FEBRUARY 2024: BEING THRIFTY

Another month of being thrifty but first up I have a confession to make. I under budgeted when it came to the cost of getting new glasses. I had an eye test this month and knew that I was going to need new glasses and set aside an amount. However I hadn't considered the extra cost for my lenses to be thinned as I have such a high prescription, definitely a mistake I won't be making again. I've now set a new sinking fund up ready to put money aside for new glasses that I will need in the future for now though fingers crossed I'll get at least two years wear from these new ones.

Frugal anniversary and Valentines

Our anniversary was on the 4th of February and both Stuart and I agreed to not get each other any gifts this year. We did order a Chinese in for our anniversary meal instead of going out which saved us money as we spent less than we would have at a restaurant. We also had left overs we heated up the next day for lunch. As for Valentines Day we opted for a supermarket dine in deal. Again we agreed not to do presents and we didn't do each other cards either.

E-cards

We've made the decision to no longer send out cards as postage is expensive. Instead we will be doing E-cards which I'll make using Canva. The exception is my nan who is in her 80s and not tech savvy.

Make our own bathbombs

B loves using bathbombs but as they are expensive we make our own. This way he can still enjoy bath time at a fraction of the cost. We've been doing this for awhile now and as we needed to make up another batch I thought it was a good time to share with you.

Free National Trust Day Out

We managed to get a free family day out voucher to visit a National Trust property so we used it during half term to visit Clumber Park. They were only giving out a certain number online and we luckily were able to get one. A few different newspapers also had the vouchers in them so it's worth looking out for.

No Spend October (2017)

October is here and the last month has really flown by. Spur of the moment I have decided to do No Spend October. I really do need to cut down on my spending, so I thought by taking part in No Spend October this will really give me a kick start in curbing my spending.

The rules are pretty simple from the first of October to the 1st of November  no spending on things that aren't essential. All bills and personal bills such as my phone, insurance and Netflix are covered for.

I have also going to be accounting for special circumstances these are: 

- My slimming world countdown ends on the 26th so I will be buying a new one

- I'll allow myself to buy chocolate/Hifi bars occasionally as I can't completely go without them.

- Travel costs only if visiting my family

- Blake's friend's birthday gift

- If Blake needs anything for Pre-School.

So what will I be cutting out: 

- Takeaways/eating out

- Drinks when out and about 

- Alcohol 

- Clothes

- Toys

- Lottery/scratch cards

- Entertainment (movies, books,  day trips etc) 

- Cosmetics

-Home Decor 

- Bus fairs

- Anything else non essential you can think of.

 I'll be making sure there are no shopping trips or online spending this includes no charity shops, ebay, facebook selling pages, no amazon (eek) no matter how much of a bargain something is. 

I'll share with you if I cave in and buy something I shouldn't and I'll also be sharing with you some of my ideas on things we have done. Here are some ideas below on how I am going to manage during the month.

1. When going out take my own drink with me 

2. Eat before going out/take a packed lunch

3. Batch cook lunches (I'm going to make soups and pastas)

4. Use up what we have: Food, cosmetics, toiletries, cleaning products

5. Don't go into any shops other than supermarkets for a month

6. Go to supermarket with a shopping list and stick to it

7. Read books I own but haven't yet read

8. If I do run out of books to read I can borrow from the library instead of buying.

9. watch movies that we already have or are on netflix

10. Remove the amazon app from my phone/tablet

11. Find free days out and ideas of things to do with Blake that don't cost anything

12. Walk rather than get the local bus 

I know its not going to be easy especially with half term coming up at the end of the month and with Halloween around the corner too.

I'd love to know if you will be joining in or if you have any tips or ideas for the month ahead for me. 

£200,000 To Raise A Child? Try These Money-Saving Tips

There are many ways to save money on parenting. Buying second-hand prams and using freebies are some of the things. At the beginning prices can be extortionate.

It costs a lot to raise a child today and it's not unusual that the cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 21 is almost £200,000. In the first year alone it's estimated to set you back £9,152.

It's quickly easy to see how the mounting costs of raising a child can add up. From clothes that are adorable when they first come out but will be outgrown in weeks to the bling on the baby carrier to the buggy, you'll find that you're spending more and more money and pretty soon, you've spent more than a new car would cost. 

With so many online checklists, there are ways to part you and your hard earned money if you have children. The best ways to cut back and save money are to be creative and buy used items for your new baby. There are many great shopping lists available online that will help you to decide if you must have something, might want something or don't need it at all. By sorting your items into categories, you can determine how important they are to you and whether or not you can borrow them or buy them used. 

If it's not a necessity then wait until you need it and don't spend any more than you have to on it. Otherwise, you end up with things that are never used or cost a fortune, or both. Always find out if you can borrow items that are going to be used for just a short time.

Essentials

Keep the pre-shopping to a minimum. Believe us, the shops will still be there after the baby arrives. Buy just what you need. Here is a scaled down list to start with:

• Clothes (in large quantities-babies can go through several outfits in a day).
• Baby friendly detergent (to wash the clothes babies go through in a day).
• Nappies (either disposable, cloth or both). Don't forget a changing mat and some cotton wool, baby wipes or a soft flannel to help clean baby up.
• Baby bed: A moses basket, cot or somewhere for baby to sleep.
• A sling, pram or both so that you can easily transport baby back and forth.
• Baby bath (this isn't essential, but it is very helpful when baby is very small). They help you to save on water until baby can sit up and they help you to wash a slippery soapy baby when you've slathered baby up for his or her bath.
• Car seat. Even if you don't have a car, you're going to need this when you go to and from doctors appointments or ride with someone else.
• Bottles if you're not going to be breastfeeding. If you are going to breastfeed, you will want a few muslins to help wipe baby's face and perhaps you may want to use a breast pump.

It's easy to get caught up in wanting to have the best of everything for your baby. It's an emotional time, especially for first-time parents. With so much pressure to buy everything new, it may be hard to not feel guilty for buying used. 

However, if you want to save money, if you want to save on the initial cost of £9,000 in that first year, be patient and don't buy everything the moment you find out you're expecting. Wait and see if things come in as gifts, borrow whenever possible and buy used whenever you can. Baby isn't going to notice if things are brand new and shiny. 

However, always buy a car seat brand new. These shouldn't be second hand unless you know, without a doubt, that they've never before been in a wreck. If you have a car seat from a previous baby and you've never been in a wreck, that car seat is fine. As long as there haven't been any recalls on it. Wrecks can leave a car seat weakened and unsafe.

For the remainder of items, you can buy used. Even for cloth nappies. Don't be tempted by fancy things that will just eat up your money, a baby will likely outgrow these before you can wash them and put them back on baby. Accept all the hand-me-downs that you can and know that newborn clothes will be outgrown quickly. Ask around, borrow if you can and when you can't borrow buy used. 

You can check eBay, charity shops, local NCT sales, car boot sales, online and also with friends who have children just slightly older than your new baby. 

Find free stuff wherever you can. Consider free samples that baby companies offer and sign up for all of those that you can. Use coupons and take advantage of offers where you buy an item and get other items for free.

If you have friend or family who are asking you what they can buy as a gift. Have a short list handy to give them. It doesn't have to be expensive to help you out. It can be simple items such as baby shampoo or powder.  

Try to list items you'll use and keep the cuddly toys to a minimum. Many people just want to help and get things they know you need or will use so be prepared for some inexpensive items that would really help you out.

Lastly, if you plan to have other children, save what you can for the next child. This can save you a lot of money.

Saving money for our holiday with Debenhmas voucher codes

Recently we have started thinking more about our finances and trying to get better at saving and cutting down on costs. Its pretty difficult at the moment to stop spending as we need to get bits and bobs ready for our holiday in a few months time. There is also birthdays and Christmas that are coming up pretty fast. 

When it comes to holiday items I've made sure that I have a list of all the things we need to purchase and so it makes sense to find Big savings with the latest Debenhams discount codes. I'll be checking out the promo codes to find items we need such as suitcases which we really need to get. We also need to check out fashion and accessories for when we go away the main things I need are a few more tops, shorts, swimming costume and a hat. 
Stuart needs to mainly get shorts, tops and a hat and Blake has most of the stuff he needs. 

I know that Debenhams also have promo codes for health and beauty which is ideal as we will need to purchase suncream and I'd like a few beauty products for using on our holiday and its a good idea for us to make sure we have some calpol and other health related items to take with us. 

Our holiday will definitely come around quick and my mind is at rest knowing that I'll be able to find big savings on the items we need before we go.

*collaborative post"

Small Poundland Haul

I've not done a haul post for awhile but today I wanted to share with you a few bits I picked up in our local poundland for Blake. 

They are all things for activities to do with him and at £1 each I thought they were a bargain as he will get so much use out of them. 

Pom Pom balls are ideal for doing a range of activities with. We did a scooping activity yesterday with them but u can also use them for other activities for fine motor skills and for using in crafts. 

These skittles are great I picked them up as Blake loves ball games and this would be a fab for him to enjoy and can be used indoors as well as outdoors. 

This egg and spoon toy set is great for role play. We can pretend to make cakes, use the spoons for stirring, scooping etc. 

Playdough is something I wanted to get Blake into and both the 4 mini dough pots and dough bucket are a great way to start. We are yet to try them but I think its a great starter set as I don't want to spend a lot on the playdough brand when he may not be that interested in it yet. 

What do you think of my little haul? Have you picked up any bargains in your local poundland? 

Pizza Express NEW Pizza's

If you love pizza and are a fan of Pizza Express then you will love their all 

New flavors that they have recently released in supermarkets.

The New flavors are : 

- Italian Ham and Mushroom 

- Goats Cheese and Spinach

-  Chicken Peppadew and Spice 

 - Spicy Beef, Peperoni and hot peppers

and 

- Vegetable and Pesto 

The Italian Ham and Mushroom pizza was lovely

with prosciutto ham , creamy mozzarella, black olives and roasted mushrooms. 

I am not a huge fan of olives so took them off my slice of pizza and let hubby have them. 

I loved the combination of the ham, mozzarella and roasted mushrooms. 

The Goat's Cheese and Spinach pizza was one of my favorites. 

This pizza had savory goat's cheese with sweet red onion chutney and spinach. 

I am a huge fan of these flavors so having them on a pizza was a fab treat

and the spinach is great for my Iron levels. 

Another great flavor is the Chicken, Peppadew and Spice. 

The majority of the time when I order a pizza i choose one with chicken 

as a topping. 

This Pizza has chargrilled chicken, sweet peppadew peppers (another topping I love), 

creamy mozzarella and cajun spice. 

This pizza wasn't that hot and was enjoyable. 

Next up is a pizza that Stuart always tends to go for

Spicy Beef, Pepperoni and Hot Peppers.

This pizza has spicy beef, pepperoni, creamy mozzarella and hot peppers.

I really enjoyed this pizza but removed the hot peppers I thought they made

it a bit too spicy for me but am sure hubby didn't think so. 

Last of all we have the Vegetables and Pesto. 

Toppings are: 

Artichoke hearts, basil pesto, roasted mushrooms, Santos tomato's and 

creamy mozzarella. Another great pizza but still not really my cup of tea. 

What do you think of Pizza Express's New pizza flavors? 

Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomato and Basil Sauce

The next recipe I have up for you is the delicious Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomato and Basil Sauce. 

This was a recipe I was unsure about as I have only tried Gnocchi once before and I wasn't too keen on it.

However it was plain so I think that explains why I wasn't keen before as i loved this recipe. 

Serves 4 (371 kcals each) 

You will need: 

-500g ready made potato gnocchi 

-235g baby spinach leaves 

-200g Lake District Dairy Co Tomato and Basil cooking sauce

- 75g mature cheddar cheese (grated) 

- 2 tsp ground cumin

- 2 tbsp pine nuts

Method: 

1. preheat the grill. cooking the gnocchi in a large pan of boiling salted water for 3 mins or according to 

pack instructions

2. Empty the spinach into a colander and stand it in the sink, when the gnocchi is cooked, drain it into the colander and leave to drain for 2 mins (this wilts the spinach leaves.

3. meanwhile empty the cooking sauce into the pan and heat gently til piping hot.

4. tip the gnocchi and spinach into the pan and mix well 

5. Transfer to a heatproof dish and add the ground cumin. pine nuts and cheese over the top

pop under the grill until the surface is golden and bubbling. 

All of the cooking sauces are delicious and make such lovely low calorie meals 

that both me and Stuart have enjoyed. 

The sauces retail at £1.75 for a 200g pot and are/will be sold in most supermarkets.

Chicken Tikka and Quark Rice

The second recipe we tried out this week using the Lake District Co cooking sauces is a wonderful 

Chicken Tikka and Quark Rice using the Tikka cooking sauce which will be available in supermarkets sometime this autumn. 

Serves 4 (382 Kcals each) 

You will need: 

- 1 tsbp vegetable oil 

- 400g of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cubed) 

- 1 red onion

- 1 red pepper

- 200g of basmati rice 

- 250ml chicken stock

- 50g raisons 

- 200g of Lake District Tikka cooking sauce

- 2 tbsp fresh coriander

- 2 tbsp toasted almonds (flaked) 

Method: 

1. In a large frying pan or wok, heat the oil, then add the chicken and stirfry over a high heat until it starts to brown. 

2. Add the onion and pepper and stirfry over a high heat for 4 mins or until soft

3. stir in the rice and stock, then bring to boil, cover and simmer for 10 mins

4. remove the lid and stir in the Tikka cooking sauce, add the raisins and recover. 

5. Simmer for a further 5 mins stirring occasionally until the rice grains are plump and tender

6. scatter over coriander and almonds to serve.

We really enjoyed how this one turned out we chose not to use the raisins on ours

though as I'm not keen on raisins on this type of meal. 

We also left off the almonds due to hubby having a nut allergy. 

Spaghetti Quarkonara

Last week I received a rather exciting parcel, a hamper filled with ingredients to make

three yummy meals for me and Stuart using The Lake District Dairy Co quark based cooking sauces. 

The Lake District Dairy Co have released a new Garlic and Herb cooking sauce which came out back in August.

Two more flavors (Tikka and Tomato and Basil) will be  available in UK supermarkets from Autumn. 

The new sauces have already impressed food experts having won the World Dairy Innovation Awards. 

Simply swap your usual cooking sauces for the Lake District Dairy Co cooking sauces to create healthy and flavorsome day to day dishes. 

The health credentials are so impressive that when making a indulgent tasting spaghetti carbonara using the 

cooking sauces instead of cream cheese the fat content is reduced by 28g (a staggering 88%) and the calorie

content is dropped by 227kcal per portion too. 

So to make the yummy Spaghetti Quarkonara (serves 4) you will need: 

- 300g of quick cook spaghetti 

- 250g Lake District Dairy Co Garlic and Herb cooking sauce

- 150g flaked ham hock 

-4 tbsp parsley (chopped) 

- 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg.

Method: 

1. Bring a large pan of water to boil add the spaghetti and stir well, simmer for 7 mins or according to pack instructions. 

2. Drain the spaghetti in a colander reserving 100ml of the cooking water, empty the lake district garlic and herb sauce into the pan and gently heat until piping hot. 

3. Add the spaghetti, ham, parsley, nutmeg and 60ml of cooking water and toss until the spaghetti is nicely coated in the sauce, add a little more cooking water if required. 

4. Divide between warmed plates and serve garnished with more parsley. 

I can honestly tell you that it tastes just as good as it looks. 

Recipe idea: Add extra color with some frozen peas. Adding them to the pan for the final 2 mins

of cooking time. 

The next two yummy recipes using The Lake District Co cooking sauces will be

a fab Chicken Tikka and Quark Rice and delicious Gnocchi with Spinach and Tomato and Basil Quark Sauce.