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

silvermaid

Hester thank you for sending a link to people who know Frugalqueen. I also am a reader of your blog. I haven't worked out how to make comments to any of them though. Cheers

jumblejack

jumblejack wrote: »

Another wonderfilled day!

I have stencilled a chimney pot that was given to me by a freecycler.

I made a chilli together with my youngest (no TVP, but bulked out to a ratio of 3:2 lentils & mixed beans:meat!)

Was able to extend hospitality to a dear friend that came over to collect his bike at the very same time we were dishing up!

Washed bedding and aired the duvet on the line at the same time as the sheets were drying. Ah, the smell of sunshine!

I have also discovered that the VERY BEST way of eating lentils is to sprout them. They are ready to munch after a couple if days. The nutritional benefits of this is astronomical. I am definitely putting them to soak tonight!

I also put up some rustic roosting perches in the hens walk in enclosure using the massive branches of an elder tree that I had to lop off. How resourceful!!!

I am now feeling quite content!

UPDATE:

Duh!! It has only just occurred to me that my lentils will not sprout as they are SPLIT red lentils!!!!!
I need whole red lentils next time I bulk buy from
The Asian shop

Anyhow, I have OODLES of pulses to try out and lots of lovely jars to do them in. I will have to use my, ahem, wet lentils in yet another soup!

Apparently you can pop some sprouted seeds in smoothies. Yay!!!

purpleheather2810

Gailey where are you? Wonder if she's ok - or gone into labour??!!

Very frugal jacket potato and chili for dinner - but what I really want right now is junk food! Stressful day!

kitschy

Just catching up, so will go back and read properly in a sec.

(Hugs) to GreyQueen and anyone else who needs one. I too am a fan of Frugal Queen and hope that she is able to take some time out and start blogging again. I swapped to blog-reading to save money on magazines, and hers was one of my favourites. For the one (I hope it was only one) person who was nasty, there are legions of people who read and found her posts informative and inspirational, but I know that it is human nature to forget all the compliments you receive and hold close the one negative comment

I have just come back from Tesco, having hopefully completed a shop which will earn me about £98 in DTD voucher. Two reasons for doing this, as Mr T isn't my normal shop. One is that I have only bought things I can stockpile, such as cat food, toiletries etc, and as you know I am trying to stockpile a bit to prepare for my imminent unemployment. With the voucher I (hopefully) will get, I plan on buying things OH and I will need or would otherwise not have when we need to pull our belts in (we're moving in together - he having just started self employment and me relocating and starting a new job - don't ask!), such as household things or a nice bottle of wine. Fingers crossed it works, just waiting for my email, but I have asked lots of stupid questions on the Grabbit board and the people over there are very friendly and helpful. Thank you to Haribo (I think) for signposting me

Softstuff

jumblejack wrote: »

Softstuff, you really need to get in contact with your local freecycle group. As long as you regularly check your emails, they could kit you out within a month, possible within a week or two!! Google freecycle and contact your local group on the site.
Hope things start looking up for you!!!

I'd submitted a request to join the local freecycle group over here, and hadn't had any luck. Just tried again now. Unfortunately it seems as though some things in Australia, like Freecycle and LETS, don't work as well here as in England. I guess a big part is geography, so many things are so far apart.

Thanks for reminding me of it, I hope they let me in!

Edit: On the subject of cars, hubby and I have 1 small car between us. His commute to work is about 40 minutes each way, on the bus it would be a 2 1/2 hour trip each way, and there isn't a set of buses that would get him there for an 8.30 start. Thanks to prices, we live where there aren't many jobs, and where there are jobs we can't afford to live! That being said, when there are jobs around here, many of them say "must have own reliable transport" despite the fact the job doesn't involve driving. Now, never having been late for work for 4 years without my own car, I phoned up for one of these. And was told there's no way I could rely on hubby giving me a lift (as I did for 4 years) to which I replied "if I can't rely on him for something as simple as that, why the heck would I have married him?"!!!

We can't afford a second car, the cost of used cars here is extortionate. Basically it'd mean most of my wage going on a car.... which sort of defeats the point.

ChocClare

Gosh, lots to catch up with - hugs to all that need 'em, it's looking distinctly tough, isn't it?

I organise the gift aid for my church and have just put out the new envelopes - and we're down from 140 names to 115 since this time last year and the amount received for the year has dropped significantly. People are definitely struggling. My DH is rewiring another church in the area (quite unrelated, btw!) and the vicar has asked him to change his priorities to get an area rewired which wasn't previously to be done until later in the year - because it is the only space they have available which would be suitable to start up a food bank, and that is now the new priority

Closer to home, and making me say things which would cause shocked glances if I were to say them in either of the establishments mentioned above, Tesco had a "complete system failure" on Monday, which meant that they were unable to deliver my shopping, even though the picker had already got it on the trolley. Where is the shruggy rolleyes icon when you need it? Customer services told me they'd rearrange for today between 6 and 8 and would deliver it free - so I rang at 25 past 8 to say where the hell???? Oh, so sorry, a system failure means that your order has not been carried across :mad::mad::mad:

As I told the little Scottish boy I spoke to, it was not his fault, and I was not blaming him. However, I did ask him to put himself in my place and imagine how very unhappy I was. So he did, and sent me £15, which I took off the shop I've now ordered again. They'd better not screw this up, or I shall have to get the Master Complainer (DH - does it for a living, I sometimes feel) to work his great magic.

I cleared quite a tranch of the garden at the weekend, ready to take the broad beans and garlic which are reproaching me from their pots by the back door. I haven't used my propogator on any of my seeds this year, and my tomatoes are growing at the speed of treacle. Hopefully this means they will be sturdy...;)

I was interested in what you said about taxis etc., squeaky - we do live in ruralsville arizona, and I have been wondering how we would cope if cars became too too expensive. The bus comes four times a day and those aren't exactly convenient or useful times. I'm still clinging to the fact that - as the crow flies - we are actually pretty near the metropolis, and that therefore if there were fewer cars on the road, then bikes become a far more attractive proposition. DD is lobbying for a pony and cart, but I think there will have to be FAR fewer cars on the road before that's feasible - and her horse is terrified of carts :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

THIRZAH

We help count our church collection and have noticed that the amounts have been going down over the last year or so.

bertiebots

hmmmm wonder if Gaileys having that baby???;) Good luck huni if you are!
I am getting a bit worried about the budget tomorrow and even more uneasy about cuts to council services- having been summoned to a meeting next week . Hope its just some boring training thing and not bad news (the letter didn't say!:().
My voice now resembles something like Phylis from Coronation street (an old lady with a blue rinse for those who have no idea) and the kids are finding it very amusing. After asking over a 100 kids at lunch time what they would like on there pasta/jacket spud I was not.....amused that is.
Have been enthusiastically sucking on halls soothers for the past hour but dont think they are helping at all , but I am pretty sure that the 2 cadburys cream eggs I ate in the car had a positive effect earlier:D I am feeling a bit boney and need the cals;)
My car is due its MOT next month and is making a worrying noise (I don't like worrying noises as they are usually expensive!) , my insurance is also due and its overdue for its service by 12 months:eek: Oh how I wish the public transport round here hadn't been run down to near useless so that my kids could actually get to school on the bus ...noticed petrol had gone up again today. Its getting just a bit scary:mad:
Maybe I should go try gargle with some honey or something before bed.........(insert confused smiley here)...

Btw I have toothache too..is it related to the budget?

Also forgot to mention dd is a glorious dark red head (with hazel green eyes) and ds2 is blonde (with grey green hazel eyes! )so I think I deserve a brownie point for continuing the genes..:D ds1 is mousey like me with blue eyes:p

Take care everyone x

Churchmouse

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi GreyQueen,

While I'm here, I don't think I've seen any mention of anybody taking advantage of the Tesco price promise to double the difference if your shopping can be bought cheaper in Asda? [/COLOR]

With a little work, checking out both Asda and Tesco websites, you can decide what to buy and make a profit on your shopping. They will allow you to claim back vouchers of up to £100 per household. So far this month I have managed to get £98 of free shopping! :j Although obviously I have paid over inflated prices in the first place, but still a great saving and a good way to stock up those store cupboards.

Pink

Oh my goodness, thank you Pink-winged :T:j I saw an advert on TV tonight, thought it would all be stuff and nonsense, but I'll be taking a closer look tomorrow

Things get tougher by the day, but then you look at the world situation and have to give heartfelt thanks for what you have

Pink.

Churchmouse wrote: »

Things get tougher by the day, but then you look at the world situation and have to give heartfelt thanks for what you have

Exactly Churchie. :A I have a 10 year old son who happens to watch the news with us in the evening. He has been profoundly affected by what is happening in Japan and is following gaddafi and what is going on in the middle east.

I have taken this as an opportunity to explain to him that we should give thanks for what we have. There are so many people in the world who are less fortunate than we are.

Pink