Gap is Back - Time to Knuckle Down

girlatplay

"Tea" tonight (I've just had it) was Jack Monroe's microwave Courgette, Tomato & Cheese Gratin. It's a meal that I really enjoy and other than courgettes, I usually have all the ingredients in. I picked up a small courgette in the grocery shop yesterday (planned) 30p. I can use the rest no problem as I quite like them.

I've got a wee evening out tonight, I'm going to the bingo. Hear me out, my sis's MIL loves the bingo and goes a lot. I'm the unluckiest person I know so I only go when I get vouchers from them and even then it's not every time. We decided to go tonight so I've set my budget (from the Overflow Budget - I will be changing the name of that soon) and I'll stick to it. We'll play the main games and I'll have one juice. I've had tea so I won't be tempted by crisps (my downfall). It finishes at 9pm and I think boyfriend is picking me up so I'll see him later (he is rota'd on call this week or he might have come too). I couldn't do this every week though, I don't know how people can afford to do that.

beanielou

That tea sounds very yum.

I have never understood how people can go on a regular basis to the the bingo.
Some people go two or three tim,es a week :eek:
Hope you are lucky

girlatplay

It's a very tasty meal. If LMG is having some too I put in a veggie stock cube instead of chicken.
MILIL & FILIL go to the bingo regularly and I don't think they are particularly wealthy.

MILIL won a wee bit tonight and split it with us so I spent the grand sum of £2.75 for a full set of books and a juice. Yay!

There was an elderly lady getting on the bus in front of me on the way home. She was short of bus fare (I don't know where her bus pass was) and had asked her friend for 10p and the friend gave her it. She got on the bus (without friend) and counted the money into the change bit. She was still 10p short. She asked the bus driver if she could have time to look for another 10p (in her pocket maybe?) and he said "Put the £1 coin in" (it was in her hand). It really upset me because she was obviously counting pennies and to put the whole £1 in when money is tight is not really an option. I had 10p in my purse so I paid it for her. She thanked me but I think she had forgotten what had happened by the time she sat down. I was just so angry with the driver for not having any compassion. Elderly people just melt my heart. Anyway, I'm delighted because I got to pay forward a similar thing that happened to me a few years ago when money was too tight. It was 5p and a supermarket but the same principle.

girlatplay

It's been decided (by me, obvs) that the Overflow Budget is to be renamed the Slush Fund. There really is no other name for it. I have heard this term being used frequently in other places and I'm sure that Theamazingshrinkingwoman called it that when I mentioned it in her diary. I feel like it now has an accurate name.

Going out for dinner tonight with the family. It's sis's big birthday tomorrow but her DH is taking her for a night away tomorrow so we decided to celebrate tonight instead. My lovely Dad has already insisted that he will pay for the meal (he paid for mine on my big birthday two years ago) so today should work out as a NSD.

I've been awake since 7am thinking, planning and reading. I have to get up now and get on.

beanielou

Have a lovely meal

girlatplay

Thank you Lou it was lovely

Well it wasn't a NSD because I forgot I owed my mum £3 so paid her that but also forgot that my sis owed me £5 so really I came back £2 up. I would have counted that as a NSD, however, two of my three cc bills came in so I paid off both of those. Third one is due in on 25th.

Tomorrow will be a lazy day. I need to strip my bed and wash the sheets but that's all I'm doing. I really need to rest because I've had a busy week and it's taking its toll on me now.

I need to get milk but I'll probably wait until Monday to go for that. Everything else is looking good and meal plan is on track

beanielou

Hope that you can have a relaxing day today ��

girlatplay

Well it wasn't quite as relaxing as planned. Boyfriend surprised me by popping up with croissants for breakfast so I got up a bit earlier than expected but it was a nice surprise.

Stripped the bed, washed, dried and back on so I'm pleased with that.

Cranked up the old laptop and checked my spreadsheet ready for Friday (payday). A couple of small tweaks required and it's now sorted.

I was going to make the spinach muffins today but when I took out the ingredients I realised that I didn't have the milk so I'll need to do them tomorrow because I've taken the spinach out of the freezer.

Went to the folks' for tea with boyfriend and LMG. Had a lovely evening and a really good laugh.

Tomorrow it's enchiladas for tea. Got boyfriend and LMG & boyfriend coming along so it will be veggie for LMG and chicken for the rest of us. I need to pick up milk so I'll get that after work.

I'm going to bed very soon!

girlatplay

Popped in to the shop to get milk, bread and a couple of other things I needed. £6.59 spent which is ok.

Going home to make muffins!

beanielou

:drool: to the muffins