2014 Frugal Living Challenge

DawnW

happybird71 wrote: »

I sent off my card protection plan claim form. Fingers crossed. Anyone heard back yet? Think I took mine out in 1999 and can't remember when I cancelled. Only valid from 2005 I think so might not be entitled to much.
Planning bread maker pizza dinner tomorrow. Does anyone know if I can freeze uncooked dough?
When do I start sowing veggie seeds?
Thanks!

I'm still waiting for my form, but that may be because I am a 'W'. I don't exactly remember when I took the thing out. I only had it for a few months before I came to my senses - talk about hard sell :mad:

Veggie seeds, well it depends on what you want to grow. I shall be sowing tomatoes this weekend to eventually go in big pots outside. They will live on the windowsill in little pots for the next few months. For other veggies, most will wait till they can be sown outside, which will be when the soil is less wet and cold. Some people start more things off in pots, but my space is limited (no greenhouse) and I don't like to clog up the house with things that are fine outside if I wait a bit. Still, each to their own

The first things to go in outside will be shallots (sets), garlic (cloves) and broad beans. I don't grow onions as I don't have much space, but if you do they can go in quite soon as well.

Pizza dough, well I imagine you could freeze it, but must confess I have never tried. Perhaps someone will come along in a minute to confirm or refute? If not perhaps an experiment is in order?

Right, better get to work

quidsy

I make my own pizza dough using 00 flour & after proving I then cut into potions & individually bag it up & freeze. It defrosts fine but has to be used on the same day.

Onc defrosted roll out, strtch into base shape etc then leave it to sit for 20mins before putting on toppings.

Never had a bad one yet.

happybird71

Thanks DawnW and quidsy. I got my CPP about 1999 I think. It was sent to my parent's address (not where I grew up!) and in my maiden name. Had to phone up to change address & enclose a copy oft marriage certificate. I have absolutely no idea how long I had the plan after 2005. Might be worth 50p or nothing! Ha ha.
Thanks for pizza dough info. Was thinking I might freeze a couple of mini pieces in the freezer for DS1. He's 2 and loves the M & S mini pizzas but they're £1 each.
Thinking of sowing carrots, potatoes & not sure what else. Sadly I have an intolerance to onions, garlic, shallots etc. can you believe I thought I was gluten free & didn't eat bread or cake for 4 years?! What a waste!

tatabubbly

Ahhh.. Planning on having a second NSD in a row today. Trying to save a few pennies to pay for a flight that I'll be taking soon....

Been looking at my airmiles and I think I'm going to save them up for a small trip away with the OH to treat him. I feel bad sometimes as he is the main breadearner but I'd like to get him something small to say thank you...

Planning on having dinner out of stores... However I need to decide what!

quidsy

Def freeze them, suppose you could even roll them & freeze on parchment or baking paper sheets & it wouldn't make that much of a difference. The only reason I don't is my ds is 6 & likes rolling it out himself (messy)

Frugalsod

quidsy wrote: »

I make my own pizza dough using 00 flour & after proving I then cut into potions & individually bag it up & freeze. It defrosts fine but has to be used on the same day.

Onc defrosted roll out, strtch into base shape etc then leave it to sit for 20mins before putting on toppings.

Never had a bad one yet.

How much better is it over strong flour? I have plenty of both but use my 00 Flour mainly for pasta.

quidsy

I don't know, Ive only used 00 but it is recommended by Jamie Oliver as the best for pizza bases so it's good enough for me

Goldiegirl

My car is in for it's service today.


I feel a bit perplexed, because I know it's going to cost quite a bit - it needs a new alternator for a start. Plus some other things. If it's less than £700, I'll be happy :eek:
When I worked out my 'post retirement' budget, I did budget £350 for car servicing. Also, this month is a 'free' council tax month, so there'll be another £150 there, and the rest will have to come out of the 'contingency' fund. I don't like spending this sort of money on a car, but I just need to keep it going for another year or so. Then we'll both get rid of our current cars and replace with one newer one. When we're not working we won't need two cars.


With retirement on my mind, I thought I'd order a state pension statement for Mr GG. But the website was hopeless, it wouldn't let me type in the letter 'u', which made it awkward as Mr GG has a 'u' in his name. So I printed up a form, and we'll do it by post.


At least dinner will be frugal this evening. Shepherds Pie, which I cooked during my mega batch cook last month, with carrots, which I froze at the same time

cw18

Goldiegirl wrote: »

With retirement on my mind, I thought I'd order a state pension statement for Mr GG. But the website was hopeless, it wouldn't let me type in the letter 'u', which made it awkward as Mr GG has a 'u' in his name.

I tried to get one for me a couple of months ago (I know there'll be a shortfall in my contribution history, so want to know all options while I have time to do something about it). Won't let me request without I have a gateway userid and password, so had to request those. When they arrived the system refused to accept them as valid - and that's the third time in 4 years or so I've tried to register for a setup and had the same end result, so I'm another who has to revert to the old pen and paper methods ! (I normally try so I can file tax returns on line).

Shortie

happybird71 wrote: »

Planning bread maker pizza dinner tomorrow. Does anyone know if I can freeze uncooked dough?

Yep, you definately can I have done lots in the past.

Though I'm now uber lazy and as soon as the dough ready (ie risen and knocked back) I then roll it out, stuff it in the oven for 5 mins to 'set' it in shape and shove it in te freezer in a huge tuppawear box with greaseproof sheets in between them. Then when we want hm pizza, we just grab the amount out that we want, sort the toppings whilst still frozen and shove it back in the oven