A new royal start

QueenJess

Oops, my bad. Rounded down and forgot cleaning stuff (dishwasher powder and laundry powder). Actual spend is £142.13 so far.

I should be able to get away with a low spend next week, but I will need to buy some meat soon as DH is complaining 🙄. Might go to M&S for a ys raid at some point as they sometimes have mince cheaper (I also have vouchers somewhere).

Staffordia

Presumably the extra day off for your DH will allow him to take some of the household chores away from you? 

QueenJess

Staffordia said:

Presumably the extra day off for your DH will allow him to take some of the household chores away from you? 

🤣 Well I did say that to him already, but I remembered why he doesn’t do it. If you want something done right, then do it yourself….. If I told him to do the food shopping/cooking/meal planning we would eat the same three things all the time and everything would be bought from M&S, Waitrose and it would be steak most nights. I’d be bankrupt.. I did tell him he is on DS duty over the summer if he is working 2 days a week.

I might just make him lists of things to sort out. Like put up that mirror on the wall I’ve been waiting 3 years for..

QueenJess

I was just cleaning out my baking supplies and rearranging them in one place. For some unknown reason I have a lot of dark brown sugar 🤷‍♀️. DH says “that doesn’t matter, I’m sure you’ll find a recipe that uses it up.” How will he knows me!

QueenJess

So, so tired today after my busy week of doing tons of work and tons of home stuff. Plus DD has been not sleeping for two weeks now (teething). Even she asked to go to bed early as she was tired!

I attempted to sort out some of the kitchen cupboards earlier, but am lacking the energy. I think I’ve concluded I can’t finish rearranging it because it simply won’t fit. I’ve just got too much stuff in there! I just feel more comfortable with lots of food in the house, but I always under estimate how long it takes to use up. I definitely need to keep trying to use everything up until it is more reasonable and fits in the cupboard! I also need to source some meat before DH starts a protest! I’ll go back to buying big joints or whole chickens I can stretch out to multiple meals. I also must try and work out the best ys time/day for the shops around here. I’ve only got M&S worked out and the time for Co-op, but that one is extremely hit and miss.

Back to chaos tomorrow in terms of trying to smash through my massive to do list and sort out some time sensitive things at work. I might spring clean some easier areas of the house so I can tick them off, rather than being a bit stuck with the kitchen.

Food today is leftover veggie lasagne from Friday, stretched out by serving with garlic bread and salad leaves. Should leave me a portion for my lunch tomorrow at least. Pudding is still blackberry and coconut squares with some vanilla ice cream - they’ve lasted well. Sadly I’ve found 4 more packets of desiccated coconut, so more coconut baking will be required! DS can have leftover party cake from the party he went to yesterday.

Still slightly addicted to my local buy nothing group. It’s really active and loads of people give away some great quality things. I’m trying to check in every other day or so to see if there is anything on there. I’ve spotted some more great kids toys I can store for birthdays etc - I’m hoping if I can look in advance, then what I need to buy will be significantly decreased. Someone is giving away a massive pumpkin as well, so I am hoping I can get that and make some lovely stews/casseroles with it. I try to combine pickups in the evening with a nighttime ys raid in Co-op. It all helps right?!

I also must release a pile of things in the corner of the room to the buy nothing group. I love that it’s all circular 😊

thriftyish

Nice work on sub 150k! And fantastic that you have next years op saved. I remember the teething years, days blend together and it’s hard work physically and mentally. Your nursery fees are super expensive. It’s been a long time but I remember them at around £33 a day here, and I thought that was bad! Be kind to yourself, you are juggling so much x

QueenJess

After 3 weeks of very little sleep, I’m really feeling it now. I had to give DD Calpol to help her sleep through the teething pain and I know she’s really struggling with it at night. She also has a horrible nappy rash.. if it gets any worse, I’ll have to take her to the doctors poor thing.

Really struggling at the moment and really don’t want to do any work. Avoided it this morning by going food shopping, then realised I hated that too. As soon as I get into ASDA I have a compulsion to stock up as much as physically possible so I don’t have to go back any time soon. Sadly there were a few bits I was getting low on, but I stocked up on vegan butter (back on offer) and veggie sausages. I also got a large chicken to keep DH happy for the weekend. Managed to spend £70 on “stuff” 😬 and my freezer is completely ridiculous. This is why I never get it down… I run out of a few things like yogurt, cheese or cereals and then stock up whilst I’m there. Either I need better planning or stop stocking up whilst I am there anyway! I am conscious December is coming up and I hate the crowds so much that I don’t usually shop in store for anything anywhere in December. Maybe I should send DH next time I need something 🤔

Anyway… I will try to give myself a break as I just feel really down and teary right now. I just can’t deal with so little sleep for extended periods of time. I can’t think straight or plan either. Maybe I should set myself just one thing to achieve a day so I feel like I’ve done something useful 🤔

I guess I can’t avoid the work I don’t want to do forever, but I can put it off a bit longer…. At lunch I made a spicy carrot and lentil soup. Tons left over so I plan to take some to work on Thursday as I have to go in and probably freeze some portions for next week. Whilst it was cooking, I also tried making some vegan ice cream. I’m not 100% sure I whipped it enough so I hope it turns out ok. I might use DS as a guinea pig later 😂. I split the batch in two so I have one vanilla and the other chocolate. I hope it works as I worked out it is still cheaper than the usual non-vegan one we buy and vegan ones usually have a big premium.

Will change my veg box order tonight as I have a fair amount in. Will just get carrots, parsnips and potatoes, then check on fruit stores. Need to stop buying more food and use it up!

Dinner tonight will be salmon with a red pesto crust, with potatoes, cabbage and peas. Pudding is still more of the blackberry coconut squares (yep still going!). DS can try some of the chocolate ice cream I made with some meringue.

Bluegreen143

Sending love @QueenJess

Have you thought about just doing online deliveries? 

I actually get two deliveries most weeks, on Mondays and Fridays (occasionally I go to Lidl instead of the second delivery). Means I don’t need to stock up as I know the next shop is 3-4 days away. I don’t waste as much now as I don’t feel the urge to buy loads of salad stuff/fruit to last the week, I find I’m better able to judge just 3-4 days at a time.

That said we do spend too much on groceries right now 🙄 but I do find it a low stress way of doing things.

QueenJess

@Bluegreen143 I may do some online deliveries. I don’t usually have much luck with them as they generally don’t deliver at least one critical thing and I have to go out anyway. I already have milk, veg and fruit delivered, so my other requirements really are quite small anyway.  I’m very good at not wasting food, I just have too much of it!

I could just pop into the local corner shop as I know I’ll just get the one thing I went in for as they are expensive. Sounds a bit counterintuitive though!

DH has informed me that we are low on Bran Flakes that you can only get in Waitrose. I’m thinking if I should go in person or get a delivery. It might depend on how many I can order online!

Better go and make dinner now - then hm dessert in front of Bake off.

Bluegreen143

It’s tricky if you have to go to different shops for different stuff. Occasionally I go to Lidl (purely as it’s cheap) and otherwise everyone has to like the stuff I get from Tesco or lump it 🤣 I’m not going round different shops buying stuff.

If it’s just for storecupboard things and meat, I’d do a monthly delivery and stock up the cupboards/freezer. 

I was thinking yesterday when my order came with no subs, it’s been ages since I’ve not had something delivered from my order, they seem to be getting better.