A new royal start

QueenJess

Not much happening over here... just counting down a week until the job is gone, although next week will be a bit chaotic as DH is also overseas for work.  Trying my best not to spend any money (although I don't think DH is quite in the same mindset as me, but then he will be earning more than he is spending, whereas I will just be depleting savings).

Weekend was cheap as DD went to a party and then yesterday we went to some charity shops where I found zero on my long term lists and DD bought herself some stickers for 59p, then we went to the park.  Spent £2 parking and that was it.   DD has another party this weekend (these class parties are a nightmare for nursery as there are loads of them and frankly I haven't a clue who any of them are).  Today I managed to spend £5 buying a bath bomb, stickers and some chocolate and we had a lovely gift bag from the weekend party that I shall be reusing for the next one.  We make all our cards, so DD will make one nearer the time as I think it's nicer and I've thought cards were a rip of for a long time.  Also paid for petrol to get myself to the office tomorrow and will be paying for the gym later.

Hoping for a cheaper food shop this week if DH is away for a few days and we still have a fair bit in.  However, I will be stocking up on organic meat that is in stock as it is sometimes hard to get hold of and it'll only get worse as people seem to go crazy for xmas.

The joint budget will remain the same for December and then I should have £500 in the EF so I will then drop the budget a bit in Jan.  We've apparently been frugal with the water (and/or the water company have been significantly fined) as our monthly bill has dropped by £11.  Not got much to spend for xmas as I was very organised, but I am trying to save up for a bike for DS's birthday as his one is now way too small.  I would love a second hand one, but they seem tricky to find for some reason.  Actually... now I think about it, I will check if there are some gift cards work do that give a big discount and would be worth getting for bikes.  May as well max out my benefits for the next week!

Unusually we have loads of extra carrots, so I will be making carrot and coriander soup for lunch.  I will eat early because of gym later and will have a toasty with salad.  DH will make himself and the kids pasta with veg later.

QueenJess

Day off today, so got up, set the bread up to prove and then went to do the shopping.  It's going to be quite hard to track the food shopping for a while as I am spending extra getting gift cards for the sm from work as it's cheaper and am also buying extra bits and pieces ready for the xmas holidays where the kids never stop eating.  Spent £60 stocking up in a shop I get a discount from work, then spent £13 in the zero waste shop and £107 (against a gift card) in the sm.  However, I got about £35 extra food to stock up with in there.  I am buying extra meat for the freezer, but trying to also do it with discounts/offers wherever I can.  Got some organic beef meatballs today that had a yellow sticker which DS loves.  I managed to do the shop, the charity shop, the zero waste shop and the sm within 70 mins.  The car park is free for 90 mins, so time to spare!

DH is travelling overseas next week and we still have some veg/fruit, so I will be able to reduce my Riverford order a bit later.

It's just me for lunch today and I had my lunch from yesterday (a hm soup/stew thing from the freezer) because when I went to work there was a load of nice food provided for lunch.  I had seconds and didn't need dinner, so saved a bit of money there!  Dinner tonight will be pizza with whatever toppings I find in the fridge.  DS has some leftover mozzarella for his and I have goats cheese for mine; which I love.  I've just taken a Victoria sponge out of the oven which I will sandwich together once it's cooled with jam and buttercream.  That will be dessert sorted for later.

South_coast

What is this leftover mozzarella that you speak of....🤔🤷‍♀️?

QueenJess

South_coast said:

What is this leftover mozzarella that you speak of....🤔🤷‍♀️?

Ha ha… I had a toastie earlier in the week to use half a ball, so I had half left. It was partly on purpose as DS likes mozzarella on his pizza, but DD doesn’t so really it only works if I have half a ball of it.

Jessy103

I can't believe I have never thought about putting mozzarella in a toastie! We just usually go for boring cheddar and onion, but now I like the sound of a mozzarella and cherry tomato toastie, maybe with a little pesto! Jess, you may be responsible for starting something here 🤣

Hope you have a nice rest and some me time planned for when you finish the job, you deserve it x

QueenJess

Jessy103 said:

I can't believe I have never thought about putting mozzarella in a toastie! We just usually go for boring cheddar and onion, but now I like the sound of a mozzarella and cherry tomato toastie, maybe with a little pesto! Jess, you may be responsible for starting something here 🤣

Hope you have a nice rest and some me time planned for when you finish the job, you deserve it x

I can confirm that is an amazing combination that I’ve used before. I went with mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes this time

CCW007

Jessy103 said:

I can't believe I have never thought about putting mozzarella in a toastie! We just usually go for boring cheddar and onion, but now I like the sound of a mozzarella and cherry tomato toastie, maybe with a little pesto! Jess, you may be responsible for starting something here 🤣

Hope you have a nice rest and some me time planned for when you finish the job, you deserve it x

QueenJess said:

Jessy103 said:

I can't believe I have never thought about putting mozzarella in a toastie! We just usually go for boring cheddar and onion, but now I like the sound of a mozzarella and cherry tomato toastie, maybe with a little pesto! Jess, you may be responsible for starting something here 🤣

Hope you have a nice rest and some me time planned for when you finish the job, you deserve it x

I can confirm that is an amazing combination that I’ve used before. I went with mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes this time

Oh my, I need to do this, sounds fab with a little pesto. I recently collected 35 mozzarella balls for olio and quite a lot weren't requested and are now in my freezer.

QueenJess

@CCW007 wow... 35 mozzarella balls.. that would be a dream!  I gave up Olio round here as it was only ever bread on offer.

Work realised they were behind on their annual stuff and actually they did need me for a bit longer.  So I agreed to stay until the end of the month.  Hopefully should help towards a massive car bill coming up as I need both my brake pads and brake discs replaced Work aren't sure if that will be the end of it but said something about anything longer would need a different agreement.  Anyway, I'm not taking anything for granted and applied for an interesting 6 month contract I spotted online yesterday.  May not get it and not 100% sure if I want it, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

In the meantime, operation frugal is very much happening over here.  Nothing physical is being purchased unless required and the odd thing I've wanted for myself I've stuck on xmas/birthday lists (we do lists as I accept I'm a nightmare to buy for and that way everyone gets what they want and will use).

Yesterday was a NSD, but was busy due to DD having a birthday party, DS's usual gymnastics and in the evening I went to a comedy night with my sister.  It was paid for absolutely ages ago, so just cost me petrol to drive there.  It was weird to do anything without the kids!  Today the in-laws are coming over for the day and we are going to the pub for lunch.  We haven't been there for ages and I do have enough in the leisure/entertainment pot for our meals.  The meals are usually huge, so nothing organised for dinner as I imagine I will just have a snack and the kids can always have something quick as well.  The cake I baked is pretty much at an end, so I am hoping I have time to make scones today as I already have clotted cream in the fridge ready!

Next week is likely to be a bit hectic.  DH flies overseas very early Tuesday morning and isn't back until the end of Friday, so I am on my own.  I would have originally finished work Tuesday, but now am working the week (apart from Weds).  Dreading taking DD to DS's swimming lesson on Weds as she was a nightmare last time and is likely to be really tired.  Fingers crossed for me!

QueenJess

This week has definitely been fun so far on my own.... it is also brrrrr, so the towel rails are on, although only for a few hours a day.  Kids are also addicted to porridge at the moment and have been eating it every morning for breakfast.

I've been checking up on my personal bank account and reduced a subscription to a lower amount to reflect what I actually use (only £3 a month, but it all helps).  I've also transferred a subscription I was paying to the joint account because it is actually a joint account.  Again, only £2.99, but I can better track what's happening now.  I think the only things left in my personal account are mobile phone, cloud/emails, charity donations, all my car related stuff and then a couple of subscriptions that I may not renew next time/might transfer to my present list for others to get for me.  I don't think I can get it down much further now.

Other savings this week were finding some cheap books in the charity shop (£3 for 3).  I picked up 2 as birthday presents for DS and the other one was the exact one I was planning to get DS as it is a future school project topic (think in the summer term), so that was fantastic to find it in a charity shop.

Somehow I've been so busy that I've lost control of the fridge and freezer, so it'll be operation use everything up in the fridge and I will need to reorganise the freezer.  First up will be a leek and potato soup I shall make for lunch and then DS can take some in his thermos tomorrow.  Because I fancy a biscuit and maybe a hot chocolate later (too cold outside!), I will also make some ginger biscuits at lunch.  Dinner is sorted as I made loads of pizza last night, so we all have leftovers with carrot sticks and salad.  Dessert is fruit scones with cream and jam... mmmm......  I do also have 2 massive cabbages that I'm sure we'll get through eventually, but if anyone has any ideas to use them up, then I would be grateful!

Work is irritating me quite a bit at the moment, so I am definitely counting down to the end of next week.  It'll be nice to have a break!  Got a few things on the to do list to sort out and am considering doing some batch cooking to get some easy meals in the freezer for when both the kids are home in the holidays and eating everything in sight.  It must be time for lots of pies/hot pots etc.  I do love cooking in the winter.  When it gets to the summer I am confused about what to make and particularly when it's really hot outside!

QueenJess

Ooh, I'm very pleased with myself.  I made bread yesterday, but it didn't rise that well despite me putting it in the cupboard with the boiler.  I wondered if it was because it was on a cold tiled floor even though the cupboard is nice and warm.  So my bread today I put in on top of a cushion from the sofa and hey presto it has risen beautifully.  All solved with a very high tech solution