My 12 day mini skintness challenge..

immoral_angeluk

You leave my girls out of this :rotfl:

We've got loads of eggs (we get 3/4 a day) and I've only recently taken on the allotment so nothing is quite ready yet despite baby leaf pak choi. Have sprouts, lettuce, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, broad beans, peas, garlic, parsnips, carrots, onion, strawberry, raspberry and gooseberry currently growing up there with more to plant out once they're ready but they won't be near ready to harvest for a while yet.

The idea about writing down everything we have is a good idea so I'll do that and update later.

I could ride my bike up to the allotment when I'm on my own as the majority of the tools are there, and at the moment I'm preparing beds and weeding so unless I'm planting something (Which I've going to do either later today or Thursday depending on the weather forecast that shouldn't be a problem. But if I have the kids with me they get tired quite quickly and it'd be more stress than it's worth trying to encourage them to walk!

Looking at my calendar of things/places I have to be, I've got:

• College in the next town tomorrow and next Tuesday (parking is about £3-£4, train is £3.60 last time I went but it may have increased). It's a 14 mile journey so estimated cost for petrol would be about £1.80. I make my own lunch so that's not an issue. Total cost around £6 to drive, £3.60 for the train. No brainer there...
  
• Therapy Wednesday. I have to drive to this as there's no direct train/bus route. It's about 14 miles again so another £1.80 but there's no parking costs.
  Total cost £1.80
  
• Volunteering possibly Weds/Thurs but I walk to it so doesn't cost anything.
  
• Volunteering next Monday the same as today so no cost there.

I've used up all the online ordering promo offers, but I didn't know about the moneysupermarket shopping thing so I'll have a look at that. Thanks! Will post up my inventory in a bit.

Clothes we will do without, as it was more helping to explain the 'everything else' bit. Though my youngest has just lost her god damn school shoe... :rolleyes: Always on a Monday...

Thanks all!

Today's spend is currently nothing, as my fella was kind enough to buy me lunch and also some reduced potatoes so we can have jacket potatoes for dinner tonight.

Willowpop

Ahhh, this should be perfectly do-able!

Firstly, do you *need* to buy any clothes for the next couple of weeks? I'm guessing that most stuff could wait as it's not essential?

Re the supermarkets, I know what you mean about Aldi/Lidl feeling very different to Tesco, but if you can, maybe try early in the day...they will save you SO much money on the usual things most people buy... or do you have a friend you can ask to pop in for you. They'd be less tempted to stray from the shopping list too. Or, take the kids (if they are of the age to walk) and do what I do. Me and trolley up the middle of the aisle, and deploy the small Ninja with me to grab the things I need. She can nip between people easier than I can so we are around super quick!! :rotfl:. Also my Lidl gets very busy at certain times of the day, but I had to nip in on the morning school run as we'd run out of cartons for a packed lunch, and the place was almost empty. I wish I could do all my shopping there at that time!! Otherwise, do you have a home bargains near you? They do lots of cupboard staples that are cheaper than the big supermarkets. If you really can only face Tesco then move a brand or 2 down from what you currently buy, that'll be an instant saving.

Meals: I think someone has already suggested you post an inventory of what you have in...I'll bet there are a few meals there already. Also, have a look at A Girl Called Jack's website for recipes. I cook from there quite a lot and most of it is really lovely. We are having this for tea tonight: http://agirlcalledjack.com/2013/01/22/posh-mushroom-chasseur-48p/

Good luck, it's a fun challenge, and certainly far from impossible. Look at it positively, you might end up with some new habits after it, that will save you money.

immoral_angeluk

Firstly, do you *need* to buy any clothes for the next couple of weeks? I'm guessing that most stuff could wait as it's not essential?

Only if I can't find that bloody school shoe :rotfl:

Oh dear god no, I can't take the kids shopping with me to save money, they cost me a damn fortune in things they sneak into the trolley or blackmail me into buying !:eek: :rotfl:

Willowpop

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Only if I can't find that bloody school shoe :rotfl:

Oh dear god no, I can't take the kids shopping with me to save money, they cost me a damn fortune in things they sneak into the trolley or blackmail me into buying !:eek: :rotfl:

Get them Ninjas trained!!:D Give them a mini shopping list each and they have to get only items on the list. Treat it like shopping bingo. Buy a packet of own brand biscuits on the way round, and they can have a couple of them on the way home as a treat. Though easier than it sounds if you've not always done it I guess. On the upside, my daughter is an awesome Ninja at reduced Yellow Sticker time. I just stand back and send her in for the things I can see! :rotfl:

What is it with Mondays and school stuff?? It's the same here. I've now taken to searching the book bag as soon as we get home each day so I don't miss letters demanding all children go to school dressed as a Roman Soldier or whatever costume seems to cost the most/is impossible to make is 3 and a half minutes before we have to leave for school!!

immoral_angeluk

Willowpop wrote: »

What is it with Mondays and school stuff?? It's the same here. I've now taken to searching the book bag as soon as we get home each day so I don't miss letters demanding all children go to school dressed as a Roman Soldier or whatever costume seems to cost the most/is impossible to make is 3 and a half minutes before we have to leave for school!!

Oh god they drive me mad. Muuuuuum where's my PE kit. Muuuuuuum where's my tie. Muuuuuuuuum where's my shooooooes.

My answer is always the same, where you last left it!

Willowpop

Ha, yep..same same here too. And I only have the one!!
Now stop chatting and get that food inventory online....

immoral_angeluk

Foodie inventory done. I've worked out at least a couple of meals out of this lot so far.

Kitchen/pantry
4 jacket potatoes
1/2 loaf bread
6 apples
2 bananas
2 pears
19 eggs (plus 3/4 a day)
3 bagels
1/2 box of the kids' cereal
6 'fun size' boxes of cereal
1/4 box weight watchers (WW) cereal
Gravy/sauces/herbs plus a few herbs in the garden
Currants
3 chocolate mini rolls
2 mini boxes of raisins
3/4 malt loaf
caster/demerera sugar
plain/self raising flower
60g long grain rice
4 'mug shots'
1 full bag pasta
golden syrup
peanut butter
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 tins of tuna

Cats/chickens
5 days of Dry cat food
6 days of tinned cat meat
2 weeks worth of cat litter
3-4 weeks worth of sunflower seeds (chooks)
1 week worth of chicken grit
5 days worth of mealworms (used for training/treats)
2-3 days worth of main chicken feed (though in fairness the whole bag has lasted about 8-9 weeks!)
3-4 weeks worth of straw bedding

Fridge
Strawberry jam
Mayonnaise
Mint sauce
Crusha/chocolate milk
Bertolli spread
Tube of tomato puree
2 salad tomatoes
2 bell peppers
1 cucumber
3/4 bag of carrots
Tonight's pudding

Freezer
yorkshire puddings
1 serving of frozen peas
pack of WW sausages
12 bread rolls
2 loaves of WW bread
1 giant yorkshire
1 garlic bread
2 meals worth of frozen mixed veg
1 WW tortilla
8 burgers

So I can do:
Jacket potatoes with tuna and preprepared pudding
Sausages, yorkshires and veg/toad in the hole
Burgers with tomato/cucumber
Pasta with tinned chopped tomatoes, pepper/tomato puree/herbs/garlic bread

Not sure what else yet though. My youngest also hates eggs, which makes things awkward!

I will need to buy milk (ran out today) which is £1 each, chicken feed £10 (from a local farm shop and is cheaper than online) and dry cat food £1 a bag/box. Need to have a think about what else I can get to make up some cheap meals!

Willowpop

Just a quick one that jumps out at me before I dash to school,that is a firm fave in my house...pasta salad. Cook pasta, and run under cold water so it's cold. Chop some cucumber, tomato, pepper, and sweetcorn if we have any, put into a big bowl with the cold pasta and mix with a squirt of mayo. It is delicious! We either have it on it's own,or with a couple of slices of cheese. Would be nice the next day as a side sdish with any left over sausages you may have.

PollyPrissypants

Willowpop wrote: »

Just a quick one that jumps out at me before I dash to school,that is a firm fave in my house...pasta salad. Cook pasta, and run under cold water so it's cold. Chop some cucumber, tomato, pepper, and sweetcorn if we have any, put into a big bowl with the cold pasta and mix with a squirt of mayo. It is delicious! We either have it on it's own,or with a couple of slices of cheese. Would be nice the next day as a side sdish with any left over sausages you may have.

Was going to suggest the same ! You can also do this with rice.

freshstart2015

My son hates eggs but likes french toast (as long there is no fried egg visible at the edges, but then he's only 4 and that trick still works) I think it takes the texture issues away and it tastes different to EGG.

Do they like soup? There is definitely enough for a veg soup with bread?

Deserts: bread and butter pudding with apple and currants unless you need the bread for sandwiches, HM pancakes and syrup, jam or sugar