Live on £4000 for a year - part 4 (Oct - Dec 2008)

sophiesmum_2

One of the perks for you in country - better access to poultry stocks etc. I would need to travel 30 miles to nearest place to get point of lay chooks, and then only by appointment. Even egglu don't deliver birds here.

Swings and roundbouts I think with town versus country availability of stuff.

Frugaldom

Night-visitor cat has posed another mystery. After asking neighbours, only one of them nearby has a cat - except it's a black one! So, the mystery ginger fat cat remains a mystery, but he's welcome to visit us regularly on the condition that a) he deals with the mice and b) he leaves the guinea pig and any future small creatures (feathered or otherwise) alone. I think I like the name 'Bagpuss', as that's what he looks like.

Sophiesmum, Can I freeze brocolli and, if so, what's best way of doing it? Cooked or frozen?

cw18

Nyk - I've got Whoopsie brocolli in my freezer now..... I cut it into florets as if we were going to use it there and then, then blanched it. When I want to use some I just simmer it (from frozen) for about 10 mins, whereas if I were using it from fresh I'd steam it for 15-20 mins. I do exactly the same with cauliflower and carrots

Frugaldom

Thanks again, I know it can be bought in bags pre-frozen but wasn't sure if it needed blanching first.

sophiesmum_2

nykmedia wrote: »

Thanks again, I know it can be bought in bags pre-frozen but wasn't sure if it needed blanching first.

As Cheryl says just blanch before freezing, then just takes a little less time to cook. Just had one of turkey and veg pies with some runner beans from freezer which we grew in summer - tasted so lovely, along with a gooseberry and rhubarb crumble also from our home grown stuff.:D

cha97michelle

We've had a lovely day here today. I made a lovely carrot and lentil soup at lunchtime, and a cottage pie for dinner, and in the middle we took the boys to a nearby pond to feed them our scraps of bread.

We picked up our last few presents and some bits at costco yesterday and got a pack of free bacon off my dad - about 6Ib. We also dropped off a few xmas bits we had bought on there behalf, and DH helped to fit a new door they were putting on. They are very frugally tarting up the bathroom that was spoilt by a couple of floods they had by just painting it for now and replacing the warped woodwork when money is better.

On the subject of broccoli, i don't buy it often, but any scraps of stem i cut up and put in the freezer as is, and when i have been making up my soups, i chuck a handful in as they are cooking, and you can't tell its there and it is extra nutrition and something i previously would have binned. Every little helps as they say.

I think i am almost there on the xmas front. One present of DS2's is a photo album that you can record voices onto, so we need to print out some photos and record a couple of voices before wrapping it. Otherwise, everything is wrapped, and i just need to go and get some veg. All the rest is in. DH was given a bottle of whisky that can go in the present store, and a bottle of champagne which we may take if visiting his newly married friend over xmas, so making it a cheaper night in or out.

I can't wait now for the festivities to trully start as my DS1 is the perfect age for it and is quite excited already. I can't wait to see his face when he sees the tractor and water tank my mum and dad bought him. Ideal for watering veggies when we do the veggie plot.

Buffythedebtslayer

nykmedia wrote: »

PS: I'll be jealous of your organisational, catering and savings skills if you're going to be jealous of my quail housing. :rotfl:

And I will just be jealous of everything!

Mum goes away in feb for a while maybe six weeks? and I am hoping that whilst she is away I can get all kinds of things going, home cooking, grow my own, selling my life on e bay, looking at ways to recycle better and make my own gifts etc.

I read all the stuff you do and want to have a go so badly!! :rotfl: :rotfl:

*goes off to take notes!*

xx

bails

Buffy, I'm with you there! I want to do EVERYTHING, NOW too! It's very hard to contain yourself when you're excited about something but I've been getting a lot of practice
Glad you had a great day Michelle - I can't wait til Christmas is about little ones! Not long to wait though

I wrapped my first hamper tonight - not quite up to SM's super standards but happy nonetheless - I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Skint_Lynne

Evening all,

I've not had much time for posting as I have been busy with the shop and DH coming back. I read yesterday's posts in the airport whilst waiting for the plane to come in. He is not good for frugal living.............. he has used 2 whole toilet rolls since coming home:eek: :eek: :eek: . I think I mentioned before that he is a bit like the andrex puppy, uses so much of the stuff that he blocks my toilet!!!:rotfl:

I am well impressed with the pork pie shaz and the turkey pies and curries looked great sophiesmum. I bought one of those turkey breasts from costco and I cooked it, it's in the freezer now. I am going there on Tuesday as I will need to cook the christmas dinner now, my mum is not very well at the moment, so I am in charge.:eek:

I'll make my list tomorrow, I already have some of the things I need, but will need to get everything else then. Hopefully, I can get most of it in Costco.

I have wrapped all my presents and all cards have been delivered. I have counted up and I have enough cards for next year already, I'll just need to buy the special ones I think.

Well, I'm off to dry my hair now and go to bed. I hope I'm busy tomorrow, nite nite. xx

JennyBee_2

nykmedia wrote: »

So, after having had a clear out of the fridge, using up what had to be eaten in a mish mash of meals, I ended up with a scraping of pat!, a few strands of left over spaghetti with remains of bolognese sauce and a full tin (nobody liked them!) of sardines in tomato sauce. I went out about 9pm with the dish and sat it tight in front of the livingroom window, so I could watch later. Came back in, went and made a cuppa, sat down, peeked out the curtains and BLOW ME! Whatever it is had already been and scoffed the lot, bowl licked completely clean! :eek: NO WAY was that Mr Hedgehog! It had to have been either a brave Mr Fox, or else the invisible, mystery cat! :rolleyes: I can't believe I missed it! My frugal funtime foiled again!

Nyk - you realise that it's probably one of us that has the best recipe that involves spaghetti and sardines but hasn't got any in the cupboard! I reckon some of your neighbours are reducing their grocery bill by pretending to be local wildlife!!!