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

jwil

Happy birthday to OH!  Hope you have a lovely time camping.

I always use my birthday to get stuff I like but haven't got the budget for too, so i don't think you're weird for asking for fabric conditioner.  If it makes you happy then it's a great gift!

On the Lloyds app, I can just click on the 3 dots next to the account name and the option to rename is there.  It's not there for the current account though, just the savings ones.

missymoo81

jwil said:

Happy birthday to OH!  Hope you have a lovely time camping.

I always use my birthday to get stuff I like but haven't got the budget for too, so i don't think you're weird for asking for fabric conditioner.  If it makes you happy then it's a great gift!

On the Lloyds app, I can just click on the 3 dots next to the account name and the option to rename is there.  It's not there for the current account though, just the savings ones.

Thanks JWil, it’s the current account I was trying to do it for! Nevermind I’ll figure something out!

Queen_of_the_Hive

@missymoo81 happy birthday in advance and happy belated birthday to your partner for this week too and of course congrats on the anniversary too. Wales sounds lovely - used to go to Wales on holiday with the grandparents when we were kids, lots of fun. Not tried camping in Wales though. Good finds with the kids coats on ebay. Luckily this year the kids can get away with their coats from last year. Cheers for the heads up on the lidl app. Will take a look as wasn't aware of this but regularly shop there. For my birthday I like fruity and herbal tea bags so your defo not on your own with the everyday things for your birthday. Stationary is a firm favourite too. 

missymoo81

Afternoon! (Well Evening now I’m finally posting this!)

Well we’re back! Wow that was an adventure. 4 hours walk yesterday, 3 hours today! Could have cried on both days as have the biggest blisters from my stupid walking boots! But we had the loveliest time. OH was in his element. We came back and slept for a couple of hours, now we’re just waking up again. Managed to spend no money which is good! Well especially as I have none to spend. Whilst walking I was thinking of what to get whilst shopping for my £40 and I think I’ve got it! Also think I’ve solved my OH’s expensive yoghurt addiction!

OH has those 500g yoghurts with the fruit stuff on top. Usually anywhere between £1.50-£2.30. Lidl sometimes have their own version for £1.20 but I think they’ve gone up. I’ve tried to make OH porridge pots but he eats them in the car and seems to get a bit messy. So Tesco do gorgeous Greek yoghurt for 39p, I’ve found this week. And a tin of peaches for 33p. So I’m going to whizz you the peaches and put them on the yoghurt and see how he likes them! If he doesn’t he can buy the expensive ones himself 😁.

Trying to think of ways to try and move some money into the kids clothes account as May desperately needs some new hoodies. Hers are about 2 sizes too small! They’re still pretty expensive on eBay but I will keep looking! In fact thinking about it, I’ve set the budget for shopping for £100 for 2 lots of shopping and was going to get OH to pay for the last one as I shop every 10 days. But because of the way the days have fallen and my wages etc. I’m cobbling together the £40 for this week shopping so in theory I should have £50 over from the shopping budget, as I would have already done the first shop, so don’t need to take it out of the £100, if that makes sense? So will double check but £50 should hopefully go to the clothes fund!

Been looking at the shopping again. It’s so tight! And of course I need toiletries, cat food and loo roll, and have £40 for 10 days shopping. Soooooo I’ve checked and OH has £11 on Tesco vouchers which will pay for the cat food. I’ve realised we’re going to be taking some of the food back from here with us, so that should make up a dinner. I’m going to bake some flapjacks for the children’s lunches instead of buying cereal bars. And I’m going to make a list of prices at Tesco so that On Tuesday I can go to Lidl first and only get what is cheaper from there, and buy the same prices or cheaper from Tesco for the Clubcard points. Think I’ve got this!

Meal Plan:

Dinner

Stew x 2

Chilli and Rice / burritos x 2

Chicken risotto x 2

Carbonara 

Burgers and sweet potato

Pizza and wedges 

Jackets and beans

Breakfast 

Toast, porridge, cereal or pancakes for breakfast with jam or peaches or raisins 

Lunch

Kids packed lunches fruit, ham sandwiches, Chocolate bar, yoghurt. Carrot sticks, crisps. 

Cheese and ham toasties

Lentil dhal

Tuna pasta 

Think that’s it for now.

Thanks for your message Clarissa, lovely to see you x

jwil

Glad you had a good time away

Cheery_Daff

Glad you had a good time away 😊 and excellent work on the shopping planning - good idea with the yogurts! Some of these things are so expensive aren't they??

missymoo81

Ah  @clarissa62 I’ve just checked the lidl app and The lidl voucher needs to used by Sunday. Which Is tricky as we don’t get home until late tomorrow and it means I’d have to go shopping on Sunday. I wasn’t intending to go until Tuesday. Don’t think I’m going to be able to use it. But instead I have £5.94 on Prolific I can use instead, so I’ll cash that out shortly. 

Thanks @jwil I’ve just realised I haven’t caught up with your diary in the longest time. I’m going to pop over and have a good old read in a bit 😁.

Thanks @Cheery_Daff , Yep super expensive! Although I could do with the pots from the yoghurts fo help OH feel like he’s getting the real deal. Hmmmm I think I have vouchers for 2 free ones in my bag at home. Will check and I’ll save those pots!

Made the mistake of washing both dressing gowns and blanket etc. But I didn’t get them out of the machine quick enough and now they smell like wet dog. Never mind. I’ll rewash and hang outside when we’re home. Just sat outside having a nice my cup of tea in the sunshine. I will miss this view. That’s for sure!

Oh just did another quick survey so that’s 28p I can take out. Just realised I think I’m out of Shampoo too. So another thing to add to the list!!

missymoo81

Just thinking aloud.
Things to do when I get home:

Take pictures and eBay stuff - Sunday
Go shopping - Tuesday
Pick up uniform - Tuesday
Send back books and leggings - Tuesday
Put all washing away! - Sunday
Prep for week ahead - Sunday/Monday
Sort out Birthday - Saturday
Sort our fun things to do with smalls - Monday
Research / order presents for Roo - Sunday ongoing.

List to be added to......

ah have just realised I haven’t taken into account Saturday. Sunday or Mondays dinners! And haven’t got the budget.....

Ok will be back shortly with thoughts on that! 

missymoo81

Make bread, have enough sandwich fillings etc. And enough oats for porridge etc.

soooo dinners.......

Saturday - burgers and sweet potato 
Sunday - Fish pie

Monday - Pizza and wedges

Ok have stolen some of these off original meal plan so need to rejig.

Meal plan now reads:

From Tuesday onwards (10 meals in no particular order)

Stew x 2

Chilli and Rice / burritos x 2

Chicken risotto x 2

Carbonara 

Enchiladas

Tuna casserole  

Jackets and beans

Possibly sausage hot pot thing if needed, possibly curry if needed.

Just realised children’s treat drawer is near empty, so need to fill that!!!! Ok..... need to do some more surveys I think!

missymoo81

Ok question for all you lovely people. I’ve got a treat basket in the kitchen, which contains things like lollies and tiny bags of haribo and moam etc. I’ve just looked on Tesco and they are horrendously expensive. Does the £1 shop or lidl do better value alternatives? I’m wondering whether to buy big bags of similar but loose and actually make up little mix bags of my own. But just looked at bags on eBay and they’re £2.99 for 100, so an expense and I don’t quite need that many. Hmmm will think some more but any suggestions are welcome.