A tight month! And things that helped me through!

October 27, 2016

A tight month! And things that helped me through!

We all get those tight months right? A larger than expected bill, unforeseen car maintenance, getting paid slightly less than normal for whatever reason etc. Even if you are careful with money (which I'm not) and budget really well (which I don't) there are still always those tight months, and they are always pretty depressing! This month is that month for us! It is unfortunate that it coincided with the month I officially left my job. As if there wasn't already enough doubt in my mind! Throw in being utterly skint!

We are far from ‘rolling in it’ at the best of times, but this month has been especially tight. That meant the first thing we had to do was reduce our monthly food budget for October. This has meant getting a bit creative with food, which I’m surprised to say, I have actually enjoyed. I have learnt some new recipes. I have discovered foods I can make from scratch pretty easily which are both far healthier and cheaper than shop brought. To give some examples, this week I made my own naan bread (which was delicious) and the week before: homemade pizza!

After discussing money saving tips with my friends, I also massively cut down the amount of meat we eat. As a bonus, this happens to be a good thing from a health and environmental perspective…and also saves plenty of money. I've changed my supermarket, reduced the amount of ready made products I bought and learnt some great meat-free recipes. Also using cheaper meats like sausages and mince instead of chicken breast all the time. Or bulking out with more veg to make the meat go further. I have also cut down on snacks which has helped lose a couple of extra pregnancy pounds I have been trying to shift. I am in my skinny jeans again! I have definitely learnt some money saving tips to carry forward and realised that I really was spending a lot more than I needed on food every month (although having said all that the first food shop of November will DEFINITELY include two bloody great steaks)!!

Here are a few meals that have been on the menu this month -

Toad in the hole with mash (a favourite from my youth rediscovered)
Spanish omelette with sauté green beans
Mac and cheese
Vegtable curry (homemade curry paste and naan)
Fish finger sandwiches and chips (all homemade)
Homity pie (this one really did not go down well with the husband sadly)
Roast dinner (roast pork, little bear loved roast potato's)
Spaghetti Bolognaise
Chicken fajitas (mushrooms, tomatoes, onion and pepper all added into the mix)
Pea and pork risotto (with left over pork from our Sunday roast)

As well as cutting down on the food budget I have also driven a lot less to save petrol. In fact I haven't moved my car since last Friday’s swimming lesson. Crazy to think I used to drive around 600 miles a week right? Luckily we live in close proximity to plenty of amenities. We have had lots of walks to the park, the library, the café (a free hot chocolate from my loyalty card), and enjoyed the free sessions put on at the local children's centre – such as free dance classes when we were intending to join a class that costs £7.50 a session and would have required a drive to get there. There are loads of free groups and activities put on for under 5’s, you just need to look for them. We also have a few season passes for local attractions, weigh up how often you might visit them and how much each visit will therefore cost to see if its worth while. I have definitely got my money’s worth from a couple.

Not having a lot of money means you really consider every penny you spend. Do you really need it? Is it the best price you can get it for? Is it the best product for the price you are paying? Some things are fine to buy ‘on the cheap’, but there are times spending a little more is more cost effective in the long run. I wish I had had this attitude when I had a bit more disposable income. I definitely spent frivolously, I have clothes and shoes never worn and wouldn't think twice about chucking something out for a shiny new replacement. Now I would definitely try to mend or make do! Last weekend I made two flower beds from our old bed that was going to the tip.

So all in all this month, although pretty tough (I have just got back from sieving through the bargain bin at the local Co-op for tonight's dinner) I have learnt a lot about saving money, found some new fun activities to enjoy with my baby girl and learnt some great new recipes. Any non-essential items have had to wait till next month, including replacing my husband’s beard trimmer which broke at the beginning of the month and now means he resembles a homeless man! I guess if we get really tight on these last few days I could sit him outside a shop in the village with a cup!

And yes, I have struggled not having my own money, and leaving my job behind is still an adjustment. But I would have been back two weeks now if I had gone back…and when I see all the things I would have missed I know I made the right decision. This week has been a nightmare in terms of sleep thanks to teething, so I have no idea how I would have managed getting the train in to central London Monday morning on around an hour of sleep either. I feel so grateful I did have the choice to stay home, even though it was a hard choice. I also have so much respect for mums (and dads) being kept up all night and still managing to go and do a full days work. You are amazing! I spent Monday in my PJs watching cartoons and eating cake…