Happy Sunday! Have you had a good week? I feel like this weekend is flying by, as did the week just gone. Which I’m glad about to be honest. Although I love Winter and it’s my favourite season, getting up in the dark is hard. Trying to persuade a four year old to get up in the dark is even harder! He is not impressed. It’s not that we’re waking him up, it’s that he can’t be bothered. I understand completely how he feels! Plus weekends are such a precious time and they seem to whizz by.
I feel like my No Spend Year is going great! I know it’s only the start of the third week but it’s positive so far. My budget planner reflects this, as does our bank balance at this point in the month. As I said on Instagram yesterday, there are only two things I am missing so far; my Costa coffee and McDonald’s chips! Not sure what that says about me but still…. It has also been easier as I think January is an ideal time to start afresh, including with finances. It might be a different story once we’re in the third month and the novelty has worn off slightly. We shall see!
However, I am posting this asking for a favour! Or advice. We tend to eat the same meals in our house; it’s easy and I know what to buy each week. But, I am getting fed up! I’d love it if you could share your favourite budget meals with me in the comments below. We eat most things in this house. But, it can get a bit repetitive. Is anyone else like that?
I’m going to plod along with my No Spend Days and hope to end January on a strong point. I have received most of my dividend income already at this point which is a motivator in itself. The next week should be fairly quiet, so I’m hoping to get at least another four No Spend Days in there.
5 things I’ve enjoyed/been grateful for this week:
1) The sunshine 🙂
2) Homemade tea loaf with a cuppa – yum!
3) Watching my two boys play together nicely – it does happen sometimes!
4) A good book – I’m reading this one at the moment.
5) Deadwater Fell – is anyone else watching this? So good.
What have you enjoyed reading this week? Any plans for the week ahead? I’d love to hear about it!
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Not sure if you’ve posted on this before but holding 64 Whitbread shares apparently entitles you to a one-off £5 giftcard for subsidiary Costa Coffee.
Not any more. Costa was sold last year. I was very unhappy
My favourite budget meal is probably home made pizza, I make batches of dough and freeze in smaller quantities, and I always keep jars of nice antipasti such as olives ready to go (cheap from Aldi), I top with any veg I have in the Fridge. I love that I can make delicious pizza for the fraction of a takeaway cost and if you have kids, they like doing their own toppings. At the moment I’m batch cooking curry, again, this is to curb my take away spend, I’m working on keeping a regular ‘fake away’ stash in the freezer! this means I still feel like I’m getting my take away fix! Just need to learn how to cook nice Chinese food!
ps I love your blog! you inspired me to start investing a couple of months ago!
I’d thoroughly recommend Gousto. We started using it last year and not only has it provided us with variety at mealtime each week, but it’s also healthier and it saved us money. We pay £44 for four meals (and we get double portions because we then take it for lunch the next day).
Have you tried Shakshuka? It is simple, adaptable and quick, with flavour. I eat it with rice, a friend with pasta rather than the bread suggestion. Several versions suggest a salad alongside it as well.