Living on next to nought - is that the key?

rosieben

GP just have to come out of lurkdom to respond to your post. I’m sorry you’re feeling out of step with MSE. I’ve ‘lived’ on the OS boards for the 8 years I’ve been here and only recently discovered the DFW board. I’m in awe at the DFW diaries and follow as many as I can every day. I’m really enjoying your meals and the photos and you are never boring!

I don’t fit in with a lot of the OS ideas put forward but I ‘take what I can use and let the rest go by’ as the saying goes.

If you decide to start a blog I’ll be subscribing

Enjoy your days off

Greying_Pilgrim

Thank you - you lovely MSE'rs for your super supportive posts.

I think I possibly shouldn't have mentioned MSE in my post. It's not MSE that is the problem, it is me. I actually believe in 'Living a rich life on the cheap', or 'Living well - on discounts' - call it what you will. I don't want folk to pay full price for anything if they don't have to I think that the 'glitches' board or the 'competitions' board or the 'Super6' boards (or name any other, quite frankly ) are a positive boon! The fact that I don't use many of them is immaterial

What I was meaning was that I'm becoming less consumer driven to the point that in the circles in which I revolve in RL, it is becoming a problem - not for me, but seemingly for other people. There is only one person I know in RL that has admitted to being aware of this website. Um, and they are in denial as to the extent of their debts

Perhaps I just need to not post a pic when we've had 'the same' thing for dinner? That might stop me feeling repetitive/samey?

I do suspect that it is the 'other matters' in RL that are overtaking my thinking and putting a dampner on spirits. Please feel free to ignore me :rotfl:

Right DP is in da hoose. Best get lunch on (Spicy tomato soup and leftover cornbread )

THANK YOU

Greying

DawnW

Greying, I don't post here often, but your diary is one of the few that I read regularly, and be assured, it is never boring. I absolutely concur with your thinking on consumerism, though of course avoiding it is much more difficult for those with children at home.

I am another of those who gravitate to the DFW boards even though I no longer have debt. One or two of the threads on the Old Style and Greenfingered boards have the same kind of feel, but apart from those I hardly ever look at the other boards now, as I am not interested in pay TV, holidays or gadgets either

The people in RL who seem to be getting to you sound a bit of an energy drain tbh. In my old age I have decided to avoid people like that - I have no problem whatever with what people spend, what they do etc, and would never dream of criticising, but I do expect them to be equally accepting of my lifestyle even if my choices are different to theirs. At the very least they can keep their thoughts to themselves - I do not appreciate the kind of remarks that you describe, and to be honest I avoid those who make them.

I hope that you don't stop posting, but if you do (or even if you don't), the idea of a blog is a good one. You write really well, and it would be a shame not to keep at it

PS your pizza and wedges look delicious - I must do that one night this week

mothernerd

Dear Greying you are never boring.

I do understand what you say about feeling out of step with people in RL. When I had to travel for my surgical consult recently, I stopped between buses to eat my lunch (I thought it was going to take me about 4 hours each way, allowing time for bits I had to walk in between). I had planned to eat in a local park (once spent a bank holiday there as none of the cash machines had any money in them so couldn't do the little train ride we had planned) but the weather was against me.

Then, not wishing to spend money on spending a penny in the bus station, I hobbled across town to Debnums. I had a look around on the way back to the bus station and found I had no desire to go in any of the shops. There were people in B**ts clustered around a table near the door - I think it might have been free perfume samples (wasn't curious enough to go closer) and I just thought how strange they looked - 3 fairly well-dressed young women displaying behaviour more often seen at a school jumble sale.

My middle son in particular often tells me how 'sad' I am (it started in his teens, he's 27 now) and my youngest son's gf comes from a family very different from ours (her mother thinks working for less than £60k a year is beneath her) which is slightly worrying at times as she is sometimes parrots things her parents say, even though she is doing a minimum wage fast food job on a minimum hours contract, so should understand that there is no link between effort put in, wages earned and your worth as a person.

I have always been seen as slightly strange but the older I get the less I am inclined to bother to 'fit in'. People need me more than I need people generally (my 23 year old may have to help dress me for a while after I get my new hip). Next week I have to go to a 'learning how to get in and out of bed' etc class, no doubt with yet another list of things I am not allowed to do. It's going to be an interesting year.

XSpender

Greying


Please keep posting the lovely pictures of your meals. I enjoy seeing them and they are inspiring me to try more vegetarian meals.


XSpender

Greying_Pilgrim

DawnW wrote: »

I absolutely concur with your thinking on consumerism, though of course avoiding it is much more difficult for those with children at home.

Oh agreed, agreed. I realise how *fortunate* (wrong word really, but can't think of a better one), we are with the nephews and nieces. Several lived/live too far away to send pressies to - the postage cost more than the gift. And those that could have received gifts got everything, and I mean everything bought for them by their parents. There was nothing (affordable) left to give. The only alternative was to give monetary gifts, and work out whether it was deemed *enough* on the basis of whether a 'thank you' was received or not :rotfl: (pulling own leg there!) And of course, we - like loads of other folk - get reminded by these same young people, that; the best thing I remember was the time we played.... or the time we took a picnic to... or the time you made me a bubble blowing machine (a piece of wire formed into a hoop, some washing up liquid and a bucket of water......... :rotfl:)

DawnW wrote: »

The people in RL who seem to be getting to you sound a bit of an energy drain tbh. In my old age I have decided to avoid people like that - I have no problem whatever with what people spend, what they do etc, and would never dream of criticising, but I do expect them to be equally accepting of my lifestyle even if my choices are different to theirs. At the very least they can keep their thoughts to themselves - I do not appreciate the kind of remarks that you describe, and to be honest I avoid those who make them.

This is so true, and exactly how I feel. The problem is made more difficult when folks go on at DP though. I can't elaborate, but one of the people who has been the most critical of his/our lifestyle, has problems of their own. Criticising DP/me/us is a deflection technique, but DP takes things to heart first, before sorting out in his own mind whether the comments have substance IYSWIM.

mothernerd - given that the financial crisis has been ongoing since 2008, I simply cannot see why some folk hold the attitudes to money/lack of it/pursuit of thrift/brand snobbishness etc etc The only certainty I see is ongoing uncertainty. And you are right - how good are we as parents if we are passing on such notions to our children - who are going to be on zero-hour contracts, who won't have universal health care from the cradle to the grave, who won't know what 'age' they'll be 'allowed' to retire at etc etc.

Sure, I want to live a good life, but I suppose to me that is about living within my means and living a 'rich' yet simple life. Mind, I really do understand that folks are 'not bothered' to listen to a robin trilling away first thing of a morn, or to see the first snowdrops of the season, or to spot 'funny shapes' in the clouds. Yes, I agree about being less inclined to 'fit in' - just wish folks would write me off as a dotty auld bag and let me get on with it, instead of insisting that I conform........ :rotfl:

XSpender - I love the *dialogue* on MSE about good food for the best prices. I love learning about new dishes - irrespective of whether they are meat, fish or veggie, as there is generally a spicing, or a technique or a method that can be transferred across. And folk have been very kind about my *efforts* - not once has someone implored me to *eat meat*. As Rosieben points out, folk have a look what I've done, perhaps taken a recipe, or a technique they like the look of, and moved on. Hence why we can quite happily talk about meat/fish/pulses and vegetables here - which is so brilliant for this self-confessed food and recipe absorbed individual

You've all been most kind. THANK YOU again

Greying

beanielou

Enjoy your week off & feed your soul xx

supersaver1000

We have overspent for a long time and now we are paying it back. DH hasn't bought in fully, but I give him an allowance which he is keeping to so far, but I know it doesn't take much for him to release the overspending floodgates. There are certain people who like to stir him up, as they know he likes to spend and he hates people thinking he hasn't got money. I am going to blow one day and they are going to get a right gob full and more. I so totally agree that these stirrers are over spenders themselves but have either been wiser than us or are better at hiding it. Whichever it is I don't care, but they are visiting their problems on us definitely.

Others I have heard sniggering about others money saving and for me it just signals that they have their own problems again and it just makes them feel better.

We need to feel comfortable in our own skins and with our choices, but the pressure to conform is very strong. Also there can be things in our own pasts that cause us to spend or react in certain ways. (Remember the over spenders series - I bought the book).

Sorry GP I am rambling but I just wanted to say that I understand. When I first came on MSE, I called myself supersaver as I thought saving money buying delivered pizzas was what it was all about. However now I am so into buying and making healthy food economically that my name feels embarrassing. I don't feel like a supersaver and that is no longer my priority.

Please don't give up GP. This is the best thread ever. Your money is your money and it is your choice how you spend it.

Hope you gave a good break and feel better soon. Xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening :hello:

beanie - thanks darlin, you are so supportive, and yes, I shall feed my soul - excellent advice, that I shall willingly take Thank you

supersaver - thank you. You most certainly are not rambling, you are putting forward very cogent points, and unfortunately, I know what you mean - wish I had never experienced it myself, but yup, know what you mean.... And don't you go worrying about your choice of username. It is PERFECT - gets mangled by autocorrect frequently and is a reflection of where you are headed as you make a life for yourself and your family that is sustainable. We wouldn't have you any other way

Well, I think that it is fairly decided that we all wish MSE was in fact RL, as folk in RL give us a load of grief....... I agree, totally, with everyone that says that they care not how others choose to 'spend' their lives, they just wish that they would not choose to comment on how MSE'rs lead their lives. I am going to give careful consideration as to 'what' it is that I am on MSE for. I gain plenty - advance notice of mrL weekend offers, the S6, the companionship of fellow DFW's and MFW's.... but I must be careful that my own contribution is in keeping. And yes, UpsideDown Bear is right, if I post 'from the heart' it will be for me and therefore, will be..... valid? useful? of interest? If I post what I *think* folk want to hear, or without giving it any thought, then it will quickly become old and boring. So I will try my hardest to keep my posts authentic. As I think that living within your means, in the modern world, is hard, whereas living on never-ending credit is easy. There I've said it.

So, I spent money again today. My NSD total has been static for almost a week! I'm gonna try ever so hard to snag one tomorrow - I promise

Because Dear Reader, weather permitting, and after the motorcycling race in Australia.... we're going on a picnic :j With bicycling a distinct probability and a visit to a NT property a possibility :j Yeh! How great my life??

Dinner this evening was in keeping with the curry theme and used the paneer cheese that I made yesterday..... The paneer experiment was..... interesting...... I used the BBC recipe, because it was written by Anjum Anand, for whom I have a lot of respect. But I think as a beginner, I should have done further research. However, did I make paneer cheese from 2l of milk? Yes I did. Did it look like it should...... um, yep, I think so. Could I make it better... um, yep, I think so :rotfl: I discovered half way through, that I could not make ricotta cheese from the left over whey. This was a little bit of a disaster, as anyone that has made paneer will know (even if I didn't.... :rotfl:) that that yield of cheese for milk boiled, isn't very much. So I ended up with a little pat of cheese (probably not much more than the size you'd buy in a shop) and about 1.6l of whey.......If I make paneer again, I'm gonna have a list as long as my arm of things that can use up the whey :rotfl:

Anyhoo, I made the Hairy bikers version of palak paneer, accompanied it with some dhal, basmati rice and a nigella seed naan. Picture here;



Would I useAnjum's paneer recipe again? Probably not. I've found a better, more instructive version, that should yield better paneer - I'll give it a go, and post my results. Would I make palak paneer with HM paneer again? Yes, but I think that it will be infrequent if the yield of whey is so high - I can't easily freeze it, I've not the luxury of plenty of space in the freezer for such a 'relatively' low value product.

However, the one thing that I have discovered - which is ace is that JO's piadina recipe, made with whey, rather than plain water, gives you, as close to an authentic 'naan' taste as you can imagine - without all the faff of making yeasted dough - result :j

I have made some bread rolls, using whey as the wet ingredient. Apparently, it gives a sourdough tang to the bread. I've not tasted so far, but definitely the proving dough smelt like sourdough, but I have to report that the rise was 'off the charts'. It has browned nicely too, so again, I hope that the taste is good, as this would make a lovely 'use' of excess whey.

Finally, in order to slacken the spinach mix in the palak paneer, I added a little bit of whey - rather than cream or yoghurt. Using whey to cook vegetables is an accepted use of the product, and again, you are keeping all the 'good stuff' in your dishes. It was ok - so I wouldn't hesitate to repeat that.

As you know, our Saturday Night is Strictly Curry Murray is an homage to dear Judes and the curry capital of Glasgow, and tonight's Palak Paneer was inspired by the menu at Ashoka Southside of Clarkston Road in the city I hope that I've done them justice - if not proud

The wine to accompany the meal was supposed to be a 'Fleurie', which is a wine from the Beaujolais region of France (apparently ). Unfortunately, our branch of mrAl couldn't get it's act together to stock this wine (they are supposed to have a bottle in their 'exquisite' collection for £6.49), so instead, I went for the 'spirit' of Fleurie with a 100% gamay grape Beaujolais from mrT for £4.75. I haven't had much success with French wines in the past, but can I just, for the record, note that a) the wine was nice on its own, and did have a berry fruitiness with a lingering blackcurrant finish....... #ponce and did work well with the curry - just like t'internet said it would :j I would have this wine with this curry again, anytime

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

For the kindness of 'strangers' -

That DP is now officially on 'hols' too - or vacation, or staycation or vacances or ...........#whatEVA :rotfl:

That I've managed to [STRIKE]get rid of [/STRIKE] use up 1L of whey - only 600ml to go...... :rotfl:

Thank you so very much for popping in, reading, being supportive and cheering me on through my wobble. I THANK YOU

See y'all later.

We're going on a bike ride, we're going on a bike ride.... :j

Greying

satchmo1

GP


Please don't give up with this forum. I'm no longer in debt, having cleared it - and also cleared my mortgage, but I keep up with a select few of the more articulate threads (yours, Robins, Lucky's and Sun's being some that I particularly treasure).


Hugs
Satchmo xxx