:( jamiedodger's back again

JAMIEDODGER

ok, got out the pen and paper again and have now worked out that i have £166 per week for living expenses and food etc.

i think i can pay mum and dad back at around £50 per week. i owe them a total of £1380. once some of the dd's finish i can up this (should be about june).

this gives me £116 per week for everything else. petrol will only be £15 per week, so food, clothing and school stuff will have to come out of the rest.

this is doable as i have lived on a lot less before now. i want to be able to pay my parents back as quickly as i can so i am hoping to ebay etc to earn a bit of extra money.

how on earth did i get myself in this mess!!!!!:(

i have worked everything out for a 4 week month, so the months there are 5 wednesdays in, there will be extra cash to put towards the debt.

Bunnyinthelights

Well done Jamie,
It does sound do-able.
x

JAMIEDODGER

have just checked my quidco account and i have £25 owed to me. yay!!

JAMIEDODGER

just joined aprils grocery challenge and have done an inventory of cupboard and fridge/freezer. didnt take too long as wasnt much there!!

i am defrosting some mince to make a chilli today. that will be my dinner tonight. i have a portion of rice in the freezer so will have it with that. am going to freeze whats left into portions for the freezer for the coming week. both ds1 and ds2 love chilli.

i only have one egg so i will use that for eggy bread for ds3 for dinner and dd can have hoops and toast.

ds1&2 will have a sandwich as they are having a main meal at lunchtime as they are with their dad today.

i have no fruit left so will have to get some with the few pennies i have left in my purse. i will use some for pudding tonight.

am off to make a shopping list for what i need to buy this week and a meal plan...

Sunnydoo

Hi Jamie,

Same as everyone else really-good to see you back but wish it was in better circumstances

You'll work things out-you always do

Good luck

JAMIEDODGER

thanks sunny:)

have counted out the money in my purse, i have £17.35 plus another £15.

the £15 is the money to pay for ds3 special needs playscheme tomorrow. so the £17.35 is what i have to live on until wednesday.

i think i should be ok as i can scrape by with only a few bits of shopping until i get paid on wednesday. kids seem to be eating more than normal as it is half term!!!

JAMIEDODGER

i managed a nsd yesterday and there havent been many of those lately lol:)

today i have quite a lot of running around to do, dd is at nursery, ds3 is off to playscheme and ds2 is helping my sister with the music group that she runs. only ds1 at home, which means i can get out and go food shopping. this week i wont get to go on a wednesday because its half term, so will be drawing the money out early and going today instead.

i have written up a list of things i need to get and have a basic meal plan sorted out. last night i had the chilli from the freezer, so i will be using the mince i defrosted for a spag bol for dinner. it is quite scary how much the cost of basic groceries has risen over the last year!:eek:

JAMIEDODGER

have been shopping!

i have £5.40 left and havent touched the £50 for this weeks shopping. i am going to ask my mum to come over and sit for me on wednesday so i can go and do a proper shop then.

ds3 is going out with his carers after playscheme so there wont be much of the £5.40 left after i have paid them back for his tea and any other activities he will be doing! but at least i have something left!!

my weekly budget will now breakdown like this:

withdraw £150 each wednesday

pet feed and straw - 8.00
cleaning and toiletries - 10.00
food - 50.00
petrol - 15.00
mum - 50.00
smoking - 7.00
savings pot - 10.00 (this will cover school stuff, trips and also any clothing needed)


i am hoping this will work out quite well. if i use as much as i can out of the cupboards and freezer etc, i should be able to spend less on groceries for a few weeks, which will enable me to then bulk buy and get any offers which should reduce the cost even more. this is also true of the pet feeds. if i can make the toileties stretch then i can do a boots shop to earn points and save a bit more then.

i was shocked when i was in tesco today about the prices of the basics, it was worse than i thought!!! i have decided to try uht milk instead of fresh as it is a bit cheaper (and i go through 4 pints a day!) bought a couple as a trial and will se how i go...:) i am also going to try washing tablets instead of powder and see if that is cheaper too.

JAMIEDODGER

morning!

i spent most of yesterday evening browsing through other peoples menu planners on OS. i have grabbed some great ideas (thank you black saturn for your menu planner!)

i think i am going to find this really helpful as somedays i am at a loss what to cook and slip into old convienence habits!!:eek:

will spend some more time today browsing and see what else i can find!:)

i have rearranged my food cupboards so they are tidier and it is easy to find things. the inventorys are now on the pc.

we had spag bol last night and i have managed to freeze 2 smallish portions for the freezer. ds1 loves spag bol and often comes in later than everyone else so they will be perfect for him!!:)

am also busy hunting down lunchbox ideas as the kids get bored with the same old stuff everyday and i get bored making it :rotfl:i also want to find an alternative to crisps, so if anyone has any ideas?.......

taplady

Hi Jamie - great to see you back!:j I have just caught up with your thread and you seem to be doing so well, you are really organised!:T you have inspired me to do a food inventory and menu plan as I have slipped badly lately so thanks!;)
we also do the same as you and withdraw cash each weel for expenses. Makes you think twice doesn't it about unneccesary things!
I shall watch your progress with interest!