Gap is Back - Time to Knuckle Down

girlatplay

beanielou wrote: »

Glad that you had a good day.
Sorry that you had to cook though.

I like cooking and I really enjoy entertaining. I find Christmas a bit more challenging though. My B-I-L is a very difficult man to please and I found that I was neglecting everyone else to make sure that he was happy. Ach it's just families at Christmas. Out next year so I won't have to worry about it.


Still working my way through the cleaning up but I've broken the back of it and I haven't over exerted myself. I'm taking regular breaks.

During breaks I've started making notes about my plans for next year. I know I want to have the loan into the £3k's by this time next year. It's about £300-400 more than my regular monthly payments, over the whole year, so should be doable. I'm also getting ready to meal plan by jotting down ideas for meals we like so that I have a list ready when the time comes. When I was doing the Christmas food prep it reminded me of how much I love cooking so I need to get my cooking mojo back. I'll get my books out as that normally helps. I also ordered another book for myself as a treat (cost £3 including delivery and I'll definitely use it as it's my favourite chef).

I also want to get a bit more healthy so I'm working on a plan for that. My sis gave me the SAD lamp I asked for so I need to figure out how to incorporate that into my day (any tips welcome).

LMG and I have spent a bit of time together over the past few days and I've loved having her around. We've chatted loads and it's been really lovely. I've really appreciated the time with her. She was telling me that, although she doesn't normally make new year resolutions, she is going to try to be a bit less lazy next year. We are both guilty of that so I'm going to join her. My problem is that I don't push myself physically. I could have completed all of the tidying up yesterday if I had really wanted to.

No spends today. I've not been over the door since Monday night so all accounts are the same.

All credit card bills are in and paid off so balances are at £0.

Just waiting for the dishwasher to finish so that I can put the last load in, I have glasses and a couple of pots to hand wash then it will be done.

girlatplay

Went round to the folks' today for lunch; normal Saturday activity. We had cheese, biscuits, bread and soup left over from Wednesday so I suggested having that for lunch instead of the usual rolls. We did and it was delicious. There was some leftover leftover blue cheese which I have brought home and I'll make a spinach and blue cheese risotto with that. The blue cheese is the most expensive part of that meal and I never use it all when I buy it so this is a perfect amount with no extra cost.

Went for a quick wander at a local shopping centre. I did get some spending money as a gift but I was absolutely not in the mood to shop so I picked up stuff for tea tonight (really need to do a proper grocery shop soon) including fresh spinach and there is plenty left over for the risotto. I usually use frozen spinach for that but since there is plenty of fresh I'll use it up. Mum treated us to a hot chocolate so that was nice. Bumped into my bestie's Mum on the bus on the way home and it was good to get a blether.

I'm feeling a lot better than I was. Still not 100% but about 80% so that's pretty good for me.

Total spend today: £4.65 so £5 sent to the cc account.
£25 left in cash grocery budget.
£44 in slush fund.
Think there's £16 on Asda card.

beanielou

80% is good:).

savingholmes

Glad Christmas went okay and you are starting to feel better.

girlatplay

beanielou wrote: »

80% is good:).

I know

savingholmes wrote: »

Glad Christmas went okay and you are starting to feel better.

Thank you


Not much doing today. I'm having a quiet one. Going to the folks' for tea later so I'm having a look through some of my favourite recipe books for meal ideas for next year.

Today will be a NSD.

girlatplay

I had £50 left from the money I "borrowed" from myself to get through Christmas so I've sent that back to the savings account.

Had a look through my new recipe book but I'm not hugely inspired. I've got a few meals listed so will be okay for a week or two.

I really need to go to the supermarket tomorrow as we now have no milk. Must get off my lazy backside and do it.

beanielou

Home delivery is your friend.
Some slots are only £1 or £1.50.

girlatplay

beanielou wrote: »

Home delivery is your friend.
Some slots are only £1 or £1.50.

You are right. The thing is, I live practically across the road from the supermarket (if the stair across the garden from me wasn't there I would be able to see it) and if LMG is around she helps. I have used the home delivery service before and I will probably use again at some point. Thank you for reminding me


Just went to the shop. It was quite busy so I was glad I was only going for a few things. LMG helped so it was a weight off my shoulders, literally! I didn't get everything on the list but I got the necessities. The other stuff I will pick up from Savers another day and LMG says she'll pick up a medical thing from Asda later that I couldn't get in Morries. Just under £17 spent so that has been transferred to the cc account. Got milk, bread and bits for a couple of meals and a few non-food items. I only had a little struggle getting back up the stairs on the way back (I live on the second floor) but I'm actually quite pleased with myself. This time a fortnight ago I couldn't have done that without help. I've been out of the house but I've been getting door to door lifts so it's the first time since before 12th December that I've been on my feet and walking for a constant half hour.

LMG has just gone for a run. She asked if I wanted to go with her. Oh how we laughed :rotfl: I used to try to run and I'd love to give it a go again sometime but today is not the day.

I am going to start a new diary for the year ahead. I am working on it now and will post up in the next day or so. I'll be busy over Hogmanay and New Year's Day so probably won't get a chance to be on here. If I get it in place then it will be ready for posting when I am.

girlatplay

New diary here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76662013#Comment_76662013