How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

jediteacher

I would second online shopping - infact I'm waiting for my delivery right now. Since being pregnant again and having this lovely SPD I cannot physically push a trolley round so online shopping is fantastic for me. I use Sainsburys as I have found the others in my area deliver poor quality fruit, veg and meat with very sort dates.

I too find that the prices in Sainsburys for what I want are very good value for money. At the moment I am using their 5 meals for under £20 as a guide for what I cook in the week. We tend to do a shop every other week and spend on average between £50 - £60. We have to top up in the week but nothing major.

We use to have our milk, bread, eggs and juice delivered but unfortunately our local milk service got taken over by Milk&More and we have found that they deliver poor service. Our milk use to be delivered before 7.30am which meant we got it into the fridge before we left for work. With the new service the milk is delivered any time and we have never got it before we have left for work - which has meant it has been pinched or started to go over a bit. Not impressed at all so we have cancelled. The only problem is that we have got so use to having the milk delivered we forget to buy it - this morning my little girl wanted cereal and we realised we were out if milk.

Had to spend some money this week on a new mattress fot the rocking cradle for the new baby and one for the moses basket. Also need to book my car into the garage for it's MOT and full service. Dread to think how much this will be! :mad:

Annie56

Hello all and thanks for the lovley warm welcome back...after taking the young one to nursery this morning I went back home and decided to do a food stocktake:eek: there is real lot of it, Monty and his allotment and mine went beserk last year, my first time and it was chocka, and intend it to be the same this year. Will keep both on as Montys boss is muttering about selling his massive house and land and going abroad so we will need this space for veggie growing if he does this, Montys worried about bieng a unemployed gardener.. hes applied for a part time job with the local argricultural college to teach arboculture or something like that I call it tree chopping down, he just gives me a shes woman doesnt understand smile, plus sideline to that is free logs sometimes.

Have just had a load of maternity stuff off ebay, from a lady with more money than sense, some lovley stuff won it for a tenner and collected as it was only a few miles up the road, she turned out to be an old patient of mine ( I was a midwife in my pre OS days) so had a good chat and she and I are going to keep in touch and had some lovley terry nappies given me and babygros and other things.

Monty might be coming a househubby if he loses his job so I could go back to work if really had to but dont want to Ive become a real home bird these days.

Have found some brilliant recipes to go into my folder , and am now on a Money Saving Quest to cut our outgoings by 20/30% at least without comprmising on quality etc just incase the dreaded dark spectre of job losses come knocking, why when you think youve got life sussed someone moves the goalposts ah well the more they move the more we adjust wont be licked by this..
So hope youve all had a productive warm and huggy MSE type of day and will be back on later to see who has posted
Hugs to you all...
Annie56 and bump xxxx

floss2

brandeberryj wrote: »

Anyone know of a quality capper for bottles? The one I have is on its way out after only 2 years work. Probably no more than 350 bottles capped. It is even breaking bottles although the same ones every time (Thatcher Cider bottles). It is now taking longer & longer to work ie having to turn the bottle round 4 or 5 times before it works. Will need new one soon. Note they sell the same one in Wilkos so not going to bother there (pity)

Have you tried posting on the Homebrew thread? They may be able to help more than here.

HariboJunkie

kittie wrote: »

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Hope everything's ok.

We are now without hot water for the fourth day :mad:. Still waiting for plumber. We've been able to wash using kettles of water and dishes can be done in the dishwasher until today that is when it decided to stop working too. :rotfl:
Oh joy. Can't wait for the bills for fixing them.

On the subject of home delivery, we can't get it here from any supermarket but I am happy to shop in store as I pick up reduced items and am strict with my budget and list. I do shop around though according to offers and vouchers but all shops are within one mile so not too heavy on the petrol.

[Deleted User]

Frugal_Dreamer wrote: »

Can we get back on topic?

Frugal dreamer, if it is hints and tips you want then the first `tough` thread will be worth a read. The `tough` threads have matured and developed into a support thread but is very relevant for many of us

HariboJunkie

lostinrates wrote: »

Thanks for this. She's ok. shes gone home....where its warmer and she is capable now. Mainly, as she admit when here, she's depressed and all the caring for her post operatively I can't help her with that. I'm going over there tomorrow to spring prune for her and tidy up the garden a bit. She was n her very best behaviour when here, which I really appreciated. She's not using ANY mobility equipment now (but my dad told me today he doesn't think she go up yesterday).

I feel desperately sad that she's sad, but also listening to DH who keeps telling me I can't make her better or force her to seek help for that.

Sorry I mised this post. Hoping things start to get better soon. x

lostinrates

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Sorry I mised this post. Hoping things start to get better soon. x

I miss most posts, its all so fast.:o Thank you for your good wishes.

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

deleted deleted

Are you okay lass?

Bitsy_Beans

I love Sainsbury's Basics and now DD goes to pre school on a Monday morning that is now my shopping day. Plug in my Ipod and have a far more pleasant experience
I did online shopping shared with my mum prior to DD attending pre school and whilst it saved an awful lot of faff with a child in tow I didn't like not being able to pick my own fruit and veg, making a decision on a substitution if something wasn't available.

Edited to add:

Haribo - Hope you get some hot water back soon xx

Pitlanepiglet

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Hope everything's ok.

On the subject of home delivery, we can't get it here from any supermarket but I am happy to shop in store as I pick up reduced items and am strict with my budget and list. I do shop around though according to offers and vouchers but all shops are within one mile so not too heavy on the petrol.

We're the opposite, we have no stores for miles but they have been bright enough to do home delivery to us, both Tesco & Sainsbugs deliver to us from stores that are 30 miles away from us but their range and offers is much better than the smaller (and nastier) Tesco that is c. 5 miles away.

I'm still plugging away digging out my piece of bank which will become our patio. OH was home today so has done a lot of breaking up the bank so that I can shovel the loose soil. I think it's going to take me months as I can only manage 2 barrowloads at a time

Is there any sign of any big garden pots at Poundland or similar? I'm back off to the city on Friday (more bleeding expensive dental treatment :eek:) so I could get some if there are any. Thanks