2014 Frugal Living Challenge

kippers

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Seriously need to make room in my house freezer to batch cook some meals.
Its great having a load of reduced meat etc for the freezer, BUT no good, if there is no room for batch cooked meals..

That's exactly the position i'm in:(

LolaLemon

pm2326 wrote: »

Hi

I've seen people mention adding porridge oats to meals on a few threads now, but never tried it....silly questions but how do you know how much to add? Do they disappear and do they soak up any liquids in the food??

I have a huge box to use up that my mum gave me and while I like porridge I have to be in the mood to eat it so it'll just sit there for months!

Off to make my tea using up leftover boiled potatoes and some salmon out of the freezer.

When i first started using oats i put about a tablespoonful in after browning the mince.
No i put some in after browning the mince, and add more until nearly all the juicy fat has been soaked up. Works for us, try small until u get comfortable with it.

kb_soma

happycrafter wrote: »

evening all

nipped to the shop to pick up milk and eggs and thats all we bought :j

pork chops carrots and potatoes roasting together and broccoli for tea. the stalk is in the fridge to make Stilton and broccoli soup later on.

done the banking moved over the odd change in to my savings account now to crack on with swagbucks and some crafting

I love brocolli stalk, it's lovely in a stir fry, finely slice it and use it as you would any other veg!

BMG

I would like to join this challenge. I have working on my weekly budgets this week and I have almost sort them out. They listed in my signature. The only thing not covered is debts. I do not want to talk about them publicly, but I am picking up advice on here by lurking.


The one thing I need to cut back on moneywise and weight wise is eating lunch out when I have a day out shopping/window shopping. I usually stop for a coffee and then lunch in the shopping centre. This is why I have put a personal budget in otherwise I would just go off the rails immediately


I appreciate any hints or tips anyone wishes to pass on to me

kb_soma

ellie-g wrote: »

Got some mince out of the freezer for tonight. Will add equal parts of porridge oats ( I have a massive stock of them) and a can of the bulk purchased bargain black eyed beans that cost 10p a tin. If I add some yellow sticker carrots it will stretch it out to 2 meals, will also be healthier and just as tasty. Ready, steady, cook as usual here!

You can bulk out mince with oats? I've not heard of this, please tell me more!

hettiecarro

Hi
Not life changing - but every little helps.
Was getting ready to go out this morning and applying lippie.
Boots do a great product called 'Lipcote' (about £3.60) which seals your lippy.
If, like me you are constantly re-applying lippy, try this. It seals lips and provided you let it dry, will keep your lippy fresh for hours. Been using it for years. Lasts about 6 months - but make sure you wipe brush on tissue (I use toilet roll 'cos it's cheaper). This stops any lippy seeping into the bottle.
Today I have a few scraps of various types of cheese left from Christmas, so dinner will be mushroom omelette with grated 'bits of cheeses' and jacket potato. (Hint for jackets: cook in microwave then brush with oil and a little salt and pop under grill - no need for oven to be used and deliciously crispy.


xx

Shortie

Frugalsod wrote: »

Have you tried making your own briquettes from the paper? great for a fire

Have you ever made/used them Frugalsod? I looked into making them a while ago for our open fire but hoe long do they burn for and do they kick out as much heat as logs?

kb_soma

BMG wrote: »

The one thing I need to cut back on moneywise and weight wise is eating lunch out when I have a day out shopping/window shopping. I usually stop for a coffee and then lunch in the shopping centre. This is why I have put a personal budget in otherwise I would just go off the rails immediately


I appreciate any hints or tips anyone wishes to pass on to me

Could you have a nice big breakfast before leaving home? You won't then be waiting for lunch. The other things is to maybe take a packed lunch with you. Get a my waitrose card if you have a local waitrose, you can get a free coffee everyday with this and then you don't have to buy one!

Has anybody seen Jack's recipes? Very frugal and tasty! http://agirlcalledjack.com/category/recipes-food-etc/

BMG

The shopping centre where I spend my day doesn't have any supermarkets unfortunately for a cheap lunch. It is all takeaways or restaurants.


I hadn't really thought about taking a packed lunch. I could still sit in the food court and eat it, so that I still have the atmosphere and can sit and people watch. I could treat myself to a small portion of fries to go with my sandwich


We don't really have Waitrose up here.

skintygerlinky

Hi all xxx

8 days into January - how we all doing?! Once again I must say that this site is proving to be very supportive and it's good to know 'it's not just me'!
Well considering I'm 'Going Frugal', Jan should prove to be a nice month! I've been to the cinema with a friend (Nelson Mandela film - please go if you can, it's brilliant and certainly gave me some perspective!!) I used my NUS card so got discounted tickets. This Saturday myself and another skinty mate are having a night in with a bottle of 'left over from Xmas' wine and are making a 3 course meal with whatever's in the cupboards. Next week a friend is having a milestone birthday and, believe it or not, is treating a gang of us to a day at a spa!!
Can't believe my luck - I'm spending plenty of time with good friends this month whilst hardly spending any cash. Good start to Frugal '14!

On a practical note, I've made a list of dinners and teas (that's Scouse for lunches and dinners!) I can make using the ingredients that are in my cupboards, fridge and freezer for the rest of this week. Fresh ingredients have been bought in Aldi - I'm staying well away from more expensive supermarkets. My local Aldi is brilliant and has everything I need.

One thing I have noticed - I was in Uni yesterday and was working in the library for a long time. I needed a break so wandered into town...there may as well have been a WARNING! WARNING! sign going off behind my head, as my train of thought was 'I need a break..I'm tired...I'm working hard...I DESERVE A TREAT!'
Wooaaaah sister! I realised that I was talking myself into the shops for a little treat....which was almost a £13 CD. Once I made the connection between feeling down/tired + shops = spending money I calmed down and had a hot choc in the student union.

Feel better now!! Can anyone here relate? Do you talk yourself into going shopping cos you feel 'you deserve it'?? How do we break this cycle?