Family of 4, paying back £50k in 4 years whilst trying to live eco friendly

jwil

I'll be interested to see your menus

missymoo81

Thanks JWIL. Makes for interesting reading. I’ll post when I’m all done with it. I’m trying to come up with a full 1-2 week meal plan. It’s easier to do a full shop for 2 weeks and just buy fruit bread and milk as top ups I think. 

Well money wise, my situation is, as a business owner and being self employed I am entitled to nothing from first job and have a grant for the rates for business, Ex has been furloughed so doubt very much any money will come my way for child maintenance. So I really need to make this grant last for as long as possible. Really don’t want to have to dip into any of my savings as these are for the house deposit. So will see how frugal I can be even now despite having to shop in the COOP. Need to stop being frivolous just because I fancy eating something. Anyway enough of my ramblings.

missymoo81

Also has anyone got any good like minded blogs or diary recommendations I can read, I find it really helps with my motivation!

missymoo81

I have mountains of rank tasting protein powder, which I only like to drink with frozen fruit milk and spinach and that’s only if I remember. So I’m thinking up ways to use it up that will actually make it taste ok and not use lots of expensive frozen fruit. 

So I’m currently doing an experiment. I’ve just put 30g into 40g of porridge and stirred it all up and I’m now waiting for it to do its thing. I have some tinned peaches too, so I’m seeing how many I need go out on the top to make it taste ok......

I’m thinking these will be my future breakfasts alternating with pancakes as I have 2kg of protein pancake mix too.
OH can have toast and porridge and as for the bambino’s they can have either porridge or toast or bran flakes. Toppings, jam hopefully. OH likes honey but it’s v expensive, so will try and wean him off it. 

Lunch I’m thinking about.... probably sandwiches. Thinking of what to go with them.......

missymoo81

Ok, porridge is too sweet with the protein powder, so can’t add the peaches.... wondering if grated carrot or maybe 1/2 a Grated sour apple may make it taste a bit better. Any advice would be appreciated.

joedenise

The grated carrot will probably work.  Have at a look at this:

https://pinchofnom.com/recipes/carrot-cake-baked-oats/

Do you think that might work?

missymoo81

Oh wow joedenise! Thank you that’s amazing! I’m going to have a look in my tiny store cupboard and see what spices I have but I will try and get some for a later date. But I’m going to try and make this tomorrow but without the egg and what random spices I have. I really do appreciate you taking the time to post.

missymoo81

Ok so the bowl I made I just put some grated carrot in and some salt and a 1/2 tsp of cocoa powder. It’s nicer but the texture is really thick and sits v heavy in my stomach. It’s the protein powder which is why I’m yet to use it...... I’m going to try it baked tomorrow and see if it’s better. I could try using a lesser amount but I need the protein amount as I’m trying to build muscle. OH obv turned his nose right up at it! 

missymoo81

It’s actually really nice cold! Tastes like rice pudding! Ok have been to work for a couple of hours and am now sat showered and changed on the sofa ready to have a look at meal plans, feel super tired today, really need to get my bum in gear and do stuff rather than sit on the sofa for hours. I am being productive but just whilst sitting down! Really loving drinking tea at the moment, trying to not have more than one coffee at home per day as it’s expensive and I don’t need it. 

I’m going to try and spend only £50 on food this week, this in theory shouldn’t be too hard as we have loads of meat in the freezer. But the children come back k Monday and I want to make sure I’ve got stuff in for them. Shopping at the COOP is not v budget friendly but I’ll see how we go. I’ll go shopping tomorrow and maybe Friday or Saturday. Next week I’m sure I’ll spend more with the children here, but I would really like to at least try and stick to it. At the moment I’m buying far more treat stuff than I should be. And I can happily make cakes and flapjacks for them. Need to curb OHs crisp habit though! 

Have got a small bag of compost so am going to try and grow courgettes, eBay have seeds for about £1.60 for 10. Hoping this may save me some money in time and it’s fun for me and the children to do. I haven’t got loads of flour and I know it’s hard to get hold of. I’m wondering if I wizz up some oats in the blender to make it rice, whether that would work ok in cakes etc. 

Enough rambling, I need to look at my meal plans!

missymoo81

Trying out the baked porridge today, and some protein flap jacks, so they’re cooking away, just guessed recipes on both as didn’t want to use up eggs so just changed things out! Who knows if either will be edible!!! Did find cinnamon and nutmeg in my stores along with garam masala so happy about those. What I could really do with is a recipe for korma. A really quick easy and cheap one, as I’m using a jar of it when I make it at the moment as it works out cheaper than buying coconut milk etc. But it’s v v fatty and not the best..... there is a part of me that is wondering if I can use my protein powder for this!!!!!! I know,  I know! But I’m wondering if mixed with milk and curry powder whether it would be ok...... hmmmmm. Yes I’m probably crazy even thinking about it, but you never know.....

just checked on the biscuits and they are super stodgy so they’re not even nearly done yet. 

We’re having Jamie Oliver carbonara tonight. I’m going to try using half the amount of eggs and see how we get on, will update you later. Thanks for reading!