FRUGAL LIVING CHALLENGE part 3, July - Dec 2010

NualaBuala

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

That's great news.

I am extra careful with spending at the moment. Not alot of temp work around. Have been applying for both temp and perm work on a job website.

Must be tough. Have my fingers crossed for you and everyone else jobhunting.

mama67

I have been making the most of the offerings from both the garden and the hedgerows this week, and also some seriously discounted soft fruits in the veg shop.

I have picked and frozen 6 x 4oz bags of green beans, we have had 2 courgettes and loads of carrots, spring onions and cucumbers from the garden.

I have made:
3 blackcurrant & apple jam
4 strawberry jam
1 raspberry jam
8 blackberry & apple jam
6 mint jelly
5 tomato chutney

I have had to buy sugar but managed to get that from In$tore at 59p/kg bag and I bought the strawberries/raspberries and blackcurrants but only paid £2 for all and £2.50 for the apples to go with. Including the sugar it has cost £8 to make the above; which based on jam prices in store is not too bad I don't think.

The mint jelly was made using the peelings from the apples, mint from the garden and so only needed some sugar.

The pink rhubarb fizz has been sampled and even the boys like it although theirs is diluted with lemonade as well as loads of ice as it is quite potent.

I have beetroot in the garden which is just about ready so will be pickling any excess of that next week.
The parsley has regrown so I will be able to take another cut from it and store in the freezer, DS2 loves parsley sauce so this is ideal.

A friend of DH works on a farm and gave us 2 large buckets of garden peas, which I froze in meal size portions, so we can have peas once a week every week until it is pea time again next year.

The tomatoes have now started to turn red and the chillis are growing well.

best wishes and hugs to anyone who needs them

Erme

Basically (hopefully) a short email (originally sent to Dr C but it applies here too) with a a few things...reason I'm getting symptoms (only reason) is cos of lack of sleep mid week (tend to catch up weekends)..often just 4-5 hours a night..-> paranoia and little insight.. Eating a little better but still feel anything above 60kg is TOO fat but then not sure how I'd feel if I got below 57 again... Right now I just want to be about 58 - low 59's. and stay there...eating more heathily now and just putting cheddar cheese in diet and working on pasta (two previously bad foods...since last year I've already changed from wraps/pittas for lunch and now have rolls for sandwiches)

And if you haven't already heard I have a job interview for Mr S on Monday @ 4pm...so the ironing WILL get done this weekend . It's kind of nutty cos I applied for the post about midnight last weekend online but hey ho...The homeschooler 17year old lassie said that made her sound normal (NOT a good diagnosis believe me) but then retracted it when I just told her I was online and not
actuallY AT Mr S.


Blessings

E

Kerry_Woman

Erme - Wishing you all the best for Monday.

NualaBuala

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Erme - Wishing you all the best for Monday.

Me too! Best of luck Erme!


Hope everyone else is ok. I'm struggling with a bout of depression at the mo but I'm sure I'll be ok.

Erme

Try celery, carrot and apple juice Nuala....Good am ironing and hair straighteners came off ebay this am :j (freecycle ones too wide to curl).....

Just a bit worried about finding shoes for job interview on Monday....could well be an sos trip to the cheap shoe shop maybe even this pm...

Blessings

Jo

Kerry_Woman

NualaBuala wrote: »

Hope everyone else is ok. I'm struggling with a bout of depression at the mo but I'm sure I'll be ok.

Sending hugs.

NualaBuala

Erme wrote: »

Try celery, carrot and apple juice Nuala

Thanks Erme, could I not try chocolate instead? I don't have a juicer or blender but I will be buying apple juice and I have a big pot of veg soup with lots of carrot and celery so perhaps that will help.

Good luck on your shoe quest - hopefully you won't have to buy anything new. And well done on your productive morning ironing! :T

NualaBuala

Kerry_Woman wrote: »

Sending hugs.

Aw, thank you so much!:T:T:T It might sound silly but it's a lovely boost when people like you are kind to me.

Kerry_Woman

NualaBuala wrote: »

Must be tough. Have my fingers crossed for you and everyone else jobhunting.

Thanks for that.