Missy’s family of 4, paying off debts, saving for a house and just trying to survive!

redofromstart

Hi Missymoo, just catching up. Can you freeze the fish thing rather than waste it if it hasn't been previously frozen?
We did one of the food box things for a bit, was great for new ideas and forcing me out of comfort zone but I often struggled to find three things we would have chosen on a menu so I stopped.  There was never enough veg either.

I always think of you and Roo when I see blood oranges.

missymoo81

Ah Redo! So wonderfully good to see you! How are you? Def need to pop over to your thread and see how you’ve been! Yes blood oranges and the great blood orange hunt! We still haven’t had any?! Although he eats normal oranges like there’s no tomorrow! 

PurpleFairy26

Missy you seem to spend an awful lot of time each day trying to juggle your budgets. Would it be worth doing a proper statement of affairs and include all your annual bills, clothes, dancing etc... that way you can at least know where any shortfall might be and then look at steps to rectify rather than just looking at steps to get to the next hurdle? 

Even if you are short you can see by how much and when things may be due. Appreciate there is much uncertainty around at the moment but if you do as ‘as of now’ one at least you would know what your income would need to be in Sept. 

also you do classes very early, forgive me if you’ve mentioned this before but are you participating or leading these? If a ‘customer’ do you need to do these so regularly/early as they seem to impact on your day by not allowing you to have a decent breakfast/ have time to do other things. 

Well done on any sales. I’d hold off buying school uniform though as ours have gone back in own clothes and may do again in September. 

New to blood oranges this year - they’re amazing! 

missymoo81

Hey PurplefAiry! I just wanted to say thank you so much for your lovely post. I hadn’t thought about doing an SOA. I’ll have a look and see if it makes things any clearer. It’s hard because I have v Sporadic income at the moment and I have no clue what it will be come September. But you’re right it would then highlight what I actually need. 

And the classes I do, I teach along with OH for membership fees. So they are compulsory at the moment. They do dig right in to any time I have but it’s needs must at the moment just to pay the rent on the building etc.

We’ve just had chicken curry for dinner, but I have a migraine and feel awful, I know it’s stress and too much going on. Hopefully will feel better tomorrow. Have been messed about by a FB buyer who was meant to pick up tonight. Didn’t show which is annoying, as could do with the £3. Ive cancelled Gousto just really need to save as much as I can. Should have someone picking up something for £9 tomorrow, but we’ll see! Really need to eBay stuff! 

missymoo81

So today has been hard me and OH have been discussing reopening the business on 4th July, (announcement pending) and tensions have been running high and it’s a v difficult time. So stressful. We know a bit more after measuring things how we’re going to sort things, but the 2 metre rule makes running classes tricky. If I can start my classes then too I stand to earn 2 months more money.
but the stress levels are sky high thinking about working adults classes, kids classes, PT, online classes, running the house and home schooling. Not sure I can actually do it all, but not sure I even have a choice if I want a business left. 

Ok so I have listed 9 things on eBay. I have bids on £15 worth just need another £16 to make up the £31 I need. 

missymoo81

Morning, super tired today, really need a rest, have classes today then need to spend some time getting work space ready for possible reopening in July, so need to be painting and cleaning etc. So most of the day will be spent doing that. Also have a meeting at 1030 to discuss whether I can reopen my own smaller business when the bigger business opens. 

Foodwise. All having toast today, I’m a bit cross I didn’t put my banana bread in the fridge and about a third of it has gone mouldy 🙄. Really need to use up my Gousto stuff. Struggling as working so much so not much time to cook.
placed my Tesco order but forgot about the vouchers annoyingly, so I will put them on next weeks order. Trying to shop every ten days in the hope it will save me some money. Did seem to get an awful lot for my money. So happy about that. Will pick that up tonight. 

Have hopefully sold a couple of things on FB, but we’ll see. People
mess you around so much don’t they! It’s barely worth it! But needs must! Right must get ready for work!

jwil

Hi Missy,  you are trying to juggle loads at the moment.  Hope things settle soon.
I agree about the SOA - even if you haven't got the income, just getting everything down in one place so you know what needs paying and when.
Do the kids need new school jumpers right now?  I think we get into the habit of always buying new school uniform for September without considering whether it can stretch a little longer.

I also agree about the batch cooking.  Do you have a slow cooker?  Get it all in and it's ready later on when you need it.  When you need something quick, an omelette with veg or stir fry don't take huge amounts of time and will be better than toast or porridge all the time.

missymoo81

Hey JWil, thanks so much for popping over! I really need to catch up on your diary, how are you? Yes I agree I do need to do an SOA, I’m going to have a look at it tonight. I really do need to batch cook. The trouble is I have so little time that I don’t want to spend my one day off batch cooking..... I do need to come up with a better plan! 

joedenise

Have you got a slow cooker?  If you have you could easily batch cook things like bolognaise sauce, various curries, chilli - both meat and veg.  Then it's just a case of prepping and chucking it in to cook all day.

Or alternatively if you've got a pressure cooker you can do similar but cook really quickly.

PurpleFairy26

Don’t necessarily think you need to have a day to batch cook. If you are short of time just start by double cooking. So when you make a bolegnase for example make double and freeze half for next time. Or whilst making bolegnase chop stuff for a chilli in a different pan. I love cooking but a day of batch cooking still doesn’t happen round here!