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

missymoo81

joedenise said:

Wouldn't be easier if you, OH and children all ate the same things?  It seems you are making things more difficult for yourself by each having different things.

Hi JoeDenise, thank you, but we eat at such different times. The children eat around 8.15am to make sure they have enough time to eat and get ready before we leave for work. I can’t eat until after my workout class as I’ll be sick and OH doesn’t get up until 9am and he eats the toast I make him on the way to work. I make myself and OH brunch around 11.30/12 and the children have lunch around 1. We’ll snack around 4. The children have their dinner around 5.30, but because OH does the evening workout class and we don’t get home until around 8/8.30. By the time I’ve put the children to bed and we’ve showered and changed I make dinner around 9.30/10pm. So yes it is a lot of food prep etc, but I’m trying to make it easier by whatever me and OH have for dinner one night the children have for dinner the next night, so all I’m doing is reheating as opposed to cooking. 

missymoo81

Ok, so back home from work. Currently cooking pasta to go with the bolognese left over from earlier in the week. Children are in bed, OH is just working then getting in The shower. I hope he hurries up I’m hungry! So I managed to do the bin and the dishwasher and go to sainsburys. I had to get some more bread as my collection food shop isn’t until Monday. 

Trying to meal plan for next week but I’m struggling as to what to make. Will have a look in the grocery challenge at recipes.
Got work tomorrow then not much planned. Then Sunday we’re off to a social distancing bbq. Will try and pop in and see my Nan and grandad also and see if they’re ok. 

joedenise

Definitely makes things awkward with you all eating at different times.  Maybe you could do some batch cooking and get loads of individual portions of dinners in the freezer to make life easier so that you are not constantly having to prep food.  That way you can just get out enough portions the night before and put in fridge to be reheated at the appropriate time.

missymoo81

Hey everyone.
ive had an ok day. Worked and did some errands. Children haven’t left my side all day so have driven me slightly mad, so they went to bed early. I’ve just been reading my book and now currently sat with OH not really talking. I’m having a beer which is unusual but we had some in the fridge. The business side of life is really getting to OH so he’s not himself tonight and is somewhat grumpy, so I’m  keeping quiet.

We’ve discussed money and I need to put the money I have left from divorce settlement in Savings into a proper savings account. I’m wondering about putting some of it in premium bonds...... I was quite taken with the idea of premium bonds so I have put my contingency fund into it. Well £50, just to see what happens. I’ve spent £10 on food today, but I’m going to see if OH will pay for the shopping this week as I’m paying for Gousto and have already paid for the shopping for the past 3 weeks. So it will counteract that and the slight overspends on food this month. 

Going to list some more things on FB next week, would really like to get the contingency up to £100 if I can. I think it was at £64 at last count. Basically it is only money from selling stuff that I am putting in to the contingency. 

Anyway I hope you’re having a lovely Saturday x

joedenise

With interest rates being negligible I think premium bonds are a good idea.  They are safe and you never lose the capital and of course there's always the chance of a little win (or if you're really lucky a big win!).  I'm using in a Regular Saver at the moment but that is for a big holiday next year for our Golden Wedding Anniversary so after that my savings are definitely going back into premium bonds again.  It's what I used to do before I started the regular saver.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Missymoo and Joedenise - interesting what you say about Premium Bonds. I haven't had them before and look a fun money product. I've opened the NS&I savings bond which is currently on the best buy savings accounts. Its a bit rubbish with its quirks but still its something. Savings accounts are terrible atm. 

missymoo81

The premium bonds look good. I’m hoping to be lucky. I’m downstairs with the children watching Peter Rabbit, why does the first coffee of the morning taste so good.
OH is going out on his bike so me and the children are deciding what to do with the time. We’ve got a social distancing bbq at 2. Need to finalise my Tesco order for tomorrow. Nothing much to say today. 

missymoo81

Ok so far we’ve played hide and seek, roller skated and scootered, eaten cake and ice lollies and we’re going to play superman down the stairs. Currently the children are making potions in the garden. Last night I made a list of things that I need to get done next week. The list is pretty long and arduous but things really need to start getting done! Whilst we were playing hide and seek I may have accidentally on purpose hidden in the spare room and whilst the children were finding me I was finding things to sell. I’ve found leggings and sports tops, I think these will probably sell better on eBay than on FB, I’ve got about 10 things to put on there. I’m struggling to find things to FB. I’ve probably got another 3 things, I’d like to get at least 5 to put on there. I have 3 listings already but they aren’t selling just now. 

Washing is on and I’m sitting in the sun, getting a bit too hot now though. Need to go up in the loft and get the rest of my summer shorts out! I desperately need some new t-shirts, I literally haven’t got any that haven’t got a random sport emblem on the front of them, nice but not good for smart casual occasions! 

MrsMe

Hi Missymoo, 
I stumbled across your diary yesterday and have caught up this morning. Sounds like you certainly have a challenge ahead of you but you are doing great - lots of good ideas coming your way (I've just added dried beans to my own Tesco order so I've learned a thing or two from your diary too! 😉). 
I too am a curly girl and have been following the CG method for about a year now so thought I'd share what I've learned. Firstly - it doesn't have to be expensive! It is a learning experience, products that work for some people won't for others. If you can, invest in a scalp scrub. This massively helps to clean your hair and scalp when co washing (i.e. using conditioner to wash your hair). Look for cheaper conditioners to use too - I like the apple conditioner from Aldi. It doesn't contain silicone (which is the devil for curly hair!) and is only £0.59. I use this to Co wash but use the slightly more expensive Ultimate Blends Almond Crush as conditioner (squishing it into my hair in the shower). I only ever buy this when it's on offer somewhere - usually for £2ish. I LOVE Tesco essential gel (blue gel) for my styling product. It's £0.45 a tub and is gentle but really does give my curls definition and tames the frizz. I do need to 'scrunch out the crunch' once my hair is completely dry - but the end result is great.
The biggest lesson for me was patience (it's not a virtue I possess unfortunately 😂). Also, try to only wash your hair once a week. Use a scrunchie to put it in a pineapple on top of your head to sleep so you don't disturb the curls and then refresh it with a spritz of water in the morning. You'll save loads of product this way and your hair will thank you not being washed so often! I didn't get amazing results overnight, but over time I've noticed a massive difference. Take photos throughout your journey to document your progress otherwise you won't really notice.
I'm currently experimenting with CG friendly shampoo bars at the moment. Co washing is good but I occasionally like to use a low poo shampoo (Johnson baby shampoo) to give it a good cleanse. It's too early to tell how my hair is responding, but once I've got a better idea, I'll share my verdict with you.
Sorry for the very long post.
Good luck, you've got this! 😁
P. S. If you're not sure whether a product is CG friendly, put the ingredients through this website:
https://www.curlsbot.com/

Kakiste

potions is such a great way to entertain kids for ages. Works here every time.
Well done for the ebaying- I think j need to have another shufty though the wardrobes, I stopped in March as all the selling sites on fb for round here stopped letting people post things because of covid.