For accountability

 After an initial flurry of things that have needed paying for, this month really does have to be as close to 'no spend' as possible. I will keep the vegbox order weekly as long as we do actually need vegetables, and I no doubt will have to buy things like bread and butter, but apart from that I am going to do my best not to buy too much food and just use up what we have in the cupboards. We have at least two birthday parties this month which I will need to buy a little present and wrapping for, and it is Will's birthday coming up in a couple of weeks which I need to get a present for but apart from that I can't think of any fixed expenses beyond the usual travel, power, veg box etc which I have done my best to account for. I have put the money to one side to make our first payment for the kitchen and to cover Will's annual ICE membership, which will be reimbursed next month. 

I seem to be too busy to breath at the moment, but especially with the weekly veg box now I think it would be good to get back into meal planning to make the most of what we have and also to make sure that there is no waste. Tonight for supper I will make a stew with any stray vegetables we have left knocking around, and roast half a butternut squash that's in the fridge to go with it, and after that I will do my best to plan it at least loosely. 

On Sunday the plan is another freezing swim, and then I have invited my friend back for a Sunday dinner. I have finally caved and ordered myself wetsuit gloves and socks. I go in the sea in my swimming costume and am quite happy with that over a wetsuit, however my fingers and toes have been getting a bit sore and I have joint paint that is made worse with the cold. 

Back to work for me in a minute. The job is more of a struggle than I expected it to be, and I'm still holding out hope that sooner or later the ability to think will return to me. It helps having something specific we need the money for, as well as the obvious rising cost of living, the kitchen will be a good reward for all of the hard work and something we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise.