Countdown to Freedom

Polly_Wolly_Doodle

Oh, NY resolution number 3, walk more, beneficial for the dog and my waistline, have loads of weight to shift and 2012 could be the year to do it, eekkk, challenging myself here!!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ1, I tend to do a biggish shop every month or so, or like now to last a couple of months as I know I have a particularly busy Jan/Feb. I think reduced meat etc is just a fluke, I was very lucky the other day and bought pretty much all meat hugely reduced, but that is unusual. I know some guys tend to shop at the right time for food to be reduced, but I can never seem to find the right time, so it really is pure luck. However, if I do see something, on a light shop week for example, I would still buy it, prep, cook and freeze.

I do think though, that longer term food planning, saves me more money. I always have a list of freezer/larder contents, well stocked spice/herb stock etc so it's easy to take a basic dish and tart it up.

Good luck if you have a go. Tilly xx

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning PWD, I laughed when I read you post, as our portion control is dreadful, we always seem to have too much on our plates so that is definitley NY Resolution 1. Plus I always serve food at the table, in bowls etc to serve yourself, so again the temptation is to eat too much. We will definitely be eating less and increasing our fruit/veg. I want to see whether I can find enough money to make an extra 1 month mortgage payment this year, as an OP, on top of my challenge, so it is going to be difficult.

Great that your DH cooks though - it would be good for him to have a menu plan to work to as it does take the pain out of the Monday-Thursday cooking. We both enjoy Friday-Sunday cooking as we have more time, so tend to make more of a fuss. Resolution no. 2, we are going to use a different cookery book each Saturday, to prepare dinner (when we are eating in). We both fancy going back to some Chinese/Indian cooking so that should be good fun.

Good luck for 2012. Best wishes, Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Sorry PWD, I forgot to add that we will be walking more too as DH has challenged us both to lose some weight. I used to do 10k steps per day, but this disappeared after the summer holidays, so I need to increase now.

Good luck on the weight loss - we can follow each other.
Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ1, I completely forgot to add that you could save quite a bit of money and easily reduce by £100 per month to start with. After that you could reduce it slowly, but perhaps go shopping with cash, not a card. It certainly stops you putting the odd thing or two in your trolley. If you have menu planned, written your list and then shop, it's far easier to stop things jumping into your trolley. Just think thats £1200 per year, for really doing nothing. I think that puts it into perspective a little more don't you?

Anyway, I am now off to shell some nuts that have been in my kitchen for too long. DH is going to make a nut and honey tart, ala Nigel Slater I think.

Must shout for a cuppa soon.

Best wishes, Tilly x

sweetdaisy

Wow! All that cooking. You must have an industrial size walk in freezer .

I'm going to start weaning DS2 in a few weeks, so I'll allocate one freezer draw for him for all his pureed food. And for 2012 I am going to really look at the way that I do my food shop and make more use of offers and meal plan a lot better than I currently do.

SJ1

Thanks Tilly and yep, when you start multiplying it up it does put it into perspective!

Have a good one.

SJx

P.S. Just reading your post on Lulabelle and think I ordered too small a slow cooker - its 2.2 litres so may need to return it! You recommended 6 ltrs which is a whopper! I was going to make econ gast beef stew but not sure that 2 kilos of beef, a bottle of red wine and a pint of beef stock are going to fit!!!!!!:eek:

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SweetDaisy, I must admit I do have a large freezer, it's a tall upright Leibherr which I bought in 1992 and it is still going strong. I dream of having a snazzy kitchen with a side by side fridge/freezer but not sure that I will ever achieve that. However, it's good to have something to think about when the weather is miserable outside.

Good luck on the weaning - another chapter opens.

best wishes, Tilly

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ1, I forgot to add that yesterday my 6 ltr slow cooker was almost over flowing and I had to decant some food into a bowl! A friend of mine has two SCs. One large, one small and she can switch depending upon the amount of food she is cooking. I can see me doing that when the kids leave home, but I can also see food parcel requests coming in.

Best wishes Tilly

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

What a day, nuts cracked, sweet potato cooked, mashed, packed and cooling. Now we have to tackle the receipts etc from our vacation. We did switch money into the CC pot whenever we spent, but I do prefer to check off each item - just in case the bill is wrong. Thank goodness for on line accounts. Not a job I relish and as it's New Years Eve, DH has just come through with a gin and tonic! Bless him.......

Right, financials here we come, then we can start 2012 with zero receipts, all monies accounted for and no spending. Goodness that sounds like a tall order.

Best wishes everyone.

Tilly x