It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

ginnyknit

Congratulations winged one! :beer:

I dont know who it was said recently they lived on Spam during the difficult days but yesterday in B&M I saw 2 tins of spam for 2.69 - guess its no longer a cheap meal :eek:

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

Annie - can you use UHT cream ?

never tried it, but I doubt it.
found this on the web:

if you are using uht cream(anything 'homogenised' is passed through a fine nozzle so that the fat is all dispersed..so you got no fat globules in uht milk like you'd find in raw milk because the very cell structure of the fat is broken down and distributed evenly..agitation of the cream seperates the butter and whey...wont happen with uht/homogenised dairy) you probably cant make your own butter from it


from here:http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:kTTiORHWj0QJ:www.travelerslunchbox.com/journal/2007/6/21/getting-some-culture.html+use+uht+to+make+butter&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

elizabunny

Winged_one wrote: »

I have good news for a change. OH had been looking and talking to another compnay since February, but was starting to despair as it was all taking so long. But eventually everyone had talked to everyone else and agreed, so he has got a new job!! He has an email of the contract, but we're just waiting on the hard copy in the post. But he gave his notice yesterday to his current job - celebrations!!

And because he's been there 6 months of this year, I am trying to persuade him to take the 2 weeks leave he has accrued - I think he was secretly hoping to get "gardening leave", but they didn't do that. So now I am working on the hols - even if he just stays home alone and reads and digs and relaxes a little!

Congratulations Winged one to you and your OH!

shandyclover

Regarding the discussion about making your own butter/marg. My kids dont like margarine and hubby thinks we should not be having butter either. I read somewhere once you can freeze olive oil in a container and use it as marge, so I gave it a try. Poured olive oil into an tupperware box and froze it. Seems to work fine, kids and hubby both got used to the taste, and they say its better for you. It does have to stay in the freezer though!

annie123

Nothing the matter with butter, its made from cream which comes from milk, unless you have a milk allergy I guess.
Trans fatty acids which are often found in marg are bad for you. The more solid the marg the higher the level of TFA.
Olive oil is excellent for you, I've mixed it into my home made butter, (which I always make salt free) when I've been short of cream.

Homemade garlic or herb butter is delicious by the way, well worth trying to do.


Back to the 'are basics vanishing from shops', just been to my local and all the usual ones are there.
Checked my receipt and MrS basic pizza's are down to 62p from 78p I paid in January and basic scouring sponges down 2p to 12p for 5. Everything else seems to have gone up over the last 2 weeks or so:mad:
Very miffed at the basic shortbread increase was 12p now 25p!
better not put up the price of their basic chocolate, thats my little treat:)

spike7451

ginnyknit wrote: »

Congratulations winged one! :beer:

I dont know who it was said recently they lived on Spam during the difficult days but yesterday in B&M I saw 2 tins of spam for 2.69 - guess its no longer a cheap meal :eek:

I buy the tins of Bacon Grill from Poundtown or Lidls own Spam,a heck of a lot cheaper.

annie123

Just a thought, if anyone here likes Korma or balti my local 99p store had 2 ltrs of Loyd Grossman Korma or Balti sauce for yes, you've guessed it, 99p

@25p per 500ml its 1/4 of MrS own brand korma.
Good for the stock pile cupboard

Winged_one

Thanks everyone - it's a huge weight off my shoulders as the old company was just messing him around so much and it looked increasingly like he was stuck there.

So this weekend, we are going to enjoy the Street Performer's World Championships in the city! It's free (although we usually throw a few bob into the hats of those performers we really enjoy!), usually good fun, weather forecast is nice, and we can bring a few snacks to make a picnic and enjoy a family day out for Father's Day too!!

mardatha

Saw a strange bird out the back today, looked like a hawk but no hawk that I ever saw before, so went onto the RSPB bird identifyer site and its a CUCKOO!! Never before in my life have I seen a cuckoo, thought they were only down south! It opened its beak to yawn and my god what a size of a gape. Could've swallowed me !

Primrose

annie - you'd better stock up on your favourite chocolate now. It's one of the food items already subject to VAT, so if it goes up to 25% in the budget next week, it will certainly be even more unaffordable. (However, it may be the final straw which forces me to give it up and improve my waistline).