Botanical blunderings on a budget - good life starts here.

starnac

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

starnac - you've alot planned today I see from the small things list!

not as much as you

I've got a week off next week and want to spend pretty much the whole week sorting out all the boxes in the spare room. The room is packed with all my crafty/fabric/ dressmaking stuff that needs a good sorting as I don't know what's in most of the boxes and haven't used some of it for a while. It needs sorting before DH puts it up in the attic. We want to claim the room back so we can have a proper spare room for visitors (in laws will probably visit after baby is born) plus I'm hoping I'll find bits that I can list on ebay to make a bit of money.

So I need to get everything else done today/this weekend so I'm not distracted by it next week and can spend as much time as needed upstairs.

Does that make sense??

Pippilongstocking

ETA - make sense to me starnac hope you get a bit of fun in that time off!

OK money

WTFC now in bank (gone up to £214)
dd's out tomorrow(£100 for electric, 13.93 for house insurance) no other payment due out that bank until rent due at end of month

May or may not get paid, therefore make sure I don't do too much with the wtfc money - but will put £50 to capital one card, 50 to lloyds

Even if not paid that will leave £68 in the account unless of course I've stuffed up somehow, I did do an £11 payment to capital one - will check if that out but still OK to make small payment to cc's.

I hope.

Balance left on capital one 53.24 - payment of £50 = available £103.24 for petrol/hen food etc etc. I'm trying to maximise cash payments to card and use it for petrol/food etc.

Uniscots97

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

all in all the meals have cost less than £10 for 4 of us for 5 nights so far - pretty chuffed with that!

Thats amazing! What (if you don't mind me asking) have you made? I made spaghetti and meatballs last night, its our very cheap staple. I'm always looking for way to improve it but reduce the cost!

This made 6 large portions:-

1 pack 400g mince (Sainsb basics, 97p)
1 outsider from the bread grated into breadcrumbs (?p)
2 tins plum tomatoes, chopped up (62p)
1/2 tube of tomato puree (20p)
1 jar Aldi pasta sauce (18p)
2 bay leaves (2p, bought huge bag of dried bay leaves for pennies)
handful of herbs from garden
400g spaghetti (Aldi, its about 40p for a 600g bag)
2 cloves of garlic (from garden)
splash of worcestershire sauce

method:

mix mince with breadcrumbs and some chopped herbs, roll into smallish balls making sure they are quite compact. Fry these in a little oil and keep them moving to ensure even cooking. Chop garlic and add to pan once meatballs are cooked, then add chopped tomatoes, the jar of pasta sauce, bay leaves, rest of herbs, tomato puree and worcestershire sauce and stir. Let it simmer for 20-25 mins. Meanwhile cook spaghetti, then drain and serve. It is very filling.

Cheery_Daff

Pah to silly supervisor pippi Can't he leave you alone!? I guess that's a hazard of island life!

Hope your visitors behave

vl2588

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

I've been a bit sneakyt planned meals for us all, left one gap for an impromtu thing - all in all the meals have cost less than £10 for 4 of us for 5 nights so far - pretty chuffed with that! and, I've loads milk/bread/etc for us to plooter through, I've told here we're short of butter and fruit/veg so they'll bring that for us perfect - no stress. she's delighted as all the meals are sorted and we can just relax whilst they are here

I bow down to your amazing thriftiness and organisation! :T

starnac

vl2588 wrote: »

I bow down to your amazing thriftiness and organisation! :T

me too. i've always admired pippi's organisation and energy

Greying_Pilgrim

starnac wrote: »

me too. i've always admired pippi's organisation and energy

Me three!

Greying

Cheery_Daff

Me four! :T :T :T :T An inspiration indeed :j :j

(hope you've got your claws out at that meeting pippi ! :T :T

Lemon_Tree

hi all , hope you'e well. missed you all.

went to my friends for tea last night and she's put me to shame, the only thing she ever used to be able to cook was tuna pasta bake which was lovely but apparently now they never have the same thing within the space of a couple of months. OH's lucky to not have the same thing the next day!

MatyMoo

Loving the frugal food for visitors Pippi and great to be so organised so that you can be relaxed while they are there.

I hope they are better at buying veg than my OH. He called when I was cooking dinner to say he was on his way and did I need anything. Yes please, could do with some fresh veg says I. What do I get? Tinned potatoes and tinned mushrooms :rotfl::rotfl:

And another time: We are having stew for dinner, can you pick up some pototoes. I get new potatoes and baked potatoes. Um, darling, you like mash with stew don't you? Yes So why didn't you bring potatoes for mash and why two different sorts?????? Oh, can't you mash them then???

I only let him do shopping occasionally and only when I am in need of a giggle

Keiss - Hope the interview went well.

Starnac - Are you nesting already???