Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Evening, another NsD under the belt

Interesting to see what happens over the next couple of months with the interest rates - I do feel torn as whilst I understand the logic in earning higher interest elsewhere and paying less on the actual mortgage, our mortgage is mahoosive and I need to see the numbers tumbling. May have to rethink our plans if/when this happens.

Exciting times.

@SJ, hope the bread worked out ok. Mr Tilly is baking bread tomorrow evening. He wanted to go out for dinner but I persuaded him that th swimming finals were more important :)


Have a good evening and it's Friday tomorrow :T:T

Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

FAB evening watching the swimming - I feel quite exhausted just watching them.

Tilly x x x

SJ1

Hi Tilly

Bread turned out ok for a first attempt and got wolfed down for lunch by all the family. It was very crusty on the outside though - so crusty it was hard to cut through the crust!! Perhaps a little butter would have helped with this. I was also amazed - after using 500g of flour - at how small the loaf was although I did make 6 small rolls as well. All in all I think I would do it again as really it was a small effort for what turned out to be a lovely lunch. We did literally just eat it hot with cheese, jam and nutella - though not together!!!

My bet on interest rates is no rises until end 2013 or possibly 2014 - with the eurozone lurching from crisis to crisis I think we are going to be bumping around the bottom for a while with growth and it's unlikely that the BoE would risk a rate rise and the pain that would cause an awful lot of households around the country who have come to rely on low interest rates whilst inflation is high and income just not going up at the same rate. Interested to know what your thoughts are.

Menu planning is going well although need to get back on track after holidays. That said these have let me have a go at the pork tumbledown on E Gas and trying the salmon ones next week as we all love salmon.

SJ

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

SJ, The gravadlax recipe is so easy in E Gas - well worth having a go.

Well done on the bread, try the E Gas one as well,as it is a larger recipe from memory. The smell is so lovely.

Too tired to think of interest rates at the moment- I have much to think about

Tily x x

gallygirl

Come on hon, bigger picture. Bung an extra couple of columns on the spreadsheet to net off the savings (if you haven't already!). I'm looking forward to being a rate tart, starting Dec (will be easy at 1st, ISA 12/13 then suss out good regular savers and fill ISA 13/14 .

Em, what is E Gas .

SJ1

Hi GG

E Gas - is Economy Gastronomy cook book - sorry I know that Tilly uses this cook book hence the shortening!

Perhaps I misread earlier post from Tilly, I had though it was worry over interest rate rises from BoE rather than tarting interest rates on savings!

SJ

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning SJ/GG, I settled down for an early night so missed your ramblings :rotfl:

Economy Gastronomy is a really interesting book, Paul Merrett and Allegra McEvedy - well written and resonated with me due to focus in reduced waste, use by dates, and understanding the concept of tumbledown - goodness that was quite wordy for before 7am ! I borrowed it from the library first and soon bought it.

The whole area of food and growing veg etc interests me. I love the fact that our kids can cook a meal, know how to prepare the ground and sow, tend and harvest veg. Our son makes the best marinades for chicken and fish, and doesn't use a recipe book, just decides whether it will be herby/spicy and cracks on - only downside: hard to replicate as he can't remember what he used :rotfl:

On interest rates, if they go down further and some of the press indicate that could be within the next two months, I really need to decide whether to save all OPs to gain the interest advantage. Typing this I realise it is the most sensible thing to do as I can make annual OPs and that could end up shaving another month or two off. As that's my goal, then I think Mr Tilly and I will be doing some saving rate investigations. Perhaps I have just woken up to what a lot of the guys on here do - save rather than OP. I do both but it is driven by the size of the mortgage and my need to see the numbers reduce, which they have, just not enough yet to make me feel better

Just seen a Group@n deal for an Indian meal for 2 for £12, 2 courses, so I am going to investigate whether it can be used on a Friday. That way I can watch the swimming and we can go for dinner later, at a good price.

Pay day in just over two weeks and then the madness commences again.

We have dug out the peas and mange tout which are finished now, plus potatoes finished. We need to do new planting again this weekend and I am planting potatoes for the Christmas period. Apples, plums a growing better now, but blueberries are a wash out this year and normally I have loads

Can't believe it is Friday already, have a great weekend.

Tilly x

SJ1

Hi there

I am with Gally Girl - just add a couple of extra columns to the spreadsheet -= anything that gets you there earlier just use it.

Economy Gastronomy is an excellent book - it is time consuming I think to do the tumbledowns but well worth the effort as you end up sorting out about 3 days of dinner and 2 of lunch if you follow it =- which is well worth it. I would be interested Tilly in what tumbledows you liked as I am just starting to try them.

I would be really surprised if interest rates go any lower - if that happens I am really going to get worried!!

Very jealous of the Indian - have fun!

SJ

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning, bright/ light sky but not the slightest tinge of blue

Group@n voucher had to arrive before Indian meal but it has now, so plans changed last night and we are off on Sunday evening. 2 courses for 2 = £12 - sounds good value to me and the menu looks fine.

We had considered another Rupert Bear adventure last night but Mr Tilly decided he wanted to watch all the swimming and athletics. A trip to Mr W and 30 minutes later we had bargainous Mediterranean veg to roast, 2 small fillet steaks (they were not bargainous but were delicious) and bargainous rolls. Followed by chocolate mousse. This was a real change for us as we always make everything from scratch. However, it enabled us to have a relaxing evening, thoroughly enjoyed the athletics, felt sorry for Rebecca in the swimming.

I made a little OP last night, I had 23p messing up the bank account so that is neatly squirrelled away.

Off out for a Rupert Bear adventure shortly and taking the dogs - Mr Tilly is making French toast for breakfast, then we are off

I counted the money in piggy for the memorial lunch I am paying for and I have enough put aside. I may put that into a separate pot now to gain the offset advantage. It's been motivating to drop the coins in knowing its for a special event.

Right, Mr Tilly is calling me for French toast now, so have a good day all.

Fingers crossed for more medals :)

Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

:j:j:j:T:T:T:T:T:j:j:j


Go Jess

Tilly x x x x