Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Karmacat

Hi there Greying - oops, I didn't do the big shop - I did hop over to the littley, for loads and loads of YS items. Today I'm off to a big National Trust place - it has its own admission fee, I'm going to do the annual one of £25 - but you've got me thinking now, I wonder if I should just join the National Trust itself and have done with it? Bother, I've just looked in another tab, and if you do it by direct debit, its £41.62 (a discount). It sounds a really good offer, but I don't think I will - (((I can't do it today anyway, its a direct debit offer, argh))) without transport of my own, its actually quite difficult to get to places without huge planning. Whereas this separate place is only 10 minutes on a local bus... hey ho. Maybe next year.

The other place to get great prices is car boot sales - I went to one last week thats pretty out of the way for me, but possible, and they were selling 10 normal-size cartons of graps for £2, and the woman was saying you'd get 8 good quality cartons out of them - and they had loads on offer at that sort of price, it was amazing! I didn't have my trolley with me, or I'd have bought some

Anyway, have a good day, I'm off now to meet the friend thats going on this trip with me :kisses3:

Wanted to join in about the supermarket thing too. I like a sprinkle of cornflakes on top of my porridge, for texture, and the basics/smartprice etc stuff is much cheaper than the ordinary stuff in Ald* and Lid* - they're practically normal prices in comparison. As a big supermarket, tho, we only have Sainsbo in this town - a Waitr*se is being built, and their Essentials range actually isn't too bad price wise. At least we have a 99p shop too, now :rotfl:

Greying_Pilgrim

Karma - if you join NT by DD, they give you an 'instant' membership card. Then you wait for your 'real' cards to come through the post. But you get into the properties right away.

The general line of opinion on MSE seems to be that Ald* and L*dl aren't necessarily cheaper than the 'big 4' but far superior on quality. I buy veg from Aldi, and whilst I'm happy with my purchases, I have left stuff in the store before now. Last week, the S6 carrots were black - ugh. But the bread flour, plain flour, passata and red kidney beans I get from L*dl have been consistently good and the same price as the 'valoo' range.

Greying

Pippilongstocking

All seems to be splendid in greying towers.



Ok so if the PR lady and the make up folks have left you alone for a mo, I have a question if I may.

What on earth is this 'Al*I six' you talk of.

There is no establishment of that make here so I'm confuzzled.

Although I have to say it doesnt' take much.

I was thinking I'd like an 'ology' - I mentioned to Mr Flowers that an ology would be nice.

Even over the phone he went grey at the thought of my embarking on *more* study.



Can a husband disown you before he's married you? I haven't been married for such a long time I forget how it works when you take one on. Yours seems quite a nice sort by the sounds of him.



Or can I just pretend in my own noggin that horti is really 'herbology' (aka HP) and I can just blag an ology of my own

Pippilongstocking

PS I had another stupid question.

I've been mulling this.

Would you say it would be useful to have a food budget (in calories)

I've been thinking about this. I have a 'grocery' budget, but I often over indulge in the food department, its a comfort thing. I wonder on the bigger scale of things if a 'food budget' is how folks manage their own intake (sort of). I know I don't make sense.

When I was veggie I really kept an eye on my daily intake of things to make sure I was getting enough vitamins/protein etc. I don't do that as a carnivore but I got to thinking the other day I wonder if the two are kind of related.

I wonder if you had a food budget (in calories) then it would also affect the food shopping budget indirectly.

I sort of stick to my food money budget, but I over buy constantly (mainly reduced) I just wondered if the next leap was thinking of how much food a person needs and approaching it that way.

I'll stop waffling now, I've confused myself and sorry for the hijack

I've been pondering all week. (This is what happens when I travel and I have time to ponder). And as part of my womble life involves promoting and understanding Love Food Hate Waste campaigns its really got me thinking do I over buy to over eat and whilst I don't 'waste' food am I hoarding far more than I need which could spoil/make me the size of pluto. With so much food poverty around, I guess my inner voice is questioning my own food morality and if I should be addressing this myself.

I'll stop now for real.

Greying_Pilgrim

Pipster, my dear friend, I have ushered all 'attendants' out of the room a whiles, so, entre nous.....

Ald* - as in the German discount store, have a special offer on fruit and vegetables - 6 types - every fortnight. So for this 2 weeks, they have a packet of figs, a bag of sweet potatoes, some kiwi, 3 mixed peppers, a bag of small pears or onions for 69p. Last week's offering was 6 different fruit/veg and they were 39p. Sometimes the stuff is great, other times it is...... So if you hear anyone wittering on about 'Ald* Super 6' that is what they are referring to. MSE has a thread to tell you what the offers are (food & groceries thread) and what to cook with them (old style - I think). HTH Does DS have an ald* near the 'towers of learning'? It could help the student budgeting a bit.

You have an 'ology' - in kindheartedness. I, Greying, Dean of Greying Towers, confer it upon you immediately.....:rotfl:

You've lost me on talk of husbands, marriage and such handfastening - I know nothing of such matters. DP only hangs around for the occasional pat and a full snap box...... :rotfl::rotfl: Although I agree with you, DP is 'quite a nice sort'. Glad I selected him out of the catalogue....... :eek:

Edit: Pippi - ask questions away and think out loud. i'm a keen advocate of debate. In answer to your query, no I don't do a calorie budget. I see your line of reasoning, but I am of the opinion that that approach is for more extreme cases, ie Polar expeditions, or where people have certain illnesses where most nutritional 'bang for buck' is required. Calorie budgets smack too much of dieting - and I've never been successful at those. I just aim to eat sufficient and move more.

I do also think that it is difficult where you have a household (and this applies to anyone) where the 'numbers for dinner' fluctuate both week to week and even within the week. Add in brekkie and lunchboxes and, well.........

I am quite sure that if I lived somewhere where YS'd deals were good, or I passed the shops at the 'right' times, I would buy more things. Unfortunately, I am in the situation where this doesn't happen, so we 'do without'. Hence why I started growing salad this summer. Shop stuff was too dear, whoopsies never happened (or were green slime still commanding 75% of the retail price) so growing my own provided the solution.

You are a good cook and a master of preserving and doing inventive dishes with leftovers.

Maybe buy whoopsies every other day, or 'only on Wednesdays' (you know what I mean), and eat from stores/from your conventional shopping list the rest of the week?

Hope someone else dives into the debate and comes up with a solution........

Edit of my edit: I've just been given a food parcel. It was food (in date) that was otherwise destined for the skip (house move). So, you're right, with so much food poverty about, we are right to question our morality about food - should I of accepted it? Am I deserving enough? I'm currently in a huge quandary about it and considering taking it straight to the local FB, except...... a lot of the packaging is (superficially) damaged....... answers on a postcard please.......


Greying

miss_empty_piggy

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Although I agree with you, DP is 'quite a nice sort'. Glad I selected him out of the catalogue....... :eek:

There's a catalogue? Oh my goodness. I want one!!! X

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Greying, keep the food and make some delicious meals to share with friends - that way everyone benefits and the karma is shared

That's my postcard suggestion.

Tilly x

Pippilongstocking

My postcard reads similar.

If its grub you'll use and eat then pop it into your own food stores and use it with pride.

If there's stuff you just wouldn't eat - give to the local fb.

Otherwise relish in a bit of good fortune.

Thanks for the reply above much appreciate the donning of an ology and for the food thoughts. I think of very strange things but its nice to discuss them. I'm a food hoarder, its a priority for me (starved as a child - well one of four on a mouse budget things were divided six ways and supplemented with bread and butter, no grub til next meal) we didn't starve but I think my food hoarding comes from a tight ship at home when growing up. My ship is equally tight but I don't spend on smokes or anything so food gets my extra pennies. But with FB's etc about, I'm really thinking hard about my habits.

I'll waffle more on my own diary

Keep the grub if you'll eat it -

beanielou

I want a catalogue too

Agree re food~keep what you will use & FB the rest.

boredofbeingathome

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Karma - if you join NT by DD, they give you an 'instant' membership card. Then you wait for your 'real' cards to come through the post. But you get into the properties right away.

The general line of opinion on MSE seems to be that Ald* and L*dl aren't necessarily cheaper than the 'big 4' but far superior on quality. I buy veg from Aldi, and whilst I'm happy with my purchases, I have left stuff in the store before now. Last week, the S6 carrots were black - ugh. But the bread flour, plain flour, passata and red kidney beans I get from L*dl have been consistently good and the same price as the 'valoo' range.

Greying

If you join via Quidco, you get a discount and a further discount on top for DD:D BOB'S top tip of the day :cool::rotfl:

I buy veg from Aldi-actually find there is more in the bag than if you buy at t'others who price drop but also quantity drop. :eek: I also buy from market or try and grow it if i can. I still grow me beans and spuds and Straw:drool:berries...

I also buy from farmshops which are bargainous if you live near one.:D