Back to basics

cuddlymarm

Good morning
Just checking in to keep me on track.
We’ve been having leftovers for lunch and then corned beef hash and mushy peas last night for tea. It really hit the spot, yummy warming food after a cold, windy, rainy day.
Today is cold and windy, but with lovely blue sky which makes all the difference.
It’s payday today. I get paid weekly so paid £50 off the credit card yesterday with what was left in the bank. I’ll try not to spend again this week cos we don’t need anything apart from food.
I ordered a couple of summer dresses in a sale yesterday for the grand total of £27.50. If they fit ok they’ll just top up my summer stuff. With losing weight some of my dresses were sent to the CS because they were just to baggy. I’ll top up my winter stuff in the January sales. I got M and S vouchers for Xmas last year and got absolutely loads. The sale started Xmas day afternoon online so I shopped sat on the sofa with choccies and wine. Very nice. My sort of shopping.
I’m at work this afternoon so tea is just fish and veg and yoghurt for afters. Simple to do and as long as I’ve got it all ready before I go stops us getting takeaway on the way home.
It’s getting out of bad habits and saving pennies along the way.
Anyway time to go
Bye for now
Cuddles

PipneyJane

Cuddlymarm, just to let you know that I'm cheering you on from the sidelines. You are not alone on your journey.

I hope your OH doesn't have much longer to wait for his op.

- Pip

- Pip

mrs_motivated

cuddlymarm Another one cheering you on, Mr M is also waiting for an op and is unlikely to return to work afterwards, at least not the hours he currently works or in the job he currently does. So we are busy re-visiting our plans to account for the drop in income, he will have a small private pension, but still has 9 years until his state pension kicks in. So I really need to make the pennies work for us.

We also love to travel although nothing as ambitious as thriftwizards world tour, which sounds very rock and roll and exciting.

House improvements are for us are on-going, window replacements are next on the hit list, but other than that it should be general painting and decorating for a few years rather than any major renovations.

[Deleted User]

reading through with interest I pulled my belt in after my Devon holiday in September as I had a builder to pay for ,result was a nice newly tiled porch that I was very pleased with.
Eating mainly from the freezer and cupboards and my next big expense will be my new coat I am having one tailor made as because of my right arm (larger than the left through lymphedema) I normally have to buy a coat two or three sizes bigger to accommodate it .I am hoping it will be finished before Christmas, and am just awaiting the price
Still all is good, and its my treat to myself ,from myself

I had the annual tax bill drop on the mat yesterday so I sent the cheque off this morning to cover it I know I could wait until the end of January but its done and as I am going Christmas shopping tomorrow with DD's ma-in-law in London I thought its best I pay the tax man while I've got it as it may be gone by January :0
Eating from the store cupboards and freezer has been good though and has meant apart from fresh fruit and veg mainly my shopping trips have been fewer and far between.
There is also the unexpected pleasure of finding stuff I had forgotten about in the freezer and my cupboards and been thoroughly organised and stuff listed on my menu plan for the coming few weeks .

JackieO xx

t14cy_t

im being extra mindful atm on household spends. have a set budget and not allowed to go over, but, if under I can put the extra on my Iceland bonus card to top up the freezer. £71 currently on there...yippee!! also they give you £1 for every £20 you pop on your bonus card, all the pennies come together!!

cuddlymarm

Morning guys
It’s absolutely freezing here and blowing a gale so I’ve started the food ready. Curried veg soup in the SW using up all the odds and ends of veg in the freezer and dried garlic, herbs and curry powder. My soups are a bit of an adventure, basically what needs using up plus curry powder, mint sauce or smoked paprika. Later we’re having breaded chicken, a roasted butternut squash, broccoli and peas. I go on my hols a week on Saturday and Xmas isn’t far away so I want as many lbs lost before then as I can.
Work was really busy all weekend so I’m going to have a lazy afternoon. I offered to do an extra shift this week cos lots of people are off so an extra few pennies there.
My purse is firmly shut and staying that way this week.
I hope everyone is keeping well and warm.
Cuddles

cuddlymarm

Hi guys and merry Xmas
I’ve been AWOL the last couple of weeks due to lovely warm hol with some girl chums ( aged between 50 and 58) and work and family things.
Anyway Xmas shopping is almost done, I got a bit carried away with the turkey and DS2 had to do a mercy dash to take it to his freezer before it defrosted, but on the upside there will be Xmas lunch, turkey sandwiches, turkey curry, sweet and sour turkey and probably lots more.
We move back into our renovated flat tomorrow. It’s gorgeous, shiny and like a new build but in true style we discovered things that weren’t in the plan. The partial new electrics became a complete rewire ( it needed doing and while we were being replastered it made sense) , also we had new windows to replace the draughty ones ( we’ve only 2 anyway so not too drastic) Anyway it’s cost more than we originally planned plus the contingency and a bit more so the emergency fund has shrunk somewhat so after Xmas our belts will be squeezing sooooooo tight to replace this.
I just need a couple more small presents and next weeks shop ( which includes gradually restocking my kitchen) and then fresh stuff for Xmas week and then I’m done.
I hope everyone is keeping warm and well and enjoying the festive season. I’ll try to post a little more often
Bye for now
Cuddles

cuddlymarm

Hi guys
I just realised that I hadn’t checked in for a few days so here I am.
Well today I got some news I hoped wouldn’t happen, but the firm I work part time has gone into administration. Our shop is safe for now but I feel for the staff in the shops being lost. I’m lucky in a way because we’re semi retired and the money i earn is useful. Things would be very tight but we’d manage, but most of the other staff have families to feed and mortgages to pay. I’m hoping I’ll get paid on Friday ( I get paid weekly) but we’re all now waiting to know what happens next.
It focuses the mind on what I need to do. I need to get my credit card to zero and then get some money put away.
My Xmas shop arrives tomorrow and then all I need for Xmas is cream, milk and veg. I’d already gone through it and removed a few bits because we simply don’t need that much food.
So it’s time to take action. Every penny needs to stretch as far as possible. No waste. No spending unnecessarily.
I think I need to check in every day from now on to keep myself in check. Please bear with me and if you would like to comment please do.
Better go for now
Night night
Cuddles

boultdj

Not nice for the staff losing their job's, hope you get paid and at least you have a plan.

PipneyJane

Hugs to you, Cuddles. Hope you get an indication of what is going to happen, when you're next in the shop.

This wouldn't be a well-known book selling company, by any chance? I really hope that they get turned around and life continues as before for the employees.

- Pip