The land of the eternal stripey list returns.

Karmacat

Hi Pippi! My word you've been busy! Sounds good to me, loving the focus on cutting expenses - and oh my, free wood, thats really something - and I've been thinking about you when I'm looking at the weather forecast - I *think* you've just missed the snow, is that right? Hope you can find the right app to help with that - I'm still not using my smart phone as a smart phone I'm not quite there :rotfl: ah well.

Mind you, my phone line died for a couple of days this week, a loose connection in the local junction box, and I *really* felt it, it was horrible:eek: I'm very glad to be back online

Thats good advice you've given to Samantha - the other thing I'd say is to use dried beans, soaking and cooking them (and doing what you do, Pippi, of cooking them in the slow cooker with some herbs, so they make the whole house smell nice). They're so cheap - £1.09 for 500g at Sainsbo, and with soaking its a lot more than that, of course.

We've got a bank holibob here - do you? Lots of local holiday events too, which is always nice

samantham06

thanks so much for the advice they are things I hadnt ever thought of! When you say that the mince lasts you for 4-6 meals, how many people is that for? I am going to split it further as I am going to bulk it all out.
Its going well so far! My son is a bit annoyed that there are no nice snacks in the house, so has moaned about that, but I am sure that this will make him a bit healthier anyway!
I was trying to aim for the 5 a day with the meal plan, hence why I brought lots of dried fruit.
But any suggestions on meal plans everyone here uses would be great! O cant eat any wheat though!
But thanks again for looking over my post, I am actually really enjoying this challenge as its nice to know I am not just throwing money into the hands of corporate bosses and am still giving me and my son healthy meals

Pippilongstocking

samantham06 wrote: »

thanks so much for the advice they are things I hadnt ever thought of! When you say that the mince lasts you for 4-6 meals, how many people is that for? I am going to split it further as I am going to bulk it all out.
Its going well so far! My son is a bit annoyed that there are no nice snacks in the house, so has moaned about that, but I am sure that this will make him a bit healthier anyway!
I was trying to aim for the 5 a day with the meal plan, hence why I brought lots of dried fruit.
But any suggestions on meal plans everyone here uses would be great! O cant eat any wheat though!
But thanks again for looking over my post, I am actually really enjoying this challenge as its nice to know I am not just throwing money into the hands of corporate bosses and am still giving me and my son healthy meals

Hey there you're welcome. There are some lovely low cost snacks on here have a root about the OS board.

Our pack of mince feeds between 2-4 of us at a go. I split it into 6 and freeze each chunk individually - if there's just two of us I only cook one fistful - if theres 3 or 4 of us I cook two and add lots of veg/soy whatever we're upto.

Have you tried the Love Food Hate Waste pages at the bottom of the main page there's a meal menu app and a huge list of recipes.

http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/whats-new

I live in Scotland so mine is slightly different.

Keep up the good work when you see it as 'fighting' the big corporate companies its much more fun!:T

Pippilongstocking

Karmacat wrote: »

Hi Pippi! My word you've been busy! Sounds good to me, loving the focus on cutting expenses - and oh my, free wood, thats really something - and I've been thinking about you when I'm looking at the weather forecast - I *think* you've just missed the snow, is that right? Hope you can find the right app to help with that - I'm still not using my smart phone as a smart phone I'm not quite there :rotfl: ah well.

Mind you, my phone line died for a couple of days this week, a loose connection in the local junction box, and I *really* felt it, it was horrible:eek: I'm very glad to be back online

Thats good advice you've given to Samantha - the other thing I'd say is to use dried beans, soaking and cooking them (and doing what you do, Pippi, of cooking them in the slow cooker with some herbs, so they make the whole house smell nice). They're so cheap - £1.09 for 500g at Sainsbo, and with soaking its a lot more than that, of course.

We've got a bank holibob here - do you? Lots of local holiday events too, which is always nice

Thanks for keeping a weather eye for me KC - we did miss the snow but had some hail - its been one degrees :eek:

I worked all weekend but being on here has helped the money focus and Starnac's boot up the bottom made me post my expenses claim super quick :T

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:No phone - argh - glad that's sorted now.

Great advice from you there too for Samantha.

Free wood is lovely and warming both chopping it up and sitting in front of it.


Hope you've got a busy week too but not too busy and that the gardens being kind to you

:A

Pippilongstocking

Well I was able to get to a car boot sale the other day and go a great copy of 'how to eat' by Nigella (£3) and a lovely veggie platter with painted veggies on it (£5) and two huge pots of oxeye daisies (£5) feels a bit wierd to have a treat but it came out of the treats budget so I'm glad I went and had a budget to spend. I didn't spend it all though

Nice meal out with OH for my birthday at the weekend but aside that we've been good on the meal plan.

Had a great walk yesterday at hte cliffs (nice photos on blog) and best part of it all was it was free. Had a cuppa at a local cafe which OH treated to - so that was nice.

Speaking of which this weeks plan looks a bit like this for our 3 person household for this week, its back down to 2 again on friday.

Frog in a bog (only 5 sausages as they are huge and reduced) but yummy, with onion gravey roasted veg and bashed tatties (from my plot)
Stir fry turkey with fridge veg
Shepherds pie with the last of the reduced carrots + cabbage
Pasta with bacon, veggies and bottom of the fridge sauce
Eggs (local £1 a half dozen, bargain), tatties (own) and bratwurst sausages(freezer)
Chicken fajhitias

Mr Me is away on the plane on Friday night - so DD and I will probably have a bit of a 'bitsa' weekend using up bits and peices.

I'm using an app (forget the name one of you recommended) to keep an eye on the spending which is really helping.

So far this month on groceries £28.76 (mainly reduced veg, bread and meat)

Petrol £29.07

Treats - £13

I'm also loving the 'map my walk' app. I thought I walked a fair bit (and its free both the app and the walking) - which is making me try harder. Did 6 miles on Sunday but only 1 1/2 today.

I'm also finding the myfitness ap helpful for portion control and seeing what I'm eating. (and how much) its a bit of an eyeopener but its helping with the meal portion sizes.

Anything that helps in my mind is great!

lucielle

Sounds like you gad a great weekend. We've had nice weather and I've done nothing!
L

Pippilongstocking

Glad you've had a nice weekend L. :-) doing nothing is good!

Well today's tea is out of freezer and defrosting will cook later (mince dish of some description.

Off to a work meeting (miles expensed) so will take hounds and walk them when out,

Must text about eggs.

Paperwork day today, gotta be done mostly from home so that's not so bad.

Banks to check, cc to pay some from. Will do a list when back later.

Off to the coal face.

Was thinking for a NSD......wonder if that's achievable?

taxi73

everything sounding fab

Pippilongstocking

Indeed taxi - I'm waiting for the rain storm to come and !!!! it all up!

Not that I'm a pessamist you understand.

I hope you're good.

One fist sized ball of mince chuntering away on the stove with a leek, half a bendy courgette and handful of soy mince and a handful of herbs, one tin of tomato puree, one celery stick and one value stock cube. Looks quite decent even if I do say so myself and nicely fills a pan, will make a tea and potentially a lunch or two too.



Off for a walk in a bit and to return some new (and unexpected birthday doggie themed) wellies which won't get over my monster truck calves.

Never wear stiletto's in your teens, elephants calves are the result of it for the rest of your life.

Seriously, hardly any wellies fit.

The joys of having rather tall pals at school (hence the stilletto's)

Pippilongstocking

:T3.5 miles later feeling very virtuous.

Need a list

Hoover house - you know when I get to the completely bored stage (not bored yet clearly):rotfl:
Banks to check
Must pay something off the cc
Doglets walked twice today will go out again when mr me finishes work as its dry and not windy - so another walk would be ace. Another 3.8 miles :T
Washing to hang up inside (no where outside must research a put on the wall pull out thingmy)
Tea's made must try and see if any of the herbs are surfacing in the pots yet.:j
So far its a NSD wonder if it will end up that way reduced shopping after walking
Must transfer money to my brother from a job he's done that's been paid via me
Expenses to write up for this month so far
Sofa covers/blankets to wash but limited drying space so might do a couple today and a couple later.
Got a few bits to put in pots - might see about that
Tomatoes and peppers need a wee look at to see about planting.
Tidy up at least one room - small house/lots of stuff=messy house.
Work clothes ready for tomorrow
Look out DD's old dolls house for a chums wee lassie to borrow - also means less clutter
Fill up the wood basket and maybe chop up a bag of collected wood
Get OH to look at my bike's spokes - they need fixed
Flop for a while
Fridge audit and check we're not letting anything sneakily rot on us. :rotfl:no vegetables rotting on my watch :rotfl:

That will do for the now. I should add ONE POLL as I do need to do more to get it to pay out..................

onwards to the coal face.