The Matrix - Re-Evolution!!

Bitsy_Beans

I confess I look on the Approved Food website but never actually place an order. I mean I may like the idea of 5kg of blancmange but do I REALLY need it

Happytogetdebtfree

I don't even know what the approved food website is lol :-) x

Memory_Girl

:rotfl::rotfl: I know what you mean about the blacmange - here is what my order consisted of this week



Cooks and Co Red Wine Vinegar 1 Litre £1.00
Costa Ligure Pesto Alla Genovese 800g £2.99 12 meals for two's worth
Dr Oetker Healthier Option Pizza Base Mix 3.5kg £2.99 (makes 60 pizza bases)
Sharwoods Naan Bread Mix 325g £0.40 makes 5 naans
Tipiak Bulgar Wheat 500g £0.75
Tipiak Rice Flour 250g £0.60
Ashoka Shahi Rajma 280g £0.30 Red Kidney bean curry -serves 2)
Coriander and Lemon Couscous 110g £0.20
De Identified Tuscan Style Tomato and Olive Bulgar Wheat 120g £0.17
Tipiak Couscous Complet Bio Organic Wholewheat Couscous 400g £1.00
De Identified Red Pepper and Chilli Spelt 110g £0.14
Beit Hashita Extra Large Marinated Black Olives 560g £0.40
Amoy Thai Green Curry Paste 2950g £1.00 Enough to supply me, mum and friend with 20 portions each
Indian Tea 90g £0.40
Hellmanns Light Mayonnaise 200g £0.50
De Identifed Seafood Sauce 250ml £0.25
Heinz Tomato Ketchup 500ml £0.85
Thai Taste Hot Chilli Sauce For Seafood 200ml £0.50
Thai Taste Thai Chilli and Lime Stir Fry Sauce 114g £0.60
Sharwoods Flame Baked 2 Plain Naans £0.25


The cost of this was £44 - but would have cost £162 if bought retail, although I probably would not have bought a catering sized tin of Green Curry paste:rotfl:

I'm hungry just looking at the list

MG

greenbee

I avoid the flavoured couscous etc so it would be interesting to get your opinion on it. However, I have just gone in to sound my credit (from missing/damaged items last time) and have ordered the organic cousins plus 5kg pasta for £1.39... And tomatoes and baked beans...

The olives are better after they have been frozen. They're very hard straight from the tin, but I use 5 per person and freeze the rest and have found they improve. I think I should probably start eying the contents of my store cupboard rather than adding to it now, but I did resist the temptation to buy yet more recycled loo paper!

Horace

I have been extreme couponning in Tesco today - although they did clear my purse of 42p because I had used the number of coupons I was allowed. Now I know that I can use 17 coupons at a time - I shall go back another day and buy more store cupboard items:D

Currently there are some Bogofs on Fusili Pasta and Dolmio sauces in Tesco (pity as I didnt like the Dolmio varieties on offer and I have tons of pasta).

I managed to buy some treats too:

Added to store cupboard:
1ltr Longlife Milk 85p
1kg Value Porridge Oats 75p
Jusrol Frozen Puff Pastry £1.30 (pack contains 2 blocks) also on Bogof but none on shelf - they had run out.
Custard Mix 25p (Tesco own not Birds)
Value Choc Digestives 39p
8 slices crumbed ham £1.49 (now frozen in slices)
Reduced price Blackberries £1.20 instead of £1.60
Reduced price Clotted Cream Rice Pudding (2 pots) £1.28
Golden Syrup 85p
Large tin of Spam £1.50
6 free range eggs 89p
Reduced price fresh cream Raspberry Turnover (2 in box) £1.05
2 x tins Value Tinned Tomatoes at 31p each

I have some cooking apples already and thought that I could add blackberries and make a pie or two that I could freeze. The rice pudding is in individual pots they have also gone in the freezer as has one of the turnovers.

I would normally buy chopped tinned tomatoes at 33p a tin but figured that I could waggle a sharp knife in the tin and make my own. I know I have some treats too from my favourite shelf in the supermarket..dunno what is up with them today because I was allowed to have the items at reduced price because they are sometimes a bit sniffy and say that you have to wait until after 1pm before they can sell them at reduced price even if they are on the shelf marked as reduced - I caused a stink about this one day so figure they must have changed their policy.

Also I have packaged up two chicken stew/casseroles and put them in the freezer which leaves one for dinner tonight.

I rang my water supplier today as well because they emailed me last night to say that my water bill was due and they would be taking £101 from my account:eek: After my call today, I now pay monthly and will pay £27.20 - this will be more manageable. I cannot have a water meter as the stop !!!! is behind a wall in my bathroom and not accessible so I have assessed water based on living alone.

I nearly bought yeast today but Tesco only had dried yeast and the instuctions on the packet only related to using it in a bread maker - I dont have one so have no idea on what to do with the yeast otherwise (I am new to all this bread making malarky).

Memory_Girl

Yeah I find the flavoured ones can be a bit funny too - sometimes too salty. but the lemon and coriander one is a favourite in the house with some extra lemon juice and herbs. The bulghar what is also not too salty - nice cold as a salad with olives and feta and lots of greens or as a stuffing for peppers.

Normally just buy plain - but theses are OK. Good tip about the olives - although most of ours end up in bread or as tapanade so maybe that's why I haven't found them too crisp. Will try the freezer tip though.

Just cereal and milk to get next week and my stores are full - wahayyy!!! then every single penny is getting lobbed at the big horse debt - cos it IS HISTORY!!!!!!

The sofa makeover continues apace - I will post pictures of my days work on the blog the next morning if that's OK - that way you can can watch the disaster / triumph unfold................. No pressure:D

MG

Callisto

Horace wrote: »

Managed to get through to the council re my housing benefit - they are sooooo slow, I sent them my information ages ago and they have only just gotten around to looking at it. I informed them that my circumstances have changed and that I am now signing on the dole so now I have to write to them saying when I stopped working and how I have supported myself in the meantime and provide proof (when I have it) that I am getting dole money it seems that the signing on book is insufficient evidence). I have been listed as having nil income.

Just wishing I could have a change of mood, I am constantly feeling low (this is mostly fear and worry and anger). Now fretting about car tax which is not due til December..:(

I'm looking for a job as well Horace. Do you have a local council hub office? I've always found it much easier to take paperwork into the hub in my closest town, they will scan your paperwork and email it through to the processing office, so saves risk of delays and paperwork getting lost in post/at their office as it is all scanned in. Housing Benefit should start to be paid as soon as you receive your confirmation of Job Seekers Allowance letter.

I am hoping to get a job soon as I am worried about coping financially over the winter. We need to buy coal (and kindling wood when we run out of pallet wood), as the central heating system works off the fire. A family member has given us the money to buy the first coal load, which I feel guilty about as I want to be independent. First, we need to move the coal bunker into the back garden as we did have it not in sight of the house last winter and I'm pretty sure someone was helping themselves to our coal. :mad:

Today I am finishing a job application, seeing if there is anything else to apply for, study session and exercise. I have put on 4 pounds since my last weigh in two months ago! :eek:

scaredy_cat

Horace, do you know that if Tesco has a promotion, but no products on the shelf, you can get a 'promise note' so you can have the deal at a later date when the goods are available.

Bitsy_Beans

I think a lot of the stuff you buy MG we don't eat in this house so tend to browse the website and can't see anything of note

thriftyscotslass

G'day my little frugalistas, nice to see lots of :money: going down.

Could do with a few soothing Matrix vibes please. Some friends are arranging a trip to celebrate one of their 50th birthdays, the cost of which would be in the region of £500. I have made my apologies but it has been an awkward morning all round. Feeling a bit frustrated - they can't seem to get that my life has changed , we won't / can't go back to where we were before ds was diagnosed ... and breathe Thrifty.

I think a nice homemade veggie soup is called for. Later y'all.