Giving every £ a job

Blackcats

Hello Human visitors!  I haven't had to verify I was human on MSE today but a survey required ticking boxes of traffic lights, doing a sum 4+8 - 3 and typing the third word of a sentence.  There was also an attention check question in the survey. I did early give up and tell them what to do with their 1.00 but I'm re-calibrating my MSE attitude so I persevered.  What a tough life eh 😉

we went to Lidl today and spent almost all of our remaining grocery budget.  There's  5.00 left but no further spending needed.  MrBC went to the "should have gone to" opticians where the 3rd attempt at getting his glasses right was also incorrect.  He was far more tolerant than I thought he would be.  He did say he had no expectations that they would get it right so was fairly relaxed about it.  

PennysIntoPounds

Isn't it a relief to not have to wait for verification between reading every post! Some of the survey ones are just useless aren't they, so annoying that the almighty ai can't see that there's quite clearly a bit of motorbike etc in a square. And don't get me started on whichever survey provider makes you train their ai for free by answering a random question before even seeing if you qualify for the survey, I've started backing out now and giving the reason as 'not doing extra unpaid work of training that providers ai thanks'

That is ridiculous about MrBC's specs, well done him for being chill but after three times I would get my compo face on 😂 Its not like being able to see is a nice optional extra you're not that fussed about 

Blackcats

PIP - MrBC is using a pair of glasses he bought from the chemist for £7.50 for reading which are sort of ok if he holds the page at a certain distance from his face.  I agree though that it's sloppy not to get prescription glasses right after 2 attempts.

On Wednesday we were expecting a delivery for my dad between 9.08 and 10.08.  A van arrived during this time window so MrBC went out and asked if it was for us.  The driver mumbled, took a photo of the street and drove off.  I then got an automated message saying "sorry you weren't home".  After my finest detective work i found a phone number for the delivery company and was told it would be delivered today.  I got a sort of grudging apology and I just couldn't be bothered to complain.  I still don't understand why the driver didn't make the delivery.  Anyway the item was delivered this morning so that's all sorted.  It does irritate me though that it never seems to be straightforward in this automated consumer society,  

After the successful delivery we went swimming which was very relaxing and refreshing,  a couple of other chores were completed and as if by magic it's time for dinner.  Egg and chips NO beans.

PennysIntoPounds

You are both so much more chill than me, I would be fuming that delivery man had bothered to come to my street but didn't drop off my parcel!

Booo to no beans 😂

Blackcats

PIP - the only explanation I could come up with is that the delivery driver was somehow going to earn twice from a non delivery and then a delivery.  Anyway the bbq is assembled and being used to cook dinner tonight.

I'm re-balancing myself after June's spendiness by focussing on using stuff up before buying new.  I've tidied up the bathroom cupboard and gathered shampoos and conditioners which never seem to finish at the same time, shower gels, scrubs, lotions and potions to eek out the time til I need to go to Boots.  I've also had a rummage in the freezer and food cupboards and identified 2 easy dinners to help with this week's grocery shop.  Also found 2 kno*bly bobbly ice lollies which were a nice treat this afternoon.  Anyone else remember kno*bly bobbly lollies?  We've also got plenty of washing tabs, fabric conditioner including a new bottle we had forgotten about. 

July budget has been set.  Holiday payment is due next week.  It is budgeted for but I really dislike seeing the savings total take a big hit. 

Wanna_Bee_Free

I wonder if the item wasn't loaded on the truck or he ran out of time or something but had to prove he went to the right road. Very odd!

RebeccaPAgain

You've been busy blackcats!  I am inspired by your using up all the odds and ends toiletry wise and am going to do the same. I am also very inspired by your egg and chip dinner - we have some eggs which are about to go out and DH has been making chips from the potatoes in the garden so that is a good cheap dinner for us - thank you for the inspiration!

Congrats on setting the July budget - is it a busy one?  Where is your next hol?

Blackcats

Wanna_Bee_Free said:

I wonder if the item wasn't loaded on the truck or he ran out of time or something but had to prove he went to the right road. Very odd!

Just so odd because the driver sat in their hire, not company van, which prompted us to ask if he was looking for us.  That's when he took the photo of the street and drove off 🥴

Blackcats

@RebeccaPAgain - egg and chips is such an underrated meal.  @PennysIntoPounds insists on having baked beans with hers but that's a NO NO for me.  Egg yolks and bean juice should never mingle.  I've been putting a cheap and cheerful night on the weekly meal plan which helps the budget and often the meals make us say that we enjoyed the simplicity of the food.  Jacket spuds, toasted sandwiches, egg on toast, fishfingers and chips etc.

yes July is delightfully busy - we are off to the Grand Prix for 2 days this weekend - I might have preferred the Monaco race but my budget certainly wouldn't cope.  Then we have a family picnic weekend in a beautiful part of the country which includes a 2 night hotel stay.  Then a trip for 2 days to visit more family.  Our next holiday is IoW in August. 

I refuse to mutter 'it's too hot" but we are going for another swim shortly.  It was my turn to cook and I did a quick teriyaki chicken noodle stir fry.  Thankfully the time spent in the vicinity of the hob was quite short and all the odds and ends of veggies are used up and a tin of water chestnuts that I found in the cupboard.  MrBC was deeply suspicious of the water chestnuts but bravely ate some.

Makingabobor2

Enjoy the GP. We went to qualifying at Silverstone once, back in the Hill/Schmacher era. Was brilliant fun. 
Great idea for a cheap & cheerful dinner once a week. We do have jacket spud often, but I never think of it as money saving, more time saving. I might use that idea & just write C&C on the meal plan once  week.