£40 to last 2 weeks!

MrsBartolozzi

Just had a thought re feeding GPs:
Not knowing where you live... is there anywhere you can pick dandelion leaves nearby, but not on a busy road (like my front lawn:o ) ? GP's love them and they are good for them. Mine used to eat the grass too in the summer, but I think it's still a bit cold to put them outside right now.

Butterfly_Brain

Try this thread it is inspirational!
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1129333&highlight=mbaz+only+28+for+the+month

Shortie

Caterina wrote: »

There is always a lot of vegs leftover at the end of the working day in any market. You can go to grocers and stalls and ask for stalks, leaves and any bruised veg - say that they are for your rabbits and that you have a lot of them, so you can feed your guineapigs and also yourself and your OH with the stuff. I have seen perfectly usable veg thrown away just because they had a little bruise, so you are likely to get some nice goodies.

I used to do this when I had rabbits and GPs, and would ask for the cabbage leaves as they were stripping off the outer ones.

I wouldn't have the guts to do that now I don't have them, though I think it's a fab idea if you can also get some bits usable for yourself too.

Do you mind if I ask what you say to them? I might give it a go myself next weekend if I pop over that way

clutterydrawer

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Just had a thought re feeding GPs:
Not knowing where you live... is there anywhere you can pick dandelion leaves nearby, but not on a busy road (like my front lawn:o ) ? GP's love them and they are good for them. Mine used to eat the grass too in the summer, but I think it's still a bit cold to put them outside right now.

this is a good idea

there are a few other wild foods you can pick too if you have a suitable place to gather them...i will list them if you want

fairy3

Just a couple of suggestions on the gifts front - do you hava a boots advantage card? Any points that could be used on gifts? Mr Boots has lots of offers on and the boot's thread on 'grabbit' has lots of ways of stretching them! Also after mother's day gifts might be cheaper for MIL's birthday - Thorntons etc.
Also visit the discount/coupon board to save on things you already buy?
Tesco vouchers? great for magazine subscriptions or meals out.
Re Cards - any chance of making them yourself? I have no artistic merit but there are threads in special occasions board (sorry rubbish at links as well!)

Hope this helps a bit

juliapenguin

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

Just had a thought re feeding GPs:
Not knowing where you live... is there anywhere you can pick dandelion leaves nearby, but not on a busy road (like my front lawn:o ) ? GP's love them and they are good for them. Mine used to eat the grass too in the summer, but I think it's still a bit cold to put them outside right now.

I wasn't really concentrating when I read this and interpreted GPs as General Practitioners and not Guinea Pigs......

I had visions of my doctor gnawing away at dandelion leaves and grazing on grass.... :rotfl:

squirrelchops

Cancel the window cleaner...is it essential to have your windows done regularly or could you borrow a long ladder and do them youselves??

Galaxy863

Thank you so much for all the tips and advice!

I already have gifts for mothers day sorted ( just a box of chocolates for each, half price from tescos ) so just need cards which I can pick up fairly cheaply. I think buying them will work out cheaper than making them as I have absolutely nothing in to make them so by the time I buy card etc I guess it would work out more.

I have a boots advantage card, never thought about that and I think I have £10 ish on it too :j so I might see if I can get something from boots for the birthday present.

I work full time so getting to a greengrocer might be a bit difficult. There's one near where I work that I usually go to and the woman who used to work there used to stick a couple of extra things in for free for me for the piggies, but now she's left and its a miserable bloke who works there so I don't think I'd feel comfortable asking him for freebies... although if I get desperate I won't have a choice!

There's loads of fields where I live so I might venture out looking for dandelions ( none in the garden, I checked lol ) although the only problem is it's normally dark by the time I get home and I don't fancy stumbling around in the dark trying to find food for them.... lord knows what I might fall in to :shocked:

I went through my fridge/freezers last night and meal planned, I easily have enough for meals for the next two weeks so thats one less thing to worry about. Car has just been filled up and a tank normally lasts 3 weeks so shouldn't need any more petrol.

Spent £4.50 on guinea pig food, I actually went to wilkinsons but they had none of the cheaper stuff left and as I had no food for them I had no choice but to get them what I normally do.

As I said I've decided not to pay the credit card off until after pay day ( which is the 31st ), I still won't pay any interest on it though as the payment isn't due until around the 14th of the month, as I said I just like to start with a zero balance at the beginning of the month.

So I now have £35.50 left, won't have to spend anything today as I've brought my lunch in to work and I'm making a point of not going out at lunch time so I'm not tempted to buy anything!

Caterina

Shortie wrote: »

I used to do this when I had rabbits and GPs, and would ask for the cabbage leaves as they were stripping off the outer ones.

I wouldn't have the guts to do that now I don't have them, though I think it's a fab idea if you can also get some bits usable for yourself too.

Do you mind if I ask what you say to them? I might give it a go myself next weekend if I pop over that way

Well you can say something on the lines of "do you mind me picking up some of the outer cabbage leaves for my bunnies and my neighbour's ones too?" and if they agree you could say "thank you very much it really helps, so I do not have to buy so much of the dry food, I might come back in a few days if you don't mind" etc etc... I suppose you can just improvise.

In some markets (for example Chapel Market in London, near Angel tube) I have seen perfectly usable fruit and veg left on the floor after the stall holders have left, in which case you just go there and pick up the stuff.

I haven't needed to do this but I know that I would just get creative if I needed to, so it is just a matter of taking courage with both hands and chance it. The worst that can happen is a refusal, no big deal, plenty of markets around. Good luck!

Shortie

I worked next door to Angel stations a couple of years ago...If that's the makrtet next to M&S, then I know it, and the jacket spud stall that kept me going in the winter, lol. I loved the market there, and miss it now I work back on Bishopsgate