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

missymoo81

As a distraction technique, as I’m trying to avoid OH he is in this negative hole, I . Dont blame him but there’s absolutely no reasoning with him. I’ve had to walk away from him twice now, he’s in such a pit of despair. So I am looking at how to get my shopping for under £33, have just watched some of David Attenborough on Instagram and I’d really like to change my ways to help the environment. Obv less waste is one, but a major one is plant based eating. So I’m going through my shopping List on Tesco and swapping things where I can in the hope I can make it still come in under budget! I’ve swapped ready packed fruit and veg, and changed out mince for lentils. But things like porridge and lentils are in plastic,
not sure how you get away from that!
Wont be able to convert OH on the meat front. Mind you. He didn’t notice when I swapped the chicken for soya alternatives. Nor the mince..... all packets though still....

Cheery_Daff

Aw Mossy, I'm so sorry to hear about OH's eyes It's so hard dealing with someone when they're in that state isn't it? Even if you understand *why* they're feeling like that. Mr Cheery and I are like that sometimes (I'm far more generally cheerful, and far less inclined towards predictions of 'I'm never going to be able to do xxx again!'). Sometimes the only thing that works is being in separate rooms for a while...

As for the plastic stuff, have you come across Jen Gale and Sustainable(ish)? She writes some lovely stuff about being a mum of young children, trying your best, and accepting that it's not always going to be perfect (and often there isn't a perfect solution). She's been writing about David Attenborough recently too. Might give you another little distraction if you've not already heard of her! Xx

Cheery_Daff

Missy, obviously, not Mossy, I do apologise!!

missymoo81

Hey Cheery! I’ve been called worse 😁. Oooh no I haven’t heard of her!!! I will endeavour to look! Thank you so much!

joedenise

I think you can only do the best you can.  I don't think it's even possible to cut every bit of plastic out of our lives!  You can buy porridge oats in cardboard boxes but is obviously much more expensive than the supermarket's own brand oats.  I have to say although I hate buying stuff in plastic I'm not prepared to waste my money paying twice as much in order to by my oats in a cardboard box!

I think Red lentils are actually in cellophane rather than plastic which is usually made from wood not plastic but is biodegradable so not such a problem.

Bluegreen143

Oh @missymoo81 what a stress for you both! I hope that with glasses it will get him driving and working again at least til his next surgery? I can’t blame him for being down about it but it is very hard for you. My husband has had bad anxiety attacks in the past (it’s well controlled currently) and it is tough having to be the strong one and means that you are carrying all the burden (even though you know they can’t help it, it’s still tough being the partner in that circumstance!).

Fun challenge re reducing plastic! Do agree with @joedenise too. I was getting my milk delivery in glass bottles for ages. It was great during lockdown as reduced shop visits, and I really loved the glass bottles, but they were 85p a pint v £1.09 for four pints at Tesco! I had to cancel in the end. If I had plenty of money I would still get it but right now I need to focus on swaps that aren’t going to cost me more. Things like getting the kids toys and clothes second hand or just cutting down on how much they get are ways I reduce plastic/packaging/general impact plus save money too. I always think before buying eco alternatives we need to think about whether we could just do without the thing or even reuse something we have/borrow it etc first. Must look up that website @Cheery_Daff mentioned as it sounds good!

missymoo81

Argh Honestly I’ve tried so many times to talk to Oh and every time I do I just end up losing it because he’s so relentlessly negative, I have to walk away, he’s just sat with his head in his hands. Reckons his eye sight is getting worse by the minute. Amongst other things he’s just referred to himself as a waste of space! I properly lost it! Said I knew he was upset and disappointed but !!!!!! stop the negative hole pity party. He’s not fricking blind and it’s completely reversible!!!!!! And that’s the bottom line, he’s acting as if he is!!!! And he’s not, and like I say the op is reversible, I know I sound harsh and uncaring, but I’ve listened to this on and off for 10 hours now......: And he won’t listen to reason or do anything other than stare into space and say negative things. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! I just can’t be in the same room as him! Tuesday can not come fast enough!!!!!!! My sanity is being held on by a thread! I’m now looking after 2 children a partially sighted OH and running 3 businesses! Whilst trying to find extra money to pay people to do extra shifts now and to pay for going to London every 5 minutes. 

And breathe!!!!!!

Again I need the distraction of the low waste sustainable living challenge.

So I’ve just made a huge chilli for dinner, using up lots of tins of things, I’ve made enough for 4 adult meals and at least 2 children’s meals and I took some of the mix out before I put the chilli sauce in and have made a bolognese. So that’s another nights dinner sorted. The bolognese is a bit thin on the ground and is mostly mushroom, but mixed with pasta, it will be lovely. 

I had a look at packets whilst I was in the kitchen. My lentil packet couldn’t be recycled but the porridge packet said it could be recycled wifh the carrier bag recycling they do at the bigger super markets.  The carrot and potato bags are made of the same stuff! Also Interestingly Lidl’s porridge is In a paper bag, which is great. I’m very cross though, I just emptied the fridge and the food waste is unreal! I boUght a load of stuff for a special diet a few weeks ago and obv didn’t eat it, as the diet lasted 2 minutes! So annoyed at all that wasted money and food. I did diligently wash out all the jars and tins I used to make dinner and put them in the recycling. 

I completely get the thought about not paying out loads for things. I just couldn’t afford to do it. I tried once before and I just couldn’t sustain it.
so I’m going to try and do the best I can, and If I can make easy swaps that are only a few pence difference here and there. Then I will. 

Off to read that blog now!

joedenise

Missymoo check out the Jack Monroe website (www.cookingonabootstrap.com) for some really cheap meal ideas.  Her old recipes include some meat, but very little but her more recent recipes are vegan.  All recipes are very cheap to make so make use of them to make your money go further.  She uses lots of beans and pulses.

missymoo81

Oooh thanks JoeDenise! I will take a look.

hmmmmm I’m in a bit of a quandary, buying organic is definitely the way to go to help with carbon footprint etc. But all organic things seem to be packaged in plastic 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t know what’s best...... non organic loose or organic in plastic. My friend said that a lady at her work take in crisp packets etc and gives them to a dog shelter and they get money for them . Not sure how or why, but she said she would gladly take mine to her. So that helps with that! Going to see how well I can do. There’s a veg box scheme round here, so will see what I can do with that also. But it has to fit in budget of course. 

I hope you’re all ok, to top it all off someone has phoned in sick this afternoon so as there’s no one else to cover it’s me and I’ve already done PTs this morning and am up at 6am tomorrow and I doubt I’ll finish until 1030 tonight! Might have to work tomorrow evening too! After driving for 7 hours to and from London, really need a break but needs must. 

OH Is in a slightly less woe is me mood. I’ve put the WM on and will put the DW on shortly. 

missymoo81

Another horrendously long drive to and from London. Have some answers for OH which is helping but he needs another op which means more trips to London. My budget is out of the window as have had to cancel PTs worth £50 today. Will write everything down again later and work it out. Managed to not pay for coffee today despite the 7 hours driving, just had the free stuff at the clinic, which is a plus.

Can’t wait to snuggle up tonight. I even have one of those tiny bottles of wine I might even have, but might save that until the weekend, see how I feel later.

Just at the park with the kiddies, they have left over chilli and rice in wraps aka burritos. 

Before I settle tonight, I need to do 2 quick loads of washing and hang up, make lunches for tomorrow and make dinner for me and OH. I have some bolognese but it needs chunking up a bit! 

Need to empty the fridge of old leftovers.

I’m so tired! anyway, just my quick update. Speak soon x