Getting my Old Style mojo back

notjustlaura

Ah, it's good to be back

Life got busy, I got sick and you can probably guess the rest

It's so easy to pay for convenience. But I think we pay for it at least twice - the ££s to the vendor and the lbs on our waistlines from too much processed food; the lethargy from too much time in front of the TV because we're too tired to do anything productive; the loss of satisfaction in a job well done; the clutter in our homes. The list goes on.

So I'm coming back to OS. I want a different life and the only one who can make it happen is me

Ilona

Back after a cheapo holiday, walking and youth hosteling in North Norfolk, just under £200 for seven days, self catering. I managed not to splash out on a lot of sweet treats, didn't even have an ice cream, and I love Magnums.

Had to get some food in yesterday, the fridge was bare. Just spent £20 at the vets for some meds for my elderly dog, it has to be done. I'm afraid I couldn't resist the pull of a home made cake shop on the way back, £1.20 on a caramel slice. About to scoff it with a cup of coffee.

Ilona

HOWMUCH

Glad you enjoyed your holiday Ilona, we are off to that area in 3 weeks time, but staying put at Heacham Beach and we will use the Coasthopper bus and our bus passes to get about, OH is unable to walk far. Wells next the sea is fab isn't it. Ours is a Caravan holiday and we get to use the swimming pool and we sometimes go to the evening entertainment with our own bottle of cola, we got 11nights for £145 combining 3 short breaks together.

pollys

Hello
It's a beautiful, sunny day here today. The washing is out and blowing in the breeze. I haven't seen much of the sun as I've been on a first aid course but it was time well spent. I need to do next weeks meal plan and shop for it tomorrow. I'll also catch up on the cleaning. We are having a very expensive time at the moment DS is off to university next week so we have shopped for him. Luckily I've been saving/buying bits for awhile but I wanted to make sure he had lots of pasta, tins, washing stuff, bathroom stuff in etc.I'll put together a hamper for him at Christmas with more supplies.
On the whole I'm managing well keeping on top of things. Long may it continue, we have an expensive few years ahead of us.
Polly

tooties

Good Evening All,

Many Happy Returns to me and no it's not my birthday it's another return to my OS life again.

Sometimes life just seems to get in the way for me either that or i am really really lazy.

Anyway i hope to make some positive changes this time, i have read this thread and took a pantry and freezer inventory, done a meal plan and shopping list.

Meal planning is my total downfall i really suck at this, i am planning to rope my OH in to help me with this.

Hope everyone is well

Regards

Tooties

Caterina

Hello all

Ilona glad you had a good holiday.

We are back from our silver wedding holiday, it was so good! You won't believe how cheap life is in Spain compared to here, just imagine that 10 Euro buy a 3 course meal including bread and a drink. We managed to live quite frugally, just went slightly over budget to buy a few gifts for our children and a few special meals with Cava, but these were compensated for by the 2-3 Euros max of our market-shopped, home-cooked meals.

The only trouble was the mosquitoes, as we had no netting on the windows. We decided that if we go back we will bring our own netting and a toll of masking tape!

Oh boy, I miss the beach so much! I am in bed with a nasty cold and sore throat, probably the result of hours in a freezing air conditioned train. Never mind, it's good to be back....

Edited to add: on our last day in Paris, DH bought himself a fancy bottle of Eau de Vie as a treat, for 40 Euros. Later on at The station I found 40 Euros on the floor! I am so grateful (even if sorry for whoever lost that money).

pollys

Hello
Your holiday sounds fab Caterina. I hope you feel better soon, lots of folks seem to have colds I guess it's the season.
I don't seem to get much time to post. Life is very busy at the moment. I'm managing to keep on top of things but only just. The meal planning helps but my shopping day keeps having to change which doesn't help. We have been relying on the freezer quite a lot so I will need to start topping it up. I could do with a couple of days to cook for the freezer but it will probably have to be half term.
One thing I'm making the most of is the darker nights. I'm having a relaxing bath and horlicks for my bedtime drink, I'm sleeping well!

Polly

tooties

Good Evening Everyone,

Well so far i am managing to stick to my new old style ways. My grocery shop came in at a lovely £43.00 this week. I can normally spend this easy on a mid week top up. I did have loads in the house already though.

We live very very rural with single track roads and no gritters etc in the winter so i have made a list of provisions and other things that i like to keep a stock off just incase we get a bad winter so i am planning to buy one or two items every week to try and keep it affordable.

I have the day to myself tomorrow so i hope to do some cooking for the freezer normally i would spend the day lounging about or doing some sewing.

Hope everyone is well

Regards

Tooties

pollys

Hope everyone is keeping well.
The meal planning is still going okay, I do juggle it around a little depending who is likely to be here at mealtimes. Saturday night is homemade pizza night and has been for a few weeks now. I asked if everyone was okay with this or would they like a change and the answer was a very loud NO. So a nice easy tea, I make the bases in advance and freeze them.
I have a lot planned for half term including restocking the freezer, I'm going to make sausage casserole, chilli, cheese and onion pie and lasagne. I'll visit the farm shop to stock up on meat.
We have spent time in the garage and shed today preparing for winter, I love autumn and it's been lovely to be outside.
Take care everyone.

Polly

Doris17

Hello everyone,
Loved reading your thread, would you mind if I joined in? I have become very lazy with my cooking, meal planning and using up what we have, the compost bin is well fed In some ways I am very frugal in others not. A bit of help and motivation needed.
Doris xx