Giving every £ a job

savingholmes

Glad the storage discussion helped. It helps me follow through on what I read if I share it. I have a very long way to go...

Blackcats

For my drawer a day challenge I tidied my sock drawer today - living the Bank Holiday high life 🙃.  It does feel better to be de-cluttering and organising.  A philosophical question though .... where are all the odd socks in this world????

Had to spend £200 on 2 new tyres today - not ideal but I have the money in my car pot so I can transfer it across when the credit card bill arrives.

for self care today, I made a yummy apple and cranberry compote which I had with porridge, nuts and seeds.  It's a fairly normal type of breakfast for me but today I took the time to recognise its nutritional qualities.   I've been drinking more fruit tea too - blood orange and pomegranate today.  

savingholmes

My solution to odd socks is to keep buying multiples of the same set...

Ouch to the car bill

Food sounds healthy

Blackcats

We are away for a couple of days by the sea - staying in a lovely little cottage, 2 minutes walk from the sea.  Word of the day to describe our walk is undoubtedly "bracing".  I've just re-jigged my spending pots for January to put some more into holiday and less into the catch all "miscellaneous" pot.  Feeling rested and relaxed.

I'm tracking spends on a daily basis for January - had a spendy start to the month, especially with the cost of tyres but these will be funded from the car pot when the credit card bill arrives.  

I'll need a catch up on my drawer tidying challenge when we get home .... with careful planning I can tackle 4 drawers in the lounge whilst watching tv 😇

savingholmes

How lovely to be at the seaside even if its bracing. Definitely share pictures.

Blackcats

Thanks SH - the break away has done me good.
back to work tomorrow - full of good intentions to balance life and work and take a proportionate approach to petty politics .... one day at a time.
a good meal plan for the week.  Using categories of meal has helped me come up with a flexible approach for the month 
categories are :
veggie
fakeaway for Saturday 
pasta or rice based
quick and simple - for Thursday night when I'm weary
freezer use up
sunday - traditional with leftovers for Monday 

I'm doing the grocery challenge and despite buying the v posh cat food for the fussy boys I'm doing well so far this month.  Luckily lid* had their own brand cat treats back in stock so that saved 45p a packet over the dreameez - it's the only brand shift the cats have ever accepted 🙀

savingholmes

I like your food categories. Welcome back and hope works goes well.

Blackcats

Thanks SH.  First week back at work was odd.  Lots of team issues, strange behaviour, prima Donna prancing and forensic interrogation of budgets.  Does feel easier knowing the end is in sight though.  I'm finding myself in danger of falling into the "one more month" trap.  I need to work out when I will give my notice and then it's done and the public as well as private countdown can keep ticking.

meal planning and shopping has worked well this week.  It's actually restful knowing what's for dinner and that the shopping is all done to make the planned meals.  However, OH went to local coooop yesterday for milk and came back with 24 chocolate oranges (white, milk and dark) at 20p each and 15 galaxy dark chocolate bars for 15p each.  I've made a decorative Jenga style tower of 23 chocolate oranges on the kitchen table - 1 has already been consumed as a Friday night treat 😁

amber03

That’s one bargain that couldn’t be missed. Jenga chocolate orange tower sound like heaven and I’m that good eating chocolate I would only eat one a week.xx

doingitanyway

Exciting news about escaping work. Good luck with your plan.

I hadn't really thought of meal planning as being 'freeing' but not having the continual internal chatter about what to buy/cook/eat would be lovely. Once I'm settled I must start doing that.

Well done on the chocolate haul. That much chocolate in the house would terrify me...