Getting through the austerity in an Old Style, practical way.

VfM4meplse

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

You can make potato scones from this mix, shape into a round and score into quarters or eighths put in the oven until brown

Great idea, I've got some mashed potato in the freezer that needs using up - will try with herbs and strong cheese (also from the freezer). If anything, my freezer is always over-stuffed and needs a helping hand to reduce!!!

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

Would corgettes grow in a partial/mostly shaded area? My BIL said it's really easy to grow and you're rewarded with a glut. I have them ear marked for courgette cake

What do you think?

I think they prefer a bit of sun.

They are usually very productive, and you will have courgettes coming out of your ears for months...so don't grow too many plants!

That having been said, this year was totally crap, we had about a dozen courgettes all summer from eight plants. It was not a good growing season

Kate

THIRZAH

I don't think we even had that number this year. We certainly didn't get a glut of anything.

If anyone wants to try courgette cake before next summer Aldi have courgettes as one of their super-six offer at the moment

jpscloud

My tip is vaseline (or the cheapie equivalent) for dry heels and dry fingernail cuticles. It really does work and hand on heart, it's better than the stuff I once paid £4 a tube for.

I've learned such a lot since joining MSE. I don't have the central heating on full blast from October to May any more - I used to just do that without thinking. I now use it much more judiciously and have saved a lot.

Probably the best thing I ever did was realise that you can make home made "takeaway" food and it tastes way better than the bought stuff! I had HM battered chicken and fried rice with sweet chilli dip tonight (ok, I bought the chilli dip, but it was a cheapie one!)

Batch cooking has also transformed my life, I never buy lunch at work any more and provided I've had the energy to cook at the weekends, I come home to lovely slow cooked stews that just need reheating.

When I'm shopping, I'm never afraid to buy the cheapest version of things any more, and I'm always on the lookout for storecupboard offers to stock up on. Goodness knows how much that's saved me.

None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for MSE OS'ers, so thank you and keep on truckin'!

lisakay_2

just jumping in with my quick tip x don't run the oven half empty if you can avoid it. I cooked the kids tea earlier and put it on one shelf and shoved a couple of lemon drizzles in on the other shelf. one will go in the freezer and one sliced up for kids butty boxes this week. flapjacks are quick, easy and cheap to make, so if you have an empty shelf while the oven's on put a batch in
or even just a tray of basic buns, as they freeze well too x

Quasar

Just found this great thread! :T

I did invest in a freezer last year. Living alone, I always found that frozen veggy packs were too big and so had to eat the same veg several meals one after the other. Now I can stock up on offers and freeze my own cooking, especially stews from the slow cooker which also contribute to considerable food savings, even taking into account that I buy mostly organic.

Also, I have recently bought two sets of thermal underwear including ladies longjohns (from LIDL, under a tenner per set) which keep me toasty indoors so I don't need the heating on so much. My heating has been on low these past two very cold days.

I no longer buy drinks when I go out to work (I do transport surveys so I'm out and about a lot even in the cold weather), but have two 1/2 litre stainless steel flasks which I fill with cold drink in summer and hot drink/soup in winter.

To top it all, a couple of months a go I was given some fresh kefir grains by a very helpful lady, so now I make my own kefir with organic milk and that is a LOT cheaper than buying yoghurt and easier than making my own yoghurt.

I reckon I'm saving about £50 per month all told.

tru

Hello all. You've gone very quiet

We've paid off our debt and I need to make sure that the bit of the budget that was used as repayments isn't wasted. No point in extra money if you're going to end up with the same stuff but a larger bill. I don't want to become lazy and end up wasting money.

I've budgeted for all the needs, so I turned my attention to the wants. And I want EVERYTHING So I thought I should put wants to one side for now in case I get carried away :rotfl:

I think their should be a third category – not exactly needs, you can do without them but they will make life easier. I'm going to call them Wanty Needs Stationery is my first thing, I love it! When mr tru's old firm closed, the owner said I could have all the stationery. I was thrilled I have endless post-its, staples, etc. which I keep in drawers (yes, plural – I have tons of stuff). I try to keep it tidy but it all ends up in a jumbled mess. I saw a good idea on Pinterest but can't find it again so I can't link to it, sorry. I've cut cereal boxes down and printed some paper. I'm going to staple the boxes together, cover them with green and yellow dotty paper then arrange them in the drawers. Each item will have it's own box. I haven't collected enough boxes for everything yet, but I'll get them eventually. I even cut one side off toothpaste boxes, thought they'd be handy for drawing pins and paper clips.

redlady_1

congratulations on repaying the debt Tru. You have done really well. I am sure you can get help for a stationery fetish :-)

I have been, and still am, really poorly so my Chrimbo preps have been put on hold. I have soooo much to do and will now have to tackle it all last minute. But to be honest I am trying to reign in the food and snacks. I have a massive leg of lamb which I bought months ago and that will be our Christmas meal. I will then make mince pies and choc chip cookies and that will be about it.

Presents are virtually non existant as I am currently unemployed and so there is little point spending money I dont have on presents that really people dont need. I am crocheting a throw for my mum though.

I ordered some flour from Shipton Mill about a year ago and I am just coming to the end. It has been kept in sealed containers to keep weevils at bay and has lasted really well. Definitely worth the money. I make all my own bread in the Kenwood now.

The one thing I do need to do is order more logs

sistercas

loving this thread , there are some fab ideas , just what we needed :T

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

You can make potato scones from this mix, shape into a round and score into quarters or eighths put in the oven until brown and serve with fried egg and beans

this sounds lovelt im going to try this

katieowl wrote: »

I think they prefer a bit of sun.

They are usually very productive, and you will have courgettes coming out of your ears for months...so don't grow too many plants!

That having been said, this year was totally crap, we had about a dozen courgettes all summer from eight plants. It was not a good growing season

Kate

i hardly got any this year probably less than 6 from 4 plants all my tomato plants died too , hoping for a better year next year

tru

redlady_1 wrote: »

congratulations on repaying the debt Tru. You have done really well. I am sure you can get help for a stationery fetish :-)

Thanks I haven't noticed the difference in money yet, that'll happen three days after december's pay day I'm not sure I want help with the stationery fetish, lol.

I'm now on the lookout for fallen twigs and branches, I'll have an open fire by next winter :j Hopefully I'll be able to take the radiator out of the lounge. We'll give it a go, if it's not warm enough it's easy enough to put back in. When we had our kitchen done, we left the radiator leaning against the wall in the shed Haven't noticed a difference in the kitchen at all.