The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

FairyPrincessk

Hi All. I've been reading along, but exhausted again and just trying to take it easy.

Fuddle, we don't use conditioner at all. I don't like adding another perfumed item to my household that as far as I can tell doesn't do anything. Sometimes the towels get a bit musty as they don't always dry properly after showers so periodically I put vinegar in as you have. Although you're not supposed to be able to smell it after they're dry, I do sometimes get a whiff, but it isn't overwhelming or anything and I really only do it three or four times a year so it isn't a big deal. Our towels do come off the line like stiff sandpaper, but I just think of it as free exfoliation;)

ArthriticOldThing

Good afternoon all. I've been reading all your posts today but not able to join in as hands been very bad all day. My own fault really. Was too hot in bed last night so did not wear the splints/supports I'm supposed to sleep in. But I have definitely paid for it today. :eek:
Kezlou I hope your ankle improves soon and DS2 gets home in good time to ease your anxiety.
I'm glad you at least got an apology fuddle. As someone else said your circumstances should have been checked first before the snotty email was issued.
All the wedding stories are FAB. I've been married twice - both times very simple affairs in Registry Office. I've never wanted a big ceremony etc _ would have hated the thought of being the centre of so much attention.:(
I'm diabetic and had poor control while working as shift patterns and travelling meant I did not eat properly at all. Now that have retired I'm trying to improve my diet but as has been said the price of fresh fruit/veg and protein is scary.:eek::eek:
Like you Popperwell I am hoping to make everything last - at least until Sept 2015 when I hope to get my state pension - so I also only have to spend on absolute necessities. Saying that - my printer broke down this morning and its one gadget I do need so more money to spend getting it looked at.:mad::mad:
Think I will have to try that recipe as well MrsLW.
Must go now and rest hands for a while.

SDG31000

Afternoon everyone

I'm glad you had such a good time VJsmum.

Get well soon kezlou and I'm sure DS2 will be fine xxx

fuddle My DS1 was a very fussy eater, to the extent that the Health Visitor told me to serve him what everyone else was having and nothing else. My nerve broke when he hadn't eaten anything for three days. My DMIL then told me that she had watched a programme about a very old fashioned nanny who was sent to deal with problems families where having. Her advice was that cake and pudding and crumbles and custard contained lots of calories and goodness and if they would eat those to give them to children (After offering main meals first) Would your DD eat custard made with cream and eggs? Or homemade ice cream? DS1 still has a somewhat limited diet, but is much better about food in general now. Good luck (((((((((hugs)))))))))

MrsLurcherWalker You are preaching to the choir. I have now reached the stage where I have had to decided to do the best I can to reduce the shopping bills, but not at the expense of my stress levels. I have a very good memory for prices and packet sizes and just couldn't deal with feeling angry and overwhelmed at the increases anymore.
I now fill the freezer with Lidl's weekend offers when it is something the family will eat and work out what to make with those. At the moment that means turkey breast steaks, minced beef, pork chops and sausages. My family wanting meat at every meal doesn't help.
I can recommend Iceland's packs of cooked meat off cuts. They are £1.75 a pack and mine generally has ham, turkey/chicken and pork.

The last few days have been busy, sleep deprived and I've just gone with the flow, made sure everyone was fed and ignored everything else. DH is off call now so hopefully things should settle down a bit. DH and I are going to see Despicable Me 2 tonight. We were going last night, but after I fell asleep in the bath, I had an early night instead. I have sweets to smuggle in in my handbag and Vue has a Super Saver Tuesday card that I've applied for.
Time to make pizza dough and sort out toppings.

Take care everyone xxxx

alfsmum

FUDDLE, Paleo must work out pretty expensive. We eat very little processed food but that's where all the BOGOFs seem to be. Luckily we are starting to get a trickle of produce off the allotment now, especially a strawberry mountain which is wearing me out trying to keep up with picking and processing. A nice problem to have though as I don't think we got a single berry last year.

I make a lot of vegetable soups using whatever is in season, and therefore cheaper, including leaves such as chard or cabbage. Not too expensive and suitable for paleo I think if you don't have a big chunk of bread alongside! I use L@dl alot for fruit and veg as we have one close by and they are always stocking up with fresh deliveries. The half price weekend offers are a good time to stock up on F&V. We have an excellent greengrocer but no cheaper then the SMs. It would cost me more in petrol to get to a market than I'd save.

We prefer fresh fruit to tinned but I will stock up on tinned when it's on offer as long as its in juice not syrup and use to pad out the week when the fresh runs out.

Just doesn't seem right that healthy eating can seem so far out of many people's budget when we are bombarded with info on obesity crisis and poor diet affecting the nation's health.

Popperwell

Some posts have prompted me to suggest having a word with a hospital dietician regarding nourishment...where some people are not eating enough protein/calories etc...

This comes about because(and I must try and find it again)when Mum was in the final stages we were sent a book showing how meals and drinks could be fortified to add extra calories and goodness. Lots of comfort food ideas but there would be tips where you added perhaps powdered milk into a soup etc...it wouldn't change the taste but built up the energy the body got from food.

Something like the following...Just go down the leaflet with the slider at the side of the PC...

http://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/Downloads/cancer/CISS%20-%2025%20Guide%20to%20Fortifying%20Food.pdf

elona

AOT

Could you try freecycle for a printer?

I am stunned by how much cheaper things are when I go to Aldi for fruit, veg, butter etc. Since I started getting a pack of meat each week from the local butcher I get more for the money and better quality stuff that does not shrink when cooking or weep added water.

DH just asked me nervously if we were spending a lot extra now I do even more cooking from scratch and our meals are getting better and looked relieved when I replied it was either the same amount or worked out a little cheaper. I can make three medium sized quiches for the price I would pay for one and four huge pizzas for the price of one large one.

Have been reading the primal blueprint and would like to follow it properly but decided that as long as I am avoiding large amounts of rice, potatoes and pasta and am having lots of fruit, veg, fish, meat and eggs then it should be better than not trying and having the processed "food" that is heavily advertised.

Home made soups and stir fries are fairly cheap to make and really fill you up as well as a good way to get vitamins and fibre.

I still get peeved when I see prices going up all the time and also quantities get smaller.

Fuddle

If dd helped make something would she be more likely to eat it?

Popperwell

We all know that many of us eat too much(not so bad if you eat smaller portions or one main meal a day)snack throughout the day or have jobs where you are burning off energy but the following is quite a fun feature...

The portions look far too small until you see them altogether in the final image...

This probably explains why I actually manage/survive on such a small amount and do not feel hungry.

http://greatist.com/health/serving-size-thanksgiving-portion-guide

GreyQueen

kittiej wrote: »

I agree just the mention of the w word and prices sky rocket

I've heard a lot of people in the hospitality industy remark that mentioning the W word jacks up the price by about 50%.

Try subsituting the word "family party" when enquiring about booking a venue for a wedding reception. It isn't technically a lie, is it?

Fuddle, I've looked into primal and paleo, have two books on shelf atm which I have read. I'm very interested in it but it is pretty much out of my price bracket.

I was with Mum on Saturday in a Sainsbugs, which is her nearest sm by some degree. We were pretty horrified at the price of broccoli. Since when did a crown of it cost about £2?! We wanted to eat it, not use it as a table decoration.

After discussion of the quantities at home, she made do with the veg in house until she got to Aldee today. I am also encouraging her to use her Iceland as they have some pretty reasonable stuff in there.

I know I've said it before, and I'm surely preaching to the choir, but we need to avoid mentally assigning certain stores into certain price brands; Extortionate/ Bit Pricey/ OK/ Cheap/ Utter Rubbish. From day to day and item to item, stores will vary. Sometimes the extortionate store may be offering excellent value for X, or the cheapy store may have an award-winning example of Y.

I think the days where you could tell yourself that it isn't worth shopping around to save a few pence are over. It's more than pence, in some cases its a pound or more an item. Of course, I am lucky to live in a city with lots of choices of shops, I appeciate that not everyone has access to/ time to visit many retail establishments.

Right, have a washload on (and undone ironing from the previous load, that's 2 blouses and 4 hankies, VJsMum!) and need to go prod my meal to see if it's [STRIKE]dead[/STRIKE] I mean, cooked yet. Half-price item. As we say in our family; you can't taste the copper.

Have a good evening, folks. GQ xx

mardatha

Paleo/Primal is ok if you haven't got much of an appetite, like me. If you had a big family then it wouldn't be possible.
We've decided to stop going to Asda/Sainsbugs and go to Aldi instead, starting next week.

shegar

KIDCAT.......Sorry to hear of the bad day you had, not good and dam hard work for you....My grandson is autistic, when as a problem we all know about it, yet he is a super little lad age 10 and looks 5......Bless him

KEZLOU.........Sorry to hear about your poor foot, it will be very painful for a few weeks, hope youve got some pain killers and can rest it a bit..........

NUTTYP.........Glad youve got the car cash , I know you say its all you have to your name , but at least its a bit of savings for you, and you never know when you will need it.........

AOL.......Sorry that you have been in pain with the hands , not good at all, but as you know rest is best................

I never dry my towels when they are damp , I use clean ones , cant stand horrible musty, damp smell, yea I know it cost money to wash them but im a bit particular about some things in the home and that be one of them, in any case I love washing, cleaning etc.....:)......

Love to see the washing blowing on the line , I could watch that instead of watching the tv espeically when I have a line of whites:).........

Ive been quite busy in the garden again today , pottering really, watering , etc.........Im gonna sit on my butt for the next few hours to give my poor feet a rest....Sheila