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Thursday 28 February 2013

Not Much To Report


I am feeling very unwell at the moment with a horrible cold and cough I am just hoping and praying it does not start my MD off as I have gone nearly 2 weeks now without an attack and it has been so nice to have a break from the spins. As a result I gave myself an easy day today. Lee and I got the basics done and then I spent the rest of the day curled up on the sofa with a box of tissues and some of my favorite blogs. When the boys got in from school I threw some thing quick and easy in the oven for tea. I got Brandon bathed and introduced Brad and Ben to a new game called how quick can you have a shower. My boys will quite happily dilly dally in the shower for up to half an hour costing me a pound each in electric well no more. They found it more fun than I expected actually and made a competition out of it to see who could do it the quickest which did make me giggle. They both managed to get in washed and out in 4 minutes. I think Brad was aiming for 3 minutes so he could beat Ben's time but he came in at 4 minutes the same as his brother. If they can keep their showers at 4 or 5 mins each I will save a hell of a lot on electricity meaning more money to throw at my debt challenge. After every one was washed and ready for bed we settled down to a game of Ben's Dr Who board game which we all enjoyed and then it was time for the boys to go to bed. Once they were all in bed I tidied up, put some washing on, and did an hours knitting on the baby blanket I am making as a gift for my next door neighbor. So as I said not much to report. I'm hoping to get mum's birthday present finished tomorrow I am making her a handmade toiletry set. I have made the headband and washcloth and now just need to decant the lotions and potions and decorate it all. I also need to make her a couple of cards one for mothers day and one for her birthday so all being well I will get it all finished tomorrow ready to post off to her on Wednesday. Anyway I am off for some much needed sleep now.

Much Love
Claire xx xx xx

Making day

Today has been a very busy day for me. After getting the boys ready and off to school the Mr and I went and caught the free Tesco bus. We do this almost every Wednesday. I needed to get some pants and trousers for Brandon, some socks for Brad, and some all purpose cleaner and was not about to waste £4.10 on the paid bus for a return ticket. I also had to pop a cheque into the bank (a little unexpected windfall which will be used as another overpayment on my debts). The aim is to spend the next 10 months being as frugal as possible in order to clear 9 and a 1/2 k of debt by xmas. It will certainly be a challenge but its doable if we work together as a family. Anyway where was I oh yes we went to Tesco. I managed to get Brandon 7 pairs of pants for £2.50, a pair of jeans for £3, and 5 pairs of socks for Brad for £1.50. We also had our weekly treat of a cooked breakfast 8 items of food and a bottle of orange juice for £4.25. I pay one week and the Mr pays the following week so we take it in turns to pay.


It was as yummy as it looks

I always take a few extra ketchup satchets home with me its not a big saving tip but every penny counts. After breakfast we took a nice stroll along the river and through the park into town.



I always like to stop for a few minutes and watch the ducks

I put my cheque in the bank and we got the bus home. When we got home I set about making some homemade laundry detergent it is really very easy to make, costs pennies, and lasts me months.




This little lot will keep us going for a while

I also had some manky bananas in the fruit bowl that I wanted to use up (I hate throwing food away if it can be used in some other way) so decided to make a banana and chocolate cake.


Very yummy but next time I think I will leave the chocolate icing off as it was extremly sweet


And the boys favourite and again very cheap and easy to make chocolate cornflake cakes


I also wanted to share with you my breakfast cereal shelf. I am very fortunate that I have not had to buy cereal for months now. The Mr is a security officer at a very well known cereal factory and every so often gets given boxes and boxes of cereal for free which he then brings over for me and the boys.


Yummy and free cant beat that combination


Anyway I am coming down with a cold and feel really unwell. My throat is extremely sore, my nose is running a marathon, and my entire body aches so im off to suck on some honey and lemon and get some much needed sleep.

Much Love
Claire xx xx xx

A very frugal valentines day



I wanted to share my very frugal valentines day with you but at the time had no internet now I have a new dongle so here it is. Me and the Mr decided we would not go mad but we wanted to do some thing to celebrate our love. We decided to set a limit of £10 for gifts, card, and wrap and looked around for a good deal on a meal out. We found a deal where we would get a main, a pud, and a bottle of wine for £20 a couple so decided to go for this. We arrived at the restraunt on time and were seated promtly we ordered our main which was served in good time and tasted yummy this is when things started to go wrong. We ordered our pud I ordered a simple ice cream sundae and the Mr ordered a sticky toffee pudding. We waited patiently but after half an hour and the place being very quiet inquired where our desserts were we was told "we will get to you eventualy". At this point I began to get annoyed note to food establishments:- this is not the way to speak to paying customers. We waited for another half an hour still no sign at this point we decided to ask for the puds to be refunded and leave just as we decided this our puds arrived so we began eating them about half way into my icecream sundae which didnt taste so good (proberly all the waiting we did) I found a hair in it. As you can imagine steam was now coming out of my ears we had been spoken to rudely, waited an hour for dessert, and when it finaly came there was a hair in it. We demanded a full refund and left agreeing that we would not be going back there again. So our meal and drinks came to the grand sum of £0.



Me and the Mr trying to see the funny side of this debacle


We decided to pop into Tesco on our way to catch the train home and boy am I glad we did we got some great end of day bargains.


This little lot cost me just £1.61

We got 4 loaves of bread, 8 white sub rolls, 2 chocolate choux buns, 4 lemon cupcakes, 2 packs of rice noodles, a big bowl of salad, 10 mini pittas, 2 soreen fruit loaves, and 40 soft bread rolls all for £1.61 bargain. We then walked to the train station to get the train home the ticket office was closed and there is no ticket machine on this particular station so decided we would get our tickets on the train as most people do here in the evenings. Well we was not asked for a ticket and there was no conductor in sight to purchase one so we got a free ride home another bargain.

The costing for our entire evening is as follows
Bus into town £5.40 for both of us
Meal and drinks out £0
Tesco trip £1.61
Train home £0

Total cost £7.01 not bad, if all nights out were this cheap I would be inclined to have more of them but as they are not we will settle with a dvd at home cuddled up on the sofa with some homemade popping corn just as nice and no cost. Hope everyone else had a good valentines day.

Much Love
Claire xx xx xx

Ahhhhh Thats Better

Ok so I finaly gave in and bought a new dongle today. I had decided I was going to continue to blog using my phone but after trying to add photos to a post (very unsucessfully) realised the only way I would be able to continue writting would be to give into the expense and buy a new dongle. I was fortunate enough to be able to get the same deal as I did before 3 months internet for £29.99 which works out about £10 a month.Considering my mobile phone, landline, t.v package and internet was costing me £85 a month a few months ago and I am now paying £17 a month I think im doing quite well. So im back up and running now and will be recomensing my blogging and I have to say it feels oh so good "Ah thats better"

Much Love
Claire xx xx xx

Monday 25 February 2013

To Blog Or Not To Blog

Well I've been gone far to long my dongle broke and I just could not justify spending another 30pounds on a new one so we have just done without. We all have phones with internet access so we have not missed out but I was unaware that I could blog via my phone. I now know differntly and have been asking myself whether I should pick up my blogging or just call it a day. I have no followers and only double figures of readers so I doubt I would be missed. I've thought about this a lot over the last few days and realised that I would miss it something terrible I love writting, I love reading my own past posts and remembering days i've shared with my family, I love being part of an online community who refuse to conform to the "norm." So in answer to my own question I shall continue to blog and shall do so via my phone (no new dongle for me). She's backkkkkkk lol.