thanks DIA - I cant say im the best baker but i have been contemplating giving it a go. Ill let you know if i manage it

pennyforthepot

beanielou wrote: »

Useful as you say to see the breakdown.

its quite eye opening Beanielou i suspect its a little like keeping a food diary