Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

slowlyfading

andromache wrote: »

Well done on the NSDs, sf... I'm up to 5 so far this month so not too bad - only 10 to go :eek:

You can do this! I didn't make my target for January, so I'm determined to do it this month! xx

Frugaldom

shaz_mum_of__2 wrote: »

Nyk - isnt it true that quails eggs from supermarkets will hatch if you incubate them (a colleague who used to work on a farm told me this)


Shaz

I have never, ever seen quail eggs in a supermarket, so wouldn't know. I guess it would depend on where the eggs originated, as the hens can't lay hatchable eggs without help from their partners.

Marru - new wellies sound good, but a tortilla press?? :rotfl:

Sophiesmum, I pinched the hanging basket idea by adapting one of yours from last year. I've no tall fence posts, so a clothing rack will do. However, we do have a disused telegraph pole in the garden, so I'm thinking this would be ideal for attaching a few brackets to, then adding more baskets.

Skint Lynne, hope your expedition is going well, you'll soon be home

Zelie, climb back on board, it's a bumpy ride to start off with, so hold on tight this time.

With most of my time going on working, MSE'ing and gardening, I'm going to have to get organised with 'quick food' meals, so any help appreciated with this. I'm batch cooking mince in slow cooker tonight and will be doing more curry, bolognese sauce, soup and pies, but I'm running short of 'good' ideas for tasty, quick meals that everyone likes. :rolleyes: It's so much easier when you can just pick a handful of salad leaves and serve them up with cooked meat and tomatoes.

Skint_Lynne

nykmedia wrote: »

I have never, ever seen quail eggs in a supermarket, so wouldn't know. I guess it would depend on where the eggs originated, as the hens can't lay hatchable eggs without help from their partners.

Marru - new wellies sound good, but a tortilla press?? :rotfl:

Sophiesmum, I pinched the hanging basket idea by adapting one of yours from last year. I've no tall fence posts, so a clothing rack will do. However, we do have a disused telegraph pole in the garden, so I'm thinking this would be ideal for attaching a few brackets to, then adding more baskets.

Skint Lynne, hope your expedition is going well, you'll soon be home

Zelie, climb back on board, it's a bumpy ride to start off with, so hold on tight this time.

With most of my time going on working, MSE'ing and gardening, I'm going to have to get organised with 'quick food' meals, so any help appreciated with this. I'm batch cooking mince in slow cooker tonight and will be doing more curry, bolognese sauce, soup and pies, but I'm running short of 'good' ideas for tasty, quick meals that everyone likes. :rolleyes: It's so much easier when you can just pick a handful of salad leaves and serve them up with cooked meat and tomatoes.

Nyk,

What about stovies? I make them with sausages, potatoes and onions. Just boile the sausage for a bit to get the fat out and then add it to the sausage and onoin, just cover with water, salt and pepper and then boil/simmer. It is ready when the potatoes are soft and the water has turned thick, almost like a sauce. It's cheap and easy. The quick bit comes in as you don't need to watch it, you can walk away. I'll bet you could make it in the slow. Will think of other stuff and let you know. only 2 more sleeps until I'm home.

I know that at some point I may be in your neck of the woods due to the new job. I've to visit most of the Scottish hospitals, so this will cover your region. I may be becoming real instead of virtual to you sooner than you think...:D

sophiesmum_2

Good evening frunchkins:D - just got back from swimming, so time to have a quick catch up.

SL - you sound really homesick - only a few more days to go:)

Marru - never had a tortilla press, I am intrigued;) I will need an update on it's usefulness - just for kitchen gadgetitis purposes:rolleyes:

Nyk - Until an allotment appears on the horizon I have investigated some extra wall space and a small shady patch which I intend to make use of, Hanging baskets will definately be the mainstay of my growing (slug free!) along with fruit bushes and stuff in greenhouse,lots of pots,two coldframes, and potatoes in growing bags,and a few things indoors. It is just the large area stuff like brassicas etc that I will be stuck for space so won't really be able to do - although I did contemplate growing something around the grass verges of our car park - but OH said that was a step too far:rotfl:

Zelie

Thanks folks. I need to have a sitdown and tot up the figures. I think broadly I'm doing ok. But I love buying presents for people so I know I'm going to splurge on that.

Recipes: I found a thing with rice patties. Boil up some rice and set it aside to cool. Then mix it with minced beef, fine-chopped chilli's and onion with a little beaten egg to bind it. Then fry them up.

I have no idea yet whether these will freeze well but I don't see why not. And they seem an incredibly adaptable idea and you can play about lots with different spices etc.

sophiesmum_2

Zelie wrote: »

Thanks folks. I need to have a sitdown and tot up the figures. I think broadly I'm doing ok. But I love buying presents for people so I know I'm going to splurge on that.

Recipes: I found a thing with rice patties. Boil up some rice and set it aside to cool. Then mix it with minced beef, fine-chopped chilli's and onion with a little beaten egg to bind it. Then fry them up.

I have no idea yet whether these will freeze well but I don't see why not. And they seem an incredibly adaptable idea and you can play about lots with different spices etc.

They should freeze fine zelie, my OH would like those might try some at weekend.
We like HM cheeseburgers with the cheese in the middle - you don't have to worry about the meat being cooked in the middle.

sammey90

I need a rant / moan / whinge / vent ... feel free to ignore this post!!

Earlier this week i had an issue with capital one, i'm still over-limit, so they keep putting extra charges on. I tried to set up a payment from my bank account, but it didn't work, and no money's gone.GRRR no 1.

This evening, i was just checking my account, only to find that £90!!!!!!!!! of charges have gone out today. I phoned to ask about them, and surprisingly, their computer was having an 'error' day. so now i have £31 left in the account, £270 of bills / debts not paid yet, and 17 days until payday. There's gonna be more charges, cos lots of things were refused in Jan, so i'll probably go overdrawn again this month, so March is now screwed as well. GRRR no 2.

Last Tuesday, when we were snowed of school, I took all the final bills to my old house's letting agents, so that i can have the deposit back. He said, OK, will get a cheque sent out to you TODAY. It still isn't here, and i've made arrangements to pay stuff on friday thinking that it would be in the bank and cleared by now. GRRRRRRRRR No 3

How on earth am I to get straight, when it feels the world is conspiring against me? I know i caused (almost) all of these problems, but i'd like just a small chance to sort myself out.

Anyway, thanks for that....feel a little better...and this is a bit more sane than shouting at the wall!!!

Marru

sammey90 wrote: »

Anyway, thanks for that....feel a little better...and this is a bit more sane than shouting at the wall!!!

If it makes you feel any better on Monday when a debt collector called me I was literally jumping up and down and shouting several times to my walls to f*** off. DD wasn't here so no need to watch my language, I might have upset the guinea pigs thou.

Ummm... I have spent more money online. Bought some supplements to keep me going until my new eating plan is in place and starts to kick in. Also ordered a sprouter that has tray for growing stuff in soil and tray to sprout seeds. I am intending to grow buck wheat and sunflowers in the bottom and mung beans, lentils and alfa alfa on top. Need to go and get all the seeds and some organic compost over the weekend. So I think I better log off in a hurry before I do more damage to my bank balance.

Sophiesmum, THIS if for you

Night night,

Marru

PS - Nyk, I don't think you realised how much the wellies cost me...

slowlyfading

Not sure what to say in response sammey, but here's a (((HUG))) for you xx

grandma247

Sammy have you been to citizens advice? They should have someone who can help you sort this mess out. You can get the charges stopped and If I understand it right you can claim back the charges. I am sure I have seen something on this site about it. I am off to bed in a minute as its late so will look in the morning for you unless you find it yourself. Please let us know how you get on.