NST January 2023 Best Possible Me

Toni'sfriend

Idee - If you top, tail and peel the carrots and put them in water in a tupperware container they last for ages in the fridge. Just keep changing the water. Alternatively chop and freeze them. They don't work so well as a side dish if you do that but are great for soup, stews, etc

If you have too many potatoes make a mash and freeze it in portions. You can heat it through in the oven or microwave it's when needed

Thrifty_Taylor

Sorry I never posted yesterday, had a late night watching a film with DS1!
Started the 30 day yoga challenge with YWA, obviously have no strength in my shoulders or wrists! Work went fine. Took my friend home on my way to town to collect mum & go shopping. Was nice to chat. Got a couple of freebies in L1dl & £2 off. Didn't buy a huge amount, so felt quite frugal. Me & DS shared the free chocolate while we watched the film.

Grateful for freebies, chat with my friend, knitting & film watching

thriftylass

Hello,

@greent that is a sad record of a bill.

@idee I had the same suggestions as Toni'sFriend above.

DH was out yesterday and I guess fell properly of the wagon as he crashed there.

I'm so gleefully determined for next week. Last week was good progress, in terms of sticking to budget (my bank account hasn't looked that healthy half way through the month for like ever), reducing gas usage drastically and healthy living (eating, gym, skin care) but I had a few blips on my sober and smoke free journey.

Did my grocery shop today, stuck to budget and hopefully covered all bases this time. Hoping for 5 NSDs in a row or more. As I started to feel the benefits (better sleep, clearer head, more oomph) of better life style choices I hopefully find it even easier to stick to them next week.

Have a great weekend, fellow turtles

ditty1234

Hmm park run done, now on to making a mother of a shopping list. Pretty much emptied fridge last night making dinner and throwing out last limb vegetables after a frozen fridge moment. Wonky shopping(a couple of out of date things) and general planning and shopping neglect. So I want to plan a nice dinner and meals for the week, use more of loose ends in freezer and tins, and generally try to eat healthy meals. Have a great weekend all. 

greent

When I have an excess of carrots I throw them in the food processor until they are finely diced (I used to grate them) and freeze them flat in ziploc bags - I break off a chunk/ half of the bag and add to soup/ bolognaise etc - totally fine frozen from raw and used in this way 🙂

Yep - our energy bill is mahoosive - it didn't used to be  as crazy - our monthly DD before our fix ended in Aug was just under £180 and we'd built up a credit of around £250 from that. I appreciate that is still a chunk of money but there are 6 of us (so showers and washing clothes etc is increased) and we live in a detached house, so no adjacent neighbours to help to keep the costs down. We do have cavity wall insulation and loft insulation and our boiler and double glazing aren't old (replaced in 2015/6) and I only use the TD to fluff towels (15 mins) as I actually dislike how the TD makes clothes/ bedding smell and feel) We have actually decreased our usage in comparison to last year since we've been on this variable rate, too! Sigh.... 😧 

It was super rainy rom about 2am today until around 10am this morning- thankfully it's stopped now. 2 supermarkets have been visited and now I need to do some household chores - not at all my fave thing to do!

Toni'sfriend

Gosh, Greent. That probably explains it. Ours is less than £100 a month (although it will probably go up a bit when the fix ends) but we live in a ground floor, 2 bedroom masionette. People above and on either side. We only really have to heat the living room and the bathroom before a shower if it's really cold. And of course we have a lot less washing than you. Don't have a tumble drier or dishwasher (no need for just two of us). We're really lucky I am just appalled at some o the bills other people are getting.

So, I had great plans for today but I just can't get myself motivated. Himself did the shopping again. Bought me chocolate to cheer my up, bless Him. But otherwise he was not too bad. Apart from the four packs of reduced tomatoes but I can always use them up. On that subject, Idee. If you ever find yourself with extra celery, peppers, chillies, onions, spring onions just do the same. Chop them, put them in a freezer bag in the freezer and the are fine in any kind of stew type dish (curries, etc?).

So, Himself, is napping again. He's really stressed out worrying about me. I'm watching Endeavour and there are meatballs in the slow cooker. Tomorrow is another day so. hopefully. I'll be a bit more productive. 

firsview

Afternoon Turtles. Sorry for the absence but we have had the lurgy here. DS1 had an ambulance sent by 111 as he couldn’t breathe or stop vomiting. Flu and a panic attack was diagnosed and after a diazepam the vomiting abruptly ceased and he admitted to being a bit of a snowflake. I now have the chesty cough bit of it but carried on going to work (in a mask) Am slightly confused as I am normally the only one who doesn’t catch anything.
I am not horrified by any of those energy bills, ours was £439 for December but there are 6 of us. And that was with me trying to be careful. I am still £250 in credit though so hopefully that will see us through to the warmer weather.
Am trying to rest but I am such a fidget that I keep having to get up and do something. I am now bored and considering making a cake but OH is swearing at a bit of skirting board he is trying to fit in the kitchen so I will sit a bit longer!

BadBookkeeper

Had a lovely Saturday, decided as we didn’t go out much over the Christmas break we’d go to our local hotel for lunch.  Walked down had a couple of drinks and watched the footy as we were neutrals it was rather enjoyable!  It always shocks me when we go out on a whim how many other people are out I presume everyone spends Saturdays cleaning, shopping, ironing, kids footy or kids parties but no everyone out having a lovely time - nice to see.  

Not an NSD as I bought a round of drinks, DH paid for lunch & rest of drinks.  

Decided I’m going to use my extra income as follows:
- premium bonds saving £25
- Extra to Christmas pot £10
- a new gifts pot £30
- Extra to emergency fund pot £10
- Extra to cc debt £100
- a new clothes pot for me & DS £50
- A monthly family treat. £75

This will make things more enjoyable and then when I do get debt free it will be be save save save for Florida 2025! 

Watched a film about King Richards body being found.  Really interesting and an easy watch. 

Grateful for a cheery Saturday in January, the thought of more money coming in after a tight couple of years and for realising I now walk around grids in the pavement without thinking about it as DS said when he was little it was bad luck! 

apple_muncher

firsview, I hope you all get better soon. Hugs.

Today I am grateful for a lie in, for dc enjoying having a friend round, for getting out despite the wind and rain, for the first crocus with colour peeping out, for good coffee.

thriftylass

Left recovering DH with the kids and went to visit FIL. He's worse than DH, sure you don't want a glass of wine, a whiskey, a sherry.....thinking he's a bad host because I refuse then asking again and again, bless him. Always been like that.

DH asked me for the bike lock number earlier so I guess he cycled to the shops for a curer. 

Anyway, off to bed with ma book. 

Today I'm grateful for or a clear head, great time reminiscing and chatting with FIL (he's 85 now and his short term memory is going but got great stories from days gone by), early night.