2018 New year, new focus and new mission

Life has certainly been a challenge since August. I don't want to post too much about the circumstances in case anyone in the real world works it's me. I do carry a lot of Shane about our debt and certainly wouldn't want family or friends to know.

I've just read your lovely messages tea,blackcoffee and Aaleigha and burst into tears. You're all so lovely and supportive and I really appreciate you reminding me of the positives.

It's been a struggle the last few months and the mental anguish has been really hard. I have been lucky and my lovely gp has arranged some counselling to help me with ptsd.

I'm staying focussed in 2019 no matter what it brings money wise. I guess my job will go in next month or so, but that just means I've got to budget harder and stretch everything further. I have applied for some benefits (personal independence payment) which will hopefully be successful. This £59 a week would go along way to help with my cleaner and the mileage and hospital parking costs.

I am being realistic though and if I can't get any financial help and lose my job, the cleaner will have to go. Although I can only do about 20% of the housework I still see her as a luxury.

I do hope some money due from my tax return (hopefully around £500 or more) I just need to get hubby to drag out all the paperwork so I can get cracking on that and will get a little something next year with being off too.

I have also applied for a refund on stamp duty when we bought the house 2 years ago. The seller offered to pay stamp duty, which means we should of paid less as this reduces cost of house. I don't really understand, but my accountant friend helped me with refund letter. I certainly owe her a nice bottle of red if it is refunded.

Life has been crap recently, but it makes you realise how lucky you are. I have a very loving husband who has been my rock over the last few months, two amazing children and can I look forward to get to fighting for in 2019.

Nothing much to report - hubby wages showing as pending in our account. I feel sick seeing they're nearly £500 lower than normal.

We're on January lock down so hoping to scrape through.

My plan
-20 nsd (at last)
-meal plan and maximise store / freezer stocks
-zero food waste
-at least 2 no meats days/week
-buy no cleaning or beauty products until stocks used (kids have a mountain of stuff from Christmas and stacks in their bathroom)
-reduce fuel bill and ensure trips maximise us wage so no double journeys back to see friends or shopping
-watch water / gas / electricity use and bake whilst roasting meat etc instead

It's the little things that'll help in long term.

Evening tea, thanks for popping by. The kids certainly stack the bills up that's for sure. Both mine have been fab last few days and helped me around the house a lot. I'm struggling a lot with pain, but doc tells me that's normal with a deep rooted bone infection.

No meat days are normally

- veg stir fry with loads onion, carrot, broccoli and sweetcorn then some packet noddles I've soaked for 3/4mins in boiling water, bit of garlic and huge gulg of soy sauce. I find it's great way to use up veg and always have noodles and soy in store.
- veg omelette again great way to use up fresh peppers, mushrooms and onions or I keep the Aldi frozen ones in stock
- pasta either baked Aldi jar) or with pesto
-something on toast eggs, beans cheese (great on kid's activity nights as quick filling and easy


All cost cost £3 max for us four and I love the noodles cold for lunch next day if any left. I like idea of using up veg that's getting past its best.

Great ideas Aaleigha, will add them to my list. I do always make stock from poultry. We had a gorgeous turkey soup that lasted us for 10meals with three drying out carrots and sprouting onions.

We're eating up the cheese / crackers supplies tonight and some homemade sausage rolls. The eldest choccy child is in bed with an ear infection and youngest full of cold. No one really hungry abd not even chocolate is being touched.