make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

I was looking on Amazon this morning PAH - on a tennis break with Andy Murray at the mo! - and this is cheaper than AF I think:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arbella-Farfalle-500-Pack-24/dp/B0051U9LJK/ref=sr_1_16?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1341761647&sr=1-16
90p per kilo for subscribe and save (after it has arrived just remember to cancel the subscribe and save, it's very easy).

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bacheldre-Watermill-Stoneground-Strong-Bakers/dp/B005FPX2H8/ref=sr_1_6?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1341761913&sr=1-6
72p per kilo for subscribe and save

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bacheldre-Watermill-Organic-Stoneground-Wholemeal/dp/B005FPWTHC/ref=sr_1_12?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1341762016&sr=1-12
83p per kilo for subscribe and save
I can't say i found anything earth-shattering though and I didn't buy anything.

prepareathome wrote: »

A culvert is a drain or pipe that allows water to flow under a road, railroad, trail, or similar obstruction

I am being cheeky now but if you find anything on Amazon can you share please, I know could go and look myself and will later on xxxxxxxxxxx

Evie74_2

Oooh, might have to have a look at this subscribe and save thingy. I have major plans for turning the understairs [STRIKE]dumping ground[/STRIKE] cupboard into a lovely pantry/armageddon storecupboard, just as soon as I summon the energy. That probably won't be until both the DDs are at school in September and I have some child-free time.

DH might well take issue with my plan as he is currently using most of the cupboard space for tools and other man-stuff, but I think there's room for us both (for now... mwahahahaa).

I've just been re-visiting my Valued Opinions/You Gov subscriptions. I haven't filled in any surveys since I was on maternity leave with little DD, and I thought I ought to resurrect the accounts and see whether I can start earning a little extra. It won't be much but every little helps.

Sky turning ominously dark and the power keeps dipping... I think the rain might be on its way back :eek::mad:

Evie xx

Pooky

We've been lucky here again today weather wise, just a few showers but all under two minutes and then the fences and roads were steaming in the heat.

Popped to a friend earlier and she had lots of goodies for me, she bakes for a local farmers market and when she has cakes left she trades them with other stall holders, she didn't have any freezer room so she gave me 5 packs of fancy sausages (mustard/peppers/garlic/apple/sage etc), two packs of pork and apple burgers, a huge tub of sausagemeat and a large pork joint that will do us three roasts.....oh and 46 eggs! All local, free range stuff and she gave us a box of cakes too.

This afternoon has been a "use it up" afternoon and I've chopped, peeled, cooked, roasted, mashed and blitzed everything that was nearing the end of its life. Adding a few leftovers along the way I've managed to create 3 portions (to feed 4) of mashed potato, one left over chilli, mixed with some butter beans and more sauce - style shepherds pie, one huge vat of veg soup, a huge tray of roasted veg (some for tonight, the rest will get turned into soup tomorrow), turned three homemade burgers into meatballs for pasta and have jazzed up some chicken fillets to have tonight with roasted veg and wraps. There's also a bucket of homemade coleslaw, some potato salad to use up the last of the new pots and a mixed salad ready for tomorrow's lunches.

I'm on a roll.....talking of which, I need to put the bread maker on!

fuddle

Anyone know what the price is for the cheapest basic makes of pasta in the big 4 supermarkets now, 500g ones. That farfalle Possession flagged up is 45p/500g. Is the cheap stuff much cheaper? (I should know as I have a cupboard full but I suspect it's gone up in price of late.

Is the price of pasta likely to go up with the state of this summer's weather? (here's my ignorance again. I have no idea what is in pasta)

Evie74_2

Fuddle - Tesco Value pasta quills are currently 30p/500g. They had a period of insane raising/lowering of the price every couple of days for a while a couple of months back but it seems to have stopped at 30p for the past few weeks. Aldi's basic 500g pasta is 29p.

HTH

Evie xx

ETA: I guess if the wheat crops are affected badly by the weather (and let's face it, they probably will be) then the price of pasta will necessarily increase. I normally keep 4-5 packs in stock anyway but have started buying a pack a week whether we need it or not, as "insurance" against it getting really expensive in the months to come.

Kittikins

I think the Te$co value pasta is currently 30p/500g, but having recently come back from Italy and 'real' pasta I've decided that Miss Kitty and I are going to treat ourselves to better pasta whenever possible......We got 6 bags of yummy pasta in Co$tco yesterday for £4.79 and its a brand we saw all over the place in Italy so I know it's 'good'.

HTH

prepareathome

Thanks fuddle, I get Mr S basics pasta 500g for 39p at moment, and basics rice is 40p for 500g - to me once I have sauce or gravy on them I cannot say I notice any difference from the expensive ones, but then I am a philistine when it comes to food, I like what I like not what some swanky chef says its the right thing to eat:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Even their basics long spaggitti is not to bad......it was 18p for 500g last time I bought some but that was about a year ago, as I bought rather lot at the time

I still have flour left from when son was working for the firm that delivered sacks of flour and baking stuff but it won't last forever so have put those flours on my wish list to remember them......

My poor plants are still sitting on greenhouse staging but look healthy, I have put lots of slug pellets on the floor of the greenhouse to try to ensure they don't decide these baby plants are just the tender bits they have been waiting for.

Anyone know how long it takes for a cheque to clear these days, as not had one in a year as want to make sure I remind son he has to pay me the day its clear and he said he would put it in his bank ( Halifax) on Friday?

Hugs, Love and Healing to all xxxxxxxxxx

mardatha

Not sure about English cheques PAH but up here its 2-3 days pet. I am bored out of my tree today and want the RV to take me up to Asda.. I can't last another night without a sweetie, I'll end up murdering him.

SpikyHedgehog

prepareathome wrote: »

Thanks fuddle, I get Mr S basics pasta 500g for 39p at moment, and basics rice is 40p for 500g - to me once I have sauce or gravy on them I cannot say I notice any difference from the expensive ones, but then I am a philistine when it comes to food, I like what I like not what some swanky chef says its the right thing to eat:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Even their basics long spaggitti is not to bad......it was 18p for 500g last time I bought some but that was about a year ago, as I bought rather lot at the time

I still have flour left from when son was working for the firm that delivered sacks of flour and baking stuff but it won't last forever so have put those flours on my wish list to remember them......

My poor plants are still sitting on greenhouse staging but look healthy, I have put lots of slug pellets on the floor of the greenhouse to try to ensure they don't decide these baby plants are just the tender bits they have been waiting for.

Anyone know how long it takes for a cheque to clear these days, as not had one in a year as want to make sure I remind son he has to pay me the day its clear and he said he would put it in his bank ( Halifax) on Friday?

Hugs, Love and Healing to all xxxxxxxxxx

Cheques vary... If I put a LloydsTSB 1 in my LTSB account, or someone puts 1 of mine into their LTSB account, it clears instantly, and I understand this to be the case with other banks - That a cheque from a different account with that bank clears straight away.

The work bank account from which we're paid from is a Britannia account, and though the Building Society won't generate a cheque unless the money's in the account, they've been taking up to 10 days depending on the type of account paid into. It's supposed to be quicker now, but I didn't actually check as I did have money in the account & didn't want to be tempted by money that would be going out for the rent, CT, etc on the 1st.

On the subject of bank accounts, 1 of my colleagues recently opened an online account and cheques and even cash take a LONG time to clear.

DS1 is saving any money he's given or gets by selling stuff into a money box and said he was going to put it in his bank account at the end of each month, but I'm really not sure what to tell him.

prepareathome

mardatha wrote: »

Not sure about English cheques PAH but up here its 2-3 days pet. I am bored out of my tree today and want the RV to take me up to Asda.. I can't last another night without a sweetie, I'll end up murdering him.

Oh poor you I hope he takes you, that is the downside of where you live, me I at least have a newsagent and a off license to pick up bits and bobs when supermarkets are closed ( round here they all close at 4pm on a Sunday and don't open till 8am tomorrow). I rarely do buy anything from them but on saying that newsagent which has blossomed into a mini market is trying its best to sell things just as cheaply at other places so usually buy my kitchen roll there as cheapest place and yes the odd sweetie

Rain came back for a visit about 2 hrs ago and has decided it likes it here so is taking up residence again.........just as well I didn't get out there. Its so dull and all I want to do is snuggle down and go to sleep and might just do it. Everyone is fed, dishwasher is running, was going to put washer on but it can wait till tomorrow and dogs are flat out now hubby was awake but doubt that will last long so me thinks I will just get undressed - hardly seemed worth the bother of getting washed and dressed now - and go zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz of course I might still pop on here to annoy you, I never know if I will zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz or wake up the minute head hits the pillow.............for some strange reason I really want a cigarette, just as well I am totally broke so cannot be tempted

hugs, love and healing to all xxxxxxxxxx