Away From The Madding Crowd

bluenose1

I admire and agree with your philosophy @Humboldt just wish I was more conscientious with my budget in general. Though  as I have got older I have stopped mindlessly spending and am much more considered.
It does seem mad that some of us work all week to then go and spend it on unnecessary items at the weekend.

Been on two very long walks in local woods yesterday and today and couldn't have got wetter if we had tried, despite having raincoats, though both thoroughly enjoyable walks. Morning  coffee always tastes nicer after a long walk. 
@Nebulous2 - that is a lovely pleasure, only seen a woodpecker once before in our woods, and that was only because it was pecking on a tall tree trunk that had lost its leaves, an amazing sight.

Enjoying_life_more

Loving your diary -from what I’ve read  we have very similar mindsets.  I too allocate a food budget and also begrudge helping large huge profit organisations make even more profit. I too see it as a challenge and take the view that any money I save on bills, food etc can go towards happy experiences which could be anything from enabling me to work one month less than I have to - to days out, holidays etc.

I do eat well too but within the budget I have set.

I’m 62 this year - working part time in a job that I enjoy - very little stress too - after years of very stressful full time work I don’t mind going to work lol.

Would love to be retired now but will have to work a few more years yet.

look forward to more updates on here.

Humboldt

@Nebulous2 welcome and thank you for sharing your simple pleasure.  Managing a budget is a very personal thing and people are motivated to do so in different ways.  I love that you have always managed to make what you have go a long way, surely that is one of the key aims of budgeting.  How magical that you got to see a woodpecker up close today.

@bluenose1 thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, I particularly enjoyed your statement about stopping mindlessly spending and being much more considered. How lovely that you got to enjoy a long walk in a local wood and a hot coffee upon your return. 

@Enjoying_life_more welcome and thank you for your kind words.  Yay to the fact that you also eat well but within the budget you have set. I did notice the reduction in your mortgage and debt at the bottom of your post, and have to commend you on your resilience, skill, and determination. 

Today's simple pleasure - an empty ironing basket.

mark55man

But was there pleasure in the ironing, I'm afraid that doesn't happen a lot chez moi - except on special occasions

today's simple pleasure - a coffee made with my favorite coffee pods that were bought 2 for 1 so I gave myself an extra shot 

Humboldt

Morning @mark55man absolutely, because my ironing is always accompanied by watching something gentle on YouT*be.  Yesterday it was 'The Great Mountain Sheep Gather', which was so mesmerising that I continued to watch it long after the ironing was completed.

Today's simple pleasure - a full line of washing hung outside in the morning sunshine

uralmaid

My simple pleasures today are: Baked some chocolate buns. A load of washing ready to go out in the sunshine and hubby painting the hall ceiling.Yesterday I finished the woodwork.  Also yesterday morning watched 3 little Muntjac Deer on my lawn.

Humboldt

Morning @uralmaid so much to be grateful for in your simple pleasures. How amazing that you were able to watch deer on your lawn.

Today's simple pleasure - a bowl of warming porridge with chopped apple, cinnamon and honey.

Humboldt

Hello and welcome.

Motivational quote of the week

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why they call it ‘the present’ – Eleanor Roosevelt

Money Saving

Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £200 per month, however, I am currently monitoring this with a view to increasing it to £250 because of rising costs. Week 4 spend for February was £66.04, this included £9.99 on 6 months’ worth of dish washer tablets. Total spend for February budget is £226.43, so £26.43 over budget. For calculation purposes, week 1 for March will account for my meal plan 26th February – 3rd March.

I bought new kitchen weighing scales and oven cleaner from Lakel*nd, taking advantage of a free delivery offer and a £5 discount voucher.

Trip to the local town on the bus.  I took advantage of the government’s £2 bus fare cap again, saving £3.  The scheme runs until 31 December 2024.

Went to IK*A with family.  They wanted a second opinion on an item they were considering purchasing.  I bought 2 x plant pot holders @ £2 each. They were seconds (not that I could tell), so I got 2 for the price of 1. I also found a potato masher for £1 in the clearance section (originally £6).

This week’s main menu

I apologise for the underlined blue text that has been randomly appearing in my weekly menu’s.  Hopefully I have managed to resolve this issue, but I will not know until I post this because it does not appear until I do.

Monday – Vegetable tagine (Pinch of N*m recipe) with a warm wholemeal pitta. This recipe is great for using up leftover veg and the only item I needed to buy was parsnips (which were reduced in price).

Tuesday – Chicken Korma (Hairy Bik*rs recipe), a small portion of rice, with homemade onion bhaji (bhaji mix reduced in price).  I will freeze half of the sauce and use for a vegetable korma. The curry only requires a small amount of double cream so I will use the remainder in tomorrow’s recipe. 

Wednesday – Peppered mackerel and potato bake with roasted fennel carrots.  I think this recipe was originally from a free Te*co magazine.  I cut out recipes I like from various free magazines and stick them into cheap A4 notebooks.

Thursday – Healthy lentil, tomato & spinach soup (Jamie Oliv*r recipe) with a chunk of wholemeal bread.

Friday – Frozen cod, small portion of oven chips, frozen peas, and sweetcorn (the cod was purchased at a reduced price).

Saturday – Italian meatball with chunky tomato sauce (Hairy Di*ters recipe) with spaghetti (meatballs reduced in price and frozen until required)

Sunday – Lamb tagine (Hairy Di*ters recipe) with couscous. The tagine is from the freezer. Many of the recipes that I cook serve 4, sometimes 6 portions. If the extra portions are not used the next day as a ‘ping meal,’ I will freeze them until required. Saves time and energy costs.

Overnight oats in various guises account for most of our breakfasts. Lunches will include homemade soups from the freezer.

 Healthier Lifestyle

No workouts completed last week (it has just been one of those weeks!)

Step count last week was 65,160

Completed 3 free meditations

Simple Pleasures

I was gifted a bunch of daffodils 

Saw the first wild primroses of the year

DH and I enjoyed an overnight stay with family.  We visited a nature reserve. Although wet under foot, the weather was dry and sunny.  Sightings of various types of geese, ducks, swans, etc. Wonderful to see great crested grebes in their beautiful winter plumage.

Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.

Katiehound

Not sure why you put asterisks in things-If you read the MSE newsletter it never says F*rst Direct or Tes*o- it names names! Might be good publicity- or bad- but this is not the BBC where 'other supermarkets / banks/ recipes are available'!!

Where are the crested grebes?

I haven't seen anything out-of the ordinary lately..... heard the dunnocks singing this morning in the sun (old name: hedge sparrow)

Off to take 'the boy' round the block.Yesterday he did canicross (not with me!) You can teach an old dog new tricks as he has only been taking part since early this year- aged 12!

bluenose1

We are on the second week of 7 day meal planning and very successful so far, definitely reduced the number of times we have to nip out to get extras towards tea.
Even made an extra batch from one of the meals in freezer for a day too tired to cook.
Going to copy you again and add  Chicken Korma to our next meal plan.

One of my daily pleasures is a walk in woods within 5 minutes walking distance of home, love my walks whatever  the weather, though has actually been some sunshine last few days so even nicer.