Facing even tougher times....

Just when we thought things couldnt get worse it occurred to me that when youngest dd leaves school in June we will lose both CWTC and Child benefit... that will push us over the edge! She wants to go to college (didnt get into uni as she wants to be a midwife and there are only a few spaces and lots of applicants - still waiting for one uni to reply but shes not holding out much hope) so shes applied for a years course and will try again for uni next year...Im not sure when the child benefit stops so off to look that up now.....

Mango mania!

Thank you everyone for your comments regarding the mango pulp....have been having great fun with it (its lovely just eaten from the jug I decanted it into! lol) Last night I got a sugar free jelly and used just enough boiling water to dissolve the crystals and topped it up with...guess...mango pulp! It was loveley! I added it to my normal chickpea curry recipe and it was great - its now my official thing to add to everything! Its lovely just swirled into plain fromage frais too and I made a lovely refreshing drink by adding some brighten up a 19p bottle of lemonade. I used the last of my housekeeping on the Approved food order and a free delivery from Sainsburys stocking up on heavy stuff like soap powder and tins so my store cupboard is looking fab. My next plan of attack in March is to reduced my housekeeping budget by £50 - its quite difficult to reduce further when I already stretch it out by buying value/basics ranges but am working on it!

Cheap food...

Very pleased with my Approved food order - I now have packets and packets of Weight watcher bagels and pitta breads in my freezer. Wasnt disapointed with anything - cannot grumble at 3kgs of pasta for 99p! The only thing I am unsure what to do with is 3 very large tins of mango pulp - any ideas??? And did my weekly shopping with Sainsburys on-line with free delivery - so no petrol spend on going to the shops.

Approve food order on its way....

I dont use Approved foods very often - we dont eat a lot of processed food so there really has to be a really good savings on their to justify the £5.25 delivery but bagged some really good bargains today - the minimum spend is £15 and I spent £15.01!for allegedly £71 worth of goods (I would never have spent that much on them!). Which means I have only £80 food budget for the rest of the month which is ok. I got a nice email from Sainsburys as I havnt used them for a while offering me free delivery anytime for 3 months (order has to be over £40) so I will be taking advantage of that - I only use their Basics range but find its much better than Asda or Tesco basics range. And yes, its is a bit more expensive but by the time you factor in the time and petrol it takes to get a big shop and all the extra little bits that end up in the trolley it probably works out cheaper! And its triple Nectar points so I have applied for a Nectar card - every little helps!

And now another wedding to save for!

My eldest dd got engaged at the weekend! to a lovely bloke and they are planning to get married next summer (2015) so its all hands to the pumps and start saving (and losing weight!) I have canelled my reflexology appointment - never had it before so wont miss it and thats £22 I had put aside to put towards the hen night (dd wants a spa break of at least 2 nights!) I am now getting my haircut with a junior saving £8 every 6 weeks so thats roughly another £64 a year to put towards it.....

New month - difficult one money wise...

Normally I dont really got out but have been invited to a girlies bingo night this month with the ladies from work, a meal out with family, my 6 weekly haircut and a trip to New Lanark (to compliment my OU history degree - really looking forward to it!)so its going to be a tough month moneywise...Luckily I was really careful and saved half my allowance from last month but even so its going to be a bit of a challenge...Have spent a wee bit already at my fave charity shop - full length quilted coat with hood £4 (been after a warm long coat for ages), a deep red cardigan from BHS for work - £2, a shopping bag £1 (got back and there was a matching purse inside!) and I always keep an eye out for white cotton pillowcases there as they are only 25p and got a nice one with embroidery on the edge. Did our first grocery shop of the month at Aldis and spend £55 so happy with that. Just looked on-line and its £8.50 to get into New Lanark, am going to take a Weight watchers picnic (my dd is taking me and she has lost 5 1/2 stones on Weight watchers)to keep the costs down with flasks for tea. Will go halves on petrol (3 hour round trip) Not sure how much the bingo is going to cost... they are talking about going out afterwards but I cant afford it so am going to have to say no - also have to figure in bus fare back (around £7). The meal is an all you can eat buffet so its a set price. My hair cut is the last time I will be getting a cut and blow dry - will have to go back to dry cuts and am trying to find a hairdresser who cuts hair at home to save even more. Just had a lovely tea of reduced price pork with loads of veg, stuffing, yorkies and gravy - mmmmmmm