Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi El, I think this retirement malarkey is so complicated. I am researching more now and Mr T and I are talking more often about it.

I love the buzz I get from work but on the other hand, there is a whole wide world out there to explore and that's another chapter in our lives.

Hope you're in less pain this morning, I'll pop over and check your diary

Tilly x x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Tasks

Freezer and larder inventory Saturday morning and plan menu to use up content
Write up shopping list for mid next week - minimum purchases
Washing and ironing
Saturday morning - strip beds, wash, dry, iron
Take animals to kennels
Pack

Two returns from a few weeks ago to do this evening

Best wishes Tilly

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Due to a prompt from GG I've had two BBC programmes on this afternoon, in the background whilst working,the one about budget menus and the other about benefits. What interesting viewing and although both programmes had a few things I would criticise, on the whole worth watching.

I heartily support the bulk food cooking and freezing and do this all the time, so pleased to see it being discussed. I know we couldn't live with the budget we do,if I didn't plan as much as I do. We have interesting meals, use loads of cookbooks, and I think, have good quality food at reasonable prices. The treats of steak are balanced by the veggie options and bargainous food.

Off to prepare the veg for dinner :T

Tilly x

nattypants

I agree Tilly, I watched both yesterday evening - very interesting viewing indeed!

elantan

Yep I watched both today myself, very interesting, am looking forward to seeing the flip side of one of them next week

Have been doing more pension stuff again ... My head hurts lol

Katzen

Just watching the budget food one now. Makes me so sad that there are people living like that. What a horrid trap, where you can't afford to 'invest' in a store cupboard and can't get the benefit of bulk buying as you can't afford 3 chickens for £10.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning, I need to download both programmes for Mr T and the kids to watch. Like you El, I'm looking forward to the role reversal benefit one.

First load of washing in, iron full of water and I'm ready to clear the backlog - this will teach me not to keep on top of my jobs in the week :rotfl:

I took bacon and sausage out of the freezer last night - I'll make brunch once the creatures have gone to the kennel.

No dog walk, or volunteering today.

I checked the freezer last night, in readiness for the inventory this morning and it's around 50% empty. Looks like my plan to live out of the freezer until our vacation will work. Due to the salads, veggies, fruit in the garden the shopping bill could be under £20 per week for the next four weeks :T

The food budgeting programme has really made me think. I have a great spice and herb stock, which gets turned over regularly due to the way we cook. This is such a help when you don't need to buy spices just for a dish.

Katzen you're right, having the money to invest in a store cupboard enabling you to have ingredients available and benefiting from bulk buys or bargainous food, makes the difference. I set up a separate savings pot for bulk shopping earlier this year - after the summer vacation I'm off to the local farm IF they have an offer on, to buy pork and beef. Chicken will be Costc@ and Mr T will portion the, up into breasts, thighs, legs etc and I'll make a vat of stock with the remaining bones etc - portion then freeze.

I also think that the colleges should start up some courses teaching people how to cook and shop. Showing my age, I'm of the generation where Home Economics was studied at school and I still remember having to cost out recipes. Even today, when I buy a bargain, i still do this - for example a few months go I bought a bargainous salmon, I portioned it, then worked out the cost per portion. Holding this at the back of your mind keeps you focussed.

I don't think cooking is particularly difficult as basically you follow a recipe, but having the confidence to cook is different.

I have loved teaching our lodger how to cook and he has been surprised how easy it is

Apologies for the change in direction this morning. Some days I start to type and have no clue where it's going. Running a home and veg growing/cooking are important to me, as your food budget is normally the main flexor in terms of increasing disposable income.

Right, I'll get off my soap box and start ironing - wish me luck

Oops - I forget - 56p TT, and a hoofing £1.01 TT OP

Tilly x

gallygirl

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Apologies for the change in direction this morning. Some days I start to type and have no clue where it's going.

Same here. I'm usually working at the time :rotfl:.

Vala-Mal-Doran

I love to work out the cost per portion too-particularly with things like chilli. I love handing it to OH saying 'and it only cost 86p per dish!' It helps keep him in the loop to how much things are and why I may need to sometimes spend a lot in one go to get the cost down eg-a whole chicken or large packs of turkey mince.
He's still learning bless him!

V x

Polly_Wolly_Doodle

Haven't watched the benefits programme, but i will now!
Did watch the food one and thought it was a real eye-opener for the chefs, just the time and effort it takes to track down the cheapest food. And there is something so wrong that junk food, okay it is high in calories and fat, so gives lots of energy - in theory, is so so cheap and always pushed - the 4 for a £1 kitkats get me every time:eek:, yet fruit and veg are proportionally so much more expensive (yet less energy from a calorie point of view) and rarely on any sort of meaningful offer...:(