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

CRANKY40

Keep it as plain as you can so that when they're fed up with minecraft you can change it again just by painting. Accessories are the way forward....

missymoo81

Loving the ideas @WinterWarrior @CRANKY40.

I'm going to have a good look and see if I can come up with a plan.
I fully intend to half my budget if not more. Love this forum and everyone’s ideas, thank you!

missymoo81

Good afternoon,
I had an awful nights sleep. So when I finally fell asleep I didn’t wake up until 10! Which is unheard of for me. Did get cuddles from OH which was nice as I’m usually all snuggled up on the sofa by the time he wakes up. 

Have just had breakfast. I’m adamant we’re not going to go shopping until we go home tomororw, so having to be a little imaginative on food. As thought we may eat out one night or go out for lunch etc but we’ve basically only been out twice all week and have just holed ourselves up inside the cottage quite happily. We had a mini fry up for breakfast and I’m just waiting for some rolls to prove as we’ve run out of bread. But it’s taught me a valuable lesson. That I can eeak things out if needed, and OH is ok with it. For instance I gave him half a big bag of crisps in a bowl. He would just mindlessly eat the whole packet out of habit. But I needed some for today and he didn’t even finish the bowl 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I bought tiger bread on Friday and didn’t use it but I put it in the oven and crisped it up and it was fine, where as usually after 3 days when it goes a bit soft I’d have chucked it away! I also rationed my biscuits knowing that I only had so many. 

We just got caught in the rain outside and had to hurry in. OH has just lit the woodburner and we’re going to go out for a walk later, once the rolls are proved and baked.

Haven’t had any surveys today 😢. But a turn up for the books is OH remembered he owed me £100 so he’ll transfer that which makes my bank balance a little bit healthier. Still in thoughts with regards to little ones bedroom. Will let you know what I come up with in the end! 

I hope you’re all having nice days.

missymoo81

Have also decided to set myself another rule. No wine buying. I don’t drink a lot, maybe buy a bottle a week. But I don’t need it, and I buy beer for OH so would happily just have a beer instead which would work out much cheaper. 

Rolls are in the oven, they look lush, very happy about that. 

missymoo81

so my goal for future budgeting for food as said before  is going to be £240 a month. I’ll pay £120 and OH will pay £120 too. 

Anything over (I’m being optimistic) I’m going to put in a separate pot for extras such as children’s clothes or school trips etc. 


Ok so thinking off the top of my head of food I have in abundance at home.

i have 500g of chia seeds and about 5kg of smooth porridge oats. Now the porridge oats sound great but I make my porridge with water and they tasted gross. So I need to find a way to make them taste good without using lots of milk etc as this would save us quite a few £ in the long run. I have about 2kg of rice as I forgot I had any 😳. And 2 boxes of lasagne sheets. The last time I made lasagne was about 2 years ago…… I have lots of Maggie chicken in a bag things and lots of protein pancake mixes. 

So I’m hoping the first few months shopping we will live off a lot of the stores stuff so the extras money can build up a little. 


OH just asked what I want for my birthday…. It’s my big 40…. And he means a big present, now I very rarely buy anything for me or have big expensive tastes…… so I really don’t know. It would be very easy for me to say don’t worry about it. But I always do that, and I feel that I would really like something for me…….
any thoughts?

Baileys_Babe

Sorry, I'm the same I never have any ideas for the presents I would like.

WinterWarrior

Will the porridge oats work in flapjack or smoothies or crumble topping?
I struggle with present ideas as I don’t want to ‘waste’ a present. A smart watch? iPad? Lovely new winter coat and boots? Amazon vouchers to fritter as you see fit? What do you like to do? Or is there something you always wish you could spend on and then don’t? 

joedenise

You could use the porridge to make either overnight oats, baked oats or pancakes.  Not sure whether they might too expensive as you need to mix with yoghurt rather than milk:  about 80ml per 40g of oats.  Or as @WinterWarrior says they might work in flapjacks.  Crumble topping would also work well.

If you wear jewellery then a nice necklace and earrings to match would be lovely or perhaps a new watch, laptop, computer.  It's very difficult - I think most of us don't want to "waste" money spending on ourselves.

missymoo81

Ah thanks all! I really appreciate your replies. I know you get it too, so I really value your opinions. 

I have a smart watch and my phone although nearly 4 years old is fine.

I have a friend who makes jewellery and has made me a necklace with my babies names on ☺️ And my wedding ring in the past. I would like a new coat….. I have a red Barbour one from when I had money 🙄. But it’s red, and although warm and a hood it’s very bright, I feel like I’d like a black one….. but at the same time seems silly when the coat was a fortune even with my sisters trade discount. I don’t know if it would dye as it’s perfect in every other way…..

I wondered and played around with the idea of a hot tub, very, very extravagant I appreciate. BIL has one and I LOVED it and so did the children……. But it’s a huge luxury and I wonder how expensive to run……. But this would be my only chance ever to have one……

And  thank you all for the oats thoughts. It’s the fact that the oats are smooth, more like a powder and they taste gross is what I’m struggling with, so not sure they’d work for things like flapjacks or overnight oats. I’m wonder if whether adding some sort of milk would help make it more creamy. Hmmm I wonder what the cheapest option for making it creamy would be. Whole milk, cream, coconut milk, Yoghurt, milk powder?

joedenise

The smooth oats would work well for pancakes - I usually blitz normal ones to make them fine!  To use them to make them creamy I find Almond milk to be really creamy - I tend to use it to make rice pudding.

Recipes for pancakes - https://www.slimmingeats.com/blog/?s=oat+pancakes - lots of ideas; might be worth a look.