Missy’s full time working mum juggling act MF adventure

beanielou

For the best. Onwards. 

missymoo81

Hi,

Have managed a NSD today so far. Have changed dinner to Teryiaki chicken and rice, as need to use up the chicken and didn’t fancy what was on the meal plan. Still feeling Rubbish, but have done a lot of cleaning and finally took the Christmas decs down, just need to put them in the loft when OH gets home. Have also emptied the bins and done the washing, along with washing up and hoovering and cleaning the floor, oh and i cleaned the litter tray Need to do the floor more regularly I think! The water was disgusting!

Have got a Sains shop coming tomorrow so working out the contents of the fridge and have watered down the milk. 

I really wanted a coffee out today and would very much like a takeaway. But money is very much on my mind so I will refrain! 

missymoo81

Good morning,

I hope you’re all ok. Gosh it’s cold here. A huge coating of frost everywhere this morning.

I spent last night going through cookbooks and meal planning and trying to find cheap but healthy recipes. So this week is:

chicken shawarma
chicken curry
shep pie
teryiaki chicken
bolognaise
pizza
and something else not sure what yet probably chicken and potatoes.

Last week worked well only doing 1 top up shop at Lidl.

The budget is bigger this week I’m aiming for £80 one week and £50 the next, as things need topping up every other week. I went through the basket online and changed stuff around and got much more for my money, so I’m pleased with that. Think I also have £13 in nectar points which I’ll save for super tight months. 

off to the cinema this morning, promised the children and it’s budgeted for so all good. Have told them I’m not biting sweets or popcorn. They have huge bags full of sweets from Halloween, so I told
them they could make their own pick and mix. May wasn’t overly chuffed at this. But tough! I’ve got another 2 loads of washing to do today and hang up. Along with banana bread to bake. Weekends go so quick. I seem to spend Sunday preparing for then next week! 

I’m currently sat in bed with a coffee and a cat which is nice. I get up so early during the week it’s a nice break to just wake up slowly. 

Still got this cough, I wish it would go! 2.5 weeks now! 

Whilst doing my budgets I’ve realised it’s very unlikely I can save the £500 wanted this month as due to selling the business I will need to settle up wages at the end of the month which will prob be that much. ‘Sigh’ onwards and upwards.

Hope you all have good days 

jwil

You've got a lot going on at the moment Missy, hope things settle soon.

Do you really need to change your car right now?  Problems that 'might' happen is not a good reason, and you could get a lot of repairs done for the £7k you are losing (plus the additional £5k that you are planning on spending).  I've had my car nearly 8 years (it's 17 years old), and I've spent less than £7k on it in that time on MOT, service, and repairs, including the £3.5k buying it!  How often do you need to tow a trailer?  Do you need to buy an even more expensive car?  Modern cars are actually pretty reliable, especially if you go for a brand with a solid reputation.

Bear in mind that you've been trying to sell it over Christmas and I'd hasten a guess that no one's buying a car at this time of year unless it's an emergency!

It is of course your choice, but it's going to have a big impact on your aims to be MF or to move towards slower living.

Bluegreen143

I agree, Jwil said what I was thinking but much more eloquently. 

What is the trailer for?

missymoo81

thanks for your thoughts @jwil and @Bluegreen143 I will do some thinking on the car and see what I can come up with and maybe have a look at a happy medium option. 

Shopping has arrived I do love having a full fridge and cupboards. Just doing washing and sorting lunches for tomorrow. Debating whether to get up early and work out….

missymoo81

Good morning I hope you are all ok.

Did not want to get up this morning, still feeling rough and it’s so cold! At work and have already done nearly 4000 steps. The poor children’s bus was 25 minutes late so they froze waiting 🙄.

Came into work to find I had IT issues so spent an hour sorting that. Have the opticians later, feeling like I’m struggling with life a little today. 

It’s going to be a long month money wise as I got paid before Xmas, but I think I’m ok. Realised I’ve left my wrap at home which I’m really cross about, but I have porridge and yoghurt and biscuits so hopefully that will suffice until I leave at 3.

Meal plan for the week, in no particular order:

Shepherds pie
bolognaise
chicken curry
teryiaki chicken
chicken shawarma 
chicken pie
lasagne

Ok trying to do some gratitude for yesterday. Even if tiny things…. I used up some of the Brussels sprouts I’d frozen from Christmas in the risotto which I’d never have thought of doing before and they would have just got freezer burn and been chucked. I down branded on the coffee so that shopping was cheaper. And OH helped May with her homework for 2 hours whilst I got on with house chores, and was so good at helping her so she actually understood it. 

That’s enough of my random ramblings for now. 

jwil

Hope your day improved!

debtfreewannabe321

So sorry you're still feeling rough. 
I agree with the car comments from others. If I didn't absolutely need to change it right now I'd hold off for a bit. Perhaps keep it up for sale at a price you'd be happy receiving but sounds like Jan has already been tough on you. 
I think we've slightly overpaid for our car but we wanted it from a garage with a warranty as I've had issues with private sales before. So I'm hoping ours lasts well and doesn't cost a fortune to run/ fix as like you I have a big loan now. 

missymoo81

So I got through yesterday, bad things, spoke to a garage about selling the car and they said no they didn’t want it as they are ticking time bombs! That is the third person now. I just need to get rid of the car, everyone I speak to has either had one or knows someone that had massive issues which because of the make of the car has cost thousands…. Every forum says the same thing.  just need to cut my losses and get rid of it and chalk it up to experience. And see how much money I have to play with to get a car that will just run and run as I plan to keep it for years.

Still feeling rough getting on for 3 weeks now I’ve had this cough. Everyone seems to have it. Roo looks like me may be coming down with something too. ‘Sigh’. Anyway, yesterday I made spaghetti bolognaise for dinner with 3 for 2 veggie mince, I used one packet and it did last nights dinner and I’ll mix it with some pasta and beans and cheese for tonight’s. Meal plan will change slightly as can stretch it a bit further with this. 

I got fuel yesterday and had to pay for glasses. Fuel was £37.52. I also got some hair mousse and celery and lard in Sains, trying something else with my hair, well going back old school as as nice as my hair feels with the new shampoo and curl cream, it is crazy, so much so someone I was talking to at work yesterday couldn’t stop looking at my hair… The celery was for my bolognaise and the lard is for making pastry for a pie and for dumplings for the stew next week, this is instead of suet as it’s £2.70 In sains instead of 60p for the lard. Think it will work as well. But only paid 85p as used nectar vouchers.

Glasses and test should have been £95 but because I had vouchers from work I just ended up paying £20 which I thought was ok. May now needs them too but is only half a point prescription. I’m hoping they correct after wearing them a year.

We have swimming tonight and I’m going to try and get an early night to shake this illness. Need to make bread and do some washing too but that’s all ok. I will not spend any money today, even though I haven’t got much for lunch. I’m sure I will survive.