It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

mardatha

We havent had rain for ages, but very dull grey low clouds all the time which has ruined the summer. Today it was 13 degrees when we went up to the bank at 10am. Doesnt feel much better yet either.
However I got a ladies bike with hundreds of gears (eeek) for a tenner off a pal.. so when I feel better that will do to collect the rasps up the road. whoohoo :j

crickett1234

I am feeling very chuffed with myself today.

Not only have I blitzed my to do list at work, I have also discovered how to subscribe to threads and where to change my signature. Super cool!

Am now on the home straight before I finish work and head home!

Hardup_Hester

Moi! Ceredwin, I don't know what you mean & I bet the papers would pay attention if I went 'dressed for fun'! It would probably be the wrong sort of attention though, lol.
Hester

parsonswife8

mardatha wrote: »

We havent had rain for ages, but very dull grey low clouds all the time which has ruined the summer. Today it was 13 degrees when we went up to the bank at 10am. Doesnt feel much better yet either.
However I got a ladies bike with hundreds of gears (eeek) for a tenner off a pal.. so when I feel better that will do to collect the rasps up the road. whoohoo :j

I hope the brakes work, or those sheep will be in for a shock:eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lambanana

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

Got our contents quote which has gone up again and went on comparrison site, apparently we can get cover for around £199 less than barclays are quoting - too me that seems really cheap or are barclays just really expensive? goona look into it more as it seems 'to good to be true'!

Is that just contents? I think barclays must be really expensive as we pay just over £15 a month for our contents with halifax and get a lot covered with that cover includes lost key keyrings which have a special number and if our lost keys are handed into the bank we get the key back and the person handing it in gets £10 reward which is pretty good (I am VERY careful with my keys but the thought I may get them back if I lose them as people would want the money is comforting!)

I put £5 in 5p in the bank at lunchtime which felt good, I didn't realise I had so many 5p coins in the moneybox until I decided to count this morning. I also have £5 in 1p and 2p coins but didn't have any moneybags so got some from the bank when paying in the 5ps and now I can take my coppers in as well. The savings jar is looking pretty empty now I must admit, it was full to the top before! I'll have to route round the house and search out pennies to get cracking on filling it again.

annie123

mardatha wrote: »

We havent had rain for ages,

That's 'cause I've got it now :j had 2 short chuck downs, with some thunder.
Makes for a happy garden, but a lot more is welcome:D

Rummer

Please can you all keep everything crossed for my OH as he has a job interview and it would mean so much to us if he got it

gailey_2

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

afternoon everyone,

rained most of today - stopped now but very grey. havent been outside but need to pop to shops when DS2 wakes from nap.

Got our contents quote which has gone up again and went on comparrison site, apparently we can get cover for around £199 less than barclays are quoting - too me that seems really cheap or are barclays just really expensive? goona look into it more as it seems 'to good to be true'!

Made some crispy cakes today but need some choc crunch to fill in the treat box gap.

Sounds very pricey is that just household contents or buildings combined.
We with more than -enough trouble:o 15quid amonth for house contents but was hell making a claim from them want to move to better deal buts lots places offering good comboned buildings content but as renters we dont need buildings.Been nagging hubby to look proper at house again as natwest were offering 3months 3,sainsburys nectar points and one was offering marks vouchers.
He keep putting off car insurance too and my dad reckons he could get better deal.

Made toffee rice krispie cakes from tesco real food mag yesterday but mine went wrong too mushy as dident have enough ricecrispies.

Crickett you sound like you had busy productive few days and good plans for future.Soory to hear about sisters good news must eb so frustrating and seem so unfair. Have you considered alternative options. I have a freinds whos fostered and adopted so many kids need a good home they be lucky to have you.

Well daughters toys get to live another day.

Because hubby painted until early ours keep touching wet paint down stairs very annoying.

Been raining on and off, got huge mixing bowl of plums from round corner might go back get some more later.

Hubbys had to go out, eldest decided to wash her own hair and make mess in bathroom and baby refusing afternoon nap.

I have washed plums picked and bagged up.
Finding tubs too pricey got big box of those bags with zip type fastenings from ikea was under 3quid but cheap as 100 and they quite large.

I cleaned the fridge and reorganised

then was dreaded freezer thing is we have large chest thats it needs defrost but cant as we live by the freezer so attacked the ice with wooden spoon managed to get all the ice of bottom plus lose peas and swetcorn and swept up.
2bags of plums had split so rebagged them frozen plums like little rocks.

I do love to stocktake my freezer and just look whats in it.

Please feel free to tell me im insane but

2boxes of strawberries from farm-rubbish should have picked far more and never got round to picking blackberries.
8 tubs of cherries-dident pick enough
7big bags of plums.
1 box elderflower heads might attempt cordial.


Want to pick more plums and blackberries.
for desserts, jams and smothies.

what is a sane amount to have
would 20bags of plums and 20blackberries be too much.
unsure if weight changes once defrosted.
Planning on making lots of jams as doing xmas food hampers.
also been following suggestion on here of stewing fruit and feezing for kids.
Even frozen leftover syrups from crumbles.
1 large plum/apple crumble in freezer
going to do plain apple later and freeze.

I have 18 frozen readymeals left still.
got chicken drumsticks left as brought reduced
3fishcakes
2bags of oven chips
frozen veg.

Should be fine as 12days until payday

I have pasta and supernoodles in cupboard.
making fresh pizzas
making sausage casserole tonight from reduced sausages brought yesterday with mash
defosting 1 chick breast to do kebab for hubby even going to try making flatbread from scratch.
Reduced chicken thighs defrosting to make 8 cornish pasties.
need one more pack of eggs to make 24mini quches leftover eggs can make omlette and chips and pancakes.

got some breadmixes

will probably need more sugar and milk.

Will make a cake, flajacks and twinks hobnobs for sweet treats.

Realised my mistake this month should have brought more

eggs
tomatoes
tinned tomatoes
flour
butter

August grocery challange be far more successful I hope.

wondering if should buy my mates small upright freezer as not sure chest going to be enough, nitemare defrosting and keep losing things to bottom.

Also wonder if theres any good cheap cupbaoards out there that are narrow not too deep with several shelves and door as could be my options for extra storage/pantry space on dried goods in kitchen.
Bathroom cupboards eem to fit bill but few shelves.

Anyone uses one of those ceiling pully things for saucepans like idea but worried about being knocked out by a saucepan.

Strange question but does anyone know what buttermilk is.
can it be substituted with normal milk.
got another recipie in jaimies america great book so much i want to cook for kfc chicken but with buttermilk-would really liven up my reduced drumsticks.

Was reading about housing issue in todays times its atough one nothings decided its going to consulatations and lib dems not enthuisaiastic about it so word comprimise has been mentioned.
Apparently dident realise labour were considering it few years back when caroline flint was housing but they decided against it as would damage their votes in election.

Im torn is tough issue . Is it just me but does anyone find the new housing ministers name quite cool grant schnappes sounds like asuperhero, very catchy doubt anyone forget his name.

I agree theres a huge shortgage.even if tey started increasing im unsure if they ever meet demand with aging population, growing population, high unemployment and rising house prices.
maybe a reform to system is whats needed if done right.
From what I read they do want to link social housing to salary so I guess that would exclude some.
they want to end of family members to inherit council house when relative dies didednt realise that was that common.
They want to have 5-ten year tennacy after that if they deemed earnings high they said they will offer tenant to biuy equity in house so part buy part rent, encourage them to move to private or up rent in line with private rental prices.

I dont think they will please everyone but in principle seems mad to have stupid overcrowding when some houses just far too big for single occupant if my nan lost grandad and daughter dident live there then she be living in 3bed house.
I think if the person wants to move and is offered somewhere they want to move too would be a good thing i guess im thinking elderly who would like smaller house maybe sheltered with wardens ect.
The old peoples complexes here seem really nice and traquil maybe better than huge estaate with neighbour from hell next door or troublesome families.

Once has a neighbour that played how take that loudly over and over again.

Right off to bag more plums.
make dinner
do some washing
hoovering
laundry
clean bathroom.

Hope everyones having great day despite the rain.

calleyw

For people who don't frequent the shopping or gardening board.

Wilkinsons have started to sell the johnsons brand of veggie and flower seeds for half price. That includes the world collection as well.

Also morrisons are selling Butioni pasta 1Kg bags of shapes buy one get two free. So 3kgs of pasta for £1.95:juse by date 2013.

Also if you prefer wholemeal not quite such a good deal but 500g for 50p. Even Asda have stopped there 500g bags 2 for a £1:eek:use by date end of this year.

HTH

Yours

Calley

northwest1965

You can make your own buttermilk gailey, just add lemon juice

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/condimentsandspices/r/Buttermilk_Sub.htm