The most boring diary in the world...

SpekySquarehead

Ahhhh, a list. One of my favourite things. You sound determined and focused. We're all here to help maintain that.

Toni'sfriend

Ahhhh, a list. One of my favourite things.

Mine too. I'm lost without all my little notebooks and pens. I stopped making mine for a bit and I forgot to do things, forgot to buy things that I needed. I also have a proper paper diary. My son thinks it's hilarious because he has everything on his phone,

Another big fan of Aldi and Lidl here. Iceland also worth a look for their fresh meat etc. Maybe we're lucky here but all of those frequently have YS items. I'm getting a reputation in our family for refusing to buy anything that's not reduced.

Another thing I love doing is making soup, It's so cheap to do and I find all that chopping and stirring relaxing and therapeutic. Do you like to cook?

in_need_of_direction

What age are your children? When mine were mid teens I gave each responsibility for producing dinner one weeknight each week. For ds’s Night, I did have to ensure that there were pizzas in the freezer

jwil

Good luck

wannabee_in_credit

Thank you all for the lovely welcome (back).
Today has been pretty busy but not related to actually sorting out any finances. Work has been more busy this year than I can ever remember and I don't feel as though I've stopped much in the past four weeks. I get into work just before 8am and normally leave at 4pm - then do a couple of hours in the evening as well. No spends though.
I am lucky in that dd (who is 15) is now making dinner one night a week. DS (age 11) is more than capable of using the oven so maybe pizza night one night a week is also a go-er. At the moment I'm working my way through masses and masses of food already in the house. One or two strange combinations coming up but this stuff needs using up - no point hoarding it (even if Brexit continues to be the joke it currently is). Don't know where they get it from because I'm not much cop in the kitchen myself if I'm honest. I have to make myself cook, but I'm ok at it - as long as there aren't too many ingredients. I have a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, and a blender, and a food processor. None of which really get much use :rotfl:
Food is the one area I could and should cut back on actually - I'm lazy with food, and my kids don't like or eat the same thing as each other unless it's chicken steaks or pizza. It's hard work feeding them. I'm doing well using stuff up though - soup tonight. I have signed up for the grocery challenge on the os board - one step at a time and all that

foxgloves

Hey, wannabee in credit, I love a new diary! Welcome & good luck with paying down your debts. Using up food that's already in stock can save a decent wodge of money. On busy days, your slow cooker could work well for you. Even if you don't have time to prep it in the morning, you could prep everything into a bowl the previous night, stick it in the fridge & just dump in the slow cooker the next morning. I was just thinking that if your daughter cooks one night, your son does a pizza night & there's a slow cooker night, that's over half your weekdays sorted. I'm probably biased though, as I love my slow cooker!
F x

Chrystal

:hello:

Your lists sound great but if you're anything like me you'll lose the flaming thing! :rotfl:

You can do this. X

Toni'sfriend

I resisted buying a slow cooker for years. I think that I thought I would set the house on fire if I left it on whilst I was out. A friend bought me one as a gift some months back and I use it all the time now, Chuck everything in and leave it on low for hours and it turns out perfect. I don't know what I'd do without mine now. I keep a stock of pizzas in the freezer as well because they make such a quick and cheap meal. I usually buy mine in Iceland because they always seem to have a deal on some make or other,

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Secondary school teaching sounds all encompassing, I have a couple of friends that do it and their workload is truly shocking and so much of it is in their own time

I'm the same with my eldest 3 children (15, 13 and 11), I haven't expected them to do much in the past as have younger children too so I just do everything for all of them! I really need to get the older 3 to help more, but they're not at all keen and I'm not very good at delegating!

I agree slow cookers are a god send. I've also got into doubling recipes. So if I'm making a lasagna, I'll make 2 and freeze one. It doesn't take double the time and I'm liking having meals ready in the freezer for the days I work.

Good luck on your mission, you seem very organised

wannabee_in_credit

I think that this bit will be on page 2 now - perhaps beyond prying eyes??
Thanks to everyone that has followed me from my other diary, and hello to people who don't already know who I am. I had an alter ago on here and am currently being 'stalked' by someone over there so I've had to change my name and make a new diary.
Sorry if that's all cryptic but it will become clearer as the diary becomes more established I'm sure. I know that the diary is public but someone who knows me in real life has become a bit of a problem so I want to be anonymous again.
So, today has been another busy day at work - I've had a very busy few weeks indeed to be honest since we got back. It has been one thing after the other but tonight I'm having a night off.
Thanks for the tips about the slow cooker - I really need to make myself use it more. I'm sure I remember in the past seeing recipes etc about people who make bags of prepared 'stuff' that they keep in the freezer. That would indeed be handy.
Dieting is still going well - I've become much more mindful of what I'm shoving down my neck. I just need to make it stick now... It's good because I'm using smaller amounts of things we have in the house and not needing to buy anything else either. Long may this last. Trouble is I always start with lots of enthusiasm and it quickly disappears.