Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 2

cw18

Brighton_belle wrote: »

Am I the only saddo indoors de-cluttering?:rotfl:

I'm inside too -- can't sit out in the sun (or even when it's dull but warm/muggy) as I get severe headaches

Have made another 2 batches of my thick veg soup - but this is for DD and the cost of the ingredients WILL be paid back! Made it into 20 portions - but I'm keeping one for me, to repay the portion of mine she took to try it.

Went a bit heavy-handed on the celery in the first batch - and it was over-powering :eek: (neither of us would eat it by choice), so I missed it out of the second batch completely and then combined the two..... glad to say it seems to have worked out OK :T

Have also had a dig around for a few more bits for the dustbin (collection day tomorrow), and am about to go and batch cook some chille (which will gain hidden celery ) and a mince dish that cooks with baked beans (have half a tin that needs using before I end up binning it). Then I need to cook tea as well -- so a glorious day outside, and I'll have been "chained" to the cooker for most of it

Brighton_belle

sounds a shame cheryl: I can't cope with the sun very well either but I am enjoying window and doors open. My idea of hell would be being on B'ton beach at the moment:eek:.
Can't believe how much I am getting rid of or how unsentimental I am managing to be.

What's the difference between fritata and omelette?

Well done vixstar and HH6 on getting back on track with the challenge with reknewed zest:T
Purplevamp - sorry I can't help re at suggestions but hope someone else can soon: it's very frustrating.

Redglass: thanks very much for kind comments re cross stitch - hadn't realised I might be good at it. I think the secret is it is a very beautiful design and colours. I have realised that my eye sight isn't quite so top notch as it was when I did the 1st half 18 yrs ago so am looking into buying a craft handfree magifier. Did well to see one in town yesterday but not buy even though tempted, determined o see if I culd find one cheaper elsewhere. So far found 1 on ebay for 1/4 of the price.

angelatgraceland

I like to sit out and read at abvout 5pm. Too hot earlier-especialy after cooking the dinner in a hot kitchen! I did well at Asda yesterday with their chickens-2 for £3. I cooked one of these today with a packet of value sausages to make the meat stretch. They all said it felt like Xmas! Had to go to Icleand and topup on the frozen veg as I couldnt buy it in Asda yesterday as it may have defrosted somewhat on the way home. I also bought a lot of frsh family readycooked meals which were reduced-such as cottages pies and chick and veg family pies-chicken and bakon lasagnes and some turkey steaks, All reduced so the big gap in my freezer has now gone(I kew it was there for a reason). Its the closest Id got to running down my freezer previously-when the gap reappears I will need it for the beans and apples and rhubarb from the garden. The frozen apples last us all year as we ration them out so that there are always some apples if we want them. I bought some parsnips to make soup with-I need some apples for this too so my frozen supply will do! Not sure how long DH is staying at work as he is still saying he will soon retire-it may well be at the end of June but another months salary is always tempting.
Cats-there are some "deterrant" sprays you can buy or granules or something-not sure if they work. Also some people buy a black cat with green sparkkly eyes from Kleeneze I believe-ita a garden ornament which is designed as a deterrant. No idea if they work or not. They cannot really to btrained like dogs to poop on home ground unfortunately. We get the same but ours does hers elsewhere! Ive not found any solutions to either part of that one.

skint_chick

Evening everyone

Had a very productive day -got up early and painted back yard, then replastered small holes from damproofing at the front of house, then painted. I made my "craft corner" in my "creative" room, so I have somewhere for all my fabric and sewing supplies and my sewing machine fits neatly at the side.

Just finished making dinner -made 4 meals from a pack of turkey breasts £3, Loyd Grosman red thai curry sauce £1 and 20p worth of bulgar wheat. £1.05 for each meal

purplevamp

angelatgraceland wrote: »

Cats-there are some "deterrant" sprays you can buy or granules or something-not sure if they work. Also some people buy a black cat with green sparkkly eyes from Kleeneze I believe-ita a garden ornament which is designed as a deterrant. No idea if they work or not. They cannot really to btrained like dogs to poop on home ground unfortunately. We get the same but ours does hers elsewhere! Ive not found any solutions to either part of that one.

Thanks angel, I've seen those cat ornaments before. I had heard that orange peel works, but being allergic to oranges I try not to have them in the house if I can help it . I think I'll just put a lid on the box at night and take it off in the morning. The other boxes have nets on but I haven't got a spare one.

DS2 and DD helped me make some rice krispie cakes with Mr S basic milk & white choc and basic rice pops, they were lovely. I never did get around to sorting anything out, apart from chucking an old baby jigsaw in the recycling which had bits missing so it couldn't get passed onto anyone.

We're off to Chessington tomorrow, weather looks good too! :j

ilovetea

Had a long post and I lost it:eek:.
Hi,weekly update or monthly one as this month seems to have come and gone rather quickly.
Have realised,most of my money goes on fruit,salad and veg.Don't see how I can really cut down on this.I try and buy in season,nothing exotic and usually buy from the local greengrocers rather than the supermarket.
No garden,just a windowsill ,coriander has died and basil has gone to seed .
This quarter I've managed to spend £230.54.Sounds a lot,it is a lot.But new month tomorrow so will try harder,(:whistle:even though I've neraly £220 left).
Must stop lurking and have more input but never seem to have anything to write about!

ilovetea x

Brighton_belle

purplevamp wrote: »

DS2 and DD helped me make some rice krispie cakes with Mr S basic milk & white choc and basic rice pops, they were lovely. :j

Could you tell me how to make them: we have a large tub of crispies that need using.

sophiesmum_2

Went to new home last Thursday for a few days where we stripped wallpaper, strimmed grass, mowed lawns,erected a pile of clippings the size of everest in my overgrown composty corner, planted seed potatoes,ran errands, watched cows... and birds... and... sheep..and next doors hens and ducks and generally enjoyed every minute, falling in to bed exhausted each evening.
Frugal cooking was done in the slowcooker as no cooker installed yet, but this freed up more time for the garden so was a good move. Everything else was "on toast" including some of Nyk's lovely free range eggs which were duly scrambled in micro for brekkie. I reciprocated to the hens later by saving them a leftover toastie from lunch:p Although judging by the amount of Nyk's parlies that OH consumed the past few days I think he still owes the hens:rolleyes:
After living in housing with free electricity I am now becoming very aware of usage and even hopped into the bath after OH to save putting on the immersion again for my bath. Luckily I have a clean OH :rotfl: ,but as he puts up with my madcap frugal ideas I might just keep him a while longer:D
In the process of separating out frugaldee set up costs so I can get back to my £4000 budget, and update accordingly. Also in the process of rooting through my dad's garage to see what I can utilise from there for the cottage and garden:whistle::whistle::whistle:

Have a great evening everyone:D

redglass_2

Purplevamp, might be worth enquiring after some lion pooh while at Chessington. I've never used it but they say it scares off cats - you might want to take a tightly-sealed container with you just in case they don't provide one.

purplevamp

BB - I just make them with melted chocolate then add rice krispies and stir until coated. You need more krispies than you first think. You can add sprinkles or chopped up marshmallows if you wish, then put into paper cake cases and pop in the fridge until set. Very easy and very much appreciated by all!!

redglass - thanks for the pm. Lion poo??? :eek: Are you sure? :rotfl: I don't think I'm brave enough to collect it. I'll see if DH is up for stinking the car out though