Feed a family of four for £20 a week challenge

moneyistooshorttomention

MoneyMission2015 wrote: »

Everything these days is about convenience. Everybody just seems to be in a constant rush. All I ever hear is 'oh I can't be bothered' or the classic 'I haven't got time'. What makes me laugh is people in work who say they haven't got time to get home & cook every night, then proceed to tell me about all the TV they watched the previous evening! .

Oh...now...the "I haven't got time" phrase is a very useful one in many different contexts. :rotfl:Don't go knocking that one on the head - because otherwise we'd have to find another one instead:rotfl:

Its not cooking I'm referring to - I'm thinking of a very different context nothing to do with food. In that context it just doesn't feel safe to say "Don't want to. Why should I? I'm not going to" in response to the "Why don't you?" question. I've heard other people use it in that context and believed it to start with. As someone who doesn't even want to tell white lies if I can help it - I've steeled myself to use the "I haven't got time" white lie instead of the friction I know there would be if I admitted that the truth is "I don't want to and I don't intend to".

So - yep...it can be a useful "little white lie" sometimes:) and save a lot of hassle.

tessie_bear

beetroot is the cooked and sort of vac packed one

Prudent

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

We had a very high stock pile of them:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
We had a mortgage with high interest rates and two small children, so beans went in everything to stretch it out, they were always put in mince, in stews, on toast with rice and veggies or just good old egg beans and chips. The sad thing is that my husband is now earning the same wage as he did back then.

I remember doing this with beans and also with carrots. I remember having an American couple and their children to lunch and they were baffled by the 'Scottish custom' of putting carrots in Lasagne. They had to adapt to a local wage so it wasn't long before carrots found the way into lots of things on their menu too.;)

MoneyMission2015

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Oh...now...the "I haven't got time" phrase is a very useful one in many different contexts. :rotfl:Don't go knocking that one on the head - because otherwise we'd have to find another one instead:rotfl:

Its not cooking I'm referring to - I'm thinking of a very different context nothing to do with food. In that context it just doesn't feel safe to say "Don't want to. Why should I? I'm not going to" in response to the "Why don't you?" question. I've heard other people use it in that context and believed it to start with. As someone who doesn't even want to tell white lies if I can help it - I've steeled myself to use the "I haven't got time" white lie instead of the friction I know there would be if I admitted that the truth is "I don't want to and I don't intend to".

So - yep...it can be a useful "little white lie" sometimes:) and save a lot of hassle.

Haha, yes I must admit I am actually guilty of using the phrase from time to time, but these people use it every day without fail. It does come in useful occasionally, but I think it's overused in my workplace.

[Deleted User]

at my age ...errm probably a bit older than most on here my time is very precious .Having had a close brush with the grim reaper I make the most of every day. My day starts around 5-6 and I am busy for most of it

I do use Sunday mornings for peeling spuds for the week and cooking, but then I always have even when my children were small. As they grew up and I returned to work they both learned that extras were things you worked for and by the time they were in their teens, one did the next days packed lunches, and the other helped with ironing school uniforms .

True I had two daughters but it would have made no differance if I had sons. In our house we all worked as a team.Now my children are grown up, and I look after (keep an eye on ) three of my youngest DGS aged 15,14 & 11 after school and during the holidays .

They all know where their dirty washing lives, and its not on the floor of their bedrooms, (as it will stay there until its moved and not by me or DD) its in the washing basket.They also know that I do not pick up after them and dishes get stacked in the dishwasher or Gran gets cross

I also go to various clubs, book club,knitting(we knit for charity ) sociologyclass ,luncheon club,my beloved history club and I organise a pub quiz for U3A at a local pub weekly.I could be out every day or night if I had the time, but often really do run out of time

I enjoy swimming and try to walk at least half an hour a day and visit my less able friends with shopping and newspapers for them. I bake my own cakes and biscuits and cook from scratch as I don't like 'fast food' although tonight its our traditional start to the holiday DD and I and the family will have a fish and chips treat, which is a treat for us as the boys rarely get a take-away.

Tomorrow two car loads of us trundle off on holiday for two weeks to the Isle of Wight DD,son-in-law four boys (the eldest one's girlfriend) two dogs, one hamster, all the luggage and me

This holiday is carefully saved for all year and we have been doing this for the past 12 years since I lost my late OH. The boys know how hard their Mum and Dad work to give them a nice time and they muck in and help, even on holiday, as if they didn't it just wouldn't work.

Both DD and my son-in-law work long hours and I help by sorting out the Drs,dentist etc and appointments and makiing sure their house runs like clockwork.

DD comes in at 6.30ish and the dishes are laid on the table for their dinner I will have prepped the veg and the place is tidy or woe betide any little boy who doesn't help

They will incur the wrath of Granny, and its no home cooked bicuits or cake :):) for them

I often wonder with 'fast food' what do people do with the time they have saved.

I could do with a 36 hour day really, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My life is busy, and it can get a bit hectic at times, juggling the boys, and a social life but it works for me, and I'm certainly never bored or at a loose end.

Its now almost 6.45 and I'm just about to jump in the shower, and then have some breakfast then I will finish off the last minute packing so tomorrow morning the car will get stacked with my stuff first then round to DDs to pack all the luggage (plus the hamster) and one of the boys into my 7 seater ready for our trip to Sothampton and our holiday house.

Hopefully I shall then go to DDs house around 8.15 this morning and my day starts with making sure all the washing is up to date, then the four boys and I will drive to Strood where the eldest has some leaflet deliveries to do, I will take the other three into the supermarket to get the last bit of shopping for tomorrows picnic on the ferry. Then pick up the eldest and we'll all go back to theirs for lunch.Dogs will be walked and around 3 this afternoon I have to nip to the hairdressers for a trim (I really haven't time for anything else ) then back home to the boys, and make sure their packing is done, and the eldest can help load the car. Dinner as I said will be a take away tonight of fish and chips then home for hopefully and early night around 10.30 so I can be up again tomorrow for our holiday trip
Now I have my nice new lap-top I will be able to log in when I'm on holiday and see how everyone is doing on here.
Fingers crossed the weather will improve for us all.I have friends like me who are retired and seem to do more now than we ever did when 'working ' :):)Still I am never bored with life
:):)

P.S. thanks for the mushy pea curry recipe I'll give it a go when I'm back from my holibobs :):)

Butterfly_Brain

Welcome to the board HippyMum

Neighbour has just brought us another marrow, twice the size of the last one:eek:

So I have decided to make half into chutney and half into jam

[FONT=&quot]4lb marrow peeled, deseeded and cubed[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1lb 8oz sharp Apples[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]2oz root ginger[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3lb 8oz Sugar[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Peel the marrow and cut into cubes and steam until tender.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Place the marrow in a basin and cover with the sugar and leave overnight.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Next day put the marrow and sugar into a preserving pan, add the apples (peeled and sliced) and the root ginger tied in a muslin bag. Cook slowly until the marrow looks transparent and the liquid thickens. This usually takes 45 to 60 minutes.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Take out the ginger and pour into jam jars and allow to cool.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Cover and store as for jam.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Marrow and Apple Chutney[/FONT][FONT=&quot]
Makes 6lbs

4lbs marrow, peeled and cut into chunks
3ozs salt
2lbs apples, peeled, core and chopped
1lb onions, chopped
1lb soft brown sugar
2pts distilled [/FONT][FONT=&quot]white [/FONT][FONT=&quot]vinegar
1 level tsp ground ginger
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]1tsp[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]pickling spice[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

Put the chopped marrow pieces in a large bowl layered with the salt and leave overnight. This will draw out the excess liquid from the marrow. Next day rinse the marrow pieces and drain off the water and place them in a preserving pan.

Add the apples, onions, sugar, vinegar, ginger and spices. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently, uncovered, for about 2 hours, stirring from time to time, until the chutney becomes thick with no excess liquid.

Pour into warmed, sterilised jars and seal immediately. Label when cool and store in a cool, dark place for 1-2 months before using[/FONT]

katylou6180

"at my age ...errm probably a bit older than most on here my time is very precious .Having had a close brush with the grim reaper I make the most of every day. My day starts around 5-6 and I am busy for most of it "JackieO I'm in awe!! Reading your day Mr Grim will have a long time catching you, it's lovely that you're such a close knit family and all go together and that you help DD so much!


I wanted to ask, I don't know how old you are but know you're "retired" I worry about my parents (born 44/46) as they don' t even want to go out anymore and just sit in their house while we're at work, have you any tips for motivation or clubs to join? and have a good holiday Please feel free to move me board guides if you think I could get better responses elsewhere, but thought I'd ask as Jackie was around

[Deleted User]

Hi there I'm a '43'er:):) if you can investigate the U3A its brilliant and our branch in east Medway there are over 40 different 'interest groups to go to.
It costs me £15.00 a year and there is a monthly meeting with a speaker and lots of people to have a natter to. I help run the pub quiz team, plus I go to a luncheon group,coffee morning,book club,knitting group history club,sociology group.There are so many things and interest groups in our branch I could be out 7 days a week if I wanted to.We have over 350 members and every one chats to each other and are very friendly.There are days out and theatre visits, and we have a great Christmas party plus so man social things to go to. Almost every interest is catered for ,and it doesn't matter if you are a couple or a 'singlie' like me,you are given a warm welcome.
Life is far to interesting to just wither away indoors See if you can find a branch locally to where you live, best £15.00 spent per year
Cheers JackieO

Butterfly_Brain

Someone posted on the shtf thread that Tesco have reduced apple sauce, tartare sauce, hot dogs and other items (not on the website though)

candygirl

Have a fabulous holiday Jackie O xx:j:beer: