LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

So..today..

- making a b8stardised version of pasta carbonara with a white sauce to save on eggs and fact that don't want to buy cream. Way of using up the bacon mountain we seem to have from failing to split a catering pack before we put it in freezer..note to self
- tidied garden and swept up/threw away debris
- going out with some friends this eve but will eat before we go to check we don't get the munchies
- OH doing DIY which is long overdue, bless him
- too tight a grocery budget to buy washing powder :eek: so have googled and will be trying 1:1:1 of soda crystals, hand washing powder (bit wary of too much foam) and bicarb. Will let you know how it goes and in further news am drinking instant coffee (which I found lurking at the back of a cupboard - it was bought by my MIL when she came over for a few days about 2 years ago :rotfl:) rather than buy filter..first time for everything..may have to give myself a break and pop into A8di this weekend to get my fix :rotfl:
- another loaf from our BM..BM is on its last legs but hoping to make it stretch into next month as this month is so tight
- have done some IPS=S surveys..first time but seemed straight forward enough
- claimed £9 from my PC account :j
- decluttered some stuff for CS but also maybe EBay. 5 watchers on something so fingers and toes crossed everyone please

DedicatedDFW

Hi brizzle,

Thanks for your considered reply - hmm... financially makes sense but i'm all for the quirkier and older types

You are achieving loads - have you any energy to share around? And lentils - ashamed to say never used - any advice tips?

Good luck on the bay of e sales

brizzledfw

Quirkier and older means repair bills...not so keen on that personally, like my holidays to go smoothly

Lentils..marvellous things. Do you like Asian food? Dahls and curries are a staple, but seriously for the lasagne, just used a load of red lentils and some yellow ones ( have forgotten their name) and chucked them in the layer which would traditionally have the bolognaise sauce. Worked really well.

I always bulk out meat with pulses too. Much cheaper and of course healthier.

Jack also makes some burgers which are yum...maybe you could try those or felafels?

So today...combination of chores and R&R I hope...oh and playing with kits

- power wash the back of the house in hope we can leave off painting for another year
- have meal of lovely use ups from fab tea cooked yesterday...whole organic hams cooked by friends in their smoker..it truly is an amazing gadget...I did have a twinge of envy
- really think hard (again) about downsizing..ideal house is on market and if we moved fast we might be in with a chance and be MF...OH is more in line this time (last Xmas seemed reluctant but getting there a little now)..I don't know..pros and cons...but I really think we owe it to ourselves to think hard and properly about it, so he has gone for a long run and a long think
- go to allotment...our lack of attention to it is outrageous. :eek:
- get everything set up for next week, laundry, school uniform etc and think about a TA tea for me and OH as we have free cinema tickets for a movie tomorrow eve.
- quieter week on the work front, last week, but still very chipper.

Laters, have a good day folks.

Brizzle x

grannyx2

Have a great day Brizzle.

Hope you can come to a joint decision re the house

Granny x

please-let-me-be-lucky

Oooh, house sounds good! Xx

debtfreewannabe321

Agreed! Hope dh thinks favourably on the down sizing option xx

brizzledfw

Ugh. in the too hard box I think..and also in my mind, a misplaced sense of how hard it would be to move after 13 yrs or so...he is getting stressed about work again and when that happens, thinking of anything else in parallel is always a challenge

So, back on the back burner. Have to say, if we pay off the mortgage in 8 years we will be sitting on a tidy sum. Just would prefer the money spare now when kids are teenagers.

So.. today..

- taking OH out with free cinema tickets :j - free with my newspaper ipad subscription
- sandwiches from home before we go in to keep cost zilch and cycling there and back :j
- few extra hours done FL wise over last few days which is always welcome. Still waiting on the mother lode though. Hope to hear more this week..
- budget tighter than a well, tight thing but sun is shining which makes a real difference
- brought back loads of potatoes, apples, spinach, sweetcorn, fennel from the allotment..even a few cobnuts! The squash are looking rampant and healthy. Having said that think we will give it up next year. Its too much and feels like a huge responsibility which OH is particularly fed up with.
- kittens really coming along..but have failed to take any decent photos..sorry folks
- have brekkie with an old work mate today, then a few work bits..so best shake a tail feather as GP would say

brizzledfw

meant to say..had a lovely veggie Asian meal yest, courtesy of OH..paneer and spinach curry (spinach from the allotment ) as well as a lentil one (all courtesy of Anjum Anand), rice and HM rotis. Very frugal.

This morning we kicked off the week with all sitting down to pancakes...again yum. NL's pancake mix getting used to full effect. So I had 2 breakfasts and no lunch..

Just cruising the diaries for a bit..might make a cuppa too....I know how to live :rotfl:

PinotGrigio41

You are so Rock N Roll Mrs B !!! :rotfl:

brizzledfw

Yep that's me Mrs PG..rocknroll!!!

Movie..which starred Mr Tennant.. was fab. Which reminds me, can't wait for the new Broadchurch series. Spent nowt at cinema so v v frugal. Today I have spent £4 on butter and fruit juice..which is good....but the less good bit was having to pay for 2 courses for the kids. Oh well it's inevitable at the start of term, at least theres no more expense on that for the next 3 months. YNAB is showing our pain though in technicolor style

Busy days ahead so don't expect to be on the forums much..but you never know

Hugs to all who need them