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

Fruball

parsonswife8 wrote: »

And on a lighter note...so this is why we all love a good bargain..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1311631/Seeing-special-offer-shopping-just-like-watching-!!!!!!.html


:eek::eek::eek:

:rotfl:
LMAO!!!!!!

Hippeechiq

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

and then I have my tooth out on Thursday - dreading it!

Sammy, there is no bigger woos than me when it comes to going to the dentist. I'm on the loo for days before I go, and I spend weeks worrying about it. It's not funny when something scares you that much

Last year, I had to have and extraction, and I can honestly say that there is nothing to it. I - for some unknown reason - have a very low pain threshold, but there is no pain involved in an extraction, during or after. And after the injections to numb you, it's done in seconds, literally.

When my dentist said "right, that's it, all done" I had to ask him if he was joking, and he wasn't.

I'd opt for extraction over a filling every time.......if it weren't for the fact that I'd end up with no teeth....which is never a good look :rotfl:

Annie56

Afternoon all....

Had a lovley lie in this morning and a lovley hot shower, was very frugal with my posh smellies as I wont be buying those again the price they ask is outrageous.
Weather is vile here, windy, rain and temps dropped so Im just sitting in my flat, curtains closed and nice and snug with my fav cd on and waiting for the breadmaker to finish the smell is mmmmmmmmm I can feel a cheese and pickle sarnie coming up in a few mins.

Did my new lifestyle budget, its going to be tough but if I dont go daft I will manage fine and can just afford to keep Rene the Renault Clio going as long I plan my outings carefully, so champagne lifestyle on lemonade money it aint gonna be but Im grateful,

My sis in law has given me some posh antique pine wax/stain stuff so will give my pine bits and pieces a good polish later, I love the smell of a freshly polished room.
Some of my friends have contacted me now the news has filtered down the gossip grapevine about my new lifestyle choice, suffice to say two of them have had the sharp end of my tongue, bleedin cheek talking down to me as if I was living in a slum and have gone bonkers, there the ones that my old boss used to say are ten bob millionaires, all front and show and no substance, god I hope I never pranced round like that in days of old....

My friends funeral is next Monday, we have to wear light and joyful colours as he didnt want a black type funeral and its not a funeral anyway its a colourful joyous blast in a celebration of his life...I will miss him, we worked togther for many years, Im going to make a real effort to keep in more contact with the few friends that have stood by me, starting with a nice meal round my dining room table, my first solo meal for 5 in my new flat..hope there not claustraphobic!! lol .

Havea pleasant afternoon all

Annie56

Lindy_-_Loo

Have done my first morning of toast at school, had to take DS2 with me as they are really short of helpers so I bit the bullet and went! I'm knackered!
DS2 sat really good but started getting bored around 11am, not surprised as didnt know we were staying until I was asked at school. Was nice to see DS1 at school and made a new friend, a mum called cheryl. Spoke too two of the kitchen staff they started doing the toast years ago and are now working there.

In juniors the children are also allowed to buy cartons of apple or orange at 50p or bottle water at 50p each. Thats 70p a day some parents give their children for snack at break, my boys will get toast money but we pay for milk so they have that it only 12p and they get water whenever they want from their water bottles in class.

DS2 hasnt had a nap and he is very tired, bit clingy and clumsy hes fell over twice and banged his head. Been with OH 7 years today, hes forgot sent him a text to remind him....

jackieglasgow

Lindy Loo our kids used to get free water and fruit, but that's been stopped now for cost cutting. It had been bothering me for a while though, as there are over 300 children in the school, each receiving a bottle of water everyday, for all of the 170 or so school days in the year, that's an awful lot of plastic bottles going to landfill, or even recycled. I had been planning on asking the school to consider getting the children to supply their own reuseable bottles, but this happened because of the financial cuts. They have to take in a reuseable bottle with a sports top every day, and there are facilities to refill them in school. As we do this in our everyday lives, it wasn't a difficult thing for my boys to adjust to, and I am much happier about the environmental impact of this. Perhaps its worth suggesting something similar to your PTA or directly to the head? Most schools are going for Eco awards now, and this could be a big part of that for them, maybe they could even have a fundraiser to buy the bottles for the children the first time?

taurusgb

Hippeechiq wrote: »

(I always keep a tub of pre made breadcrumbs and a tub of grated cheese in the freezer) Cook for 30 mins @ 200c - it's yum

I read a really good tip somewhere on here (sorry but I can't remember who posted it) about making cheese sandwiches with stale bread and then blitzing in the processor to make cheesey breadcrumbs - and trust me..... they make an amazing difference!

monks

Primrose wrote: »

annieg - does your library not have a facility for renewing your books online though your local council website? It's worth investigating if you run the risk of running up fines on overdue books. Ours has just introduced a new facility which will send you an automated e-mail reminder shortly before your books are due but I haven't investigated that one yet as I always put a note in my diary when they're due.

Thankyou for advice ,have just renewed library books on line after reading above. SO only 96p fine instead of :eek: by the time i returned them .

EstherH

taplady wrote: »

Kathlicos - this is a recipe for a yummy flapjack type cake done in the microwave - it is one of my DHs favourites. I got the recipe from this site several years ago - couldn't find it now so I'll rewrite the recipe for you. I warn you its very moreish!:D

Jam Crumblie

6oz butter/marg
6oz dark soft brown sugar
6oz porridge oats
7oz plain flour
pinch of salt
half a teaspoon bakin powder
4oz jam

lightly grease an 8" square baking dish(I use my ceramic "lasagne" dish as its microwave safe)
cream the fat and sugar together.
stir in dry ingredients and mix thoroughly
press half the mixture into the baking dish
metl the jam in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then spread it over the base,
Crumble on the remaining oat mixture, pressing it down lightly
bake in the microwave for 7 mins(full power)
cut into squares and cool in the baking dish!

the original poster of this recipe(I think it was Queenie) also did a Christmas version and put mincemeat in instead of jam and dusted it with icing sugar.

Might have to make some now you've reminded me of this recipe:D

Quick question - well two in fact:

Would it be okay to make this with granulated sugar do you think?
Got visitors coming in hour and half and remembered seeing this last night.
Also is bicarb of soda okay to use instead of baking powder?

Anyones advise will do, thanks if Kathlicos isn't on.
Sorry just realised it was Taplady who posted it in answer to Kathlicos.

pink_numbers

Annie56 - you are doing so well to have planned your new life so well, and yes those judgemental people are the ones that will be buried under in debt while we sit in our thrifty houses free of debt

lambanana

Hippeechiq wrote: »

I do a Corned Beef & Potato Pie for me and OH using a 200g tin. I chill first in the fridge, and then slice into 5 pieces and cube each slice into 12. Fry off a diced onion, add 350ml of beef stock and reduce by ½, then add ½ a tin of Baked Beans and 2 heaped dessert spoons of chunky Bran$ton Pickle to it. Heat through for 5-10mins (making sure the corned beef remains cubed rather than mash in) then pour into a dish, top it with sliced par boiled potatoes, seasoned, and sprinkle a mixture of breadcrumbs and grated cheese mixed together on the top (I always keep a tub of pre made breadcrumbs and a tub of grated cheese in the freezer) Cook for 30 mins @ 200c - it's yum

Oh that sounds VERY yummy...especially the added pickle! I have a massive tub of the stuff at the moment from last night's costco adventures where it worked out at 19p per 100g which was cheaper than any of the supermarkets (I love my phone, I was able to check mysupermarket on it for prices per 100g of pickle!) it's going to last us ages though as DH only has the tiniest spread of it on his sandwiches for flavour, he's not fussed for the chunks really.

I've got rather an epic to do list for tonight but I'm feeling pretty determined that I will get it all done. I've also written out my menu plan from now up coming to our trip away and I wont be needing to buy much, just some sausages and a chicken for Sunday dinner then bread/milk/cheese until we go. Everything else I have or will be delivered in my veg box

I did spend a lot of my lunch hour today going over my budget and calculating exactly what will be going where from my pay. My DH and I have our own bank accounts then a joint one we pay into for bills, I'm happy having things this way. If I can stick to my budget rigidly and I'm feeling determined) I can clear my CC debt in less than a year so I feel really good about that. It's just a matter of being strict with myself and my budget did include some "spending money" for me so I don't feel utterly deprived and end up messing up...I know I could add that to the debt repayment and pay faster BUT I'd be setting myself up for a fall and would end up buying something stupid if I deprived myself loads, I know it and I know the way I am. Also my "spending money" does actually include birthday/Christmas gifts and not just money for me.

I love lists and writing budgets even if I then don't always manage to stick to them :eek: