£50k to £0

jbkmum

Also, our localish Lidl has upgraded to a larger store which is fantastic as they've got a bigger range and I really think we could do our weekly shop in full there now. And top up at the Aldi when we need fruit, veg, milk, juice and bread. Lidl is a 20 minute drive away and the Aldi is down the road, but I don't like Aldi that much if I am honest.



We spent £27.51 and we have £2.50 left until next saturday (arghhhhh)


We bought more than intended but only as we'd forgotten we needed it.


Toilet Paper
Malt Wheaties
Two bottles of squash
Frozen brocolli
Milk
Bin bags
Chips
Breadcrumbs (I do make my own but no room in freezer)
Flavoured Bottled water (I add a small bottle of sugar free to DS lunch bag as he is awful with drinking)
Cooking Bacon (before I saw how much I already have)
Sliced Onions (as above)
Bread
Dried Apricots
Sugar free energy drink (I was lagging after no sleep)
Veggie pizza for husbands lunch as we were out at lunch time
Orange juice cartons for picnics
butter
king edwards potatoes (roast dinner at end of week and also having cheese and potato pie this week)
paracetamol
ketchup
pasta
natural yoghurt
eggs

jbkmum

Final post for now!


Meal Plan (£ indictes something bought this week, no £ means we already had it)



Monday

Breakfast: Cereal (me protein shake)

Lunch: OH- Wrap (using frozen wraps, frozen chicken and £coleslaw)
Dinner: Frozen sausage, pasta and tomato (using sausages i defrosted before inventory, £pasta and passata)
Snacks: Banana cake (using leftover bananas from work)


Tuesday
Breakfast: Cereal or Porridge (Me protein shake)

Lunch: DS - Cheese sandwich, babybel, £dried apricots, £yoghurt, banana cake, £water. OH - Leftover sausage pasta. ME - Freezer lunch
Dinner: Cheese and Potato Bake


Wednesday
Breakfast: Cereal or porridge (me protein shake)

Lunch: Packed lunch for DS, Cheese and Potato Bake for OH and me.

Dinner: Cheesy ham pasta
Snacks : HM cheesey biscuits


Thursday
Breakfast: usual
Lunch: Packed Lunch, leftovers for OH, Soup for me.
Dinner: DS leftover cheesey ham pasta. Bacon and brie risotto for DS and me (bacon from freezer, brie from fridge if it hasn't gone mouldy!)


Friday
Breakfast:usual
Lunch: Packed Lunch, risotto leftovers for OH and Soup for me.

Dinner: Freezer food (chips, onion rings and battered chicken)



Saturday
Breakfast: Usual
Lunch: Whatever the boys can scrape together as I will be at my grandmothers all day
Dinner: There should be enough leftovers from the various meals (As they are 4 portion recipes) that we can have a variety of leftovers. If not I will dig out one of the already frozen leftovers I found in freezer.


Sunday
Breakfast: Usual
Lunch: Baked Beans or spaghetti hoops on toast/cheese toasties

Dinner: Roast Dinner (£potatoes, beef, gravy, yorkshire pudding, stuffing)


We will do our next weekly shop on Sunday and I think we will need
Dishwasher Tablets
Kitchen Roll
Garlic Bread
Yorkshire Puddings (When I have room I will make my own to freeze)
Naan Bread (I can and might make my own, depends how busy I am)
Milk
Bread
Apples
Bananas
Yoghurts


Garlic bread will go with the chicken and tomato meals I have in the freezer
Naan bread will go with the cooked chicken pieces that I'll make into a curry (might need more yoghurt, need to check the packet)

jbkmum

Debt Levels
Waiting for confirmation from Stepchange and have sent off my account numbers to them, also have posted the forms we had to sign.

Selling
Sold a book and something on Amazon which is £113 incoming. This needs saving for a work trip I've been invited to. Need to get back to listing on ebay, especially clothes as I lose weight.

Buying
Been good excluding my Sainsburys trip. Bought a cooling rack for biscuits and cakes as ours was rusty. Got a three tier one.

Food
Stuck to Monday's meal plan, had sausage and pasta bake a la BBC Good Food and it was delicious. Never occurred to put white sauce over the top - it's a big more hard work than just doing a tomato sauce but I think I will definitely do it again. It made enough to feed six people so I've portioned two x leftovers for husbands work although he forgot to take it today so he can have that wed and thurs. One portion is in freezer for the weekend.

DS went back to school today, I forgot to make banana cake whoops. Will do that tonight. He didn't like the dried apricots and they made me feel sick so we've binned those.

Tonight we're having cheese and potato bake although stupid me didn't realise it was a side not a main so I plan to make a small toad in the hole and cook some broccoli. I've got sausages in the freezer still so will defrost them in the microwave.

I was very naughty yesterday when we went to Sainsbury's to buy Pokemon cards with DS's Pokemon cards. I peeked at the reduced food and ended up leaving with 4 cottage pies (50p each!) reduced salmon, 4 pks of reduced 5% beef mince. I promised I wouldn't add to the freezer but I can use the mince with all the bolognese sauce and lasagne sheets we have in the cupboard, and the cottage pies will do for a day where we've forgotten to cook. But I can't do that again...

jbkmum

We had our cheese and potato bake last night, I bought some £1 sausages from ASDA made an overcooked toad in the hole, which we had with peas and gravy. The cheese and potato bake really was just mash plus cheese (with onion and garlic) but it was delicious. DS didn't eat much but I forget he is only 7 and has a small tummy!

Fueled my car and worked out that mine has better MPG that husbands (not much in it) as I was trying to work out what the best car would be to drive 90 minutes to my grandmothers.

I've had an enquiry about a yoga mat I've been trying to sell for months, she wants to collect tonight so that should hopefully be £5 in the bag. - goes into my savings

I also need to return the underwear I bought to TU Clothing which will be £56. - goes back into joint account
I kept the knickers and a pack of two bras and whilst the bras didn't close round the back I have a load of extenders which means the bras will last me longer as I lose weight. Once I've shrunk enough, I'll just take the extender off...genius!

Didn't get a chance to list books last night on amazon so that is tonight's job.

We were going to have cheesy ham pasta last night but the recipe is odd and I've deleted it from Paprika so I need to find another one. Might just be a case of making mac and cheese and adding ham!

In other news I've decided alongside taking a course at work and finishing my degree that I should start my blog again. This diary is a total mess and I promise I do know how to write coherently. But I really need to reduce my debt as quick as possible and putting it in the public realm might help me!

jbkmum

Debt Levels
Still not heard back from Stepchange, which means I'm currently missing payments on my accounts and its stressing me out something rotten.

Selling
Waiting for money to be credited by Amazon (£113)
Have some books to post
Waiting for £250 from collectable but accounts payable emailed yesterday to confirm the bank details. It's an organisation so I did know it wasn't going to be a quick payment.

Buying
I've been good I promise!

Food
I made bacon and brie risotto last night, it's inspired by A Girl Called Jack but made with different rice and also made in the oven. I use cooking bacon as it holds together better when being baked. My only issue was I totally forgot to put garlic in it and you really could tell, so I've scattered garlic granules over the leftovers which we are having for tea tomorrow. Tonight is good old freezer food, think beige and you're there!

As I am at Grandmas tomorrow I'm taking a mugshot and husband and child can fend for themselves.



IN OTHER NEWS

My landlord increased my rent by £50 I am really cross. Our rent is pretty low anyway but our house is crap. I'd rather move and pay more for a decent house ie has a drive

jbkmum

Debt Levels
Not heard back from Stepchange, had a text from a credit card saying I was late with the payment. ARGH

Selling
Waiting for money to be credited by Amazon (£113) - unfortunately it's going into the overdraft account that's way past its limit. So can discount that. ARGH
£250 from collectables has not arrived yet. Will chase payment today.

Buying
I need to buy keys to bleed the radiators. I haven't done it in 5 years..... Had a look on ebay can get one for a couple of quid.

Food
We had a Chinese takeaway on Friday, paid for with Facebook selling.
I had the leftovers on Saturday throughout the day.
Then on Sunday we went to Lidl and did our weekly shop for £25.
In to the cupboards and fridge:
Apples
Bananas
Smoothie (I did try to make my own it was disgusting!)
Yorkshire puddings (we don't have room to batch cook and freeze but that is the plan)
Grapes
Lettuce
Richmond sausages (£1.99 for 16, they aren't fantastic but they work in sausage and pasta bake)
Multivitamins
Shower Gel
Treat for DS, me and husband
Garlic baguette x 2
Weetabix (Lidl brand)
Cornflakes
Gravy Granule
Ham
Frube (lidl brand)
Snack raisins (if DS likes them I will buy a big bag and put them into pots at home )
Olive oil
Stuffing mix
Plain Flour
Parsnips
Carrots
Honey

We had a roast dinner last night which used up all the stuffing (because my husband is rubbish at gauging how much we need) and parsnips. So we had freezer meat, reheated, roast potatoes with last weeks potatoes and yorkshire puddings. I think we've enough leftovers to make bubble and squeak for dinner although I am going to pop to sainsbobs and buy some brussel sprouts which I will fry with some bacon leftover from last weeks risotto.
And we have rice pudding so between the two things, we'll have a filling dinner for tea. Might fry eggs with bubble and squeak.

I've meal planned for the rest of the week but can't remember what is on the list - definitely pasta based, although if we run out of pasta..no wait we've got loads of spaghetti. We're fine!

Today's lunch for me is a tin of Heinz big soup I found at the back of the cupboard, husband is having a pie at work that a friend has brought in and DS has usual packed lunch.

I MUST remember to make banana cake tonight, I can freeze it but there's just no space and naughty me picked up two reduced pork legs this week that need cooking this week. Just not sure what to do with them apart from doing a roast. Could do pulled pork but don't have any bbq sauce.


IN OTHER NEWS

I'm over the rent going up by £50. Our rent is still low and I should be grateful it's been kept low for this long.

Also considering getting a 2nd job for a couple of years. It would mean working 7 days a week but would enable me to get rid of the debt so much quicker. I've been invited for interview for a weekend job that pays about £12 an hour, 16 hours over the weekend. After tax that is about 6k. That would make a huge dent and I could clear our debt over 3 years. But I'd have no life. Is it worth it?

jbkmum

Oh also inquired about getting my bike services at the local bike shop. I haven't cycled in years so I don't anticipate I will do it everyday to start with especially as the last time I did, I couldn't sit down it hurt so much!

lindez

Hi Jbk,
just read your diary and have subscribed. I hope you hear from SC soon, you are doing really well. You have inspired me to look at whats lurking in my cupboards and freezer x

jbkmum

Thank you Lindez!
Debt Levels
Well I went round the houses somewhat with Stepchange, sending documents back and forth - them saying they hadn't received them. It has now been finalised, they've sent letters to creditors and I am now waiting for my password to come in the post so I can log in to the DMP. ARGH!

Selling
£113 from Amazon arrived, I moved that across to my Monzo account. Have a couple of things to post tonight - something I sold on Facebook and some books. Must do it.
Also sold some makeup however my paypal account was overdrawn by £140 and I need to make another £78 to clear it which is frustrating.
Received remittance advise for the £250 collectable so that should be with me on Monday whoop!

Buying
Radiator keys bought £1.84
Tiny ruck sack for walking - Amazon £13.99 used the remainder of a voucher

Food
We're generally sticking to the meal plan however the pies that I defrosted were definitely off - smelt like bad feet when cooking so we had to resort to freezer food, I also didn't have time to make Mac N Cheese but there was some bolognese in the freezer.

Last night I made sausage and pasta bake, will freeze it in portions tonight. Also made a chilli and a bolognese. The boys can have sausage and pasta bake for tea, will freeze the chili and turn the rest of the bolognese into a lasagne. Just need to make a white sauce.

Husband has informed me he doesn't like Lidl Weetabix as they absorb all the liquid and MUST have weetabix, I think he's being a diva but oh well!

I have a butternut squash in the cupboard and carrots in the fridge that need using so I might roast them both tonight and make soup. I've been eating the rest of my frozen lunch portions, I've probably got another three weeks worth before that drawer is finally empty. And even then I've got another 20 mugshots.

So tonight as I said, sausage and pasta bake, Friday = Bolognese, Saturday = Lasagne.

IN OTHER NEWS

Landlord has postponed rent increase to April :T
Interview for 2nd job on Tuesday, it's with a financial institution so hoping DMP doesn't affect it (I don't have any CCJs)
Open Uni Module starts in less than a month I need to get reading




Once Stepchange is set up and I start making payments I'm going to keep track on here, I won't know the full balance etc of what I owe but we're looking at around £38,000 to creditors. I also have a loan with my grandma to repay which is separate but I am considering using some money from 2nd job (if I get it) to pay it off quicker as its 14k

jbkmum

Debt Levels
No movement, waiting for password for online dmp (stepchange)

Selling
Waiting for £250 to arrive in my account for collectable.
Got an email last night re 4 days of £1 fees on ebay. I have a box of stuff on my desk to do which will be tonight and sunday's job. Will also put the books on ebay that I was going to put on amazon to avoud the £2.80 fees, just need to work out what it would cost to buy the book on amazon then undercut it.


Buying
Nothing purchase



Food
We froze the bolognese and chili last night, pasta bake is being eaten saturday by the boys whilst I am away at mums as didn't have enough milk for lasagne. Have roasted butternut squash and carrots last night, going to turn them into soup tonight. I've got a microwaveable soup flask thing so going to take that with me tomorrow when taking brother to university with mum.


Thinking of next weeks food and have: a chorizo sausage in the fridge, some frozen cooked gammon and tinned tuna. I am away on Tuesday and Wednesday night with work so the boys will have freezer food (kievs and chips etc). I'm thinking jambalaya with the chorizo and freezer chicken, then gammon can be chopped up into mac and cheese, then tuna will be tuna pasta bake.



I'll need to get red peppers, milk and pasta for the above. I'll be forced to open the 2.55kg of tinned tomatoes so will take out 800g for the pasta bake and then shove the rest into my Instant Pot with a load of herbs and olive oil which will basically make a tomato sauce for use with pasta or meat.



I'm going to make this recipe on Sunday, looks yummy - I just need a couple of spices which is an investment obviously but if we like it then we'll have the spices ready for next time.
https://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-chicken-pulao/
Then this recipe at the end of next week
https://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-mango-chicken/


I've done my shopping list and it looks like it wil lcost £23.98. We've only got £20 in this weeks budget as husband wants to go to a gig the week after and I said I'm not taking it from our bank account, it has to come from the cash. If I do the ship at ASDA I can use a £3 credit card voucher and we have change in the jar. I might tell the boys to do the shop by themselves on Saturday as they only buy what is on the list - it's when I am with them it gets bad!


I'm actually making too much food each week, the meal plan covers 4 people - there are two adults and a child and I can only eat a small amount of food anyway due to having oesphagul (sp?) issues. I eat less than the 7 year old. So essentially between the three of us we eat 2 adult portions of food. This means husband has leftovers for lunch each day, he was having chicken wraps but he got bored of it.
What I am trying to do, is convert the "raw" food in the freezer to cooked leftovers. Steadily getting there but we've still got a mountain of food to go through. The freezer is barely shrinking!