Where do we go from basics?

[Deleted User]

It sure is a sign of the times when charity shops take credit cards as I saw one day in Herefordshire whilst on holiday ealier in the year. I use absolutely everything I can and make it streeetch till it squeeks:) For pudding today with my visitors I had made yesrerday stewed aplles (three wrinkly ones that had to be used up) along with three sticks of rhubarb(discounted 20p in Sainsbobs from £1.99) this I cooked yesterday with some honey instead of sugar and covered with thick custard.It went down a treat at lunchtime along with the quiche that I knocked up from two eggs, some grated cheese the stalks chopped up from my box of mushrooms and some chopped onion and red pepper.This quiche cost me very little in cash but just a bit of time to make.I had three chipolatas sausages which I also cooked and sliced on top.Very tasy and very filling.I have almost half of it left for the next two days lunch,along with enough pudding to last for me for the next couple of days as well.I try to see what I can make from what I have in the cupboard or freezer before I buy anymore.This month I have been very frugal, and so far have only shopped twice in 17 days.I have more than enough to last me until the end of the week and part of next week .True there is only me to feed and Sunday dinner is taken at my DDs every week. I honestly don't think its going to get any easier and the days of cheap food are well and truely over in this country.I was speaking to my brother who lives in France and he says even there things are tough ( a cauliflower costs 4 euros 95 to buy which is roughly just over £4.00.He said last week a kilo of cherries cost 9 euros.Like me he said that its a case of just not buying a lot of stuff anymore and virtually only getting essentials as you run out of things.As I am disabled bending to grow stuff isn't an option for me and I suppose at least a third of my budget goes on fruit and veg and the rest is on stuff I cook from scratch.Lamb is cheaper in France and he was horrified that my DD paid £22.95 for a leg of lamb last week.Its almost half the price where he lives.I suppose its swings and roundabouts with comparitive food prices.I think we are a long way from famine but living costs will be determmined by the prices in the shops and there are less people buying the big trolleyfuls as there used to be,one of the till girls in Tescos near to me was saying how quiet it is now the bank holiday rush is over and people are tightening their belts even more.

quintwins

it's worrying that so many people have it so tight, and it's just gonna get worse with the price of pasta/rice/bread all rising

i've never seen a scoop shop tho def sounds interesting

and don't even talk to me about desil i'm now spending more a week in desil than i do on food

threemuttleys you really do need to eat, tiredness and hungry always makes things seem a million times worse even if it's smething small like bread and butter

the_cat

donnajt wrote: »

Is there a thread anywhere that you can list bargain shops, hairdressing colleges in your area? that would be so useful to so many of us!

That would be fab!! I don't think one exists though

I'm going into Southend tomorrow and there used to be a scoop shop there - will investigate and report back if you like. Where abouts is the hairdressing college you go to - it might be ok for me as we seem to live fairly close

Thanks for the info on barleylands - aa route planner says it about a 20 minute drive - would you reckon it worthwhile to spend 40 minutes worth of petrol to buy there or would that offset any saving?

patchwork_cat

There were a few shops called weigh and save (scoop shop) - still some come up on google. I didn't like the way people were not overly hygenic, but I do have mild OCD and logically if you bought stuff to cook... (logic doesn't come into an OCD!)

[Deleted User]

Softstuff wrote: »

I was debating the same thing looking at clothes in the charity shops, where the prices had gone sky high, and wondering if people can't afford charity shop clothes, what next?

we are a very very long way from what it was like when I was a child. That was real poverty but we all smiled through and communities helped each other. Pigs head was made into a couple of good meals, pea soup and bread was a staple. Cake sometimes as long as it only used one egg.

A dress from paddys market, cut down to make a childs dress and a top. A bath used to bath several people one after the other

People today don`t know they are born and many got into a bad situation through debt and wanting things NOW. We didn`t have any new furniture when we married, except for the mattress. Everything was hand me downs or bought cheap from second hand shops.

Don`t worry, you will live but it will take more effort and imagination

sistercas

never heard of a scoop shop , but sounds interesting , tried to google but didnt really get anywhere unless i wanted to buy a scoop! :rotfl:

lilac_lady

I was in a Tesco store for the first time in months and I couldn't believe the prices of most of their groceries. A single pepper for 80p is just one example. As a single person the vast majority of "deals" were buy 2 get 1 free, not even bogofs!

I feel sorry for the people who have a family to feed, especially if they can't cook.

donnajt

Sometimes I think its cheaper to buy ready meals than cook from scratch!!!

quintwins

donnajt wrote: »

Sometimes I think its cheaper to buy ready meals than cook from scratch!!!

:eek::eek: it's def not unless your either can't cook or don't have storage space or access to the cheaper shops

patchwork_cat

donnajt wrote: »

Sometimes I think its cheaper to buy ready meals than cook from scratch!!!

I know what you mean when it is 5 for £4. They are never enough though are they? If you bought £4 of food for cooking from scratch it would be a bigger meal, but the extras like, oil, seasoning etc. etc. add up!