2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

EchoB

Sounds like you’re making good progress.

lo carb is £££ so if it’s not working at the moment I don’t blame you for putting It on pause. 

Can’t believe your tip waiting time’s that is crazy. I think I waited 10 mins when I went to my local one (that was long enough for me!!)

mark55man

Thanks EchoB - I have to say the return to carbs has not been without issues, bloaty and fuzzy headed - although my weight is staying stable as 16st 7.  My OH has noted similar feelings as well, so we may be doing a quick u-turn.  Still to decide whether to generally avoid carbs, or try at strict no/lo carb keto style. 

Grocery costs are a bit eye watering at the moment, but I think that's more to do with a weekly smash and grab shopping raid at the supermarkets without a great deal of MSE going on.  generally stocks are OK, but precious few offers, and very little YS at our preferred time (late afternoon Saturday - no queues)

mark55man

Budget report back for May 2020. All budgets were set pre lockdown - I'm having a little tinker with them as they are a bit out of touch with the new normal

CAR - Well under budget - only filled up 3 times (had work travel early to mid May) but fully locked down now so expecting this to get this right down, and delaying MoT while I can
CASH - Haven't personally spent any cash since March, (Have still got £20 in my wallet that I got out just before lockdown and its still there) but OH needed some for craft purchases from friends
CLOTHES - Under budget, but some summer tops were needed
COFFEE - Still well under budget - One Coffee from the local takeout, and one delivered cream tea and cakes for a farewell tea for DD2 going back to Uni once lockdown was sufficiently lifted
CRAFTS - Slightly over budget, well what else is there to do
ENTERTAINMENT - Spend-less!! Gin has now become a necessity not entertainment - we like Lidl Rhubarb and Ginger - its 50cl and only 20% so more a cordial, but very yummy
GROCERY - Wow.  6 adults in the house 3 on lo carb has been super expensive in May - but did include large spend on 31st - and still balancing off having no entertainment spends.  This category includes everything brought at the supermarkets or (more so now) local producers
HOLIDAY - Nothing spent, managed to get my April hotel booking transferred to the end of July - although that's not looking great TBH
KIDS - Getting back under control - net neutral really helping DS1 out with his van but DS2 now paying rent
LIFE - Pretty much on the nail budget wise - this category is for non grocery, non utilities, non regular spending
AMAZON - Using Amazon more and more - against my preference, but we really minimising shopping trips,which also partly explains grocery spends - we do better when we buy little and often

In a new departure, I am going to try and be more explicit about numbers on my non fixed costs a little bit more to help with forward planning.  I haven't done this before as I'm a bit shy about talking about money, but I think it will help.  So my target for June (figuratively the cash in my envelopes we have to live on after everything else has gone out) is £1275. This will be about 60:40 grocery:everything else.  about £750:£525

savingholmes

Good luck Mark. It does sound like lower carb suited you better. Perhaps look at low GI as an option.

Kitten868

Hello again,

I'm not a nutritionist or any kind of expert in any way but I've been looking into metabolic confusion and wondered if you wanted to look into it too. Its essentially high carb/low fat and high fat/low carb alternate days so your body doesn't stop making leptin/going into starve mode and storing fat. I'm going to start it this week and I'm a bit unsure as I can't eat dairy or fish so I'm not great on fat but I'm thinking avocados, humous and nuts. I do like that it is still carbs as I refuse to live without toast and pasta but I can deal with every other day. I'm only saying it because I'm also struggling with my body thinking oh you're eating less - I better store it. Which is kicking my enthusiasm when I'm so hungry. 
I really don't think you're alone in having the grocery bill go sky high. Mines awful - I usually do a little bit in all different shops picking up deals as I go. Not one big shop from an expensive super market. 

Keep going it's all making a difference xxx

mark55man

thank you kitten.  I'll have a look.  might be good way to play it

won't be able to go to too many shops so I think the cost is going to have to be factored in for a while

doingitanyway

Low carb eating is definitely more expensive but you got such good results. Maybe after a break get back on it again? We all need a break.

I think being specific about figures helps, leaves fewer places to hide...

mark55man

Thank you DIA - indeed quite a big frog to eat/hide behind - but there you go.

opened the spending innings today at Mr S £44 for some essentials and some YS - was a bit of a queue but still well stocked up

Kitten868

I didn't mean that I am going round lots of shops during lockdown- I meant that I used to before. Now I'm doing one big expensive weekly shop. I really don't think it's worth it in the current circumstances to go round more than one shop and as you say just have to accept it costs more for now. 
Xxxx

mark55man

agreed kitten - some people are lucky and have a choice.  we have a lidl and a sainsbury.  I do one OH does the other, but its a quick in and out really for both of us, which doesn't line up with cheap