Beating Lifestyle Inflation and Staying Mortgage Free!

earthgirl2

After resting yesterday I felt great today and wanted to get back on the frugal bandwagon. 

I managed to get some of my list ticked off:
- planned out next week
- taught 2 and a half hours 
- used "note to self" app to voice note myself some text for reports(great time saver for me)
- did work at ds1s football game, got loads done, don't think he noticed! 
- cleaned out the fridge -used up almost gone veg in a roast veg dish tonight and ate out of stores. 

- organised returns for anything I'd bought and not used/ was sent the wrong thing. 
- cancelled expensive accommodation for a family event and found cheaper on ere bnb but still waiting for confirmation (if not will camp). 

- got March cards organised from stores. Some presents from store. 

Tomorrow I'm hoping to tackle the following:
- 1 more hour tutoring. 

- meal plan and grocery shop for delivery Tuesday. 
- find remaining presents from store
- tidy garden and greenhouse
- start planting in poly tunnel 
- ask for any seeds I need for my Mother's Day. 

- start decluttering (Separate into Vinted/cash for clothes/rags/present store). 

I have a midweek delivery pass from mr As because of my back, it's been creeping up to £100/week, although we don't really have expensive meals. I like to keep a good store cupboard stock - this has saved us before when thing's randomly run out- so don't want to run things down. But I could use up random things that are in danger of never being used! 

earthgirl2

Had a great day! I taught an hour this morning online and then decluttered a little bit. I did find it a bit depressing and got a bit teary. There is really so much to Declutter here that it's a bit overwhelming. I walked away and tackled one thing so I havedecluttered the noticeboard and tidied the kids playroom.

i've cooked dinner tonight so just need to switch on the oven to cook it. I've tidied the garden and I was going to plant seeds but then remembered it was less than a week ago that we had a frost so I will wait a little longer. Also in the poly tunnel, I discovered six cabbages and two spinach plants 😆. 

I cleaned out the hen heart and discovered that in a separate area (the dust bath) The Hens has started laying eggs so we have 6 Eggs. I'll have omelette with spinach for lunch this week.

The boys did free activities today and end of the day with a couple of games of chess, which was lovely to watch. 

earthgirl2

I'm really enjoying staying up-to-date with everyone's diaries. It's keeping me on track. A quick money update for me:
This week I was more mindful with what I was buying for groceries and we have spent £53. Much better! I have also done a stock up shop in Mr Al, which is cheaper for a lot of items. (dishwasher tablets, kitchen roll, loo roll et cetera). 

I have started re-gifting unused items and using cards from stock. I handed in expenses at work and started with a new tutoring client.

I did have one unnecessary spend £3.50 for spring bedding plants from Mr L. It has cheered everything up. I have tidied up the garden at the back a little more. 

My olio collection last night was really good and I took my 10% including a pork joint and some pasties. I took a lot to the food bank this morning. 

A quiet weekend planned this weekend. It is my mother-in-law's birthday today. She got some flowers from Olio and she wants us to pay to go out for Sunday lunch on Sunday. I have bought a cake which we will have as dessert hopefully saving a little money but it is good to support the local businesses as well.

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend 

savingholmes

Keeping active is a great habit

Courgette

All sounds great, Earthy. So pleased your back is okay too.

We’ve got gym membership now and I agree that it’s expensive- we get a lot of use out of ours too though so I think it’s worth it. Health and human company is so important. Would it help to think of it in terms of cost per use? Including the showers. That’s how I do it and it feels much cheaper that way

the_end_of_the_rainbow

Courgette said:

All sounds great, Earthy. So pleased your back is okay too.

We’ve got gym membership now and I agree that it’s expensive- we get a lot of use out of ours too though so I think it’s worth it. Health and human company is so important. Would it help to think of it in terms of cost per use? Including the showers. That’s how I do it and it feels much cheaper that way

Good to see you posting Courgette! How’s things in your world?

earthgirl2

Courgette said:

All sounds great, Earthy. So pleased your back is okay too.

We’ve got gym membership now and I agree that it’s expensive- we get a lot of use out of ours too though so I think it’s worth it. Health and human company is so important. Would it help to think of it in terms of cost per use? Including the showers. That’s how I do it and it feels much cheaper that way

Hi so lovely to hear from you I think of you often! I decided to pause the gym membership because it wasn't been used as much when the weather improved and I have been out walking almost every day for an hour and a half. The kids have been playing outside a lot as well of the two people I really met and liked at the gym. I have been in contact with both of them and have arranged to go for a walk and a drink so I've made a couple of new friends which is lovely, I pay £5 a month to keep my membership on hold and will start it up again at the higher price in November, December January and February. This means I have something to look forward to when the nights get darker and I can take the kids there as well . 

earthgirl2

And expensive week, although I did try to keep it sensible.

Ds2 has been struggling for a while, with stomach cramps and feeling sick and not hungry. He also had weird blisters on his body and was referred to paediatrics to look at allergies. It got really bad at the end of last week and the start of this week. Looking at the food diary I decided to try gluten-free foods. 

I have to admit I was pretty desperate, he had lost a lot of weight often crying and sometimes screaming in agony. I bought quite a lot of expensive gluten-free products to see if he liked them and to see if the gluten-free diet would work for him.

I'm pleased to say, since he has gone gluten free, or much gluten reduced his stomach pain has gone and he's started to eat much more food. I'm confident that he will gain more weight if this carries on.

I bought crumpets, pancakes, wraps rolls and a pizza, and chicken nuggets. I also bought the gut health yoghurts and what I called Kids cheeses because he loves those. This is because I need him to eat more calories. Total overkill, but I just felt so desperate. I think I spent about £30. 

Thankfully he likes all of the gluten-free products, and like I said I've had no pain since we started this on Wednesday. 

I think my food budget will go up, but gradually overtime I will learn how to feed him in a way that doesn't require gluten and I will be able to get a handle on our weekly food budget again. 

In other news, I have been walking every day I've lost about 5lbs and I am really enjoying being outside in the fresh air. 

I bought new scales and sunglasses, but I'm going to return them as I managed to fix our oLd scales and sunglasses don't suit me.

I think if I didn't keep myself in check with his diary, I would just keep on spending.

Swayingseaweed

Been gluten free is expensive but being pain free is priceless. So pleased you have solved your son's health issues. You will with time find cooking easier.
Seaweed x