It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

sammy_kaye18

Right well I have had a conversation with Bnejamin this mronign adn let him know that now mummy is off work she has time to do more baking so I asked my 6 year old does he want mummy buying biscuits from the shop or makign them? his answer - 'making them because then i can help adn lick the bowl'. :T

so home baking it is - so I will be stocking up on flour, eggs, sugar etc - boyfriend has asked fro flapjacks with some added dried fruit, and ben has asked fro banana bread and if we can make little cakes.

so looks like it will be a no junk shop this week and I'll see how i go with spending! boyfriend has even asked me for some home made apple bread - hand made bread filled with bramley apples and sultanas, served with custard - so looks like im going to be super busy as well as batch cooking for the freezer!! really must find tubs now though to hide all these goodies in!

sammy_kaye18

mardatha wrote: »

Also can you still get those sets of three wee triangular pots that all fit on one gas? I dont know what they're called or where to look for them...if anybody can point me to them please:)

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://s7v1.scene7.com/is/image/JohnLewis/230518933%3F$product$&imgrefurl=http://www.johnlewis.com/230518933/Product.aspx&usg=__KmzEXzIIflXJzvpVhbjOFCLrOcw=&h=298&w=298&sz=27&hl=en&start=16&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=DsxNCItZZkCv3M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsaucepan%2Bwith%2B3%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1


do you mean these mardatha?? I think they would be a good investment but sure you can find them cheaper - and i know those saucepans with 3 compartments would be gas saving but no idea what they are called and cant find any on google!

Reverbe

Cheerfulness I recently contacted Tesco Head Office re several 400% rises in the Value range!!!!!!

Winged_one

I've noticed that, even though we are being more careful with our food shopping and using up lots from the cupboards, we are spending as much or more than when I had been less careful. We are not in a bad place, although we've both taken pay cuts, but I am surprised at how little difference being careful has made. The prices are creeping back up despite all the "bargains" and "reductions" that the shops are shouting about!

This week, OH did the "big" shop, where we only needed 2 bags of groceries, and that included no meat or fruit and veg, and he still spent €50. I was expecting about €30! Luckily, the plot is finally producing food again - I had leeks (we are just finishing off last year's lot, as they were so poor we had to leave them grow longer), rhubarb, radishes and lettuce - 3 nice heads! And I am back on to salads for my work lunches.

But OH has agreed that I should do another run "up north" next month, once we've cleared out the cupboards - as the food prices ahve drifted so far again (having gotten into the habit of going 3-4 times every year, I haven't been since last July as prices had fallen here and exchange rates weren't as good, but I think X rates won't matter so much as prices are still lower there). So I will be spending very little this month, except on some meat, fruit and veg, milk and bread. And having a very expensive month next month - I usually spend about €400 or so on a northern run - including alcohol and 2 trollies piled high with storecupboard goods that will last us a good few months, as well as that week's fresh needs.

mardatha

No SK, thats not it. Its a set of three actual pots, triangular, that fit together like a jigsaw on one ring...

Primrose

We used to use a pressure cooker a lot for cooking our daily vegetables. Don't know why we really got out of the habit, except it meant more washing up of the individual triangular containers afterwards. Now we normally just cut all the vegetables up small and cook them all together in the same saucepan, putting the lid on and turning the heat right down as soon as the water starts to boil.

lauren_1

Memory_Girl wrote: »

It's your lucky day Lauren - I've got a whole box of washables that were given to me by some really kind ladies on here for the birth of my DS 2 years 2 months ago.

They have all been realy well cleaned and re-lanolinised??? Ithink thats how it was explained to me. It would be great if they could be passed on to another MSE'r.

DS is in the very biggest size (3 in rotation cos he's mostly dry through the day) - but if you'd like the others I would be delighted to send them to you. I jutst talked myslef into the fact that if my kids had been born closer together then DS2 would have been in DS1's nappies anyway - so a "MSE cousin" wasn't any different.

In fact I spotted 4 rolls of nappy liners for 50p inthe charity shop yesterday - I will go and get those too because that will do you for about the first 1000 nappy changes. Cut them in half when the bubs is teeny and they go even further.

Might have to wait a couple of weeks before I can send them - (still recoverring from car bill) but with 35 weeks to go - thats another thing you could tick off your list:D

PM me if you're interested

Memorygirl

Have PM'd you!

pagangirl

I've noticed price rises too, but my main annoyance is in the size reduction of things that you don't notice until packets are opened - e.g. 9 pk individually wrapped choc biscuits - shrinking by about a third in size - really bugs me.:(

Primrose thanks for link - I have also e-mailed Saisbugs as local shop is only small to start with, now they are getting more stuff in like electricals, the basics range is really limited.

ginnyknit

Going to have a wander round Mr T's online and see whats gone up that we buy then I will mail them.

Been busy filing in forms online for consumer credit counselling service. Just got a bit more to do and then we will see if an IVA is the best tactic for us - very nerve wracking, going for a cuppa now to get my brain a rest. May well give my grandson a cuddle too, always makes me feel better.

spike7451

I've started shopping in the local pound shop in the town,they do packs of 9 locally sourced eggs for a quid,packets of Rocky biscuits,3 for a quid &,even better,I got Daisy cat 3x 800gm packets of her dry food,Optima, for £3!!! Normally around that price for one pack in Tesco!!
I think it's going to be a tough few months while the new gov sort out Liebours mess & I think we all will have to adjust our spending habits accordingly.