An Optimistic Pair's MFW Journey

Optimisticpair

Hi guys,

From here I can get to a tiny Co-op and midi size Lidl in town, Morrisons when I get a lift or there is a free bus from town to Tesco. From the cottage I think it will be over an hour car journey to any Moggy's or Tesco.

The yogs are not too bad considering they are really cheap!

SmlSave

Have you tried bread yet? Sains' own beats Asda so far...

Orange squash in Asda is ok, but you have to go one up from the cheapest as its so watery it defeats the object!

I'm really lucky - i guess - that I'm walking distance from Morrisions & Asda from home and work in the town centre so I'm next to the rest! Does make it hard not to just 'pop in' for a loaf and walk out with extras thou!

Optimisticpair

SmlSave wrote: »

Have you tried bread yet? Sains' own beats Asda so far...

Orange squash in Asda is ok, but you have to go one up from the cheapest as its so watery it defeats the object!

I'm really lucky - i guess - that I'm walking distance from Morrisions & Asda from home and work in the town centre so I'm next to the rest! Does make it hard not to just 'pop in' for a loaf and walk out with extras thou!

Thanks for that info.

Yes, mature cheddar cheese was on my list this week but I came out with two types of fancy cheese. It cost the same so it will just have to last the week that's all :rotfl:

Tiger bread is my favourite. I will attempt to make it at home if I have time. When the budget has been really tight and I've needed a hot meal I have made toasties or cheese on toast. Almost any cheap medium loaf does me fine for that.

The only time I had morning sickness (more like all day sickness _pale_ ) was with orange squash from Asda so now I can't face it at all. I think Moggy's orange juice is alright.

I think Morrisons and Tesco milk chocolate is quite decent too.

Optimisticpair

EssexHebridean wrote: »

I wish you'd not said that about the tuna from Asda - that's one of my upcoming comparisons! I compared Tesco Value and Asda Smartprice chopped tomatoes last night - on taste alone I think the Asda ones slightly edged it, but they were a lot more liquid than the tesco ones so I personally would still be more inclined to go with Tesco. I think Sainsburys basics Tuna is slightly better than the Tesco equivalent though. I still have beans to do.....! I've found that almost any fresh veg from the value / basics type ranges is excellent - I use it for things that I couldn't buy British on anyway - Peppers, bananas and things like that.

Aw dear.

I'm not sure if the whole toms are cheaper still but I just chop them up with scisssors if I don't have any chopped in the cupboard.

I like fresh veg too. Its just disappointing tho that supermarket veg is grown for quantity and to mature all at once for harvesting not especially for taste. I'll never forget getting some champagne grapes from a market, it was just a one off chance that the supplier had sthem. They were absolutely superb.

Optimisticpair

The packing has been completed so tomorrow I will be on my way to a new temporary residence which will be home for me until completion date.

I'm hoping that we will complete in just a few weeks as I might not be able to get online.

In case I cannot get on here until the phone is reconnected in the new house and an internet connection set up I'd like to say a warm thank you of appreciation to friends who have taken such encouraging interest in our adventure and whos Diary's I have been enjoying

and to wish you all the very best of luck in your projects and endeavours.

When I do get back online this is a thread I will enjoy reading more of.

In My Home - First time renovation thread
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1186031&page=2

Cheers,


De

Optimisticpair

The temporary flat was good but I couldn't log on from there and the expense for getting online for just a few weeks until completion date wasn't MSE so I sat it out.

We completed on the cottage on 3rd November. Shortly after this though the central heating Rayburn died. We had a new efficient oil fired system and extra necessary radiators installed on 2 Feb which has reduced the fuel bill by about a third from £43 a winter week while heating twice as much house to dry it out. I got 1,000 litres of oil at 32.9p /litre.

The "damp" alluded to in a previous post I have half cured by having a gutter repaired at a cost of £20. The other repair to complete the task I will do myself now that my back is up to it and the weather is dry and warm enough for me to work outside.

It cost £200 to have some work done outside with a digger including flattening the car parking space but consider it well worth it because it is now usable:T
I had to dismantle some drystone wall to reopen the entrance.

The next major job on the list is to renovate the kitchen which includes some electrical work. We have done some of the prep work to save money.

Cheers,
De

setmefree2

Gosh you sound busy:D Good to hear all your news... with all your plans.

Tesco_points_addict

I'm so jelous, your cottage sounds idilic! I want it...now!!

Good luck on your journey

TPAx

Optimisticpair

Oh, yes. November 2008 Mr Optimistic and I bought a traditional Welsh stone cottage in the Cambrian foothills. We were told by BT that we were on a shared line and couldn't get broadband until November 09. We have had to live apart because Mr Optimistic needs it for his work :eek: Our line kept crackling and dropping then it would be ok for a few weeks then go back to crackle and drop every time we made a phone call. We went through a series of reporting the faults but BT could not find a fault After another spell of the line dropping every minute or two we bit the bullet and called out an engineer. Amazingly he said there was no reason that we couldn't get off the shared line and have broadband. Thanks to his efforts we got broadband this week! Mr Optimistic can come and live at home. Hooray.:T

We have been reasonably MSE using local businesses and trades-people in the kitchen renovation and while we didn't save a great deal of cash that way it has been priceless in getting to know local people.

We also knocked off a big lump of debt as well as having some electrical and more efficient (money-saving) heating work done and still have a bit left in an emergency fund left so we are happy. As soon as Mr Optimistic moves in there will be some saving to be made on petrol.

Is it MSE to make pets of four sparrrows instead of getting a dog and a cat? Bird seed is cheep. We had four sparrows to start with but after this breeding season we now have eight of them.

setmefree2

Hi OP,

Good to hear your news. Good news about your OH.

Anyhoo,




Best Wishes

SMF2