Come and teach me to be a domestic godess

[UtterlyButterly]

Me and DP move into our first home together on Thursday.

I have never been shown how to cook and I have no idea in the garden.

I would love to keep a lovely house and attempt to spend as little as possible.

What tips would you give to me?

I want to make a meal planner but what on earth do I put on it?? DP is fussy so simple meals needed, no fish.

For meal plans, write down what you usually eat. A list of say 15/20 is good so you don't feel like you're eating the same thing all the time. I like to spread it out, ie chicken then fish then beef then vegetarian etc, but if very broke will do roast chicken, then chicken leftovers with rice and sauce the next day, and chicken soup on the last day to get as much as i can iykwim?
Try to keep on top of laundry, its crap when there are clothes everywhere. Get lots and lots of storage (ikea?)
What are the jobs your Dp will be doing? You need to agree on who does what otherwise I bet you will end up doing it all.

Do you have a dishwasher? if not you NEED one. You can get them off ebay and freecycle or special charity shops licenced to sell electricals or catalogue seconds outlets. It will keep your electric and water bills down and save you a lot of time.

YY to aggreeing who does what eg you might hate cleaning the bathroom but he might not mind it so much etc. E cloths are very good for quick cleaning and you can get a multipack in TK Maxx for about £10, they can be washed without fabric softner and will last you ages.

organizedhome.com does good checklists for keeping track of food shopping. Make your dp do the meal planners, he knows what he likes and it takes the pressure off you. I have a fussy dh but I am slowly winning. Very slowly (blame mil). Once you have the plan shop on your own. The shopping was £10 more expensive last week cos Dh came with me.

With gardening remember the more plants you have in the borders the less weeds you get. Shrubs go at the back to give height and structure and plants like bulbs eg daffodils, tulips, lillies, crocus go at the middle and front to give splashes of colour. Bedding plants likewise. Begonia's are excellant for hanging baskets as you can take the corm out (like a bulb) and wrapt it in newspaper over winter and then pot it out on a warm windowsill next year ready for another basket.

Lawns need a weekly cut, not too short or you get moss. Charity shops do excellant gardening books for pennies. I like alan titchmarsh (sp), his books are simple but detailed.

Dont forget you will have a few arguments when you move in together. You always think you wont but you do.

Some very good tips to start with thank you

The meal plan is in place and we have an idea of who will do what.

I am just dreading the moving in and unpacking now!!!