Trying not to get into more debt

savingholmes

Great picture. Hope you feel better soon.

Toonie

Thanks @joedenise and @savingholmes I do enjoy drawing and I've missed taking my supplies and camera out on walks this last year so all the landscapes I've done recently have been from my head.

Still no results from the MRI but all the blood tests came back normal so that at least shows there is no rheumatoid arthritis indicators which is good (both my Mum and her father had it). My leg has been very painful the last couple of days, partly I think due to the sitting around feeling grotty. Whilst activity does make it sore, I think inactivity makes it hurt in a different way. Today I'm going to be a little more active, I've just cut DPs hair (something I've done since the start of the pandemic) and I'm going to use the dry weather to do a little tidying in the garden (lots of leaves dropped late this year, the tree at the end of the garden opposite ours was still in full leaf until the beginning of December!) I won't push myself too much but will do a few things.

savingholmes

Hope you have a good day.

Toonie

I've looked at grocery budgets and decided that I'd try to keep to £180/month but factor in £20 extra in case of increases. Anything leftover can go into the Christmas food pot. Last year my spreadsheets tell me that we were spending on average £34 a week on groceries for two of us, which considering we eat meat most nights, is not too bad. I've been reducing portions sizes of meat and increasing vegetables, so that has definitely helped keep things balanced. I think it probably helps we tend to stick to the simpler veg, so cabbage, carrots, green beans, peas (for me) and sweetcorn (DP). I'll occasionally get parsnips or swede when I fancy soup, and very occasionally buy more Mediterranean veggies if I fancy roast veg as a side. 

Today was the first day I've been out since I got my positive test which was rather odd. Back to work tomorrow so we needed to grab a little shopping to keep us going. DP is still working from home so he asked for a couple of things to heat for lunch. We also grabbed some gammon steaks for dinner as they were on offer and what I had planned (toad in the hole) we couldn't get as there were no sausages.

We're going to have a bill to pay in the next couple of days as our shower stopped working this morning. It's an electric shower and unfortunately our only means of a proper wash as there is no bathtub here! Can't get a plumber until tomorrow so bought some dry shampoo at the supermarket as was due to wash my hair this morning (I only wash it once a week).

savingholmes

Sorry about the shower breaking. Sounds like the last thing you want when you are about to start a new job. Good you have solutions though. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Toonie

Thanks. The new job has gone mostly well, although it's been quite taxing on my knee. I'm planning on resting it today.

The shower is now fixed but turned out to be a much more involved job as the wiring was shoddy to the electric shower and needed replacing. The bill (including parts) came to £650 which was a little eye watering but was also mates rates as the plumber is a friend. He did spend a solid day here though as it was very involved. So, that has taken all of my house emergency fund money, so that will need to be built back up (somehow).

Tomorrow DP and I are heading to Aldi for a top up shop, so today is working out the shopping list. I'll be checking the cupboards in a moment, but already know a few things we'll need.

Toonie

Well, we did a big shop today. DP and I both estimated what it would come to...he thought £110 and I thought £85. We spent £94.78 on food. It's an odd time to do a big stock up shop as usually we would do it at the start of the month so a lot of what we bought will keep us going into next months budget. We got enough protein for 21 evening meals though the freezer is now packed tight. I've had to do some jiggling around of meal plans as some things had shorter dates then I'd usually like. After putting away the shopping I needed to rest as my knee has really swollen again the last few days, so I didn't get anything baked which had been my plan as DP goes back to the office tomorrow. Instead, I'll send him off with one of the shop bought cereal bars we keep for emergencies and will bake homemade ones on Wednesday (day off).

savingholmes

Glad job is ok. Hope you manage to rest your knee

nannygladys

Hope your knee starts to behave itself, and don't work too hard
Nannyg

Toonie

Thanks @savingholmes and @nannygladys

I also have finally found out what has been causing my knee trouble. I've torn both my anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament. No wonder I've been limping for 10 months!

I've also had some bad news on the job front as unexpectedly the new family got offered a space at a childminders. This was not something I was aware they were considering as they had told me that they were looking into nurseries but they were all full for at least the next three months. I've been given two weeks notice and feel rather gut punched at present.