Easter 2025 I’m coming to get you!

Hettyhound

Hi savingholmes, yes the free food was a very unexpected gift.  My aunt has been volunteering at a food bank but they have seen demand drop off significantly since people started going back to work.  The decision was taken to close this site and direct people to the main food bank in the city.  The volunteers were told they could take the remaining goods so my aunt asked if she could give some to me as I’m a single parent.  Lots of tins, packets of pasta and rice and some tea bags.  I made some mushroom and bean burgers using tinned mushrooms the other night and I’ve also used a pack of pre cooked barley and lentils in my veggie bolognese.

savingholmes

Fantastic for you. Good demand is dropping

beanielou

Interesting that demand is dropping.
Ours was but is going up again.
We are rural.

Hettyhound

Ah my aunt lives in a fairly affluent part of a city.  Only live there because my uncle inherited the house from his dad and they have stayed put.  I’m going to get out the slow cooker I inherited from my mum 🤣 this week and get some stew made.

Hettyhound

Ah my aunt lives in a fairly affluent part of a city.  Only live there because my uncle inherited the house from his dad and they have stayed put.  I’m going to get out the slow cooker I inherited from my mum 🤣 this week and get some stew made.

Hettyhound

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing OK.  Well money is tight and I suspect it will get tighter but I have some savings and can cover monthly costs just not a lot spare at the moment.  No overpayment since July but as my annual OP limit gets re set on 1st November I moved some savings to round the mortgage down to £41,500; overpaid £304.89.  It’s sealed pot opening day tomorrow so I’m hoping that will fund some Christmas presents for my son; I have a list.  Waiting on the plasterer so the study is far from finished so my promise of doing my son’s room by Christmas may not happen.  He has been waiting 6 years so a little longer won’t hurt.  The car was booked for its MOT a week ago but that was cancelled as their emissions testing equipment was broken so now going 2nd November, test due 3rd so fingers crossed.  Hoping it will be ok as spent lots on it this year (brakes, tyres, bushes and full service).  Very busy weekend this one so glad it’s payday on Friday.  NT property lit up by floodlight so booked to go Friday evening (my birthday) and will eat there, visiting a friend on Saturday, lunch out and then a local Halloween scare maze (gone for half scare session in afternoon), home for fish and chips and a bit of Strictly and then on Sunday fancy dress junior parkrun and fancy dress greyhound walk.  I’m exhausted just thinking about it all! 😱

savingholmes

Happy Birthday for Friday. Hope you have lots of fun.

Hettyhound

Hello, weekend activities were good but we did miss out on parkrun as the rain was horrendous and we don’t have any waterproof running stuff.  Apart from that we managed to keep dry, just.  Car failed it’s MOT yesterday on something that was replaced in June.  Booked in for next Tuesday to get the repair done free for charge as the part is still under warranty.  I’m less than happy but it is what it is.  I have completed all my Christmas shopping and only one parcel still to come which should arrive tomorrow.  I now have to wrap, not my favourite activity, so hoping to do 1 or 2 a day.  I’ve decided to re evaluate my shopping budgets to create a bulk fund as I do buy a lot of things online such as coffee, toiletries and pet food.  I still need to work out the principles and amounts but I’m  going to try it for next year and see how it goes.  My annual overpayment amount has been re set for the next 12 months.  I’m going to try something different for this too.  Instead of over paying a bit each month I'm going to overpay lump sums 2 to 3 times a year so my savings have a little more in.  Although I would love to clear it as soon as possible I also need to live a reasonable life in the meantime.  I’ve always been good with budgets but I shouldn’t deny my son and I the odd treat like a day out or fish and chips!

LadyWithAPlan

Hi, just read through your diary you are doing so well, especially as a single parent but your focus is amazing.

It is always a balance between important fun spending and saving so it sounds like, especially after COVID, you both need some fun days out.

I am also trying a bulk stores fund as well, @Suffolk_lass has been describing her bulk stores mgt  in detail on page 8 of this months Grocery Challenge Nov 21 and it looks like an easy workable system. 

Hettyhound

Hi @LadyWithAPlan, I’ve been reading that too!  I do like that challenge, really keeps me in check.  I’ve done an annual running total this year just for me.  I’d allocated £2,500 for the whole year based on £200 a month plus £100 contingency.  By the end of October I was at £1,840 so should be well under the target.  With prices going up I can’t really shave anymore from my £180 budget but I’m thinking maybe £40 to bulk fund each month and £140 for groceries.  I’m just not sure where to put the pet food; thinking maybe grocery to buy it on a regular basis as storage is limited here.