NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

[Deleted User]

FrugalWorker wrote: »

Ok, Im going to sound like an alcoholic, but I'm quite the opposite. With the exception of adding alcohol to a stew, the rest are all cooking for parties/friends in my case.

I love to cook with alcohol. .

Thank you so much. I have printed your post, so many inspirational ideas. Vermouth in a casserole today was lovely. I think I`ll soak raisins in rum tonight and do something with them tomorrow, maybe cover them in chocolate

Busymumofthreeplusdog

kittie wrote: »

has anyone got any ideas for using up bits and pieces of leftover liqueurs in cooking? I just took everything out of the drinks cupboard and am determined just to keep the few drinks that we use. I have amaretto, tia maria, pear vodka and so on. I am going to start today by putting a bit of vermouth in the scrag lamb casserole. If I don`t tackle that cupboard then they will all just sit there for another year and then another one after that

Tia Maria & amaretto are lovely on plain ice cream, not exactly cooking I know but...:T

Primrose

Frugal Worker. I loved your alcoholic foods suggestions. We have a cupboard full of liqueurs bought back from Duty Free etc which have lurked for years and rarely get used so you have given me some ideas. Raisins or sultanas soaked in liqueur sound a lovely way of livening up ice cream.

candygirl

I never have the problem of leftover booze;) Mainly because I rarely drink spirits though, just lager, but have drastically cut down due to monetary, n waistline issues:D

7_week_wonder

GreyQueen - I think you should replace your avitar with a picture of a little green eco-devil! You are causing much discussion in the 7ww household which, somewhat ironically, occupied at least the first 50 miles of the drive back from my mum's!

OH and I have had an in-depth discussion about cars and since I've been home I have been playing with a spreadsheet which indicates that it costs us 37p a mile to run the car. That includes (I think) everything: petrol, tax, breakdown cover, repair bills (averaged over the 11 years we've had the car), and allows for depreciation of the car. So a round trip to my mum's (200 miles each way) costs just shy of £150 :eek:

It certainly makes the £120 return train trip for two of us seem not too bad (we've looked and looked, but cos we want to travel on a Friday evening we never seem to be able to find cheaper tickets. The one time we travelled mid week we did it for £60 for the two of us and that was first class ) It also shows that using the car to get the shopping is cheaper than even the local buses.

The bottom line is that we probably won't get rid of the car whilst we are still doing the trip up and down to mum's, but thanks for giving us pause for thought and at least letting us think about the costs

GreyQueen

Little green eco-devil, I like it!

It's good to think outside the box. F'rinstance, I needed to make a journey of 200 miles each way a few years ago. Due to where I live and where I was going to, it was PITA and would involve crossing Lunnon Town on the tube, with 2 changes inc late at night as a solo female traveller carrying camping gear. And for all this inconvenience I would shell out £199 in fares and take 12 + hours.

I hired a little car from an indy car hire place just up the road for less money than that, and was barely out of pocket even once I'd paid for petrol, plus the journey time was 6 hours even including rest breaks.

Sometimes, it's good to challenge your assumptions. And it's great that you remembered the depreciation, so many people forget about that and come a cropper on their budgetting.

I actually like depreciation. I particularly like buying lightly-used items which have depreciated on someone else's bottom line.

Ooo, you did allow for the car insurance, I hope?

katkin

I feel I'm not participating here like I should be. I'm just not spending and getting used to life like that. We're down to basics and its amazing what I can rumble up out of the stores. This also includes a holly jumper I darned and jazzed up with some wee bird buttons I had stashed.

Had the sewing machine out a lot and been repairing n' mending and making all sorts. Old towels are now new tea towels and face clothes. Clothes too big now fit etc

I've upped the vegetable content to all our meals now - its a bit like hunt the chicken or bit of beef lol. But the food is still tasty.

What I'm really missing is my nights out, concerts, shows etc. Yes there's free stuff on the go but its not quite the same and I'm being a bit petted lipped about that now. It feels I have no social or cultural life at the moment.

For a treat I put my grandmas Oris watch into the local watchmakers and he whisked it away in excitement as its old and very beautiful. I'm kinda scared how much its going to cost, but since I don't have a watch I'll be a proud lady wearing it.

Apart from that our dumpser find chair and stools are coming up beautiful and so unique, they're turning into fine pieces of furniture. My little chair is a joy to use at the computer and machine and the amy buttler fabric makes me smile every time never mind the blond bent plywood back. Hubby put castors on it for me too! It's amazing.




The stool is a work in process - I call her leaf!

Keep up the good work Ship Mates

natnat13

Hello everyone
I have just come back from my weekend in London. Had a lovely time exploring the markets and shops, I did spend but not excessively and had a fantastic time. Went to natural history museum too which was great.
I haven't worked out my January overall, its a bit hard because I did a massive food shop that will last me most of this month too. But overall I have done a lot better than normal, no clothes, magazines, takeaways, make up etc. I have learned that I am an emotional spender, if I feel fed up I'll go out for coffee and cake and not care. I suppose it could be worse!
I am doing a crochet course tomorrow afternoon which is £10 but the rest of the week's spends should be minimal. Meals are planned, I just need to plan next weekend with my boys, hopefully the weather will be dry and we'll go to the park.

7_week_wonder

GreyQueen wrote: »

Ooo, you did allow for the car insurance, I hope?

Yes ma'am! Insurance was included - but not listed! And now you've got me looking at local car hire companies: you've created a monster I tell you:p

Happy_Home

It was a busy weekend here. January savings tucked away & budget for Febuary all worked out.
We have sold 6 items of clothing on ebay tonight which is great, after all costs we should have made £56. But to my horror 2 items still have tags on! They had been bought last year, didn't fit and were never returned. How lazy is that, what a waste of money. Determined that will not happen again.