The day started very promising with a weak sun burning through the mist that was lying low on the paddock. I rushed to put on a load of washing to make best use of this rare sighting of the yellow orb in the sky, but by the time the machine had finished it's quick economy wash the sun had gone.
Debating the merits of indoor drying or risking the washing on the line I decided to combine the two and put the airer out on the patio. This has been the safest way of drying for months now. At the first hint of rain falling I can quickly snatch the whole thing in and not too much drying time is lost.
It is the first day of November, I am amazed at how quickly this year gone, only two months left and then we are once again at a fresh beginning. At the moment we are still working our way through the supplies in the freezers and cupboards so this November is going to be a No-November.
No Spending - on unnecessary things.
No Shopping - unless absolutely vital.
No Stopping - on the clutter busting.
No Stopping - on the 10 items a week put on Ebay or Amazon.
No Cards - in my purse to tempt me in this season of spending.
No Christmas Spending - at all.
and
No Money - I'm determined to pay off the cards in full and leave ourselves back on track.
(I take out in my purse only enough money for the things I am actually going out for.)
*** *** ***
The bread is rising under it's tea towel cover and tonights tea is a simple one, Beans on Toast. We so very rarely have this so when we do it's always a treat, a simple treat but a treat. Homemade Cheese and Onion bread, lightly toasted then spread with butter and generously topped with Heinz Baked Beans (I have four tins to use up, so tonight I may be generous and we will have two of them, a sprinkle of Parmesan style cheese will add another depth of flavour.
For our pudding there is tinned peaches with the last of the bought yogurts. I will need to shop later in the week to buy a small carton of yogurt so I can start a batch of homemade yogurt off. I have lots of sachets of Easi-yo to use, more than I thought I had, so there will be tasty homemade yogurt in the fridge for next week.
I have this months finances to work out yet, I am holding off from doing the final budget until we get the credit card bills and I can see exactly what I do have left. I know for a fact there is not a lot, but I don't know yet how little. A nice surprise today was the Tesco vouchers falling through the letterbox, we have £15.50 this time. So if I'm a little crafty and turn two of them into 'frozen food' vouchers this will double their worth and mean that I can shop for £20 of frozen food and £5.50 of necessary fresh fruit or veg and not spend a penny!!
Happy No-November folks. What do you have planned for this month?
Sue xx
No plans
ReplyDeleteperhaps I'll grow a moustache for Mo-vember !!!!
he he xx
Haha....I think you should, I can't wait to see the pictures!!
DeleteSue xx
Hi Sue, I'm doing something that I've often thought about but never got round to doing before.....set a housekeeping budget for the month and today taken out the month's budget and put it in a separate purse. All the necessary shopping will come out of that purse only - no supplementing it from my (or husband's!) purse or using the debit card. I'm also (again for the first time) writing a proper list each week, after having checked larder, fridge & freezer stocks first, and only buying what we need. At the end of the month I shall take stock of how it went and put any leftover money (I am of course hoping there will be some) in a savings account. If we get on really well and there is money left over, I may consider either reducing the budget for the next month, or keeping it the same and counting on again putting the spare into savings. We don't intend to spend loads (or anything extra to what we normally spend) over the Christmas period - with just the two of us, there's no need.
ReplyDeleteHowever little you've got left, Sue, I know you'll cope admirably - you always do!
Sooze xx
It sounds like a brilliant plan Sooze, you'll do well.
DeleteAnd stop it with the compliments, you'll make me blush!!
Sue xx
This month I need to put money away for the MOT next month, and try to buy some things for Christmas. I may need to be creative with the food budget to make this happen!
ReplyDeleteIt's alway the food money that has to compromise isn't it, it's a good job we are all good managers.
DeleteSue xx
I have far too much planned spending - it's a busy month for us. I'll be trying to increase income and reduce costs where I can.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Sue!
At least it's planned spending Laura, and you know how good you are at planning. Well done on last months food budget by the way, you so very nearly did it perfectly.....I'm impressed.
DeleteSue xx
I will not be doing anything different to last month. Lists for shopping after a fridge and freezer audit. Keep check on prices paid. I was shocked to see that wholemeal bread has gone up from 45p to 74p in Aldi. I make our bread but I do buy the odd loaf for sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteMy CC gets paid off each month. I use it for fuel for the car. Expecting our vouchers this month.
No longer do Christmas shopping we came to an arrangement with the children that what they would have spent on presents for us they spend on the grand children. We really have all we need. I buy a box of chocolates and a bottle of sherry, thats our Christmas treat.
Bills get paid mostly at the beginning of the month and I draw my HK in cash. Then money is put away for car repairs insurance etc and also holidays, whats left goes into a savings account, not that we get much interest, but its better than a salp in the face with a wet kipper.
Some of the food price rises are absolutely shocking aren't they. I bet some folk don't notice but we sure do!!
DeleteIt sounds like you are extremely well organised, well done.
Sue xx
We have an expensive month coming up, with work on the house. It was always planned. We bought the house cheaply (relatively!) because it needs a lot of work, but what we saved on the purchase now has to be spent on some of the projects that are sorely needed. Wherever possible, we will be doing the work ourselves.
ReplyDeleteBut more savings still have to be made. Moving to the country has meant that we can lead a much simpler life. I am cooking more from scratch these days so we have fewer 'ready' meals, I need fewer clothes, and we go out less. Like you Sue, we need to save hard now to invest in the future.
It sounds like we are almost on the same journey we are just a couple of chapters behind you at the moment.
DeleteIt is very satisfying being able to live cheaper and make more of our own meals from scratch isn't it and sometimes I love it that I can wear my old jeans and wellies every day and only have to get scrubbed up to go back to civilisation!!
Sue xx
I will be busy decluttering my wardrobe and sorting through the "glory hole" AKA cupboard under the stairs. I will be shopping only for perishables and living from larder, fridge and freezer. I managed to over pay £1000 to my mortgage account and plan to do the same neat month, that will enable me to make a final payment in December and start 2013 mortgage free WOO HOO
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a busy couple of months....but WOW will it all be worth it when you make that final mortgage payment. Mortgage free in 2013....Well Done, now THAT'S worth celebrating.
DeleteSue xx
I`ve started to live off the larder and items in my freezer. This has meant that we were able to set aside little amounts of savings every week. Every little bit helps towards spending money for the next two holidays(planned in June and September next year). Slowly reducing the amount of stuff in the freezer will then give space to re-stock and re-plenish with fresher goods. It all makes sense.
ReplyDeleteIt is really satisfying to be working towards the back of the larder isn't it, although I am discovering some 'what on earth did I buy that for' type of things in mine!!
DeleteWhen you know you've got a treat (like a couple of holidays) to save towards it makes it all so much more achievable doesn't it.
Sue xx
Wow Sue! What determination!
ReplyDeleteI know you'll do brilliantly.
I would love to get all my Christmas shopping sorted this month!
Sft x
Me .....determination!! says the lady who has just made her final mortgage payment, well done you.
DeleteI am in no doubt that you'll get all your Christmas shopping bought ..... and no doubt even wrapped before December hits us with a blast of cold air!
Sue xx
We really started to get a grip on our finances when we got rid of the credit cards completely. We religiously paid them off every month - but it *still* meant, in effect, we were spending next month's wages *this* month. I draw cash for everything now and use a debit card/pay pal for online purchases. Giving up credit cards would be my frugal 'top tip'! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe are simply getting ahead of the cards by not spending on them for a month and paying them off, so we will actually be on time with the cash for them (ie. money sat in the bank while we are paying on the cards) after this month.
DeleteWe have always paid them off in full each month, it was simply last month with lots of unexpected bills that meant for the first time we had to leave a balance of £700 on one of them.
Our cards are both the sort that get us shopping vouchers and that is why we use them we usually end up with £15 - £25 of vouchers each quarter off each of them and this is the reason we use them.
By having them and always paying on time and in full, I am also maintaining my excellent credit score which was hard won after leaving my ex-husband and having to claw my way out of joint debts acrued whilst with him.)
Sue xx
I need to do a pantry, freezer and fridge list after this weekend to see exactly what we have on hand, that would help a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteGill
It is amazing what you find you have lurking at the back.
DeleteSue xx
What cards do you have that give you shopping vouchers please? I suspect that Tesco might be one but the other? We use Amex because there is 0.5% cashback with no strings attached but it sounds like you've got a better deal.
ReplyDeleteYes, Tesco is one of them and the other is our Marks and Spencer Credit Card, both give vouchers that you can spend on anything in store.
DeleteSue xx
I may very well join you on the No-November as it sounds like a great plan. I've not got a lot of time on my hands but will try to get something on my blog, team work may well be the way forwards here!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, you're rather inspiring Sue.........
Do you use the Easiyo yougut maker (the one that looks like a giant thermos flask)? I planned to start my own yogurt off too, but ate the starter pot, oops! Must try harder,plus I'll need a thermometer for heating the milk I think.
Take care and enjoy the beans on toast!
Sarah x
I do use the Easiyo yogurt maker, it's so simple. Simply add water to the sachets. You can use it to make non Easiyo yogurt too.
DeleteI never bother with a thermometer, if I'm making yogurt from scratch (ie with milk), I use the cheapest available longlife milk, this has already been heat treated so doesn't need warming, just use it at room temperature, if you like thick yogurt simply add a tablespoon of dried milk to the liquid milk, and your spoonful of starter yogurt of course.....if you haven't eaten it!!
Sue xx
Loving the idea of No-November! With christmas on the way I shall be doing some of my present shopping this month, but other than that I will be continuing keeping a tight rein on food shopping. The freezers still appear to have plenty in them!
ReplyDeleteI think freezers hold a lot more than we think, mine seems to be never ending....not that I'm complaining.
DeleteSue xx
Hi Sue, re the easiyo sachets, I dont use the whole packet when making my yogurt. I get three litres out of one packet instead of one. Try it and see if it works for you :) Great way to save money as they can be a tad expensive sometimes. I only buy the sachets when they are on special these days.
ReplyDeletex
Hello I am back again, thought I had better clarify that recipe for easiyo...
Delete1 & 1/3 cups of milk powder to 2 - 3 Tablespoons of easiyo sachet make a good starter for yogurt. Half fill container with water, add milk powder and shake to mix. Then add sachet mix and re shake. Top up container with water and shake again before placing in easiyo thermos....
Hope it works for you as it has for me :)
x