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

Frugalista

Frugalista wrote: »

She also did one called "A Goode Christmas" (or something similar)

Topher wrote: »

Shirley Goode
Have a Goode Year,
Goode For One,
The Goode Kitchen

That's the one :doh:- I wasn't even close was I?:o:o:o:o

juliethemuse

I want to thank hardup hester (i think it was on this thread i read it)
anyway i read her post on 'themed hampers' also had a nose at her blog
now ive made my son a lovely little hamper for his birthday in a few days, in the past i would buy them gadgets and all sorts of expensive stuff , but this year i just cannot afford it, especially with moving house too (god what an expense that was!)
anyway i found a small box, covered it in gold paper i found in a cupboard, and put in a DVD ,The Werewolf - hope he likes it!, big bag of maltesers , popcorn and a small bottle of vodka,
i had absolutely NO idea what to get him that didnt cost the earth

kezlou

mummyslittleboy wrote: »

Refrigerator cookies

225g butter, softened
100g caster sugar
225g SR Flour
5ml /1 tsp vanilla essence

Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add vanilla and fold in the flour
Mix to a smooth dough
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for a minute or two. Roll into a sausage shape approx 5cm/ 2in in diameter, put in fridge to chill until firm.
Wrap in foil, pack in a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze.

I slice it from frozen and cook no need to defrost they taste lovely Or you can cook them once chilled

For Chocolate add 25g cocoa powder instead of the vanilla or just add chocolate drops

Cook 6-7 minutes at Gas 5/190C

Thanks for the recipe, i'll have ago at these cheers .
Gailey are there any playschemes where you are? Just found out where i am they are doing sessions from 10-12 and 1-3 at 50p a session per child.

Cineworld do a £1 showing on a saturday morning, you get to choose between three films. Its a £1 per person, so when we go we pay £4 and smuggle our own food and drinks in . Vue do a saturday showing for 95p per person as well.

Renting v buying : -we currently rent as its cheaper where i am, would love to buy but its too expensive. For a house in a rubbish area £650 pm or nice area £550 crazy but true. So for now its renting for us, it makes things easier also in case we might have to move for contract work.

Well going to burger and chips for tea, courtesy of OH, boys are happy watching scooby doo for now. Then off to bed for them as its school tomorrow.

gailey_2

Well done some stuff since last post at least.

kids drove me mad baby tried to nap this afterternoon older one woke her and has been demanding all day so despite cloudy overcast sky went out with intention of cherry picking.

Bumped into my elderly busy body neighbour told ger we were off to pick cherries possibly plums she said ahh shes found 2huge plum trees so went to check that out and filled a 2litre tub plums and found another apple tree.

Made flapjacks this afternoon with my new silicone baking tray its fab as dont stick and so flexible.

we low on food until lidls shop tue, hubby whinging as spent a bit in co-op other day but run out of food again.
we forever running out of bread, squash, milk, coffee, sugar, cheese and ham.

So tonight hubby had last 2bakes potaoes with cheese and coleslaw.
kids had couscous with frozen veg and cheese.
me had nothing was intending to do supernoodles but kids still not asleep and hubby grouchy watching tv might just have cereal.

That cookbook sounds interesting might go hunting at carboots.
Im definatly trying that cookie recipie, used to work for well known supermarket chain who had instore bakery the cookies came in on frozen dough mix and put on trays so guess its no different.

The local farm shop sells pain au choc frozen and croissents to homebake they lovley unsure how to do myself at home.will go nice with homemade jam plannning to make.

All this talk of quilting gives me urge to have a go if I start now should finish by xmas.
My nan was good knitter and pre september used to knit me and all my cousins school jumpers in right school colours after sept everyone had jumper of scarf for xmas unfortunatly my knitting is rubbish she tried to teach me.
Do worry in few generations time sewing and knitting be dying hobby as my mams in 50,s and does neither.

Still they reckon womens institute is becoming popular maybe os board is like an online wi group as everyones so creative.

maybe home ec should be better in schools give them tools to cook cheap meals and repair stuff.

Love the idea of non food hamper was planning all food but might do couple non foods for best mate , mam and sister.

Hubbys birthday next month was thinking doing cheap box set of small cheap things he likes.

Forgot to say my kids eldest is 4 , last week of preschool next week and youngest 10months plus stroppy 12year old son on part time basis so its hard with mix of groups.

Already signed eldest up to summer gym classes as she goes gym in term time plus 2 cheerleading sessions.

libary does free crafts every thur.
last year church did messy play club for 50p.
family roller disco at leisure centre good.
swimming good but hectic in hols.
Theres actually quite a few things at leisure centre and around but tehy say child has to be school age, age 5 to attend.
Might get hubby to take her to local vue its difficult if you dont drive and not suitable for youngest.

For those that smuggle food into cinima highly reccomend you buy big bag of sainsburys basics readymade popcorn sweet or salty just 98p a bag.

will go to all local parks I can walk to with picnic
foraging walks
maybe even more baking as eldest likes making cakes.
arranged few playdates too.

taplady

juliethemuse wrote: »

I want to thank hardup hester (i think it was on this thread i read it)
anyway i read her post on 'themed hampers' also had a nose at her blog
now ive made my son a lovely little hamper for his birthday in a few days, in the past i would buy them gadgets and all sorts of expensive stuff , but this year i just cannot afford it, especially with moving house too (god what an expense that was!)
anyway i found a small box, covered it in gold paper i found in a cupboard, and put in a DVD ,The Werewolf - hope he likes it!, big bag of maltesers , popcorn and a small bottle of vodka,
i had absolutely NO idea what to get him that didnt cost the earth

thats great Julie:T its brilliant when a tip is so useful to someone! well done Hester for the idea!

katieclampet

Love the idea of themed hampers. I might give this a go for my friends birthday next month.Can anyone tell me where I might get some baskets from? I have had a look around, but havent seen any that are reasonably priced.

katiex

Kittikins

Gailey - try Freecycle/Freegle for jamjars, they're always popping up on my group. Great idea to make loads of jam.

I'm envious - everyone else seems to have plums/cherries/berries growing. In my bit of Sussex, nothing has yet ripened up. I can't wait! After a stunning success with my blackberry vodka last year, I'm going to make more this year, as well as sloe gin and hopefully some kind of plum/bullace alcohol as well!

borderlakland

katieclampet wrote: »

Love the idea of themed hampers. I might give this a go for my friends birthday next month.Can anyone tell me where I might get some baskets from? I have had a look around, but havent seen any that are reasonably priced.

katiex

try poundland/wilkinsons, did these for just about everybody for xmas and used a varity of baskets, covererd boxes, character lunch boxes for littlies, plastic tool box for dad etc. maybe pretty vanity case for girls

mardatha

I have no fruit locally at all, and today we drove 20 miles to where I used to get PYO fruit and they are all gone, nobody selling or growing fruit at all

gailey_2

I guess cheapest would be find supermarket that offers free boxes and wrap up box outer in nice wrapping paper.

carboard wine carriers might be nice with bow for jars and bottles

I looked up baskets on ebay but some quite pricey.

Local b wise/qs selct had some nice small wicket ones for 3quid and 5quid so might get some from there.

Argos do 3wicker for 9.99, ikea alwasy have lots of baskets also.

im exited about doing mine.making presensts and putting things together much nicer I think.

Might even be made and try that kirsty homemade xmas soap that takes 6weeks but showed 2weeks before xmas and hope it turns out as good as lush.