Walking into another chapter ...

Sarahwithlove

Sorry to hear about your mum. Hope you're ok. 

Did you make a decision about fitbit? Ive switched to garmin as found battery lasts longer than fitbit but do miss doing challenges with friends. 

benbenandme

Thank you Sun Addict, ep this year was a challenge due to my Aunt (probate is still ongoing), looks like next year won't be any easier with Mum

I've remade my bed and can't wait to get into it later, nothing better than a nice clean bed

I've eaten the pie, it was lush. Ds is home on his break from work at the moment and is demolishing it too. I've also made an inventory of the freezer, hadn't realised how much I've stocked it up this month, no wonder I haven't got any money left, but it should really help as we go into the New Year:

• Viennetta
• Vanilla ice-cream
• Mint cornettos
• Ice cubes

• Peppers
• Onions (3 huge bags)
• Broccoli
• Mushrooms
• Butternut squash chunks
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Peas
• Raspberries x 2 bags
• Blueberries 
• Mango

• Beef joint x 4
• Half leg lamb x 2
• Pork joint
• Salmon fillets x 7
• Pork mince
• Fish fingers x 30
• Chicken & Chorizo kebabs
• 6 pack sausages x 2
• Shepherds pie x 4 (batch cook)

• Pizza x 2
• Garlic bread
• Hash Browns
• Chips
• Chicken stock x 4 big cubes
• Chilli
• Ginger

 

benbenandme

Thanks Sarahwithlove, I think I'm going to go for a Garmin too but I will miss the challenges too. So frustrating when a brand does something well and then another company wipes them out

Sarahwithlove

benbenandme said:

Thanks Sarahwithlove, I think I'm going to go for a Garmin too but I will miss the challenges too. So frustrating when a brand does something well and then another company wipes them out

I think you can do challenges on garmin i just don't have any friends on it lol. But I do find my garmin better now I'm used to it. 

Sarahwithlove

benbenandme said:

Thank you Sun Addict, ep this year was a challenge due to my Aunt (probate is still ongoing), looks like next year won't be any easier with Mum

I've remade my bed and can't wait to get into it later, nothing better than a nice clean bed

I've eaten the pie, it was lush. Ds is home on his break from work at the moment and is demolishing it too. I've also made an inventory of the freezer, hadn't realised how much I've stocked it up this month, no wonder I haven't got any money left, but it should really help as we go into the New Year:

• Viennetta
• Vanilla ice-cream
• Mint cornettos
• Ice cubes

• Peppers
• Onions (3 huge bags)
• Broccoli
• Mushrooms
• Butternut squash chunks
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Peas
• Raspberries x 2 bags
• Blueberries 
• Mango

• Beef joint x 4
• Half leg lamb x 2
• Pork joint
• Salmon fillets x 7
• Pork mince
• Fish fingers x 30
• Chicken & Chorizo kebabs
• 6 pack sausages x 2
• Shepherds pie x 4 (batch cook)

• Pizza x 2
• Garlic bread
• Hash Browns
• Chips
• Chicken stock x 4 big cubes
• Chilli
• Ginger

 

This is a good idea, my freezer and cupboards are soooo full. I really should do the same and maybe come up with a meal plan from it. See if I can have a low spend January 

benbenandme

I do similar with the bathroom - make a list of how many bottles of shampoo / conditioner / shower gel etc I've got. January needs to be low spend

benbenandme

Morning all, finally some premier league football today, didn't feel right not having it on Boxing day this year. Anyhow, before that starts I want to get some jobs done from my list. So far I have peeled all the remaining potatoes and par-boiled them, they are off to the freezer in a minute and its another bit of getting ahead for the New Year done, I only buy potatoes when I'm doing a roast dinner so that will save me a few £££ in 2026. 

I want to do a trip to the tip this morning, so much cardboard / recycling to go. Thursday is our usual bin day so we won't be getting a collection until Monday instead and the bins are already full. Last night I started the big declutter and filled a couple more bin bags, so altogether have 4 rubbish bags and 3 recycling to go.

I have popped a couple of the picky bits from the fridge into the freezer as they will probably not all get eten by their bb dates, so may as well be a nice treat in January instead. 

benbenandme

Cupboard under the sink in the kitchen has been emptied, cleaned and sorted. Not much needed to go this time as I did it fairly recently, I have got 3 of my favourite cleaning spray in there which will last me quite a while so won't be buying them for a bit, other than that no multiples of anything (except bin liners), but also nothing that I urgently need to stock up on. My general decluttering habits are paying off as there is definitely less sorting to do these days.

Dishwasher has been emptied, filters cleaned and I have bunged one of those cleaning things in there on a hot wash.

 

benbenandme

A bit more looking at finances this morning, I just want to get on with the New Year now, although a few days of sorting, decluttering and organising are quite welcome. Money pots are looking pretty healthy, car has over half a tank of petrol in it and I have got the following left over that didn't get used at Christmas:

Nectar: £60
Clubcard: £35
M&S vouchers: £50
Boots Advantage: £28 

I planned to use the Nectar and Clubcard points towards the Christmas food shops but didn't remember, so they may well be left to build up towards next year, or I may cash them in and transfer the equivalent amount to savings. Nothing I need currently at M&S or Boots so they will be left for now too.

I did look at  fitbit via clubcard as it is one of the reward partners, but a basic one on there is £85 compared with £54 on Amazon ,,,

benbenandme

First trip to the tip done - 7 bin bags of stuff and a big box of cardboard. Feels good to have got rid of it and can see some floor space again

Popped in to Matalan for a mooch but didn't buy anything, then popped in to Sainsburys, I bought 3 birthday cards, £1 each when buying 3. I try to stock up for the year ahead so I don't have to pop into the supermarket and pay silly prices for one when I'm in a hurry. I also bought some daffodils, some for me and some for Mum as she always feels down after Christmas and hates the dark, daffodils are one of her favourite things. They are very thin and spindly but its better than none