The Simple Bare Necessities feat. Gratitude & Recipes

Greying_Pilgrim

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

Was just thinking of you today Greying - glad to see you back

Fortune x

Aw thanks lovely, I've been keeping up with things on my phone - kinda, but posting was impossible - teeny tiny fairy fingers needed!! Which I ain't got....... :rotfl:

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning :hello:

I've been pondering (through the wee small hours :doh:) about how we as individuals prioritise our spending/budgets. We're all different :j (huzzah for that), but those differences can sometimes cause issues if someone else's 'idea' of a good time, involves spending money that you can ill-afford/can't prioritise/don't want to. We're starting to get our first taster of 'little people guilt-induced spending' and I'm unsure which direction to head in I had better get used to this, because it is going to happen alot more as the years progress. I'm sure whatever school BG attends will have a constant supply of 'it's only £2/3/4/5 to participate' charitee events for us to fund. The current predicament is whether to participate in something that would be a novel experience for BG, and which maybe partially funded by an organisation, but which has 'hidden' extra costs to participate. It will quickly make a mess of £10, and whilst 'nice', isn't........... a priority? going to make a huge difference at this stage of BG's development? something we love? But it would help us to 'fit in'.

Ho hum.

Sometimes I don't mind being the square peg in a round hole. Sometimes I do

We didn't have risotto for tea last night, as I ran out of time. But we spent time together as a family instead, so swings and roundabouts So I will look to make the risotto tonight, as a) the parsnips still need using and b) we're still very much on an economy drive!

I feel discombobulated this week. It's amazing how dependent you become on technology to research things, and I've been without my key tool! So I've got to catch up and plan/organise and research things that I've been thinking of in the last few days. I must check that our phone bill is 'as expected', so that I know that the DD is covered. Other than that, all conventional bills are covered for this month now. We just need to wait for the CC bill to come in, but spending on that has been planned or is covered by savings, so hopefully no unexepected nasties.

I need to prioritise what I'm going to do today, as technically the things that need doing would take me in opposite directions, and whilst I need the exercise, it's too much to do it all in one day when reliant on shanks' pony I will be spending money, as it's all about the 'bits and bobs' - whichever direction I head in

Right, I have had my one coffee, so best vamoose. I ended up having 3 yesterday (after doing quite well recently to keep to one), so trying hard to get back to being good

Greying X

System

Greying there seems to be a lot of discombobulated people about this week , so you aren't on your own.
Always enjoy reading your thread, have a good day with BG .

Greying_Pilgrim

Cumbria lass - thank you It is always reassuring to know that it 'isn't just me'

Apropos of nowt, I forgot to mention, that in the course of my searching for tinned meat products, I considered the mrL brand of corned beef, but quickly ruled it out. Why? Well, they have dispensed with the 'key' to open the tin. You still open the tin in the same method, 'peeling' back a thin strip of the can metal, but there is no key. Now whilst corned beef officionados will be shouting, 'you keep a spare key in the cutlery drawer, Greying!' at their screens, what happens if you've not had it before? Or you've always previously had a key? I just thought that was a cost cutting measure too far. If you eat alot of corned beef and don't need the key, you can always put it for recycling.

Greying X

muddywhitechicken

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

Gifted produce has been made to squeak and provided us with dishes such as afghan carrot hotpot. I'll be making use of the HUGE parsnips tonight in a risotto and I'm still struggling on the red cabbage, but have........ been gifted another

:wave:
Mmm Afghan carrot hotpot!
I thought of you the other day when I saw a delish red cabbage recipe... but that brain cell isn't working today and I can't remember what it was... :rotfl: I'll look through some books/magazines later and see if I can find it again. It nearly went on our meal plan but Mr MWC refuses to eat red cabbage before December!
MWCxxx

EssexHebridean

Ahh yes, I can see your dilemma on the "small person related" costs. I do think that with small children you have more leeway than when they get slightly older. Like it or not - fitting in" becomes INCREDIBLY important to children from mid primary age through to late teens. Is it right that children who are perceived as "different" get bullied? No, of course not, but is it fair to put them in the position where bullying might take effect due to "differences" - personally I don't think so if it can be helped. Now by that I don't mean buying the latest brand of designer trainers at a three-figure sum, but if for example a small spend can enable them to do something with peers, that would otherwise leave them on the outside, if at all possible then yes, I think that should be afforded of money is available. I wonder if the way forwards is to have certain things that are definite "no's" - so those designer trainers for example. Others that are "possibles" - the school bag everyone else has maybe, if it can be got for a suitable price. And others that are to be done if they can be achieved - a school trip with everyone else once a term perhaps - although not these ridiculous 5 day trips abroad skiing or whatever that so many schools seem to be favouring now!

I'd definitely say make the most of it while "different" is not an issue though Greying! :rotfl: I'll be interested to see what you decide on this one - whilst not envying you having to make the decision!

MWC if you turn up the red cabbage recipe then I'd be interested too - I've got three quarters of one languishing in the fridge!

Greying_Pilgrim

Yes EH - I agree entirely. The dilemma at present is nothing on the scale to what it's going to become...... And luckily, in this instance, there won't be - or certainly shouldn't be - any problem about bullying for not 'fitting in'. It's primarily about 'Mum' fitting in I suppose.

So yes, pick your battles, give on some and stick on others. It doesn't help being 'older' in this instance. I think I've become a little less tolerant of all the BS, and just won't engage in it. How many times have we heard tales on here of 'I want to limit present giving, but my family won't hear about it - but they earn 3x as much as we do...' or 'autoenrolment' in your firm's secret santa event at £20 a pop.......

Sometimes I just wish people would think before they rattle off, 'we'll do this and that and it'll be fun', and remember that not everyone has their disposable income (or tolerance of debt?), and that some people would just prefer not to have the stress of buying useless tat for 'only a fiver' for someone they don't know, and who frankly, has all the essentials already.... (ie love, food, safety, security, clothing and a home and family).

But do I bite the bullet now and get used to it, or take advantage of BG not knowing that they are not attending an activity anyway, and make my excuses for this year? We've other activities planned, BG isn't really going to miss out on social inclusion, seasonal festivities or (hopefully) fun and laughter.

Ha ha - don't get me started on designer trainers - a young family member got given all those things....... Funnily enough, they have turned out reasonably responsible and quite a nice young adult; hard-working to pay for their 'wants' now that they are older. But I shudder to contemplate the 'investment' in footwear over the years......

---

Despite getting caught in the rain, I have had a nice long walk today I purchased my 'Cmas' themed stamps for the cards that we choose to post and I actually got a 'deal' on a item in mrA :j I usually miss out completely, or there is only 1 left on the shelf when the deal is 3 for 2 or 5 for a £1 or whatever, but today I got the deal :j It'll help stretch BG's family allowance money a bit further and for that I am grateful Pootled on home, had lunch and opened up two superb emails; one timely and supportive (I'm embarrased to admit I burst into tears, it was so nice ), and one newsy and jolly. BG has gone down for a napette too :j

If I've not said it before, it bears repeating. How rich my life, eh?

Greying X

muddywhitechicken

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

:wave:
Mmm Afghan carrot hotpot!
I thought of you the other day when I saw a delish red cabbage recipe... but that brain cell isn't working today and I can't remember what it was... :rotfl: I'll look through some books/magazines later and see if I can find it again. It nearly went on our meal plan but Mr MWC refuses to eat red cabbage before December!
MWCxxx

EssexHebridean wrote: »

MWC if you turn up the red cabbage recipe then I'd be interested too - I've got three quarters of one languishing in the fridge!

Found it! Red cabbage & cashew biryani from HFW's fab new book
Recipe here.

MWCx

Greying_Pilgrim

Oooh, THANKS mwc That does look scrummy - and leeks are in the mrAl S6 this week for..... 69? pence :j Deffo give that a go. The other recipes look interesting too Ta for taking the time to find it for us
Appreciated

Greying X

muddywhitechicken

I can recommend the parsnip, sprout and chestnut hotpot with cider and squash & cauliflower soup with sage recipes from the link and the spicy squash & bean mole and roast cauliflower, almonds & barley with parsley & chilli from the book