Countdown to Freedom

lulabelle1

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

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

Great post Tilly - I have definitely lost my focus in this area. I think part of the problem is that I handed over the reigns to DH in regards to meal planning and food shopping. I'm not knocking him, he does a good job ensuring we are fed, but there is no awareness at all in regards to how much meals cost, batch cooking etc.

I need to get more involved again, and perhaps even doing the food shop myself. I will of course try and do this in a way as not to upset his feelings!

tootoo

thank you for the programme tips....just watching one now.
not sure why james hasn't brought value rice though? maybe thats just me!?

[Deleted User]

Hey Tilly
I may well look into the programmes as they sound interesting!! I have to confess to taking my eye off the ball a bit with relation to this the past few weeks - have defrosted a few bits from freezer that we ended up not using! But I think it is partly about time as well , sometimes getting in tired and late from work makes it more difficult to stick to meal plans I think (ironic probably as thatd be the quickest) but its easy to get drawn by takeaway/not having to cook/"I just don't fancy that tonight"

Don't think we are horribly wasteful, but probably not as angelic :A as some on here manage to be!

Pensions are a new one for me - well in terms of understanding quite what it means! Bit like I used to be with the mortgage!! I know I am paying the maximum contributions possible and this is doubled/matched by employer so that's a positive! Looks quite low when they tell me what Ill get a month when Im 65 though I suppose I will have had a good 30 years more moneysaving under my belt by then! :rotfl:

Enjoy your weekend x

gallygirl

Polly_Wolly_Doodle wrote: »

the 4 for a £1 kitkats get me every time:eek:,

Me too :mad:. In fairness, I do make them last through 4 cups of tea though .

muddywhitechicken

gallygirl wrote: »

In fairness, I do make them last through 4 cups of tea though .

But how many cups of tea do you drink before breakfast? :rotfl:

ajmoney

What channel were those programmes on? I will take a look when I get home.

gallygirl

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

But how many cups of tea do you drink before breakfast? :rotfl:

:whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle::whistle:

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

It's all thought provoking stuff isn't it.

I spoke to my mum about the food programme this morning and she had a good chat about the war and how they coped. It's interesting that poverty is a serious issue, as it was after the war, but the difference seems to be the art of knowing how to cook and stretch. The OS board on the forum is certainly a shining example of how little people can manage on.

In a world where smart phones and flat screen TVs are King - what price do we put on a bag of salad seeds and a bag of compost. I paid 75p for a reduced pot growing salad leaves. Planted them up for Mum and they will keep her going all summer. Let's say either a salad for lunch or dinner every day, which I know she will do - throw in tomatoes, which are growing in pots, radishes, which are planted and cost pennies and she can probably have a large plate of salad for 20p and I'm being generous with the price. She has mint and parsley to add to the salad, and potatoes growing as well.

It's tragic the way food banks are having to grow and I really do think we are suffering as a result in education in schools, benefits etc over the last twenty years.

Right, off to finish ironing.

Menu planned until mid August and only milk is on the shopping list - I wonder how that will go. If it works I have an additional£240 spending money or an OP.

Sorry for the rant

Tilly x

gallygirl

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Menu planned until mid August and only milk is on the shopping list - I wonder how that will go.

Garlic mayo sandwiches anyone?

Roast olive dinner?

[STRIKE]Loo roll [/STRIKE]filo pastry bake?

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

You need to add capers to that GG :rotfl: