Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

Mrs_Optimist

This thread has, without exception, been the most thought provoking thread I have read in a long time. Totally inspirational. Not very MSE but I ordered the Jeff Yeager books and halfway through the first one. I take my mum shopping ever week and it is almost a lightbulb moment for me to realise that I buy out of habit certainly not necessity. So I am onboard. Only thing I will need to buy is milk as the kids get through cereal morning, noon and night, (although i guess there is worse things to eat). Am aleady eating more interesting concoctions rather than the usual meals and feel rather content with myself. The fact that I am saving money is an added bonus!

mynellie

Hi everyone i have loved this thread and ordered both books and have read them both and it really inspired my hubby and i to be even more frugal than we already are and did a fiscal fast week in july it was brilliant although our son was a bit miffed at the different food being made he did enjoy them after the initial whats that remark we normally spend around £200 a month on groceries for 3 adults and 1 dog and we have been getting it down to around £140 at the moment
I have always kept a daily spending diary and have whittled down what we spend over the years as well as keeping a check on the meter readings everyday so i found out what we did that used more energy than other days and adjust behaviour accordingly and we have managed to put away a nice savings for our retirement :j
What i have learnt from coming on this site is that there is always something new to learn about being frugal but also the amazing people who are happy to help and advise when you ask and give thier ideas on the boards for us all to tryout i am going to try the twinks recipe this week and i am also going to stock up on flour and oats as they are going to shoot up in price very soon and i will try the flour in the freezer idea to kill any little blitters that might be lurking great idea that one i have enjoyed the fiscal fast thread and will continue to read and hopefully participate abit more jackieo you are very good at money management and will keep an eye on your ideas and progress good luck to all with fiscal fasting i love it:)

lilian1977

rigsby1967 wrote: »

Sorry for the silly question but what is spaghetti sauce , do you make it or buy it?

It's basically a tomato pasta sauce - so you can make it and just use anything you have. I added paprika to it to make it a bit Spanish tasting.

nannygladys

Hi everyone, been MIA for the last few weeks or so, no particular reason just life I suppose.

Anyway still trying to manage on £10 a week, some weeks manage it and some I dont, but at least Im trying. Anyway I really like this thread and keep reading even if I dont post, so I thought I drop by and say Hello to everyone and hopefully begin posting again as I could do with some inspiration, I really need to menu plan, Im very bad at this - I buy food I think I can eat in the coming week and make meals out of what Ive got, it does work but before I know where I am I have a freezer and cupboards full with surplus tins and frozen things, so I reckon I need to get organised, so this afternoon after I have put the guinea pig out for a munch on my grass, I am going through my fridge and making a menu plan which I will post on here later on - thats my committment:)

Let the new FF begin:D
Jxx

PipneyJane

taplady wrote: »

Calicocat

here's the recipe for the crumblies. I reduced the cooking time to 6 mins and found they were better.

Jam Crumblie

6oz butter/marg
6oz dark soft brown sugar
6oz porridge oats
7oz plain flour
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon aking powder
4oz jam

lightly grease an 8" square baking dish(I use my ceramic lasagne dish as its microwave safe)
Cream fat and sugar together
stir in the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly
Press half the mixture into the dish
melt the jam in the microwave and then spread over the base
crumble on the remaining oat mixture pressing it down lightly
bake in the microwave for 7 minutes on full power
cut into squares and cool in the dish.

It is delicious and any jam can be used also a Christmas version uses mincemeat and has icing sugar dusted on top.

Will pop back later to update my post as I've got to dash out now!

TTFN x

Has anyone tried making these in a regular oven?

kirsty822001

was about to ask the same Pip ;-)

edit - found someone who made it Gas Mark 4 for 25mins here;-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/290388

PipneyJane

kirsty822001 wrote: »

was about to ask the same Pip ;-)

edit - found someone who made it Gas Mark 4 for 25mins here;-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/290388

Thanks Kirsty.

ETA: I've just tried making them. 25 minutes in the oven at 180C . (I was baking something else at the time.) Cut into squares when hot. They haven't cooled down yet, so I don't know how crumbly they will be cold, but the bit that stuck to the knife tasted yummy!

taplady

hope the oven baked jam crumblies came out ok!

not doing too well fasting - spent a fair bit on art supplies as its just been payday but will try and reign in the spending for the rest of the month.

I hope everyone is doing well x

PipneyJane

taplady wrote: »

hope the oven baked jam crumblies came out ok!
x

Yes, thanks. They are lovely! Neither batch I've made so far have lasted very long - a certain human hoover in the shape of my husband found them. :rotfl: I have to quarantine some if there's a chance of them making it as far as the lunch boxes.

taplady

Pipney Jane - glad the crumblies came out well:)

I'm back fasting - have been spending far too much again and we're off for a weekend away soon so I want to try and last out till then - with the exception of bead and fresh fruit if necessary.

I've made some lovely welsh cakes this week - all gone now:) and tonight I'm making curry - I've defrosted a chicken breast that had been in the freezer for ages and am also making a big veggie batch too. Some for tea and the rest to be frozen.

I am just buying fruit a little bit at a time from our local greengrocers as its really cheap and there's no wastage that way. The others in the house aren't fruit eaters really unless its in a pie:D

Hows everyone else doing?