Keeping our options open

becky170

As it's payday I've been adding up my spending for the month and we managed to spend £526 on food shopping....oops. We would have been much closer to our £450 budget if we hadn't brought as many lunches at work. Even though it was an expensive month we haven't spent more that we earnt so that was reassuring we haven't got as many outgoings next month so that means we can definitely make a bigger overpayment! Going to have a bit of a think about what outgoings we will have in July and then decide how much we can overpay.

debtfreeoneday

Food was the one area we used to be fairly out of control with, but we budget £300 a month now for 2 adults, 3 kids, 1 dog and 1 cat and we stay within that, the two main things being online food shopping to control the spends and meal planning.

Great OPs for June, well done!

becky170

Thanks debtfreeoneday! I know I've got to get a grip on the food shop budget...I'm definitely going to be more strict this month as there is no reason I shouldn't be able to stick to my generous budget. I have started using up stuff out my freezer so I'm starting the month off well

I've done my first of the month money shuffle around and have made an overpayment of £105. To reach my overpayment target for the year I need to make an overpayment of £117 per month from August onwards which should be do-able, especially once my DS leaves nursery!

We had a cheap weekend. We went to a friend's house for a BBQ (we took some food with us so that came out the food shop budget) and then we went to the beach yesterday. We did treat ourselves to a ice cream

As our fix on our energy tariff is up I have been using the MSE energy club to compare prices and have applied to change energy suppliers. I'd forgotten that it can take 4-6 weeks to change so really I should have applied a month ago so that I didn't revert to the standard rate. Oops... hopefully I'll remember next year. Just going to sort out a new broadband and phone package now.

becky170

I popped into the supermarket to do a top up shop last night. I had been planning to wait until our next online delivery, however Dd is off nursery poorly so I needed to get some easy stuff in for DH to feed her whilst I am at work. I did get some impulse buys too (my DHs favourite drink was on offer and the garlic bread I like was reduced to clear) so £16.15 spent.

My project to eat up stuff out the freezer and cupboards is off to a good start. So far we've managed to eat some hot cross buns, bread rolls, a naan bread and some English muffins out the freezer. I've also used up the dregs of a couple of packs of rice lurking in the cupboard.

I ordered DS school uniform last night so that's another £50 spent. I just have to get shoes and a school bag for him now.

becky170

Thanks to a Quidc0 payout I've overpaid another £8 bringing the total for July to £113

I'm also doing well with my using the food in the freezer and cupboard challenge. I cooked a stir fry yesterday to use up some stir fry veg lurking in the freezer and some stir fry sauce in the fridge and today I used up some salmon out the freezer. The only problem is that I forgot to order stuff to make up lunches next week for work....doh! Hopefully I'll have leftover pasta for Monday but after that I maybe a bit stuck.

becky170

I have gone on a spending spree this weekend. I've ordered DS school bag and some new socks (I'm sure there is a sock monster living somewhere in our house ). I've ordered myself some new workwear as i'm feeling a bit meh about my current work wardrobe. I've also ordered my DD birthday present and my niece's birthday present, and found DD a new swimsuit in the sale. Wherever possible I have used discount codes and Quidc0.

The food budget is coming along nicely. I've still got £150 left and I probably only need to do one more big shop. We've overspent in most other areas this month thanks to having the oven repaired and visiting family so anything left over from the food budget will be going towards that. I have a glut of eggs and a tub of ricotta to use up so hot to think of something to cook with them....

savingholmes

Well done on the mortgage over payments. It is hard when the kids are small and seems never ending - but now as a parent of a 16 and a 21 year old - it feels like a blink...

becky170

Thanks savingholmes! I know it's all going to go in a blink of an eye....I can't believe my baby (well 4yr old) is already starting school in a 8 week

My exciting news is that my DD has started crawling. I won't get minutes peace as she's always after whatever she shouldn't have. She is also obsessed with pulling her brothers hair so I don't think it will be long before I'm having to referee between them.

My energy provider is changing on Friday so we'll be on a cheaper tariff...yippee.

I'm currently trying to do my meal plan and online shop. I have absolutely no inspiration. If anyone has any inspiration for me I'd be very grateful can anyone recommend a quick cookbook with good after school recipes?

savingholmes

Not plugging my diary or anything but i just posted my £70 meal plan for the week.

becky170

Thanks savingholmes, will take a look for inspiration :j