I have lost my OS ways, help!

EstherH

Hi CURLYTOP.:T:T:j £13,500 that's amazing, well done. I can see why you have started to slip with the OS ways. It's easier to stick to it when you don't have a choice. I think that has already been said here.

POOKY, let us know how you get on with your £200 challenge. I've just done a quick add up and one week into my new month I have already spent almost £170 arghh! :eek:

To be fair I have stocked up quite a bit but I know I will still get through loads on fresh fruit and veg etc. I have enough meat and fish for the month I think - no, I know! I must be more disciplined! I have a sack 12.5k of potatoes and some frozen veg, maybe enough for ten days. I have cereal for a couple of weeks but will need milk. Will also need eggs by middle of next week.

Everyone raves about Aldi's super six but I find morrisons or tescos cheaper for apples and oranges unless aldi has oranges on super six. The only apples they seem to do on that are fun size and too small.
I bought some apples from Farmfoods but they were rotten. Their grapes seem to be ok though. Apples, oranges and bananas are our staples. I spend about £12 a week on them alone. I've also noticed that morrisons have reduced their £1 bags of apples from six to five.

Esther x

CurlyTop

Have been quite good today. Just using up bits from the cupboards for lunch. Made cheesy beef pie for tea (Ruth's recipe from first series of great british bake off) db bought me the book years ago and I still go to it when I fancy a change.

We were thinking of having fitted wardrobes in our bedroom and even though I've had new double glazing put in and my dehumidifier is on the go, I 'm still wary of getting mould which I have had problems with previously. After much fuffing and faffing have decided to get 2 chest of drawers and 2 bedside cabinets from Ikea instead thereby saving me money, especially as I reckon I would have had to pay for at least 3 days labour. As the wardrobes are in the spare bedroom, there's no need to replace them. The money I'll save will pay for a table and chairs for my kitchen as I've not had once since my kitchen went in courtesy of the PPI. Am chuffed at what I've saved.

Have to do my meal plan for the month tomorrow. I've been filling the cupboards up willy nilly and think that I should only need to do fresh top ups for this month. Jelly setting in the fridge for dh which he can have with cream after his Sunday roast. I'll munch on one of the many biscuits I've bought whilst I've had my foot off the OS pedal. After all I'm not wasting them (even tho I'll be moaning about the weight I'll put on) haha

Here' s to a brighter OS tomorrow

jlhmd666

bellaquidsin wrote: »

and a blackberry and apple pie.

I made an apple and blackberry crumble today ready for after tomorrow's roast. Blackberries were free and apple's were previously sliced then frozen. I could make a pie as we collected loads of blackberries yesterday

jlhmd666

EstherH wrote: »

It's easier to stick to it when you don't have a choice. I think that has already been said here.

That's true. It is easier to stick to if you don't have the means to just buy a takeaway or waste food for example, when it comes to mealtimes.

Caterina

Hello, I had a good OS day even if not a no-spend (spent £12 at farmers market, got lots of eggs, green cabbage, salad, white pizza and enormous loaf of wm bread).

On my way back from market I finally foraged the plums I kept meaning to pick. Lots of them on the ground, but grass and shade kept them fresh, so I filled up a bag. Cooked them and tomorrow will freeze them, will turn them into compote and jam when I have a kitchen back .

Lots of veg coming up in the allotment, DH dug up more land and I weeded and watered. Next week I should receive the plug plants I ordered so it is good that he prepared some land. I cannot dig for long because of achy back.

Nice ratatouille for dinner, we were going to go out but decided to stay indoors as tomorrow early start for both. DH has to be back here at 5 to talk to builder and I have a full day work babysitting, will be hard work but at least brings some cash in.

Good night.

aklmatthews

we did spend some money at the pub on Friday as we were there all day it was a charity event and i am a committee member so had to be there. Saved some money on Saturday as we had 4 of the £5 off meat at Morrisons vouchers so stocked up and with what we have in already will only need to buy extra veg and bread for the rest of the month. Been really good no eating out or takeaways all week and got a lot done in the house so quite a good week.

bellaquidsin

I don't know if my day today was particularly OS but as I cooked a roast lamb dinner with a reduced leg of lamb and piles of fresh veg I guess it was. It's what I've always done anyway and as I'm old it must be OS.


My blackberry and apple pie went down a treat, not a crumb left and my chocolate cake and scones for afternoon tea were very well received.


Having enough left over for tomorrow seems to fit the OS remit too.


Bella.

cat4772

Pre MSE we were without a kitchen for a while and after takeaways and the odd microwave meal I vowed never to be reliant on an oven and hob again. I now have a slow cooker, Remoska, steamer and halogen oven. None of them get used very much though.:o

We've recently had to review our finances and have implemented a new budget... and this time we're determined to get to debt free rather than just a hop and comfortable skip away from crisis

Cat.xx

Caterina

Hello cat4772, welcome to the thread!

I have considered all the implements you mentioned but before I got any a kind person lent me a two ring electric tabletop cooker. It seems to be enough to keep us going for the time being.

I also have a microwave which I don't use much, I hate microwaving food, it just feels "wrong". I only have it for warming or defrosting.

I know what you mean about not relying on a cooker, for that we have the woodstove, especially in winter, I cook soups and overnight porridge on it. But because I have had the kitchen work in the spring and summer it was not practical. However, the advantage of having it during the summer is that I often make salads instead of cooking a meal.

Today's OS: workday babysitting that will bring a bit of cash in. Will have to spend a bit of it as my day fee includes entertainment costs (to be competitive with the local summer playscheme) so it will be 3D cinema. But all the food will be homemade picnic.

No danger of being tempted to go out tonight as I had very little sleep last night and am already looking forward to an early night!

Have a good day.

northwest1965

I am feeling pretty chuffed. Apart from a weekly grocery shop, I haven't spent anything since Tuesday.

It may all change today, we're renovating our house and we have someone coming to quote for a new kitchen:eek: