Digging my way out

Doing_it_my_way

A little bit colder again today and occasional bursts of drizzle. Horses have stayed out again but the two boys have rugs on tonight.
There are a lot of runner beans about to burst into life my Mum is going to check them while we are away and top and tail and put in the freezer for me so not to waste them. Tomatoes will probably do the same I just hope they last in the fridge until we are back.
Took out travel insurance today, I paid a little bit more but the cover was so much higher it felt a good move.
Went to Aldi this morning quickly as I have checked and there are more vitamins and iron in my cereal than in the smoothie and tuna salad lunch, so back to having cereal twice a day and then a main meal in the evening, plus..........I had put on another lb so that is not ok. While I was there bought two spare cereal boxes one for me and one for DH to take on holiday, might sound mad but biscuits, crisps, cereal etc is so expensive in Greece, just trying to keep the spends to a minimum.
I have gone up early tonight, had a bath and am trying to book the excursion, it sounds lovely a round the island cruise, but it is £15 more a head for lunch to be included, I am fussy and only eat chicken, tuna and salad, and DH is prepared to try most things, I don't know whether to pay and find it is a good deal when we get there or risk paying more but having what I like to eat....decisions, decisions, I think I will let DH make the call on this one.
Babysat for DD today while she went to work, her two little doggies are very well behaved considering there is 5 in all here at times.
Persuaded DH to sort through two of his wardrobes today and only keep what he will wear, a whole bin bag of rags for the garage later....... I have washed 3 loads of refolded washing (men!) and dried one so far, I am going to put everything for the holiday onto the bed in the spare room so I am organised.
I have cooked the gammon joint and it is in the fridge for the night, I will slice it and freeze each slice individually tomorrow, I also baked a loaf of bread which is cooling overnight and will put it in slices in the freezer tomorrow.
The mortgage has updated is now £148814.77

Doing_it_my_way

I think that's it Saving Holmes, it's all about the bigger plan, lots of little branches off on the way but in the end we will get to the top of the tree as long as we keep centered
And that is very much how I need to view my diet. I am within 2 or 3lb of my target depending on what I eat and exercise, but I feel stuck again I also feel very spaced out and I am lacking motivation and stamina. I can not even manage 10 minutes on my cross trainer where I could do an easy 20 before, now my muscles are in agony. I am not sure why but today something made me think differently....again....I am not going to lose a noticeable amount of weight before we go on holiday if I keep dieting in this brutal fashion and I am not going to gain a noticeable amount if I stop so.........I need a break. I have just eaten two LOVELY slices of homemade bread with butter...not margarine...butter! ........and a snickers I am going to a have a pitta bread, chicken and salad and a bake potato for my tea and over the next few days I am going to eat more, not stuff myself but eat more. When I come home and we have a bit more money available.....maybe....I am hoping hard....then I am going to go to the Slimming World class in the village I think they can help me eat healthily but also stay around the weight I need to be, ideally I would like to lose another half a stone max but I can't harm myself in the process. I think going to the class will give me companionship (unless they are clicky) something to look forward to (I hope I am not that sociable!) and just basically get me out of the house so when I weigh up how much it will cost, it is probably worth it. To justify it to myself I don't smoke, I am completely T-total and I don't buy many clothes at all, I need this.
On a good note, a lady came today and bought our car, we changed our car last year but kept the 'old' one and have not used it once just as we never intended to, why we kept it I have no idea! Anyway she has gone to a lovely new home, while the lady was here she asked me if I was the 'sewing lady', it did make me smile, she has a proposition for me, she wants me to make clothes for her to compete in, made to measure and comfortable. As usual I went into 'oh I don't think I am good enough!' mode, she said I don't care! I need you and so do lots of my friends, we can work together and sort out a price that you are happy with and a service we are happy with, we are desperate!' Soooo......I have agreed to meet her after my holiday to 'talk' about it. Financially it would be perfect and secretly I would love it.
No change on the money front other than the sale of the car but that is already factored into the bank account to keep control of the overdraft and give us some more breathing room, much as I would prefer to pay it off the other debt. Hopefully as soon as our income increases, skeeping focused and sticking to goals we will be able to get out of this situation so in the future any sale of a car will go into savings
Gammon is sliced and in the freezer, the loaf of bread has not made it to the freezer so there is another made and cooling which will be sliced tomorrow and frozen.

Doing_it_my_way

Shopping budget update £92.88 left which is £4.22 per day, 22 left not including the days we are on holiday.
Spoke to DH about the trip when we are on holiday and he doesn't want to pay for the lunch, in all fairness it would cost approx £16 each more, he said we will never eat that amount of food each at lunchtime so we have agreed to risk it and I will put a bread roll and packet of crisps each in my bag just in case we can't get food unless we pay in advance, perhaps we are meant to take a packed lunch otherwise
Tried the first tomatoes from the greenhouse tonight, what a difference in taste when compared to shop bought, they were lovely. Runner beans are almost ready for another picking, it's raining heavy tonight so they might grow faster tomorrow.
Made a cake today and have just had a piece, well I fancied it!
Will make some more tomorrow if I get a chance as I have some eggs to use up.
Horses are coming in tonight as it is raining, the nights are drawing in fast now so it wont be many more nights that they can stay out, unless it drys up and just becomes cold the winter is going to feel long.

Doing_it_my_way

A funny old day today really, all about balancing life with money.
Last night I found a great thread where some really nice people give advice about the Slimming World plan, so I spent last night reading and reading and trying to work out a meal plan for today. I didn't have hardly anything in the house that I could eat so ended up going shopping and spent around £21, I will update later on, i've just eaten my tea and I am stuffed full so need to sit for a minute lol
I think it's a better idea for me especially at the moment as my diet has been so unhealthy for months even though I have lost a lot of weight. I want to stay around this weight now maybe half a stone less but I want to be able to eat food and eat healthily, so it seems slimming world is the way to go for me
Some more tomatoes from the greenhouse today they need to finish ripening on the windows sill but that's fine. It has been so windy here today again the runner beans have spent half the day on their side blown over, we have a few beans ready for picking but I will do that tomorrow.
I bought some wholemeal rolls as part of the new slimming world plan and put 10 of them in the freezer. Tea for DH was quiche and chips with salad.
The horses are back in now as it is cold, they went out today and were able to stay dry most of the day, DH and I had mucked out, I had replanted the strawberry runners and cleaned out the greenhouse by 9am. Spent the day babysitting the doggies and DS is home tomorrow, I can not wait!
He has spent most of his holiday researching a business idea that he and DH have been mulling over for a while and they are apparently going to go for it, DH is on the phone as I type. Lots of eggs in lots of different baskets is what is happening at the moment, but it is all good
Washing is up to date, documents for our holiday boarding passes etc. are printed as is airport parking, I have cleaned out the fridge and only have three kitchen cupboards left to clean out, greenhouse is cleaned out and resorted, the farrier is coming when we are away DD will sort that, overall everything seems to be getting in to order. My to do list is getting bigger though but that's a good thing, organisation and focus is the key.

Doing_it_my_way

A lovely day here today, colder but sunny. Horses have been out again today and will stay out tonight, two have their rugs on though. DS is home!!! It is such a lovely feeling
I have two tomato plants and one seems to be having a problem, the bottom of the tomatos are going black. There are some better tomatos higher up so I am going to leave the plant and see what happens. The other plant which is a different variety is still producing about 3 tomatoes a day at the moment and they are lovely . Runner beans need picking tomorrow and will probably go straight into the freezer. There are about 60 beans at least now, probably more like 100 which will be ready by the end of next week.
No change financially, all very, very slow I can not wait until things pick up with money coming in well hopefully.....My focus has got to be the debt but also putting money into accounts to save so we have money put aside ready avoiding using the credit cards again, just want to get started. This really is the biggest light bulb moment I think I have ever had, maybe I never had one before just though I did.
I have cleaned out the rest of the kitchen cupboards today and moved all the clutter in them to it's rightful place or the bin! Also cleaned out a large draw. Cleaned 8 windows and a patio door
Have put lots of things we are taking on holiday ready in the spare bedroom, DS has given us his cases tonight so I can begin to pack now.
DH is going to make me a cuppa in a bit and I am having 2 yes two jaffa cakes
No news from the PPi claims we made, nor from the packaged bank account claim and nothing from the request for updated pension info.

savingholmes

Great news about food harvesting, selling the car and business opportunities. Enjoy your holiday too!

Doing_it_my_way

Another day of feeling full, I love this new diet, thank you Slimming World, even more overjoyed today at a 2lb loss :j Finally I can eat and lose weight.
Went shopping this afternoon for trainers for DH for holiday, bought them DH paid, some stamps £3.50 and small Aldi shop costing £5.73, also put £30 in the car ready for travelling to the airport, all accounted and budgeted for. DH walked to the post box when we got home and posted the letter to the pension company asking for an update as we haven't heard from them yet.
Still no news on the PPi and Packaged Account queries, I read today that due to the amount of claims it could be months before people hear.
I've dyed my hair this afternoon slightly less grey now :rotfl: bought the dye a few weeks ago so no spending today for that.
DH is in holiday mode so had a lazier day for once, DS and fiance and DD have all gone home with their pooches so it's a quiet night for us. DH is going to put hay in the field for the horses shortly and then we can have a cup of tea and .........jaffa cakes!!:j
3 days of eating this diet and I feel great! Still more tired than I would normally be but it clearly agrees with me, thank goodness for that

savingholmes

Great news on the weight loss front - well done you

Doing_it_my_way

Thank you savingholmes
Lots going on here today:
Hoover through
Clean bathroom and toilet
Clean bedroom (others are not used so are fine)
Water greenhouse
Wash doggies bed
Pack clothes, meds etc.
Pack flight bag
Empty bins
Change bed
De-clutter (again)
Lots of other little bits and bobs.
Ironing for hours (definitely felt like it!)
So everything is almost ready and DD has invited us to her house tonight for a meal so that is absolutely lovely and am looking forward to it!!
I am sick of having nuisance calls telling me my broadband is compromised, i've been involved in this and that, and general pain in the **** calls. I have now got BT protect but we are getting about 3 a day! It's a joke!
DH has just finished all his outside jobs so has come in and is watching Sinbad:rotfl::rotfl: i've got a list I need him to work his way through though so he will have to drag himself away at some point!!
I have an airbed which I lie on when on the beach but can't find it! It's so stupid it must be here somewhere, I don't want to pay the $10 euros for a sunbed if I can help it, but I need a little comfort or I will hurt like... well.......too much!
Need to call in Aldi on the way to DD's later just for a few things and that's about it!
Hope everyone is having a good day and being very frugal

Doing_it_my_way

Small spend in Aldi this afternoon £2.88 that should be it now before holiday. I am going to draw a line in the sand starting on our return from holiday.
Aims for when we come back:
1. Increase shopping budget, this may sound the opposite of being frugal but I have to be realistic, I am going to set this at £70 a week and if it is less then that's a bonus.
2. We need to increase our income, this can be done in two ways one of which is already on the cards, DH has secured more work which is long term and will bring in a good regular income which will cover all outgoings as they stand and leave more over for debt repayment. Will need to see how DH and DS's new venture pans out but if it is successful then that will also bring in money, not a regular income as in weekly but a larger amount every few months. I will also look at doing more sewing if possible but I do need to balance this with everything else I do, I get busier when DH and DS busier.
3. Need to grow more vegetables and be more successful at it, next year we will grow runner beans, peas, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs and cucumbers as these are the things we have eaten a lot of this year and can save money by growing them.
4. Look at making biscuit treats for the dogs rather than buying them.
5. Drying washing outside and then inside overnight on the airer, avoid the tumble dryer (not an issue in the summer but the winter will test this theory).
6. Shop weekly this has worked better than monthly.
7. Treat myself occasionally, nothing expensive but a walk around the nearest towns to see what is in the charity shops would be lovely.
8. Keep de-cluttering the cupboards and drawers which have already been done feel great, we have two larger areas one double wardrobe filled with lots of 'rubbish' and an under stairs cupboard, both need desperate sorting.
9. Keep batch cooking and freezing.
10. Organise, organise, organise and organise.
11. Keep on posting on here, the slimming world thread and another one I fancy at the moment is the frump to fab thread, there are some lovely people on there.
12. Meal plan again, it works
13. Exercise regularly, just a little bit if that's all I can do but something is better than nothing.
14. Pay off debt in the order of credit cards, loan, overdraft and then mortgage while also putting money aside so there are no nasty surprises, everything is prepared for.
Any more ideas would be gratefully received Thank you
I am going to lie on the beach and think it all through.