Where do we go from basics?

mojoman

patchwork_cat wrote: »

'When our children were small we had a seven bedroomed house(6 children) with a very large garden and an enormous stone outhouse used for storage and as a playhouse.As they started to leave home we gradually down sized.First to a 4 bedroomed,then 3, then2.We now live in a brand new 2 bedroomed flat almost in the town centre.Very easy to heat and to keep clean,low(ish)council tax and for the first time in our lives we actually have spare money,which is something I never dreamed would happen.'

From a post made by OP in feb. What has happened OP since Feb?

Nothing has happened since Feb.I don't think I've explained properly,when I say spare moneyI don,t mean loads just a little spare compared to years ago when we were ,as they say< on our uppers>.My OH now has the big C,so we are not sure about the future as we have no insurance or savings and without him I will have much less pension and the same outgoings.Having something left at the end of the week makes me feel quite well off,but we are definitely trying to save for the future(mine ,I suppose).

threemuttleys

mojoman wrote: »

Nothing has happened since Feb.I don't think I've explained properly,when I say spare moneyI don,t mean loads just a little spare compared to years ago when we were ,as they say< on our uppers>.My OH now has the big C,so we are not sure about the future as we have no insurance or savings and without him I will have much less pension and the same outgoings.Having something left at the end of the week makes me feel quite well off,but we are definitely trying to save for the future(mine ,I suppose).

oh my...very big hug for you and your OH. Deffo puts our worries into perspective

redlady_1

threemuttleys wrote: »

oh my...very big hug for you and your OH. Deffo puts our worries into perspective

Very much so. Hope he kicks its backside!!!

mojoman

Many thanks to everyone who's posted answers.Reading replies from older people (as I am) took me back years, ice on the windows, no fridge,no washing machine.Oh happy days. I feel guilty now as I've realised how well off I am compared to years ago.We'll all survive. Keep smiling.

dianadors

One of my friends got taken out to a local pub by her parents for a carvery meal. She noticed that they took the turkey back into the kitchen and it still had its legs on. She asked the server what they did with the carcass's. He told her that they didnt use the leg meat and they got chucked out. She asked if she could have a carcass, and they brought her one wrapped up "to go" It lasted her and her 2 kids all week! My pal has been on her own with her 2 kids since they were babies and left by her ***** husband in a big house that they had just bought that needed completely rennovating. 13 years later, she has never claimed benefits, worked several jobs at a time fitting in around her kids. She is my ultimate make do and mend hero.

Minihauk

dianadors wrote: »

She asked if she could have a carcass, and they brought her one wrapped up "to go" It lasted her and her 2 kids all week!

The carveries I have been to never use the dark meat. They always throw the carcass away - (i asked and have been told that due to H&S they are not permitted to keep it or pass it on). Your friend was very lucky.

Mojoman - big hugs to you. I hope your OH can conquer the illness.

Ediited to add: How do people manage to find time to shop, bake and cook from scratch when working full time? I just can't seem to keep up with it all.

purpleivy

the_cat wrote: »

Unfortunately I think it does get to a point where you are unable to cut down any further:(

Tricks I use include whoopsies (obviously!:p) Aldi supersix and Lidl weekend deals, growing a few bits in the garden, F

When I'm working hard at my food budget I use my freezer to 'work' the super six. They change the offer every fortnight, so I need to think ahead and get supplies of what will be going 'off' offer to keep me going. eg onions come on reasonably regularly and I can keep them in the cellar, so get a few bags to keep me going. Also peppers, celery, courgettes that are used in cooked dishes get chopped and put in the freezer to use when fresh supplies are not available on offer, or are very expensive. I use these in pasta dishes, curries, soups, stews and so on.

grizzly1911

purpleivy wrote: »

Also peppers, celery, courgettes that are used in cooked dishes get chopped and put in the freezer to use when fresh supplies are not available on offer, or are very expensive. I use these in pasta dishes, curries, soups, stews and so on.

I usually have a couple of bags of onions in thecupboard but I find they don't always last so well from Al.

Use a lot of peppers and celery. Hadnt thought about freezing them myself although have used pre-frozen peppers.

Do they need blanching or is it just clean, cut, freeze?

Uniscots97

I keep my veg peelings, freeze them and then make them into soup. Last night using a kilo of mince I got in Aldi's I made meatballs (3 dinner portions and a lunch portion), lasagne (enough for 3), chilli (6 large portions), I stretched the meat out using chopped tomatoes and oats and also used breadcrumbs in the meatballs.

Check out stores like Home Bargains and Wilkos, they sometimes have tinned goods much cheaper than the supermarkets value brands. I got 4 tins of tomatoes for £1.

VJsmum

Minihauk wrote: »

Ediited to add: How do people manage to find time to shop, bake and cook from scratch when working full time? I just can't seem to keep up with it all.

I don't work full time but I am pretty busy on the days i don't work (even if it's yoga and lunch with the girls ). I make good use of my freezers. Pretty much anything left over gets frozen. Last week on a busy day we had roast dinners made up from leftovers and frozen - I had pork, kids had chicken - a few minutes in microwave and bobs your mothers brother.

I always make double quantities of things like lasagne, bolognaise, casseroles etc on days when i can cook. I also make good use of the slow cooker - chuck it in, in the morning, nice casserole to come home to.

On Tuesday i came in at 6 and had left over beef in beer, left over mash and left over swede and carrot all from freezer, and had eaten it by 6.15!

Then there are meals which are typically quick. Tuna pasta sweetcorn, jacket spuds and beans and cheese (either microwave spuds or stick on a timer in your oven if it has one), an omelette is the fastest food i know.

But, (whisper) some days I don;t :eek: :cool: and we have ready meals or takeaways or go to the pub. It is a case of doing what you can.

Editing to add - grocery deliveries are great and shops like Aldi, can be got round in a fraction of the time it takes for the bigger supermarkets. Baking happens maybe once a week for me, usually when oven is on for a while, some things can be frozen (banana bread for example) and flapjack type things keeep for ages in an airtight container.