Live on £4000 for a year - Part 3

Marru

DG - So sorry to hear that you are unwell. Hoping that you get better soon.

DD had made a poem at the pre school. Basically it was a ready made poem with some blanks that the children then was asked to fill in. My DD's favouite play was playing vets. I am sooooo proud! Other surprise was that her favourite colour wasn't pink or purple it was black (colour of our dog) and not a surprise the cuddly dog was her favourite present. (And favourite person was Mummy - aaaw)

NSD for me today :T (if you don't count the cheque I wrote to pay for DD's school photos).

Off now to try to pretend that I am working (= going to check online what type of shelves I should get).

Have a great day.

Marru

Frugaldom

Hi Ddraig - sympathising with you, sending you nice bunch of virtual flowers and some frozen grapes that were frugally rescued from surplus to requirement at the party.

Weezl - I already do the fruit loaf trick

I'm beginning to think that my measurements are way out and that's why I'm finding it so difficult to get the full amount for 3 into the day's meals. The Government or NHS site states 80g as equivalent to 1 portion, so that would mean 400g per person per day, hence the 1.2kg minimum amount of veggies I put into soups, sauces and stews etc - that way it gives us at least half the RDA in one meal, as that amount makes enough for 6 servings. I do use oats for bulking out mince on the occasions that we have mince and I do use lentils in soup or homemade curries.

Bails - I agree! Everyone here is old enough to fend for themselves but I'm responsible for preparing all the meals and for the grocery budget, so it needs to include enough that they have the choice to eat their 5-a-day and if they choose not to, it needs to be used up in stealth mode. I just sometimes worry that my menu plan isn't making for a healthy, balanced diet, especially when I tend to forget about mealtimes

Weezl, we have an Acetate Monkey situation here, too. I may even PM you about it one day.

My next week's mini challenge is going to be known as STEALTH FOR HEALTH! One of the first items I bought in 2008 for this year's challenge was a hand blender (£3.97 in January sales) and I can tell you now, it is one of the best aids for stealth health that I have. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

whitewing

SF- well done on graduating

DG - Awwww, loads of sympathy

Nyk - shove the fruit into the cakes I shouldn't eat (eg plum cake - yummy)

Weezl (sp?) - I looked at your challenge thread, and will be looking more closely in light of recent circumstances. I feel that we have a new celebrity on the thread when I see your posts. (Nyk being the original celebrity). It makes me very excited - like being visited by Jamie Oliver or Hugh FW. You get the idea anyway...

I am awaiting a callback from my solicitors, so am feeling quite teary. Job sit is dire at the moment following their latest corrospondence, which (un) fortunately arrived before we went shopping. All shopping activity curtailed at the moment. I've gone into 'batten down the hatches' mode as I attempt to deal with the latest scary development.

A sensible and free thing to do would be to go on the exercise bike.

weezl74

nykmedia wrote: »

Weezl, we have an Acetate Monkey situation here, too. I may even PM you about it one day.

intrigued I am!

whitewing, I promise I'm not a bit like hugh or jamie!:rotfl:

DdraigGoch

You're not the only one Weezl - yes, I know, I should be in bed, but I'm bored! Don't all shout at once!! - Acetate Monkey? Come on, spill the [own brand] beans, NYK.

Off to make another mug of nectar of the gods [Earl Grey tea, v weak w milk - one tea bag makes 3 mugs of tea for me .... ] to ease my throat. Are your ears supposed to hurt when you've got a sore throat? I have a nasty suspicion that I'm doctor-bound tomorrow. Hey ho.

speak later - there's only so many books I can read in a day ....

bails

Get well soon Draig, honey lemon and ginger for you! It is lovely to see you over here Weezl x
Hope it gets sorted soon Whitewing, nasty.

Charity shopping was a disappointment today, which is a good thing I guess as I didn't really spend any money. The bus pass is still a no go as far as I can see, ho hum.
Can anyone help? I'd really love to do a Masters in Special Ed, anyone know if I would be able to get any funding for this/rough idea of how much it would cost? I know I could do it through the OU which is an option but I want to check out other distance learning courses from unis too.
Hope you get some shelves Marru, don't forget good old Freecycle as those Billy bookcases come up quite often (Dad has a trailer if you need a hand).

Brighton_belle

Thanks nyk & bails for response re phones - a great relief bails to hear you really hate doing it too - makes me feel less of a wimping lemon:o .
Ddraig - yes it is usual for your ears to hurt - the ear canal comes down to the throat: if I have inflamed tonsils (weak spot if over tired) my ears feel like they are joining in.
Nyk - I said the other day I was looking for twinks famed hobnob recipe but when I discoverd it realised this was baaaaad road to go down for the health/ weight:rotfl: . I HM cakes for OH (don't like them myself) but bought the mini muffin pan a few weeks ago so I could mass freeze and ration out:rotfl: . I've had to stop making flapjacks as they were so delish and they are mega laden with fat and sugar. Is it no bad thing if you look after yourself and make fewer cakes and the others can choose to buy there own (not out of your budget) if so? Hard choice becasue I know I do enjoy the feeling I get with baking/feeding OH.

Marru, you sound really upbeat after a difficult week - well done for putting it behind you:T and moving on.
Bails, why don't you PM grannynise re the Masters - she may know things.
Hope you are ok whitewing and you have had that call form your solicitors.

System

DdraigGoch wrote: »

Acetate Monkey? Come on, spill the [own brand] beans, NYK.....

hmmmm my guess is that nyk has been serving such frugal dinners that OH's pants keep falling down due to weight loss (as happened to Mr Weezl)

:rotfl: perhaps thats why HS suddenly became OH!!!

wendywitch

DdraigGoch wrote: »

You're not the only one Weezl - yes, I know, I should be in bed, but I'm bored! Don't all shout at once!! - Acetate Monkey? Come on, spill the [own brand] beans, NYK.

Off to make another mug of nectar of the gods [Earl Grey tea, v weak w milk - one tea bag makes 3 mugs of tea for me .... ] to ease my throat. Are your ears supposed to hurt when you've got a sore throat? I have a nasty suspicion that I'm doctor-bound tomorrow. Hey ho.

speak later - there's only so many books I can read in a day ....

Could be an ear infection. Your ears would hurt when u swallow.

Brighton_belle

Forgot to say that by looking into current phone/BB costs, have discovered I already get free phone call at weekends:o . Can't believe I didn't realise that. Still, all part of the frugalisingnization.