Fiscal Fast – 7 days no spending (at all)

Kiwisaver_2

We survived another day, pretty much as planned and mostly prepared yesterday for meals. I enjoyed my tuna mayo and crackers for lunch afterall. Just made some coronation chicken for lunch tomorrow, with a few bits of chopped cucumber, tomatoes and peppers again.

My OH wouldn't dare to complain to me about the quality of meals he gets. He knows only too well what the answer would be, something along the lines of: 'There's the *expletives deleted* kitchen, feel free to show me how you can do better.'

He has no idea what's in the freezer and no idea really how things miraculously arrive at feeding time, he's none the wiser how much it cost, or whether it was leftover from yesterday or last month. Years ago I used to offer him choices and the answers were always the same: I don't mind, whatever you have got, or whatever is easiest. I simply stopped asking.

I am enjoying and loving every moment I get to throw away some empty jar or packet or empty some other container of food, toiletries and cleaning stuff. Very satisfying to see things being used up and some space being made. Really this is just the tip of the iceberg and there's a lot more to tackle in the coming weeks.

katieowl_2

I may well attempt to join you in a frugal fast this week... I can see my way clear to Wednesday that it should be possible :rotfl:

I'm at home today, working tomorrow, and have suggested I take my older DD and her BF out on a cheap 'day out' Weds, I made plans to see them anyway, and last night I asked her what she wanted to do, and said shopping? as I know they don't have transport for further afield things, and she said she got paid on Wed, so would be best if she didn't spend it all the same day, so I suggested we had a free day out (apart from my petrol - and I filled up yesterday) we are going to take the dogs out for a long walk and go foraging...wild garlic should be up and there are loads of Alexanders here. :T

DS and I made chicken curry for dinner last night, and we managed to tuck lots of odds and ends - we had a bit of chilli left over and used that as a side dish. We added leftover boiled potatoes to the squash we roasted in the oven with spices...and I made a salsa out of an ancient mango and a piece of cucumber that was lurking in the fridge, dressed with the juice of a manky lime, and some sweet chilli sauce!

Just about to feed other DD and her BF the bits and pieces left over from the B&B guests this weekend.

Kate

Kiwisaver_2

Much as I was really hoping to achieve the full seven days, I won't make it again this week as I really do need to get my hair cut on Thursday (delayed by two weeks already). So the most I can hope for is another six, however I am already clucking and hatching plans for the week after.

taplady

morning!

Hoping for a no food-spending week again this week. There's plenty in the cupboards. We tried out M*rrisons value cornflakes at 31p and they were quite nice so we'll definitely be having them again:T

I get my food free at work so I'm having cheese and potato pie there tonight plus a pud:) DH is cooking for him and DS - probably pie and mash and curry sauce which is a favourite of theirs when I'm not at home.

Must make some more jellies in the yoghurt pots - down to my last one. Got some tinned peaches to have with them and a bit of evap milk so thats puds for me this week.

Didn't make the pineapple pud as DH ate the pineapple:D

We did spend a bit more of the budget on Sat as we got to go near a Sainsbugs which we dont do often and DH loves their sausages(frozen) so we bought 2 bags but I am deducting the money for those from next weeks budget - DH asked if he can 'borrow' a sausage or 2 this week as they are in next weeks shopping:D:rotfl:

Got a tiny bit of limp celery so am off to make enough soup for me - nobody else likes it.

Have a good moneysaving week x

lally666young

Hiya Gang, Sorry I havent been on for a wee while, but it has been a mad house in here!!! The Saturday before last my son got rushed into the nearest hospital 25 miles away!!!! I Decided to go to the one nearest my parents as I could go and relax there if I needed. He had a really bad asthma attack. I went out with the eldest son and he was fine came back at 2pm and he couldnt breathe!!! I had a go at DH and asked him what on earth was he doing all that time, to let him get so bad! He started shouting at me and even more when the ambulance crew got there!!! So he got kicked out to the garage to potter whilst I dealt with son. I used to be a nurse. So here I am helping the crew hoping he would get better, but he kept getting worse!!!! So the decision was either Teeside or Newcastle. I plumped for the latter. Got there, but he just couldnt get sorted out. I was hoping it was just an in and out case. #
Through the night he couldnt breathe, they found out his neck muscles are weak and couldnt keep his airway clear. This went on for 3 days! So I kinda of lost it, I know not a nice thing to do, but they werent doing anything with him, so we came to a deal if he came back at 10pm last tuesday and his oxygen sats were over 90% he could go home at last!! They were thank god.
But I kinda of erm broke my Fiscal fast, as you only get breakfast on the childrens ward, so I had to go to the rip off canteen and buy lunch there, but a lot of the girls who worked there still knew me, so I was fine. But then there was reading material, TV cards, phone calls, treats, sweets and drinks. So god knows what I spent so I am sorry. I can only read elle decor so many times!
But yesterday we had a day out and went to Saltburn to see what work the Yarn bombers had done and I was blown away. I couldnt understand for the life of me, how on earth someone would want to destroy it! They had even done some at the libary. But we did buy tea and scones and ices for the kids as it was such a lovely day. And visited a small carboot fayre at the railway station and chatted to some people we knew. Ohh we had to buy a new PC chair as DD decided to try and stick fuzzy felt and spray paint all over it whilst I was in hospital. And got some cheap paint to revamp the kitchen cupboards. But I am back on the pony now!

catznine

So glad your son is ok now Lally! What a worry for you! You have every excuse for breaking the fiscal fast, saving money would be the last thing on your mind. (((hugs))) to you all

Justamum

So glad your son is ok now lally. It must have been very frightening for him. My son is asthmatic, but not so bad as that. It runs in my family and there are some quite bad cases elsewhere in the family.

determined_new_ms

llally that sounds so frightening. I hope you guys are all ok now and he is over it. Some things are more important than worrying about money! x

catznine

Kiwisaver wrote: »

I am enjoying and loving every moment I get to throw away some empty jar or packet or empty some other container of food, toiletries and cleaning stuff. Very satisfying to see things being used up and some space being made. Really this is just the tip of the iceberg and there's a lot more to tackle in the coming weeks.

Yes I feel like this as well! Although it makes sense to buy when prices are cheaper and to stock up for emergencies like bad weather, it can get to crazy proportions if you are not vigilant and food can then be wasted. Every empty tin or packet that gets put in the recycling bins feels like a major triumph!:)

Yesterday was a no spend day:j, with us eating the leftovers from our visitors stay, the mince was turned into a bolognaise in the end rather than a curry and we used up some of the cheaper pasta we had lurking on a shelf in the coat cupboard! I have a casserole dish full of the bolognaise sauce left (grrr:mad: dh threw away the leftover pasta! - it could have been frozen for another meal) anyway I will cook up some potatoes for mash and make an italian style shepherds pie for tonight.

With 2 bowls of aging fruit to use up I used up some lurking satsumas and blood oranges to make some lovely fresh juice to have with the last slice of bacon, some tomatoes and an egg for lunch.

I am going to make some cream of veg soup to put into the freezer for next week (dental implant :eek:) Anyone had one of these? I am terrified but the failed crown is at the front and this was cheaper than a bridge! We have already paid 1/3rd of the price and have an interest free loan to cover the rest, so just pain killers and soft food needed. The tooth is one of 6 that I broke when only 12 years old I attempted a handstand in the swimming pool and misjudged it! Ouch! That was 43 years ago but I am hoping the rest of the crowns last longer!

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather, after walking the dog in our local park, I have managed to get some washing hung up outside!

Catz x

Ninno820

catznine wrote: »

I am going to make some cream of veg soup to put into the freezer for next week (dental implant :eek:) Anyone had one of these? I am terrified but the failed crown is at the front and this was cheaper than a bridge! We have already paid 1/3rd of the price and have an interest free loan to cover the rest, so just pain killers and soft food needed. The tooth is one of 6 that I broke when only 12 years old I attempted a handstand in the swimming pool and misjudged it! Ouch! That was 43 years ago but I am hoping the rest of the crowns last longer!

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather, after walking the dog in our local park, I have managed to get some washing hung up outside!

Catz x

A friend of mine has several implants and sweras by them. Mind you the cost of her mouth was greater than the cost of her kitchen!!

Today I used my easiyo greek yoghurt and put some frowzen fruit with it. I ahvent used my easiyo for some time so it was nice to use it again. I read somewhere that you can resue the yoghurt several times before using a new packet so i am going to try that to save a few pennies.