2016 Frugal Living Challenge

miss_empty_piggy

Thanks Jess444 we are getting there. My dad passed away in January and he left me some money so that I could finally do up my garden bless him. Great news on the weight loss and the dyed trousers - I love making things that I am comfortable and familiar with renewed and wearable again. It's like getting a new wardrobe - without the cost or hassle of shopping.

Glad you're enjoying your feeling of freedom milasavesmoney.

HOWMUCH - I've been filling my freezer this week with HM Chicken soup. I take it frozen to work for lunch. Everyone in the staff room calls it "dishwater" so much so that I found myself labelling the plastic boxes today with "dishwater" it made me laugh. Have a great evening everyone.

jess444_2

cw18 wrote: »

When you say you've cancelled the tax, I assume you mean competed a SORN? You still need insurance unless you've done so.

Yes SORN completed

sheba

Hello lovely Frugal Ears,

First off just want to say, although I seldomly sign in to post I do subscribe to the thread and therefore read your posts daily, so hello to the new and more seasoned Frugalites alike x x x

So the scores on the doors of March and plans for April. Well March was not good financially - our overall pots and savings went DOWN £440, but this was due to an unprecedentedly quiet month for my husbands business. Had he done anything like he normally does we would have been solvent and then been able to save too. Lessons learnt? The meal planning and new outlook on grocery shopping saved us from being a lot worse off and the EF did what it should-broke our fall. Hammers home that I would like to increase the EF and buffer funds asap to protect us from any prolonged lapses of work. I don't currently work as have some health issues and it's always been felt my worth is better supporting my husband by doing the majority of cooking, gardening, dog walking etc, but if we don't turn about the downturn in our saving plan soon I shall sign up to an agency for some temping work (just kitchen/waitressing etc). So with that said, I'll move on to plans for April.

Luckily husband already has some leads and so we don't forsee such a low paid month and for my part I shall continue trimming the grocery budget by swapping stores/brands and meal planning. Also review at this point next month whether to sign back on to agency. Am also in the process of a big spring clean so that may fling some items up for eBay. As renewal quotes come in for anything, compare for better deals, btw I see that I am getting my £30 from swapping fuel via the moneysavingexpert club into the bank tomoz, very happy with that as I am on a very favourable tariff compared to before with same provider- British Gas, so literally laughing all the way to the bank! Also must get some soft salad leaves into rotation for the garden, I like a crunchy iceberg lettuce -cheap via shopitize and seem to last FOREVER, but Hubble likes soft leaves, where a bag turns to water in a day (in high summer) so we found that a substantial saving last year. Planting Chillies again and have chives, rhubarb and rasperries coming up from last year. Get thinking cap on about what else we could plant that would actually save us moolah. Think that's it, unless any one can provide me with any get rich quick schemes????? (Or lottery numbers???) tee hee.

So anyhoo, think that's me updated, hope you're all doing well and enjoying these lighter evenings and the promise of warm summer days.

Take care all xxxxx

milasavesmoney

HOWMUCH wrote: »

the others will be oven dried in oil and garlic tomorrow. The parsnips have become spicy mash and divided into 3 and in the freezer. x

Quick question, how do you store your dried tomatoes in oil and garlic? And how so you make spicy mash parsnips? I am planting tomatoes and also, for the first time, parsnips.

Thanks!

milasavesmoney

I found some old dried chickpeas yesterday. In my effort to cook out of my pantry, I soaked them overnight and they are in the SC today. I dug out my hummus recipe and will use them for that. I happen to have lots of carrots and one bell pepper that I can dip into the hummus. I love pita but am staying away from bread as much as possible.

[Deleted User]

Hi milasavesmoney, I too cook up a load of chickpeas in SC, then decant into small tubs for freezer so I can use in stews etc, but would love to make some humus using carrot/red pepper and whatever. Could I have a copy of your recipe please?
Thanks

milasavesmoney

whmf00001 wrote: »

Hi milasavesmoney, I too cook up a load of chickpeas in SC, then decant into small tubs for freezer so I can use in stews etc, but would love to make some humus using carrot/red pepper and whatever. Could I have a copy of your recipe please?
Thanks

Absolutely!

Hummus
Can of drained chick peas
1/4 c tahini
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c lime juice
At least two chopped and saut!ed garlic cloves
1 roasted red bell pepper
Salt & Pepper

Blend well in blender or food processor.

This is my basic recipe which I sort of follow. If I'm using dried chickpeas I always add 1-2 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate soda) to the cooking water because it softens the hulls and makes the chickpeas smooth and creamy, not chalky at all. I interchange lemons and limes depending on what I have. I've add pine nuts and they are yummy for a change. This is a recipe you can play with to your hearts content. It always seems to turn out well no matter what you chunk in.
I love adding chili powder to the top when I'm serving it. And of course a drizzle of good olive oil with sumac sprinkled on is traditional. So many choices.

[Deleted User]

Many thanks, will have to buy some tahini, not something I use and in the past I have thought it is an ingredient I would not use just for 1 person. Have to come up to date a bit as I have to more veggies and they are always better with a dip.
Thanks again:beer:

milasavesmoney

whmf00001 wrote: »

Many thanks, will have to buy some tahini, not something I use and in the past I have thought it is an ingredient I would not use just for 1 person. Have to come up to date a bit as I have to more veggies and they are always better with a dip.
Thanks again:beer:

I forgot to say I usually roast the garlic when I roast the bell pepper, unless I'm lazy and use jarred bells, then I sautee the garlic.
If you don't want to buy the tahini you could add something else in its place for flavor. Red lentils, eggplant, courgettes, carrots. In fact maybe I will try a few of these and experiment.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I am doing a batch cook of a few things, as I can see ourselves slipping back ...

I have bought a few jars of arsda sweet and sour source . the 20p ones can I freeze it?? Going to make chicken s&s and rice meals

Also I am doing a beef caserole with veg and freeze in meal portions . I have frozen sprouts. If I cook/boil these can I re-freeze them with the meal??

Also the same with frozen peas? Or can I just plonk them in the carton frozen??