Struggling along as best I can

WinterWarrior

Happy pay day 😁. The party sounded perfect 👌 

nannygladys

Winterwarrior - The little ones birthday was really lovely, it's all magical at that age and it's his birthday party for all his little friends this Saturday so more cake is on the cards😁

nannygladys

The handyman came this morning and put my bathroom cabinet up, fitted the kitchen blind and took two posts off the walls in the driveway - leftovers from an old gate! But as it hasn't stopped raining the power washing of my drive and back sitting area will be done when the weather is a little better! 
The cabinet looks so much better than the small ratten set of drawers in the bathroom ( eldest Dgd is having them for her flat, but I will give them a scrub and quick paint before she has them) and the kitchen blind is brilliant! It all makes me feel so much better/happier than before and I can't understand why I haven't had these bits done before. It also looks so much better as well🙂
The next things on the list besides the power washing is the painting of the front room and then the new carpets.
I seem to have nearly spent my house money as I've been using some for the garden as well so it's time to get serious about saving again and I mean more than normal! I seem to be saying this every time I do an update but it's time to get really serious, so when I got paid last week I sat myself down and was ruthless with the budget. I have kept all the usual funds to make sure I have enough for my monthly and yearly bill pots,cut the clothes saving to nothing and put that towards the upgrade fund ( including the money already in there), cut the petrol fund by a quarter, the garden fund will have to remain but the food/treat and everything else pot has been cut to only £17 a week, multiply that by 4 and that was all I was left with!!! It's only for four weeks so I'm going to manage that aren't I?!?! Well put it like this , it's very well got to because my debit card and credit card are locked up and I have made it very difficult to get hold of them!!!! 🤣
So tomorrow is the start of another week for me and I've written out a menu plan mainly using food I still have in the fridge first, in the freezer second (hm frozen meals) and then a scratch meal for one day probably beans on toast!!! Any money leftover from the £17 will go into two jars (already labelled!) for House fund and a very small emergency fund in case I run out of milk etc.
Fat club has already been paid for upfront and I have loads of frozen veg from Xmas and Easter cheapies. I only have to buy compost and tom plants but that's possibly next month not this!!
I'm feeling really positive about this, probably something to do with the lighter, longer days even if it is raining most days! And I do like a good challenge when I'm in the mood. 
Pitfalls might be the amount of fuel I use but I do have a bus pass ....
I seem to get fed up following a menu plan, I usually manage around three days but so far so good! I just have to keep it up. I usually do a few days at a time but this and last week I have done one for 7 days but it's 7 meals that I can have on any day I want, so I feel as if I have some choice! 
Anyway this post seems to be going on forever so I'll stop for a bit.
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Just a quick note - I'm pup sitting from Thursday so I can get out and do some of the local walks with him - free exercise and will keep me on the straight and narrow!
Eldest dd came with me to the Lottie at the weekend and planted all the potatoes and onions for her family whilst I did a bit of this and a bit of that🤣 I've planted mine in the garden at home. So all is well here and positive.
Thank you to all that read my ramblings and be happy whatever you're up to 😘
Nannyg 

Makingabobor2

I planted some potatoes the other week as well & have some different ones I'm hoping to get in later this week. Also hoping to get some other veg plants in, if its warm enough,  that are growing at an alarming rate in their pots. Would like to sow carrots in the big tubs as well....all depends on weather. 

OpalGirl

You are making great progress NannyG - I think you feel much better when you can see and feel that you have achieved something. 

kayannie

Getting those jobs ticked off is so satisfying & mood-lifting, especially with the weather the way it is. I am fortunate in that my OH can turn his hand to most things (he worked in the trade). Unfortunately he doesn't always feel like doing the jobs when I'd like them done, but we're getting there slowly! There are several jobs half done, but I know they'll be finished eventually, I just have to be patient! At least I don't have to pay him, except in cakes!

Regarding meal planning, I keep a list of all possible main meals & once a week I make a note of the ones I think we will have over the next few days. This is subject to change if, for instance, I manage to get a L!DL box with veg in that need using. In yesterday's box there were 4 packets of baby tomatoes so it's tomato soup for lunch today.  
KA

nannygladys

Makingabobor2 - I love growing veggies but finding the Lottie more of a challenge these days. Most of my seeds are in the plastic greenhouse now, I only have a few in the house at the moment like the cucs and melons that are more delicate.

nannygladys

Thanks Opalgirl it certainly does make you feel better crossing them off but I keep adding to it 🤣

nannygladys

kayannie - my menu plans are always up for changes, I went into Asda this morning and they had leeks reduced so leek and potato soup for tomorrow, this week it was mainly frozen hm meals so it doesn't make any difference really, I'll just eat it at another time. The only cheapie box I saw in my nearest Lidl had a lot of over ripe fruit and soggy lettuce in it so I left it 🙂 I have more success with heavily reduced veg/fruit and then freeze what I can. 
I used to have a go at different projects in the house but now I'm old and decrepit 🤣🤣 I just don't want to do them🙂, the handyman (Neil) is really good at his work and gets on with it and doesn't make enough to become millionaire - well not in my lifetime anyway 🤣