Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

taplady

Gailey - last time I was in the Pound Shop they had weetabix cereal bars - white choc variety, I like them so I got a box.

Dollydaydream - I'd leave the money if it was me so I could have heat etc without worrying about the bill afterwinter or maybe they would give you half back ?

lilac_lady

I missed why the old "it's tough" thread was closed. We all seemed so nice so I'm a bit shocked that it happened. I'm glad that Kez has started this one and hope it carries on. I'd really miss you all if you disappeared!

pink_numbers

We're dead proud Last month, we decided to really tighten things down around here so that OH can pay his loan off before his contract runs out. Since then, we've taken each expense and seeing how low we can take them down to, seeing how much we actually use and changing to more appropriate tariffs.

I've totted up the savings we've made in September from this bill cutting exercise, and we've managed to cut TWO AND HALF THOUSAND POUNDS off our annual outgoing. WooOooOOpPPiiiIIIEEEee!!! :j:j:j

BitterAndTwisted

Sammy-kaye as I'm sure you're aware protein comes in many forms and some of them are a heck of a lot cheaper than meat. Meat-eaters think they need a fair bit of meat-protein every day, especially men and especially in the wintertime but they don't really, so I don't want you to think that you should splash out on more and more expensive foods when you probably don't need to and possibly can't afford it.

"Also would like to look into getting plenty of meat in the freezer as with Owen working delivering curtosy cars all day he wants to come home to a good solid meal but he likes his meat in cold weather"

Angel, he's not a manual labourer or working outdoors in all weathers every day, he's just sitting on his @rse in a heated vehicle!

I'd be tempted to chuck haricot, kidney beans and chickpeas in ruddy-well everything: and anything those won't go into it'd be tofu, cheese or eggs.

pink_numbers

re: protein - don't forget also that oats + milk (= porridge) is just as good a source of protein (and a heck of a lot cheaper than meat!)

NualaBuala

pink_numbers wrote: »

re: protein - don't forget also that oats + milk (= porridge) is just as good a source of protein (and a heck of a lot cheaper than meat!)

And beans on toast ... cheaps as you can get plus has all the essential amino acids

Fruball

SammyKaye - Also fruit smoothies are good when you throw in loads of nuts and seeds - my kids had these from the age of 2 and loved them. They make a perfect meal replacement when kids are too grumpy or tired to eat as they can just sip it from a straw and its so healthy.

Ben is older so I would give him one after dinner

I use brazils, hazlenuts and almonds, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, sunflower seeds. Get them from the baking section of supermarket not the wholefoods section as they are more expensive there.

I blend the seeds and nuts in the whizzer first with a small amount of fruit juice, then add fruits, whatever I have around, blueberries (which i don't like unless in smoothie) strawbs, bananas, any frozen fruits plus tins are good esp pears and mandarins

Full of protein, omega oils, essential elements, vitamins... and v tasty!

RAS

Red_Doe wrote: »

Good idea re the cages round the plants, I might try that. I did try bird netting but we get such gales here it`s a waste of time, they end up wrecked.

Not sure exactly where you are but assume it is seriously NW or North coast.

The chances are that there is some old fencing knocking about on the croft, or on the hill that you could ask for. Either make that into wire tunnels, does not matter how knackered the wire is and stretch netting over - bit like a lobster pot, or make cages.

Regarding the rabbits, see if you can borrow this book (or get it remaindered) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Gourmets-Adventures-Food-Freedom/dp/0747591571

Guy describes netting rabbits in two different ways, which might allow you to get a bigger take in one go.

lora

Red_Doe wrote: »

I understand your point, but if you knew my circumstances....
there isn`t another cat around here for miles, excepting mine, that`s the truth. Beyond that, if a stray cat gets caught in my snare, people will think I am heartless for this, but I will keep on snaring. The rabbits here are a serious problem, not just for garden crops but for crofting land..I can look out my window and see first hand what damage they have done and will do.
I`m afraid I`m very bullish when it comes to making ends meet...when things get so tough, I`ll do what it takes to feed me and mine. Don`t mean to be offensive to people with cats, I have one myself and will make sure she`s in the barn whilst the snares are set (she`s a barn cat anyway so no hardship for her) but beyond the usual precautions, I can`t do anymore.

Yep I was in the same situation myself and to be honest not really any better off now. Facing redundancy 5th time round- whatever food I can grow is still important to me.

Red_Doe

RAS wrote: »

Not sure exactly where you are but assume it is seriously NW or North coast.

The chances are that there is some old fencing knocking about on the croft, or on the hill that you could ask for. Either make that into wire tunnels, does not matter how knackered the wire is and stretch netting over - bit like a lobster pot, or make cages.

Regarding the rabbits, see if you can borrow this book (or get it remaindered) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Gourmets-Adventures-Food-Freedom/dp/0747591571

Guy describes netting rabbits in two different ways, which might allow you to get a bigger take in one go.

Thanks for this, yes, I`m just a bit south of Cape Wrath and Durness. Anyone who knows this area might know it`s like Watership Down up here.
I do actually have some old fencing myself I might make use of..it is pretty knackered but maybe some parts of it can be useable. There`s a small stand of trees here, that was fenced off around thirty years ago to protect the saplings from deer (it isn`t deer fencing though) so I`m cutting that free as the trees are fully grown now, can re use that, thanks for the idea.
(and the netting link!)