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

missymoo81

At work, but just came and sat outside, well in the car because I’m a bit done with being inside and I’m super tired. Feels like about 2pm as I was up so early but it’s only 10am! 

Have gone and got meal deals for lunch and some tuna for the cat (don’t ask). So I’ve spent there, being back at work makes me realise where my money goes. Convenience because of tiredness normally wins out. Hoping to be home around 3/3.30 so that I can have a little sleep then take the children to the rec then teach the class at 1830. I’m in super early again tomorrow, feels like I don’t stop working! Anyway, that’s enough for now.

MagicCat

@missymoo81 your work schedule sounds so hard particularly having to take the children with you. Hope things settle down a bit once you've been back a bit longer.

missymoo81

Good morning, sorry posts are a bit all over the place. Work is sooooooo busy it’s unreal. We seem to be always working. Today I’m in at 7 for an hour, Home at 0830 back at 11, home at 1400, then back again for 1530, home by 1800, then online class at 1830 😳😳😳. Just need to get through today! OH is working opposite shifts from me so nothing will really get done today. I have no idea what’s for dinner, I’m really struggling with cooking at the moment as I’m so tired. Will grab something quick for dinner and try and be more organised next week. I shouldn’t need to go into work tomorrow, I have two evening online classes which I have to do and plan for, I’m hoping me and the children can go for a walk and a picnic but we will see what the weather does. 

Just waking up drinking tea in bed. Haven’t felt this tired in a long time!!! 

Going to make some meals on the slow cooker next week. Will write out a meal
plan when I have a minute.

PurpleFairy26

Gosh it all sounds very exhausting @missymoo81

if you could squeeze a meal plan in there somewhere it will definitely help next week. A) you won’t have to think each day about what to cook b) you can eat a decent planned meal rather than eat something not nutritious (which in turn will make you feel worse) c) should give you more time 

hope you get a bit of down time tomorrow and can relax and get ahead on a few things. 

WelshKitty85

Hi missymoo. I've been lurking on your diary for a while. Your schedule sounds exhausting! Is it worth budgeting some more convenience foods into your grocery shop to save you resorting to meal deals and take aways? I try making pastas/salads etc for work, but I keep an emergency supply of fruit, crisps, rice cakes, sausage rolls etc so that when I'm running late I can just grab something and avoid having to buy lunch. I also buy yellow sticker ready meals when I see them and keep a supply of them in the freezer so nights I can't be bothered cooking we all choose a ready meal each. Not the healthiest, but neither is a take away and this is much cheaper.

Bluegreen143

I think that’s a great idea from @WelshKitty85. I would say investing in some convenience food is worth it right now while everything is hectic. I’m sure once the kids are back it will start to ease a bit as you’ll have more free time while they are at school I’m guessing. 

missymoo81

Thanks guys really appreciate if. I need to buy stuff that I can just chuck in the slow cooker, like Cut up chicken and pre chopped veg, although more expensive than uncut, much cheaper than a ready meal or take away. Do
I could make a stew with those, or chuck some chicken with some curry sauce in the slow cooker. Or Buy some soya mince and make a spag bol or chilli in the slow cooker. I can’t use normal
mince as it’s too fatty to do that but I’m hoping frozen soya milk would be ok. Hmmm anything else slow cooker wise you can think of that I can just chuck in with no prep would he appreciated. 

RobM99

I find with anything in a slow cooker that's fatty, when it's done, leave it to cool. The fat will rise and you can remove it. Heat up and you're ready to go.

joedenise

The BBC food website is good for SC recipes.  Link:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/slow-cooker

There's 75 SC recipes on there.  Have a look and see which your family will eat.  I'd suggest making as much as you can and then freezing individual portions which you can get out either at night or first thing in the morning so they just need reheating at night and cooking some carbs to go with it.

One of my favourite things is a chicken tagine served with couscous.  Can be on the table in the time to takes to boil a kettle, cover the couscous with boiling water and leave for 5 minutes or so then fluff up with a fork and dish up.

MagicCat

I use a lot of prepared frozen veg in the slow cooker, it's v easy but also cheaper than buying the fresh prepped stuff - you can get Mediterranean veg mixes, casserole veg mixes and Birdseye do mixes with chickpeas and other beans which are great for supereasy taglines, chilli and curry.