NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

purpleshoes_2

My books are gone. I have quite a lot of jeans as I needed new ones when I lost weight but they cost me 99p from barnardos. I also have more than a few handbags but I'm not buying anymore. Am trying to declutter my life and not buy more stuff for the sake of it.

I did buy some perfume from the body shop this week as they had a sale on with 40 per cent off again. So I got 30ml perfume for 2.70 each. I don't like buying toiletries that have been animal tested or perfume and I like perfume so I thought I would buy while I could.

Life has been a bit up and down for me and mine lately but things are not so bad right now, however my skin has rebelled and I have dermatitis for the first time in 20 years. Spent Friday night with my hand soaking in a mixture of porridge oat water and Epsom salts. How exciting is my life.

I was running a few meet up groups but just closed two due to abuse and nothing suiting anyone. Will keep the most local one going but I need to remove stress from my life. I also rarely drink due to doing bootcamp so I want my social life to be non pub related as much as possible.

The money I don't spend in the pub might go to getting a massage or two. Still buying yellow sticker food. Have had some really good bargains lately.

Also got 5 quid discount from plusnet for staying with them for another year which brings my bill down to 21 quid a month. And as of next month I'll be 13 quid better off as one of my phones from Vodafone is coming to the end of it's contract.

Also delivering leaflets for the snp in the run up to the election so am getting plenty of exercise away from the gym.

[Deleted User]

Hi chums just popped on board before I go off to DDs for dinner .Here is the way I make Melting Moments, and its been made this way since my children were small back in the late 1960s. I'm sure other folk may make them differently but I have found this works for me, by the way I don't know about gms I still work in old fashiond lbs and ozs :):) too old to chamge now :):)

5ozs soft butter /marg (I use soft stork )

3-4ozs caster sugar (depends how sweet you want them )

2 teaspoons of vanilla essence or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (I use extract mainly because I prefer it)

5 ozs self-raising flour.

So 4 ingredients for the bog-basic biscuits,you can flavour with a teaspoon of cinnamon or mixed spice if you fancy it ,or indeed anything you fancy (I have done them with some ground ginger which is nice) if you want to decorate them you can quarter up some glace cherries for a little dot of red in the middle of each biscuit, or indeed even roll in desicicated coconut or or ordinary dried oats for extra crunch before you place on a grease baking tray.

Heat the oven to 170-180c Gas mark 4.Grease a couple of baking trays
I made 26 biscuits from this recipe and used one large and two smaller baking trays, greased (I use lard for greasing only because I always have) but I guess you can use what you like

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy,then add the vanilla and beat once more until its all mixed in.

Sift in the flour and mix well until its a sticky mixture (rather like a rock cake mixture)

Then using a teaspoon take a scoop out slightly bigger amount than an Oxo cube and roll it into a ball (this is when you add either coconut or oats if you wish to coat it.Then place on the baking tray and flatten slightly with a fork (or your finger Saves washing up :)) repeat until all the mix is used up.My big baking sheet holds about 16, and the smaller swiss roll tin holds about 10. Keep a bit of space between the biscuits as they do spread slightly.I only use to top two shelves in my oven because if I put anything on the bottom of the oven it tends to burn too quickly and they do 'catch' if the tempreture is too hot .

bake for around 12 minutes or so until they are just slightly golden brown. remove from the oven and put the tray on a wire mesh to cool slightly. Don't worry if they don't seem done ,they are ,and once slightly cool remove from the tray to the wire mesh to cool completely .

Once cold, place in an airtight lock 'n' lock box or tin and they will keep (if your lucky) for up to 5 days .Mine never do as they vanish when my grandsons see them.

Easiest and cheapest biscuits I know, and delicious with a cuppa and cost pennies to make .

Right now I am off to DDs for dinner, taking along a very large apple pie for pudding, and a box of biscuits for the boys

I guarantee my biscuit box will be empty before I come home
Have a great day what ever you are doing .
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx

pm2326

Uh-oh

Can see some biscuits appearing in my kitchen some time soon :rotfl:

In my defence I am supposed to be using up stuff in my cupboards, and I have all 4 ingredients plus coconut!

Primrose

Thanks you for the reminder of the Melting Moments recipe. That was a favourite of my mum's when we were children and it was always a special miment to arrive home from school just as tray of them were coming outmod the oven. Haven't had any for years. Must rectify!

WeeMidgie

Happy Easter frugal friends! It has been such lovely weather here, that I have done some instant gardening and planted sweetpeas, sugar snap peas and black kale plantlets, all bought with a gardening gift voucher recently.

I also have assorted herbs to plant, but the container they will go in needs to be emptied first and fresh compost added. I have the compost, so no cash has been spent on Operation Instant Garden.

I have a new routine for my days off - when the weather is dry. It's about 15 minutes walk all uphill to my nearest shop, a Morrisons, so I have been walking up there to get my exercise, timed for the 5.00pm reductions, with a shopping bag in my pocket and a small amount of change. I need the exercise, and it's more motivating to have a purpose. And I'm always motivated to save money! Today yielded 3 packs of watercress at 9p each, so that's tomorrow's soup sorted.

Two days ago I bought asparagus at 19p. Two bunches went to a friend as an Easter present. She and her husband are on a diet and wouldn't have thanked me for anything made of chocolate.

My weakness used to be books. However, I was cured of that when I downsized! I lost count of the number of carrier bags of books that left the house. The charity shops were very grateful!

I am much more of a library user these days. Or books for free on my Kindle - many classics are available, and it's a boon to be able to alter the style and size of font.

eandjsmum

mrssnowy wrote: »

Hi eandjsmum

You could buy/acquire a wide necked vacuum flask.Warm flask .warm milk,stir in starter yogurt put in flask,put lid on .Leave overnight.check consistency,pour into container and chill in fridge.
Cheaper still,make in sturdy bowl ,cover and put in airing cupboard-DO NOT FORGET IT!

I brought a yoghurt maker reduced in a sale, have the first lot on now seems to be working.


Today I have made jam tarts from left over pastry and lemon drizzle cake from left over lemons.


I spent the rest of the day in the garden as it was so lovely and sunny here.


OH thinks we may have a mouse in the loft he is going to get some traps tomorrow.

[Deleted User]

Hi. I'm just popping in and catching up. I've managed 5 NSDs which is a first for me. I visited a friend and I'm back home now. I took food and easter treats with me. We didn't get to eat it all but to be honest I'm stuffed and could now do with a few lighter meals. I was glad to leave food there as I feel sluggish after all the hot x buns, chocs, lamb roast etc.

I need a day out and about tomorrow before going back to work. Its so good to hear about everyone doing well on here.

[Deleted User]

Back from DDs and full of turkey and the trimmings and and apple pie and custard

DGS's G/F had been poorly for a few days, and tonight she felt so much better bless her, and ate a really good dinner which was great as there is nothing of her and she really can't afford to lose weight .They seem to be very happy together, both penniless students at the same Uni.
Came home with some left-over veg for tomorrows dinner

Boys made a jolly good dent in the biscuit box :)and DD bought me an Easter egg which I shall put in the fridge as I like chocolate really cold
Just off to bed to have a read, I am reading The Kappilan of Malta by Nicholas Monsarrat and I'm really enjoying it.Hope you all have a good bank Holiday Monday tomorrow ,I'm not sure yet what I'm doing but whatever it is it won't involve spending any cash :):)
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx

Lynplatinum

Pssst - Bathory - a cheat's tip for the top of cupboards - if they cant be seen cover them with newspaper - every so often change newspaper (be careful as you take it down - otherwise you'll get covered in dust!) V time saving and once shaken outside the old newspapers can still go into the recyling!!

Also - how to cheat at cleaning the bottom of your oven - cover it with tin foil (check first that there is not a heating element in there). If you have a fan oven weigh the corners down with old balance scale weights or similar!

Sorry - maybe Im lazy but I never work when I dont have to! Frugal with my time as I always have better things I could be doing

Biscs sound yummmy - but are there any such things as dieting biscuits??? Might try them if I get a guest visiting tho! (good excuse! )
BTW - anyone heard from Slowdown - the person who started this FAB thread???
Night all - sun long gone over the yard arm

happydays89

:DWhen we were kids my mum would take a packet of cream crackers then make some very thick custard (you could stand your spoon up in it).she would place a dollop of custard on each cracker then put another cracker on top then cover in icing,they taste like a vanilla slice.We loved them and I still make them today.
I haven't spent any money for 5 days,feeling very proud of myself:D