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

missymoo81

OH is still in bed so I’ve found a tea pot and am drinking copious amounts of tea, whilst I chill out. I’m loving reading diaries on here, it’s nice to have the time! Loving reading Cheery Daffs countryside adventures whilst I sit here looking at the hills watching the rain thrash down! This place is so lovely. There’s a little bread maker and there were ingredients measured out, so I’ve just put that on, so bread and jam for breakfast I think. 

I love having a reset like this, already I’ve come up with better money saving ideas and little things I can tweak and change. One being I much prefer tea to coffee and I don’t know why I drink it, (well I do, it’s literally for the caffeine) but that’s because I’m so used to it. Sitting here with this pot of tea is lovely! So I think I’m going to hunt out a little second hand tea pot, and switch over to tea. I drink A LOT of coffee, with sweetener, and I have tons of milk in it. So this would be a massive saving all on its own! I’ve started snacking in then morning before breakfast too which isn’t needed. Shovelling biscuits down like there’s no tomorrow! Only cheap rich teas but still! 

The bread maker here has got me thinking about sometimes making my own bread at home, I used to love it. And once work is open again, after a couple of weeks I should have a bit more time. Wondering whether sourdough is cheaper as you don’t need the yeast or if it works out more expensive because having to feed the starter might take a bit..... hmmmmm just pondering...

joedenise

I've been using YNAB since about 2014 and still have to keep tweaking it!  I'm still using an old version (what they now call YNAB Classic) which is a bit different to the online version.  It's definitely worth watching the online tutorials - I don't think I would have managed to get to grips with it without the tutorials.  I certainly wouldn't be without it.  In fact when my MacBook updated and I lost access to YNAB I used £100 from my PC budget to buy a refurbished Dell laptop so that I could download it again.  I wanted to stay with the version I know rather than having to pay out again either monthly or annually for the current version.

Enjoy your break.

missymoo81

Thanks JoeDenise, it’s because of reading what you 3 have done with yours which has made me want to use it. I get so confused with my budgets and I write it all out and it makes sense for about 2 weeks then something unexpected comes up and the money doesn’t tally and I have to start all over again! I will start populating things later on. I only have 4 more payments to go out this month so most things I will put in from August. I will def watch the tutorials on your advice.

Been looking at Bread recipes as I would really like to start making my own, we go through 4+ loaves a week right now. Ill
always have some shop bought on hand in the freezer but. I’m hoping this Will
mskw lunches a little more exciting! When I make bread I usually just use value plain flour and yeast and it comes out fine. This recipe looks good too.
https://alexandracooks.com/2012/11/07/my-mothers-peasant-bread-the-best-easiest-bread-you-will-ever-make/

Have just taken the bread out of the bread maker, and it smells lovely, it took 3 hours and it is the smallest loaf of bread I have ever seen! Might see if the hosts could drop us round another bag of ingredients for tomorrow.

We has bread and jam for breakfast and eggs, found out that OH’s favourite jam is bramble jam! (Who knew 🤷🏻‍♀️) so I’m going to go foraging for blackberries when I’m home, with the children and endeavour to make some HM jam. I used to do it all of the time, plum, black current and raspberry jam from the garden trees. But having moved now I will have to go in the look out for blackberries. Not a clue where to look though. 

Need to make sure I don’t get away with myself with all of my old style money saving ideas. I’ve barely had time to breathe up until now. But as I said earlier, with work restarting soon, I should have more time. And I’m going to make the mornings after I’ve dropped the children at school come September, time to get baking and washing etc done. 

Just been for a lovely walk! Now lunch! 

Toni'sfriend

Missy - That sounds lovely. I have a little teapot and cup and it's one of my very favourite things to sit with it drinking my favourite tea. I especially like it when we go away self catering in Northumberland watching the birds out of the kitchen window. I have lots of different kinds of tea. Himself always buys me a gift box selection from one of those "posh shops" for my birthday and Christmas. 

Is bread easy to make? I don't have a bread maker but I would invest in one if I thought it would work. I love nice bread. Oh and nice jam!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not going to attempt that myself but the idea of lovely jam on hot bread. 

redofromstart

Have a lovely break!  We have a similar issue where if we don't go away 'away' then I don't stop. @Cheery_Daff writes my favourite achievable but inspirational diary.  I also love the way she makes anyone who posts on her diary feel welcome.  One day, when I grow up, I will be just like Cheery.  Although with less cake and cafe visits.  I don't like many people situations much, and gluten doesn't like me.    

redofromstart

@Toni'sfriend I cant make edible hand made bread, but the dough hook on the kenwood, or the (long since died) cheap supermarket bread machine did a far better job than I could.  The thing I found was that whatever method I used, leaving it to rise for as long as you can at the warm end of room temperature meant the bread was edible.  Rushing, single rise, boiler cupboard, etc made lumps of lead.

Bluegreen143

That’s lovely there is a wee bread maker & they left you ingredients, how thoughtful. 

Re buying a breadmaker, I’d give it a go by hand first (or if you have a stand mixer use that). Or even try a no knead method. I prefer handmade bread v bread machine and then it saves you buying an appliance unless you really need to. Though I know some people love being able to put it on timer overnight etc. Jam is so easy to make, give it a try!

Missy - That sounds lovely. I have a little teapot and cup and it's one of my very favourite things to sit with it drinking my favourite tea. I especially like it when we go away self catering in Northumberland watching the birds out of the kitchen window. I have lots of different kinds of tea. Himself always buys me a gift box selection from one of those "posh shops" for my birthday and Christmas. 

Is bread easy to make? I don't have a bread maker but I would invest in one if I thought it would work. I love nice bread. Oh and nice jam!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not going to attempt that myself but the idea of lovely jam on hot bread. 

MagicCat

So glad you got away for the weekend @missymoo81 it sounds lovely.
Re blackberries - we moved at the end of last year, so the places I used to go are no use anymore, I've found some local Facebook pages have some good info on where to go here so maybe something similar near you? I find oldstyle things like jam making not only moneysaving but really therapeutic, it's just finding time!

We used to have a bread maker but once we got used to it found it easier to do by hand. My DH is the baker though so he does all the hard work kneading etc so bread maker may be easier. We gave ours away on Freecycle so may be worth keeping an eye out.

joedenise

Another one here who had a bread maker and ended up taking it to the CS.  The loaf wasn't really much good mainly because of the silly shape!  Nothing like a proper loaf.  My DH is also the bread maker, although he only makes it for himself as I only like wholemeal bread (not even 50/50 types) and they come out really heavy so I buy mine.  He tends to prove it in the fridge overnight rather than quickly as it makes a lighter loaf.

missymoo81

Hey!
So lovely to see you all! Thanks for popping in Tonis friend! I hope everyone’s thoughts on bread making has helped! And great to see you Redo!
Magiccat thank you! I will def have a look on FB and see what I can find re the blackberries. I used to love making jam so much! Need to save some jars I think! 

BlueGreen and Joe Denise I’m Loving all the bread talk! I make bread from this recipe https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-white-bread

its super simple! It’s always come out great. I usually split it and make a small loaf and some rolls. That way it takes less time to cook!  

Just about to have breakfast outside then off for a walk in the hills! Spent a whole working out budgets whilst OH was asleep this morning. Will post up about it later.