First January Weekend

I meant to post this last weekend so apologies for the delay but here it is.

I never know how much I spend on groceries and drink in our house. I read some blogs where people keep a strict budget and strict tabs on their spending. I thought I would try to keep an eye on how much I am spending just so I know. I have downloaded a free app called Accounts Free and have just set up two accounts in it - one for groceries and one for alcohol.

My first two logged amounts were from my shopping trip to Waitrose on Saturday morning. I had written a shopping list (more about this in my planning meals blog) but as the shelves looked like they had been picked clean I could not buy some of the items I needed. I bought some staples such as bread and milk as well as yogurt and fruit for packed lunches at work this week. 

There was a 75% off shelf for their Christmas items so I bought some none essentials as I could not resist the bargains. I bought a good sized box of mixed shortbread for 79p - the only one left and two boxes of Heston Blumenthal mince pies at 87p a box. I will put these in the freezer for taking to a weekend away that we have planned in February. David does not like mincemeat so I would end up eating the whole box myself which is not good.

I also bought some half price items including two large Lindors for £5 each. These are best before the end of September so one will be for my Dad for his birthday in March and one for my nephew for his birthday in June.

 I had a £25 John Lewis/Waitrose gift card as part of a Christmas gift from my Dad so after using this my bill came to £18.21. 

We had a roast chicken dinner on Saturday evening. The chicken was ready stuffed and half price from M&S at £3.50. We had roasted potatoes and finished off a half price pack of mixed M&S vegetables with gravy. Dessert was the last of an icecream roulade bought for Boxing Day. 

The legs & thighs have been put to one side for Monday evening tea and the chicken carcass used to make stock for a chicken and vegetable soup made in my small slow cooker.

Lunches at work this week are sandwiches made with prawns and avocado bought for starters over Christmas. I bought additional avocados at Waitrose as they were reduced to 79p for two. My Dad brought round a selection of 5 cheeses that had been bought for him as a gift. He is not a massive cheese eater whereas David is like a large mouse and will eat it every day. I will make Brie and (my own homemade) cranberry sandwiches for myself but just cut up some cheese into chunks for David to eat on its own as part of his lunch.

I also had two reduced packs of fresh figs from M&S (35p a pack) that I bought to use as canapés but this did not happen so I have sliced them into a fig & honey yogurt and will add a spoonful of granola to have at lunchtime.

The decorations came down this weekend with the lounge being stripped on Saturday and the dining room on Sunday. I always think the house looks so bare when the decorations are taken down and put away but after a while I adjust to it.

Sunday afternoon we visited the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester for a fantastic concert - the Glenn Miller Orchestra. It was very civilised with the concert starting at 3pm and finished by 5.30pm. It was a wonderful evocative afternoon with that fantastic big band sound, 3 different singers and a dance act too. We loved it and found it just a charming way to spend an afternoon. I wasn't able to take any photos of the act but here are a couple of photos of the hall from our seats.