Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

RelievedSheff

missymoo81 said:

Thanks @RelievedSheff car has decided to have its fault back up and I’ve managed to drop my phone. OH has discovered it’s unlikely he’s going to get the job he was thinking off to get us out of trouble with the business as Although he’s found the courses you need hours upon hours of experience!!! How do you get the experience in the first place? 🤷🏻‍♀️

That's annoying for it all to happen at once.

If you get all of your bad luck out of the way at once you must be due some good luck soon.

missymoo81

So managed a little reset yesterday. I really do need to look at budgets they’re all over the place at the moment. I opened a Monzo account yesterday in the hope it would help me put everything into pots, but I’m not 100% sure how to work it! So I have a couple of PTs this morning then a couple of hours off then I have May’s assembly, love watching them. Then 2 more hours of work. 

The possible career change has opened up its application process this week. So I need to apply, it’s a rather lengthy process so I will start it today and OH is going to help me later.

Wonderful friend popped round yesterday with her husband and had a look at car. Have ordered a bit for £20 so hopefully that will fix it! I will be amazed if it does! It’s been an ongoing problem for a couple of years and the garage couldn’t fix it!

Finally went shopping yesterday. Am over budget on the shopping unsurprisingly. I will see what I can do to bring it back in next week but I’ve done a couple of surveys and am almost at £5 cash out. So every little helps! Spent £34 for the week, Did manage to get some great bargains reduced yesterday. Salad and egg Mayo for 20p each. Also got mince and chicken reduced. I got drumsticks as that is what was reduced, I would never have bought them before as being too faffy. But I think I’ll cook them up and just strip to the bones but they’re in the freezer for now. I have dinners for the rest of the week. 

Dinners are:

cheese and ham omelette
chilli x 2
bolognese x 2

Next week:
chicken tonight
chicken Curry
fajitas
jacket potatoes

Omelette
Thai curry 
chicken pie with left over chicken tonight

Also cancelled car insurance yesterday, they were trying to charge me twice as much as everyone else to renew!!!!! Crazy. I can get it with a well known company for half the price!! Will drive the other car today. 

Think that’s all, will be back to update later, have a great day.

RelievedSheff

It is amazing how far you are managing to make your quite small grocery budget stretch.

Well done for that. Might need some tips from you on that one  

missymoo81

Thanks @RelievedSheff its a bit different for me as although we’re a family of 4 but I don’t have the children all of the time, although I have at the moment and OH worked away last week so although he had breakfast and dinner at home he got lunch at work for free. 

Going to aim for £30 for next week too.

missymoo81

School is taking its toll on budgets this week, there is a pyjama day on Friday which is £1 each, then there is a bake sale of which I need to make a cake and the children will want to buy something and I’ve had to buy a dressing up costume for May for Monday 🤦🏻‍♀️.

Kakiste

Couple of quick solutions;

You don't "have" to make a cake. 

I can't remember if your kids get pocket money but if they do, could they take 50p each from that for the cake sale? 

Also is the non-uniform a suggested donation? When I was at the start of the DMP and at the height of my debts- I spoke to the school and the pastoral head about my situation and she said to completely discount any non uniform or enrichment 'costs' she said to view them as suggested donations until I could genuinely afford to pay them again- she also sorted me out with a new school uniform and PE kit for my daughter for 2 years on the run. (Now that I'm back on my feet- I always make a point of donating the kid's uniform to the school at the end of each year so that the same woman can pass it onto someone else.) 

joedenise

I agree @Kakiste.  @missymoo81 you can't afford it so speak to the school.  Nobody should have to give money when they can't afford it.

Bluegreen143

I would definitely skip making the cake, you’re busy enough apart from the impact on the budget! It’s OK to be kind to yourself. Nobody has to do all the school stuff. I’m going to the school spring fete thing next week but two weeks away they asked for volunteers to sort the garden and I didn’t go as was busy; last time they did a raffle for a hamper I didn’t take part as I did the time before and think it’s fine to take a turn occasionally rather than having to do everything. 

missymoo81

Hi, how are you all?

Thank you for all of your kind advice. I’ve not made any cakes. I was so frazzled yesterday.

I’ve just used my £1.34 reduced mince to make 4 adults and 2 children portions of chilli, 2 adults and 2 children portions of pasta bolognaise and 4 portions of shepherds pie! Very pleased with myself!!! I used lots of veg and lots of lentils! OH hasn’t even noticed. 

Looking at budgets again, I hadn’t realised BG has Put my DD up by another £50, it’s gone up £130 in 6 months! We’re being so careful I really don’t think we will use what they are estimating. But I’m having to rejig everything to accommodate!

mumtoomany

Hi missy, you could ask BG to reduce it again , I believe. I'm sure I've seen others say they have reduced direct debits back down. Well done on the mince, sounds like my sort of cooking. Have you tried adding oats to mince meals? Not the instant stuff, proper porridge oats, 75p a bag. Put a handful in about five minutes before the end of cooking. They almost look like mince once cooked, fools all mine anyway, bulk the meat out even more, and add a bit of protein. Did you get your seeds planted? Mumtoomany.xxx