A new royal start

QueenJess

themadvix said:

I think it's always the case when you try to use something up that you end up liking it and wanting more! 😆At least the refill shops allow you to just buy enough, not a whole pack. We're currently working through bulgur wheat (which I only even tried because it was past its BB and my original refill shop offered me some for free as they knew me!) - but I'm already thinking I might want to get more... it might be a seasonal thing though. And then there's a jar of harissa in the fridge that's been there for a year - but we've just found a recipe that uses it, so we'll replace it at some point (or not have it in when we want it).

My freezer is also full and I'm not sure with what. I need to sort it out - lots of veg in small quantities I think - perils of growing it!

OOh I love bulgur wheat and harrisa!  My favourite thing is to roast loads of veg in harrisa then add to bulgur wheat for lunch

QueenJess

South_coast said:

I thought that as well, Ed 🤣!

Ha ha... but when I was working permanently somewhere I took it for granted.  Now I work, then have time off, then work again and I really do appreciate that payday now.  I don't take it for granted anymore!

QueenJess

A tiny money update, but Airtime app stopped tracking any of my spends in early 2024 and I haven't bothered to deal with it (to be fair I barely buy anything that qualifies anyway).  But I dusted off a receipt and just got it accepted and now hope it actually starts tracking again rather than having to do it all manually.  Anyway, almost at £10 in there now, which will be a nice reduction to some of the joint account debt.

I've made sure I know the odd shop I use that will qualify and I will be keeping the receipts and making sure they are going through.  Every little helps..

I'm also at £20 on Opinium so only £5 left to go before I can cash out of there as well.

edinburgher

Airtime never works for me, I had assumed it was because I use Google pay for everything via my phone, as opposed to using physical cards?

QueenJess

edinburgher said:

Airtime never works for me, I had assumed it was because I use Google pay for everything via my phone, as opposed to using physical cards?

Probably, I think it says it doesn’t work with Google pay. Mine used to work, but randomly stopped one day for no reason. I never use my phone to pay so no reason it shouldn’t work.

QueenJess

Food shopping day today and I needed to get one off items from Aldi (oats and weetabix) and I discovered they now also do the toothpaste the kids like, so I got one of them as well.  Spent £21, plus £58 sm, £15 zero waste and Riverford £30.  In all it was £125 with rounding, compared to my new £160 a week budget (although I do need to spend less than that to save for xmas food).  Not much needed this week though and I still have a grocery budget deficit to get rid of.  The deficit is about 60% of what I had at the start of the year though, so it is slowly going.

Am knackered today after a long week, but planning to take the kids to the park and feed the ducks.  You have to pay parking, but I don't mind because it's an amazing park for kids and they are always doing work on it.  Also bought myself a £2 t-shirt on Vinted plus postage (it's rare they have my favourite brand on there and you can't get yellow ones new anymore, so I got it as I am a bit short on t-shirts).  I also spent £2 plus postage on some thermal leggings which I hope means I won't need the heating as much in the winter when I am working at home.  Worth a try!  I saved myself a bit of money in the future by getting lovely quality M&S school dresses for DD in the next size up from Buy Nothing.

My car is making a horrible creaking noise (must be suspension), so I'm going to need to book it in  I hope it isn't anything too serious.  *fingers crossed*

Otherwise trying to have a cheap weekend.  Lunch today will be scrambled eggs, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast.  Pure comfort food!  Dinner will be spiced (for the adults) chicken with whatever veg is hanging around and hm chips.  Dessert is a bit of a choice, but I will be making the apple and plum crumble later

QueenJess

A reasonably successful day today - took the kids to the forest which had loads of bike trails and ended up by the park. Had to crowbar them out of there to come back for omlettes and salad for lunch, followed by yogurt. Cheap as we just paid for parking of £3.40 for 4 hours.
Also switched car seats around as DD is getting too small for hers now and then I did a pile of school admin. Almost finished putting away all the clean clothes.

On the spending front my walking boots have now completely perished after 15 years. They’ve served me so well! It’s a reasonably expensive brand and I struggle to find ones that fit well as I have tiny ankles, but I found some second hand online that are exactly the same and look pristine. Not cheap at £50, but less than 1/3 of the new price and I hope to use them for another 15 years. I also got winter PJs for DD - 2 pairs for £10 including postage. I’m hoping that’s the end of the clothes/shoes spending for a while now.

Dinner tonight will be meatballs and spaghetti followed by plum and apple crumble and hm blackberry ice cream.

Tomorrow DD is starting school. It feels like the end of an era. She doesn’t like change, so they will have to peel her off me tomorrow 😬

daisy_1571

I'm sure you've been preparing her for it so hopefully she will be excited by it

Dxx

QueenJess

daisy_1571 said:

I'm sure you've been preparing her for it so hopefully she will be excited by it

Dxx

Thanks Daisy - I needn't have worried as she happily went in yesterday and today.  This morning she got up and got ready 3 hours early as she was so excited 

themadvix

That’s so sweet! She’ll be exhausted later though 😬 Glad to hear she’s enjoying it - must be a relief for you.