It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

MissisP

My pressure cooker comes with a basket that sits on a trivet above the water. That seems to stop veggies/spuds getting soggy. There's well cooked and WELL cooked! If it's a tad full, I have put the spuds in the water under the trivet with a basket full of veg, just kept it at pressure for less time. That's handy for one pot cooking to go with toad in the hole or something. Trial and error and a good instruction/recipe book seem to be the key - and my mum tells me that beetroot is not the best thing to cook, unless you want to paint your kitchen ceiling purple!

ralloctiger

hi I too have been lurking all over the forums but have found my heart in OS. Too many like minded people its great. I thought I was a little sad cos I read and use Flylady and now I have found others just like me!! I like leaving the kitchen just the way I want to find it in the morning, not ocd i promise.
One thing i want to clear up is when you ( posters/ members ) talk about grocery bills are you refering to purely food or are inc cleaning and toiletries aswell? I have managed £80 a week for all three with 2 aduolts and 3 teens and am not sure if I'm on the right track?
x

MissisP

Yes, I know what you mean. Had my knuckles wrapped on another forum asking for genuine advice for my baby sis, so I felt like I 'wasted' my first post as a newbie, so I shall definitely stick around here! Much friendlier and more supportive.
As for the groceries, my bill covers toiletries, loo rolls etc and cleaning materials as well, so probably not technically accurate. I haven't had the heart to break it down further so maybe there are still savings to be made!

charlies-aunt

MissisP wrote: »

...l. All I'm wondering is, that with the planned austerity measures, what is everyone going to do if we're already squeezing our budgets until the pips come out! I shop around for the best deals out of habit now (thanks to MSE), so bills can't really get any lower; the only thing to cut down on is the food bill.

Welcome MissisP!

IKWYM - I'm squeezing my money so tight at the moment, its squeaking

If things get worse, I guess I'll have to turn it inside out, put a patch on it and put it through the wringer! Seriously though - for us it will mean cutting back on non-food - heating, lighting, running the washer less and the dryer not at all, repairing and making do to the max...although we're fast approaching that state already.

This years Christmas presents are going to be simple and/or homemade jam, jellies and wine (fingers crossed for some decent hedgerow crops of elderberries, brambles etc) I am going to get cracking tomorrow on my stash of old Christmas cards to make recycled cards and gift tags for this year - if they are ready to go, I won't be guilted into buying full price one just before Christmas

MissisP

turn it inside out, put a patch on it and put it through the wringer!

:rotfl:Loving that! I did really well in Boots after Christmas, got a fair few pressies in their 75% off sale. I love making cards and gifts, putting together hampers and so on, but I do sometimes wonder if people think I'm being a cheapskate. My DH thinks that people like that they've been made just for them and they're more personal, but I'm never quite sure. There was a thread somewhere on here about that last year - some people had really negative reactions to their gifts and I do get a bit anxious.

In "Down with Superwoman", Shirley Conran had a great formula: basically, for the first year of economies, just send card to everyone you used to send gifts to. Second year, when they just send you cards, stop sending them cards. Third year - nothing to worry about! Not sure I could go quite that far...

I shall be foraging this autumn as well, we have done very well for blackberries over the past few years, but lots of them have been cleared for a 'natural play area' now, so I'll have to find an alternative location!

greengoblin

Hampers are always best. Little useful presents that you have put thought into putting together to make a wicked present I always do little gift bags for friends and family.
An idea I have to say I stole from Kath Kelly (the author of how i lived on a pound a day) is to collect free samples throughout the year then arrange them nicely in homemade giftbags/boxes or home painted glasses (buy from charity shop then decorate). None of my friends seem to mind and actually seem to appreciate all the time you spend trolling the internet getting the stuff. Lots of little useable things which are nice to try (things that you'd never buy a big size one of but are curious to try). You end up with so much stuff that you can do themed ones (beauty, make-up etc. Last year I had received 3 alcohol miniatures [from different offers] and bought a nice CS shot glass and voila - nice, useable present. Whole cost 30p + 15 minutes on the net)

Re: hedgerow hunting. Found a copy of 'Wild Cooking' by Richard Mabey (the wonderful man who wrote 'Food for Free') about how to add wild ingredients into normal recipes. All simple, mostly tasty. CS find £1.99 - the only cookery book I have lol

smileyt_2

I too have noticed things being more expensive in the shops :mad:. I don't drink, don't smoke, don't have a car (I use my bike and cycle or walk most places), don't have a pension or any insurance. I don't have sky or any cable packages. I don't eat out, go to the cinema or the theatre. My only 'luxuries' are my two dogs and my two chickens. Oh, and my knitting and gardening mags that I get on subscription - but I am thinking of cancelling those soon. Oh, and I don't go on holiday either. The dogs are my health preservers and the chooks provide eggs, and poop for the compost heap.

At least I'm not in debt - but I would be if I was paying into a pension or had insurance.

Sometimes I feel really p****d off that the people who make the rules have everything and more that they need. I bet they don't shiver through a winter's day wrapped up like Michelin man because they can't afford to have the heating on!

Sorry - rant over!

Can anyone enlighten me - what does TPTB mean? Thanks.

PS I know I sound a right grumpy old so-and-so, but actually I am quite happy with my lot!

Gigervamp

TPTB- The Powers That Be.

saorsie

Thanks for asking smileyt - I often wondered - I don't think you appear grumpy - for myself I know I'm far more contented when I'm watching the pennies - having access to excess amounts of cash does not necessarily make one a happy bunny

-s-

BigMummaF

charlies-aunt wrote: »

I am going to vote with my feet next week and try to buy what I usually buy at Sainsbergers either off the market - or places like Wikinsons, Home Bargains, Bargain Madness - for non food/household stuff, there always better deals to be had on the high street than the supermarkets - its just that time is a big factor but I'm on holiday next week so will have chance to have a browse round.

Just hope that the reduction in Basics and Value stuff means that another round of price wars will be on its way soon - I wouldn't be suprised if its a cynical marketing ploy.I suspect that the big supermarkets might relaunch the Basics/Value lines as loss leaders at the end of August - to attract shoppers back in for school supplies and for the Christmas stock that will be starting to be displayed....

Helps if you have access to those sorts of shops Our town has begun a weekly market & we went on the first outing; not much to shout about if truth be told--same with the weekly one next town over. I haven't dismissed it completely but I find it difficult to see if I'm saving anything because they do baskets of f&v for X amount with no idea of the weight of goods, plus I've been on the wrong end of the not-so-good-quality [read: totally inedible :mad:] too.

And my biggest bug-bear is that--with 3 of us 4 having allergies & extremely sensitive skin--I have to pay a premium for things like H&B & cleaning products. My mum is a diabetic & has to do the same for reduced sugar foodstuffs like baked beans--so much for 'healthy living' !