Trying Something Different

 I can see me shopping at all sorts of places over the next few months. Partly it's because I'm a restless sort of person and it gives me something of a challenge. It will mean that I'm not dropping bear at school then driving the same way home every day. To be honest, I avoid that as much as possible, but it's good to have a reason.

I'm also confident that prices are going to go up. I think the combination of the current virus and Brexit is going to cause a lot of problems. I also need to track my shopping lists. Due to my issues with gluten, my preferences and the preferences of the men in my life, I know that if I want a quiet life I'll pick up lemon sorbet from Aldi, fresh minced beef from Tesco, frozen minced beef from Morrisons and protein bars for DH from Amazon. And to make my life interesting I'm hoping to look in places like B&M Bargains and Poundstretcher for some cleaning stuff and the market for fruit and veg. I dug out a notebook I got some time ago, together with some highlighters, and this is my first attempt. It's small enough to fit into my medium handbag.

People who bullet journal do fancy covers and layouts, and I can't draw at all, but I stole a few ideas. At the front I'm numbering the pages and making an index.

On one side (page 1), in my appalling handwriting, is a list of the shops I'm likely to use. I'll add more as I go along. I've also put colours next to the shops I'm likely to use the most often. This is where I'll keep the shopping lists, by store.

Opposite, on page two, is a list of shops where I keep a list of the best prices. At my last check Tesco were doing Heinz baked beans for 50p (well, 6 for £3), which is the best price I usually see, and Morrisons were doing Heinz Tomato soup also at 50p (actually, also at 6 for £3). I usually commit at that price, but I know I've got a smallish stash already, so I'm only picking up one pack. Those are quite generic items, that will go to those prices in all sorts of stores. I may add a page later for generic prices. I can usually remember beans but I can't remember whether I got a good deal or not on pickled onions at Aldi this morning. So I plan to add a list of prices for particular stores on separate pages from the shopping lists. 

Tomorrow I will drop bear off in Morrisions car park and I could do with picking up some frozen mince there as it is the only frozen mince that DH finds acceptable. I like to have it in as it is an easy way to get a quick meal on the table. According to Morrisons website, it is £3.30 for 500g or around 1lb of 5% fat minced beef, which is frozen, so can be stored for some time, cooked from frozen and tastes fine. The current price of fresh 5% fat minced beef at Tesco according to their website is £2.59. This is harder to cook from frozen so makes it less convenient for a quick meal and takes up more space in the freezer, but now that I've checked the prices, the difference is making me reconsider.

Regardless, knowing that I would be calling into Morrisons tomorrow morning, on page three (you can see above that there is a very badly written '3' next to Morrisons to tell me that the shopping list for Morrisons is on page 3) I've written what I need and I've highlighted the corners in the Morrisons colour to make it slightly easier to find.

My awful writing says, 'wraps, frozen mince, Tom soup (if 50p)'. Some bullet journals are works of art. This really isn't. But if it makes me track prices and stops me forgetting things, then it will be worth it. I'll let you know how it works out.

Last night there was a power cut in our area and this morning some of the traffic lights were still out. Getting onto the main road for bear's school was terrifying! I'm coming up a steep hill, and I have no chance of seeing what is coming from the left because of rails in the crossing area. Normally it's fine because of the traffic lights. This morning I think I accidentally cut up a lorry. I was so relieved that they were fixed by this afternoon, but unsurprised. These are busy junctions.

Dinner tonight was curry with baked potatoes. I really need to get some regular vegetarian dishes going other than soup as I think it would be better for our health, the planet and our budget. Perhaps tomorrow I'll make dhal. 

Hugs and good health to all.