NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

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I did a top up online grocery spend for delivery next Tuesday and that has to last until the 21st January. I spent under £60 which is okay as that includes our food, including fresh fruit, household stuff, cat litter and pet food.

I don't know if that means it is a no spend day or not as I won't be buying anything else.

I have to clean out the tumble dryer filter and clean the kitchen sink today, what fun.:D

It's a lovely sunny day here which is a bonus.:)

moneyistooshorttomention

Sympathising with the "one bad apple" comment at work. Been there...done that....and it even happens in voluntary work (which I do part-time these days). Most people in voluntary work circles are fine...but theres always one.

Personally, I'm working on how to "manage" the "bad apple" so as not to be anywhere near them if I can help it and, if I have to be, then reacting back to them in the same way I would to a Mr/Miss Normal (ie pretending they have acted "normal", rather than like a "bad apple") and just enduring their puzzled "Why haven't I just got my own way?" looks.

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On a very different note....and my Little Win right at the moment is realising "Oh yes....they are right about being able to grow food on from food scraps:)".

I'm experimenting with that at the moment and started by cutting a chunk off the top of a spare beetroot and standing it in a little dish of water (needs topping-up as it evaporates away steadily) and I now have a noticeable "head" of leaves growing from the top of it. Its been several days so far and my conclusions to date about this experiment are that 2 or 3 beetroot heads would probably produce enough beat greens for a helping worth of green veg. with a meal for me. (I like beet greens steamed and served with a suitable dressing of some description or just a bit of butter).

So, I've now bought some spring onions and leeks. That is with the intention of eating them, but I shall cut the bottom off them and have a go at re-growing them too and see what happens.

ejbg2001

Hi all!

2 days NSDs for me and today may be another (assuming we don't go out, fingers crossed weather is mucky) as I got my breadmaker out for only the second time since getting it 18 months ago. It came from a car boot sale for £4 shared between me and MIL, didn't have a manual or measuring cup but did have a free bread recipe book. The first time I used it was an unmitigated disaster with the bread coming out 1 inch thick and as heavy as a concrete slab, so I sent it to the back of the cupboard in disgrace. This time round, inspired by this thread and a packet mix of wholemeal bread (just add water) I'm hoping the results are better.

Does anyone else feel guilty that they don't work? I am a stay at home carer looking after my partner (mental health issues) and it is stressful and exhausting at times. However I still get the nagging guilt that I should be a productive (read taxpaying) member of society. I have worked and owned my own home, but gave those up to move with OH to a rented property in a more remote town nearer to MIL and I haven't worked since. I know that my being at home means he can function better than when I worked and it keeps him out of hospital, but I still feel like I should be doing more.

I read this thread and feel a little better about my current life choice but the constant pressure to work and get paid for it is always in the background, implying that I'm not good enough unless I do a job.

Re employment, I once had a boss that was so critical and negative that I would sit at home crying that I couldn't do anything because he made me feel so low. After a few weeks of this I had had enough and I got a new job and left as quickly as possible. Keep your heads up and know you have the support of all those of us on this thread. Health comes first in my book and always will.

Floxxie

purpleshoes wrote: »

Nom nom paleo is a good website. If I had a quid for every time I've had to explain to people that I follow a paleo diet but don't eat meat I'd be so rich

Whole 30 is another website that gives guidelines on paleo eating.

I'm just about to move from meat Paleo to vegetarian Paleo. I'm about to start planning menus as I am determined not to fail

I have decided to include lentils and other dried beans into my diet. Have you seen the No Meat Athlete blog?

[Deleted User]

EJBG but you DO have a job and a very worthwhile one too. The fact that you don't get a wage for it shouldn't be relevant to anyone else. Without you doing the carers job that you do for your partner he would be far less well and have both your lives disrupted by having hospital stays. What you do is more pertinent to being a caring human being than any paid employment and instead of feeling guilty pet, we raise our hats to you as a good and caring person who is most likely working far longer and more diligently for someone elses' wellbeing than most paid employees. It's a good thing you're doing, be proud!!!

purpleshoes_2

Floxxie wrote: »

I'm just about to move from meat Paleo to vegetarian Paleo. I'm about to start planning menus as I am determined not to fail

I have decided to include lentils and other dried beans into my diet. Have you seen the No Meat Athlete blog?

No, but I'll have a look later thanks.

VJsmum

I am on a challenge to draw out the amoutn of time between "weekly" shops for as long as poss - to the extent that tehy may become fortnightly shops.

I was going to go on Friday - cos i always go on Friday. But we didn't need anything. We were out yesterday delivering DD back to uni. Then i was going to go today - cos i didn't go on Friday , but we still don't need anything . Tomorrow i will need prawns courgettes bread and milk, but can pick that up on the way home - we do the 5:2 and tomorrow is a "2" otherwise i wouldn't need anything but bread and milk.

I am working my way through the freezer - tonight is beef in beer left over from NYE, with sweet potatoes and all the bits of veg that need using. I have part baked rolls for DS lunch tomorrow. I will take veg soup for a 100 cal lunch - OH is using up salad. Tea is prawns with "courgetti" (and "carrot - etti" ) DS can have sausage pasta sweetcorn(his fave) all from stores.

Tuesday is market day here so may go in with "wally" the trolley and see if i can source sufficient fruit and veg there.

We need to tighten our belts rather tightly (tighten tightly?? :cool:) for a good few months and I think i will enjoy the challenge. Towards the end of last year we went 6 weeks without filling the car with diesel, I wonder if we can beat that?

Yesterday i spent a Smiths voucher i got for my birthday - Hairy dieters book 3 and Jamie's ministry of food for £12 the pair :T and a get well card for my friend. Took DD out for lunch with the help of Mr T vouchers and travelled free on the train (OH works for a rail company), so not bad going.

However the builders are in tomorrow, refitting the bathrooms. I may have a run on tea bags ......... :rotfl:

1of3

Bobarella wrote: »

Hi there
Yes several of us are FW readers, there is a good discussion over on the Make, Mend,Minimise thread that Cheerfulness has set up. Also in the OS section.
Bob

Thanks for this.Ill check out these Threads also!

Butterfly_Brain

We came away from Wilko's and spent £22.50 that was for kitchen roll, disinfectant and four isolater valves for the bathroom sink and bath taps for when we install the new bathroom, it is an expense that we could have done without but needs must, then the kitchen ceiling needs to be done, but that will not cost much more than £30 for the plasterboard, tape and skim.

The isolator valves would have been £2.20 dearer in Wickes and the kitchen roll was half price, so we saved a bit of money.
I only use kitchen roll for food prep (draining food) so we don't use a lot of it, I use cloths for everything else

pm2326

Afternoon shipmates

Received my insurance renewal yesterday and premiums reducing by £36 over the year...however I went online and got same cover for cheaper again so I'm switching and saving myself £88 over the year!

Have also realised that while at work last week I didn't buy my normal 20p cup of tea at lunchtime (you get a cardboard cup, hot water & milk for this, you provide the teabag).... Not a lot I know but if keep it up that's another £48 a year saving!

And today someone was trying to tell me something...I decided to do an online shop ready for end of month (only things I can't get in aldi) After 3 attempts to update card details as mine have expired and site kept crashing I gave up...it gave me time to decide I could call in after work and get them myself, won't be dangerous as I hate this shop and just get in and out asap

Finally, I remembered about quidco account last week and when I checked I had £61 in credit so that got moved to my bank account on Friday

Good start to the year I think :T