Sorting through my rubbish

pennywisepoundstupid

Wow what fantastic bargains, fingers crossed DS gets the job.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

pennywisepoundstupid wrote: »

Wow what fantastic bargains, fingers crossed DS gets the job.

Thanks PWPS, he has applied for a few part-time jobs, he is still at 6th form and has a seasonal job but it is obviously not year-round and very reliant on the weather so he would like something with more regular hours especially as he is now learning to drive.

Just had a delicious chicken and bacon pie with a cheesy potato topping for lunch all made with reduced items, it was lovely (and very cheap).

Spent a lovely morning in the garden with DD (aged 6), plated some flowers and potatoes. She really enjoys being out in the garden and is fascinated by how the plants grow and the bees pollinate the flowers to make fruit. We found some spider eggs which were just hatching and she loved watching the miniscule yellow spiders emerging and running off to find a new home.

Has started to rain now so I am going to sort through my freezers and make a meal plan for the next two weeks as i seriously need to save some money. I am gradually eating into my debts but it is not fast enough for my liking. Need to get back into the ebaying and car boot sales but it is just a matter of having the time, what with work and the kids my days are pretty full.

Any way off I go to try and organise my time.

Have a good afternoon

321

Itsadogslife_2

Just wanted to pop in and say, I have just read your diary and you are doing so well. I especially love your kitchen ideas and have stolen a few. I especially like the rinsing the plates off and putting the dishwasher on for a quick was, I think there is a good hours difference in the times taken so that will save me an hour of electric nearly every day.

And I am going to try bulking out mince! I have porridge oats as I eat it for breakfast, but what are the lentils, are they just dry bagged and you bung them in raw?

I am very jealous of the bargains you get from Morrisons, what is Whoopsied stuff? We don't have a Morrisons very close by, I think it is a good half an hour away.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Dogs Life:wave:

I am glad to have given you some ideas:idea:, that's what this site is all about.

You're right about the dishwasher, it is at least an hours difference and rinsing everything in cold water takes no time at all. Combined with other energy savings ideas, such as replacing our halogen light fittings with ones that take low energy bulbs, we have certainly brought the electricity bill down:T. I also have a 'daily wash' setting on my washing machine which takes about 30 mins compared with the other settings which take between 1-2 hours! I use this for most items with 1 wash tab as opposed to the 2 recommended by the manufacturer and everything comes out clean and fresh.

The lentils I use for bulking mince are just standard dried red split lentils which are about 80p for 500g. You just add them at the start of cooking, no need to soak or pre cook. I usually do this in the slow cooker but you can use the hob and just be aware that the lentils take time to soften and the oats to cook through. Grated carrot is another great bulker, none of my family have noticed what I do and I know that they are getting loads of extra fibre and nutrients.

Whoopsied items are just reduced to clear stock (some people refer to them as yellow stickers YS), ie whoopsie we didn't get our stock control right!! We have a fairly new Morrisons, been open about 7 months, and to start with the stock control was dire - hence loads of goodies reduced - but recently they seem to be getting the hang of it so unless you are there at just the right time the pickings are pretty slim. Also they seem to have different deptments making their reductions at different times now so it harder to judge when to go.

Well yesterday I finally managed to draw up my meal plan for the next 2 weeks, made an inventory of both my (bulging) freezers and don't need to buy any food (apart from bread, milk and fruit/veg) for at least 2 weeks so should save a bit of money!:T

Off to use more of my bargains for dinner, DH will be home soon and the 3 kids are looking half starved!:rotfl::rotfl:

Have a good evening 321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi All

Had a good day yeserday. Spent £11 in morrisons and managed to get 2 very large blocks of cheese, bread and ham for sandwiches, milk, fruit and veg so sorted for a few more days. Spag bol for tea last night and lasagne tonight which I will have to put in the oven between jobs, get home at 4pm and back to other job by 5pm!

Been cleaning the house with stardrops, white vinegar, zoflora and water spray mix. Cheap, cleans well and smells really fresh! Can use it everywhere so no having to have 6 different cleaners, even use it to pretreat stains on laundry and it's great. Only problem is my local Iceland has stopped stocking Stardrops so I have to stock up when I see it.

Right off to job number one now, may be back later.

Have a nice day!

321

pennywisepoundstupid

I've seem stardrops in the poundshop.

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

pennywisepoundstupid wrote: »

I've seem stardrops in the poundshop.

Thanks for that PWPS, will check out my local ones at the weekend, failing that I think Wilkos still stock it. **Fingers crossed**

321

Itsadogslife_2

I have seen it in Wilkinsons for 90p

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Itsadogslife wrote: »

I have seen it in Wilkinsons for 90p

Thanks Dogs Life.

My nearest Wilkinsons is a 50 mile trip away but I should be going there on Sunday so will check it out.

Have a nice day

321

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Well I'm quite pleased with what I have acheived with my day off today.

1. Visited my little lady today and helped her around the house.
2. Got home, hoovered and mopped floors.
3. Did 4 loads of washing.
4. Cleared out the tins and jars cupboard and then the baking cupboard.
5. Made 18 cheese scones.
6. Baked and decorated giant choc muffin birthday cake for my friend's son.
7. Read gas and electric meters to update my online account. Now £50 in credit with them, we did owe them about £300 6 months ago!
8. Tested daughter on her 50 spellings whilst checking her hair.
9. Organised DS2 to pack everything on his list for the residential course he is on next week, need to buy him a couple of bits on Sunday (we are having a Mother and Son day!!)

OH and the MOST EXCITING NEWS today, DS1 had his 1st driving lesson (never driven at all before) and did so well the instructor said he was ok for me to take him out in his own car so we went out this evening and he did brilliantly, then went to Mum's and he took his Grandad for a spin!!!! I'm so proud of him!


Really glad I made 2 lasagnes last night as we had the second one today (After all my hardwork couldn't face making the hm fishcakes that were on my meal plan!!!). That means 800g mince fed 5 of us for 3 meals:T.

Also had a No Spend Day so all good.

Just enjoying a well deserved beer :beer: and off to bed in a mo, should sleep well tonight.

321