Now and Then: 7 - 13 March

Rose999

Thank you so much for this thread - I love it! :T
Just one question - what is Quicken? I think I like the sound of this for recording stuff - where can I find it?
Thanks!

furrypig

thank you Jordylass had never heard of flylady.com and have just joined. Looks exactly what I need and the whole family will benefit from it too. Would like to know more about 'Quicken' too.
Anyway can't stop as I have to go and clean my sink!! (cf first flying lesson!!)

Queenie

Rose999 - Quicken is a finance program where you can track your budgets etc.

You might be able to find a very basic spreadsheet budget within the software that came with your PC. I use MSN Money 2004 - never tried Quicken - and I began with a free trial which I found on the Internet (didn't want to buy it unless I knew I would really use it or before I knew how it worked). If you ask in the Techie forum they might be able to point you in the direction of a free trial for Quicken or Money or even a better program all together!

furrypig - flylady is very good for getting you focused (you got your shoes on girl?) Just as long as you don't mind being inundated with the emails

jordylass - woohoo!! That's an impressive change to your whole lifestyle! Very well done.

Pooky - I bow before you! I love sewing, but even I wouldn't attempt that (doing clothing isn't my thing really need to correct that!) Top job! :beer:

crana999

I just use Excel.. its good to get started with at any rate

culpepper

now: put my old unread for ages books on ebay
then:they just took up space

now: Use my money off coupons in Asda
then: thought well I never buy that stuff anyway so would throw them away.

now:make my own bread everyday
then:bought pap which cost more

now:check out things in shops and then go home and buy them for lots less on the web
then:If I found it in the shop, I'd buy it.

mrsmab59

Queenie wrote:

• Took kitchen side caddy of used teabags, emptied under roses.
• Eggshells from baking: cooked in a little water - water used on houseplants, shells went on soil of patio plants.

I've not heard either of these tips before so thanks for them.

Can the used teabags be used on other garden plants as well?

r.mac_2

I am feeling inspired by this thread and thought I would like to add some of my own ‘triumphs’ -

Turned heating down a few degrees
Use a blanket/hot water bottle/another jumper when watching TV rather than immediately putting heating on full blast for the whole evening
Switched gas and electricity suppliers

Have a meal plan and shop once a week, sticking to my list.
Discovered my slow cooker and ‘experimented’ by making soup for work lunches
Stopped throwing away leftovers and use them instead (meal plan has helped stop leftovers appearing!)
Discovered my local greengrocer/bakery/butcher

Started budgeting more effectively – thanks to Martin’s tips, but mainly to the Grocery challenge started by Tiff.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas and tips.

r.mac

tiff

I have learned so much from the grocery and storecupboard challenges. I just find it incredible that I used to pick up whatever I fancied which cost me around £100 a week and now that I plan and think about it more I have less than halved the cost. No-one believes me either! Thank God for the slow cooker revolution too, I have my brisket cooking nicely and my husband called to ask what was for tea and then wished he hadnt because it made him feel hungry.

This week I checked out Lidl, I'm definitely going to get some stuff in there in future. Cereals, liquid soap, shower gel, parmesan, mozzarella, meat, veg, juices etc are all much cheaper. Then they have special offers, their potatoes were half price today for a 7.5kg bag.

Last night I made some watercress soup as I bought organic bags reduced to 20p in Tesco. I froze it as we wont need it until the weekend. Before I would have bought tinned soup.

Tomorrow I'm having a baking day, never had one of those before! I'm making some cookies, banana and walnut loaf and coconut cake. Will probably whizz up some houmus to go in the pitta bread I bought. Before I would always have bought cakes and biscuits and bought houmus.

Queenie

mrsmab59 wrote:

I've not heard either of these tips before so thanks for them.

Can the used teabags be used on other garden plants as well?

Yup and on your houseplants too. I usually de-bag them though

Plus .... any banana skins also go at the roots of my roses or the compost bin, depending on need.

r.mac - just a thought for you, you can "plan" leftovers with your menu planning. For example, if we have roast lamb on a Sunday, I will plan a Shepards Pie for Monday or Tuesday. When cooking the Sunday roast I make extra gravy and a large pot of mashed potatoes - both are "planned" leftovers for the Shepards Pie.
Likewise, if I'm making a pie crust (shortcrust pastry), I know I will have pastry trimmings, so, I *know* I will make/cook Cheese Straws with the trimmings to go in the boys lunchboxes the next day. Casserole? I *plan* a meat pie for the next day so that I reserve a portion of casserole when dishing up, then use that to fill the pie the following day.

Galtizz

Queenie wrote:

Yup and on your houseplants too. I usually de-bag them though

Likewise, if I'm making a pie crust (shortcrust pastry), I know I will have pastry trimmings, so, I *know* I will make/cook Cheese Straws with the trimmings to go in the boys lunchboxes the next day.

I make jam tarts for pud or luchbox they're so easy, pastry is already rolled out, just use a pastry cutter (or cut round the lid of the jam) bung in a cake tray put a teaspoon of jam in the middle of each and bung in the oven with the pie. If you use more than 1tsp the jam leaks and sticks to the tin.