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

missymoo81

Thanks Suffolklass really appreciate you stopping by. I popped into work and gave OH a cuddle after school drop off. Then came home. Would loved to have slept but mind is too busy. So I have done just as you say and have had a cup of coffee, biscuit and cornflakes and am watching pioneer woman on tv.

Suffolk_lass

I really feel for you. This link might help - it is just about 5 minutes and it works for me - just a little stillness to quiet my rampaging brain when it is all getting on top of me. I did have to do it with him the first 2-3 times but I find his voice rather soothing and I soon got better at it. Sort of goes with a too-hot cup of coffee for me.

I love Pioneer Woman, although her voice grates a tiny bit. I love that she uses garlic and chillies so liberally for a mid-west woman!

missymoo81

Ah just lost a long post! Ok start again. Thanks so much Suffolk lass I will have a look in a bit. I Do need go find some peaceful time! So I went to Tesco to get some supplies for work. Ended up spending £13.34 on huge amounts of discount toilet paper and kitchen roll, sweets to take dancing to save money and were on offer. Bananas as we’d run out. Apples as the quality of the ones I’d got from Lidl was awful, potatoes as again heavily discounted. A cheap handwash to fill up the other hand washes, and a hairbrush as we have somehow managed to lose 3!!

Me and may have just played the game of life and we’re watching Peter rabbit, we spent £10 on our tea and cake!! V expensive! Thank goodness work is done for the day. I’ve got washing to do and shopping to put away but I feel so rubbish! Just feeling sorry for myself.

Eyebright

Sending you hugs Missymoo, this time of year always seems to be tough on everyone. Hope you and OH both feel better soon xx

missymoo81

Thank you Eyebright. I feel dreadful today and have kept May off school as she’s got such a bad cold. I’ve had to pay someone To do half of my shift and OH is doing the other half. He’s not happy about it, not that he’d say but I’m sure I’ll hear about it with how tired and grumpy he’ll be. He’s working tomorrow until 2.30. I need to take May dancing if she’s well enough and then I’ll go and help him out. We’ve got a long trip to Birmingham on Sunday as we bought tickets months ago to see a show for the children so that will be a long old day. So the next proper day off we will have to recoup is monday. The children go to after school club too so at least we’ll get a break then.
Money wise I haven’t been out so I haven’t spent anything. OH didn’t want to cook yesterday and nor did so he went and got a takeout which he paid for.
So we will have bolognese tonight and pasta bolognese tomorrow. And I’ll put the sausages in the freezer as we won’t use them this week. I’m looking at my shopping lists and I will need to buy more of some things and less of others over the month, I’m hoping it will even itself out. It’s the packed lunches which are taking more food than I envisaged. But still way cheaper than meal deals, it’s more because we’ve had to work more days or OH has due to others being off sick at work. I have £116.76 if the food budget left for 3 weeks

So money wise I have £20 cash and £30 in the bank. Rent and bills due on the 7th, I need to pay back £150 to my CC. My pay comes through in bits and pieces. So I don’t know where I’ll be money wise until later on next month. I’m waiting for a payment of £70 to come through but I thought it would be through by now.... I really need to write the invoice for £200 such an idiot leaving it so long.

Today I need to go and get Roo from school. I’m so excited to see him and hear all about it. I have so much washing to do and his case will be full! I need to clear up, the house has really sufferered.

missymoo81

Have put all of the shopping needed into Mysupermarket and I think I can do next week for around £30. Children will be with their dad for half of the week so it’s a little cheaper. Roo is back but exhausted! I’ve put a wash on, think I’ll Give the children dippy eggs and soldiers for dinner and make bolognese a bit later for our dinner. OH won’t be back until 11ish, have got some peppers and some carrot to use up so going to cut them up small and put them in the bolognese. Right time for a cuppa.

browneyed_girl

Just found your diary and reading with interest at ways you’re reducing waste. It’s been one of our resolutions this year to cut back on waste, particularly plastic, and fortunately DDs’ school chose just this time to set a project that has helped immensely! They are asking for families to make eco bricks that they plan on using to build outdoor furniture. You can read all about them online, but essentially an eco brick is a plastic bottle filled with non-recyclable plastic (essentially most food packaging) until it has a density suitable for building. We have all our extended family involved and love that it’s diverting so much plastic away from landfill!

Maybe something worth suggesting to your children’s school, or just for a project at home? Best of luck with everything!

missymoo81

Hey browneyedgirl love this idea, they are doing a similar thing and making things out of plastic bottles at the moment in May’s class.

I’m trying to generally consume less, and be really switched on with recycling. And buy things in better packaging or no packaging to begin with. Also making sure that all things for the recycling are clean as otherwise they can’t be recycled and I think a lot of people forget that.

I’m still trying to find May some second hand wellies. Think I will go for the pair that are £9, As I can always sell Mays pair she has now as they’re in good condition. Will check FB selling groups again first. I’m very pleased I haven’t bought any clothes for myself this year yet apart from a jumper that I have already used about 8 times! Have a bid of £7.50 on my pair of boots on eBay so that’s something.

missymoo81

Ok well I’ve done 2 Lots of washing, unpacked Roo’s many bags. Made dippy eggs and soldiers, along with bolognese, I’ve hung the washing and then collapsed on the sofa. Still feel ropey. Have signed up for Schpock, and I’ve found some wellies that say £3 with delivery so I’ve offered the £3 but had no reply. Not sure how it works really. Going to sit and workout spends for next week. Hopefully not a lot! Meant to be having my nails done but wondering if they can wait another week on top of that..... we’ll see.

missymoo81

Ok so up and at em this morning. OH has gone to work, v odd he was up in time and was in a good mood! Usually he’s grumpy because he’s late and rushing. Not sure why the change?! I’m worried lol! Ok so have fed the children bran flakes, I had cornflakes and OH had yoghurt and toast. I’ve just made everyone (except me now I think about it) a packed lunch. We’re very quickly running out of things. But I really don’t want to have to go shopping until Monday, we’re out all day tomorrow so will eat out for lunch/dinner so need to find some money from somewhere for that! I’ve packed the sweets for the children for dancing and I will make my coffee to take. Worked out it costs me around 70p to take sweets and coffee from home, which still seems a lot to me, but I was spending around £2.50+ I guess it all adds up.

Ah didn’t press post so am now at dancing. Roo feels under the weather now, May is still fighting a cold and I feel pretty wretched but I’m waiting for the tablets to kick in. Going to go to work for 11-2.30. Will make sure the children stay warm.

Once home I’ll do some more washing and clean a bit. Then me and OH are going to have a snuggles up evening watching a film.

Thoughts for next week, £30 for shopping, possible £25 for nails but can hopefully stretch it another week. Will spend a little next weekend but hopefully not much. Payments still haven’t hit then bank and still no bids on other items on eBay. Absolutely need to do that stupid invoice for £200, it’s what will actually mean I can live within my means next month as I’ve got to pay so much to staff who have covered all of my shifts since I was poorly. Still no word from the Schpock person?! Not sure what to do about it! Have decided I really need to do some baking. Littlies are hungry for snacks after school and making flapjacks or something would be good. Talking of flapjacks, has anyone else found that the cheaper oats are really hard to cook now? What used to take 2.5mins in micro, now takes nearly 6. And still chewy?! Going to have to buy Lidl’s own ready break style porridge instead
I think, will use the oats I have for flapjacks.

Really would like to make enough from eBay sales to get Mays wellies and I’ve seen a shelving unit I’d really like for £25, which would actually store the Lego as opposed to it being on the floor. So £35 would be good. I’m going to list Mays wellies and a couple of things on FB later as I think some might sell. Anyway enough of my rambling!