Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

Humdinger1

What an inspiring list @savingholmes.  It is so important to be grateful for the positives and that is something that your thread is brilliant at doing.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

skint_spice

I wonder if that’s the same cat toy I keep being prompted to buy☺️

Omelette is always my stand by if I need something speedy, although I do love porridge…

EssexHebridean

Speedy and easy stand bys in our house
- yes to omelettes - quick and easy, although for us usually part of the meal plan as I only buy eggs when I have a plan for them.
- Couscous or a sachet of microwaveable mixed grains with stir fried veggies (whatever is in the fridge and needs using , usually) can add either leftover meat from a sunday roast fried with the veg, or something like sliced fried halloumi as the protein element.
- Pasta with bacon bits, mushrooms, finely chopped onions and a sauce created with a blob of soft cheese and some of the pasta water. 

Any of those can be prepped pretty much as fast as cooking a pan of porridge and I find that they leave me feeling more like I've had a meal than just a snack. 

savingholmes

Humdinger1 said:

What an inspiring list @savingholmes.  It is so important to be grateful for the positives and that is something that your thread is brilliant at doing.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Thanks for the encouragement. We need to keep searching for the good and not give in to the negative news brigade.

skint_spice said:

I wonder if that’s the same cat toy I keep being prompted to buy☺️

Omelette is always my stand by if I need something speedy, although I do love porridge…

Thanks - yes omelettes are good too. My last one was a little disappointing but I did opt for one this week. I've eaten 2 of my planned meals today. Will sort out tea later... 

Played with the cat toy again today - starting to wonder who is entertaining who...

EssexHebridean said:

Any of those can be prepped pretty much as fast as cooking a pan of porridge and I find that they leave me feeling more like I've had a meal than just a snack. 

Thanks for the suggestions. A roast dinner could be a good option as it gives so many meals. I might buy a joint or something on the way back from my balance class. 

My cleaner didn't come today which is a bit of a disaster as the house is a mess and I have visitors coming here Saturday. Making lemondade.... I used the money saved to buy myself a spare pair of boots. They are free returns if they don't fit so low risk- but I have long plus extra wide feet so it's a challenge getting suitable footwear.

Right need to dash. When I return I'm due to help DD finish her P1p form... Oh the joys!!!!!

savingholmes

I went off plan... I didn't go to my class and instead went to Mr T - to use a £5.25 voucher - which of course didn't work... Meanwhile I spent £57 on new clothes (hoodie, leggings, a gilet and a pretty shirt) and spent another £40+ on easier to cook foods. Some ready meals and a small gammon joint and a whole chicken. A pack of cheesey flatbreads. Some pre basted potatoes ready to cook and some prepared veg. Bananas and tangerines. An £8 orchid also found it's way in the trolley.

So much for a no/low spend on clothes between now and xmas!! I did have a bit of a float left this month but was hoping not to use it... I tried the stuff on in the shop so I doubt I'll take any back although it's possible... 

My tea is now in the oven - a tikka ready meal and some oven chips. Cheaper than eating out... 

beanielou

I am glad that you have got some food that is easier for you.
I so get this.
Our local supermarket has a woeful selection.

MovingForwards

Keep some nice tinned soup in your cupboards for quick and nice food.

Clothes sound great.

Good luck finishing the notes.

elantan

hope the meeting goes well, quick grab meals are a great idea, Essex hebridean has given some great ideas as well ( thanks Essex) 

well done on treating yourself 

jwil

I always struggle with quick, low effort meals too so thanks for the suggestions

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie, El, Jwil and MF

I've had one of those weeks - not helped by DD stressing re her P1p form. This is now just about done - she just needs to tick some boxes and write see attached for every question and then we should be able to send it off first thing tomorrow. 

Thanks to EH's suggestion - I had a lovely gammon roast dinner today that I was able to share with DD. I then ate an Indian ready meal again. I still have gammon and roasties left for another day - plus a fresh lot of roasties to whack in the oven when I get around to cooking the chicken. The enamel roasting tin needs to go through the dishwasher first... 

I did a dishwasher load and some washing so the kitchen looks slightly less messy.

Someone spent quite a lot of time crying and shouting at me this week so it has been very wearing. My poor counsellor though - my mouth ran like a train today - she kept saying - "and breathe!!!" She was very glad I had you lot prompting me re meals and self care too... Thanks for that. I felt like I slowed to a crawl at times this week - because work has been extremely manic this week too.

In better financial news - I've been 'saved' by the £150 payment arriving from the energy thing so that was a relief. I bought another dress last night too £28... I am debating taking one item back (£15). When I go off the rails I sure do it in style! Although I wrote gilet above - I meant body warmer. I've worn that and my new hoodie today. The hoodie is super soft and thin and has a Kangaroo pocket so lends itself to stroking/self soothing... It also has flat elasticated cords but they feel lovely - so are a built in fidget toy. I spent more £ today buying some treats for the weekend when I'm due to have a couple of friends over. Hopefully that will go to plan.

DD is going away for a couple of nights so hopefully that will be good for both of us.  However, I have to be somewhere super early on Monday and I'm debating staying over somewhere closer to make it less stressful as it's going to be a full on day and if nothing goes wrong it's 90 minutes from where I live... However the clocks going back may help save me....