From debt to freedom...

Cherryfudge

I'm glad your DD has flatmates! They do tend to watch out for each other...

I am surprised at your seeds germinating so late in the season. Is this a good time for rosemary, then? I think it's very pretty as well as being useful.

Not many hob-less days to go now.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge...I have sown then in a seedtray and put onto the kitchen window. I will most likely transfer them to the greenhouse at the allotment to overwinter. I suspect taking cuttings is a better way to propagate Rosemary but I'm happy watching these seedlings grow a bit more each day .

Payday today. I have been through the direct debits on my account and cancelled a few. I have 4 DDs, each for £4 for phone insurance. Since most of the teenagers have different handsets to their contract handsets, I doubt the policy would pay out anyway, so the policies all got cancelled today. I've also amended my monthly savings amount to £30. I can up it again at a later date if I am able to. I just want to see how the new salary pans out.

I did buy DD3's birthday gift in readiness for her birthday this week.

Evening meal was potato and cheese gratin with Rosemary served with veg. Crumble to follow with custard . DD2 and ai spent an hour or do picking all the late blackberries that we could find

Drawingaline

My daughter hate same for her first DofE expedition this time last year, such bad rain. Her actual tested one was in May and glorious.

Honeysucklelou2

It's quite a challenge to undertake, but I'm glad the local school does D of E. Definitely character building!

Today has had a few challenges. I checked the bank balance at 7, to find that the Child Benefit payment that was expected to go in, hadn't. I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't. I rang the CB Office at the end of Aug to let them know that DD2 was still in further education and that DS1 had started his apprenticeship, but can't understand why that would cause no payment when there are younger siblings. I checked again at 4, but nothing had gone in. When I got home from work, I tried to ring the CB Office but couldn't get through, though I tried 3 times. Each time I got so far before the automated message told me all advisors were busy on calls. I really can't think what's happened but hope it gets sorted as soon as possible. I had rejigged budgets according to what
I knew was coming in...

Today seemed to have lots of meetings so had a headache by the time I got home. I gave up doing a baked dinner and did a something on toast meal, followed by chocolate up and over pudding. I heard recently that a slow cooker could be used without needing a hob, which I didn't realise. I've never tried it but am thinking it might be worth an experiment on Thursday. Hopefully the hob will be delivered by then .

Cherryfudge

I hope the CB comes through quickly! Worrying for you.
I quite often use a slow cooker without precooking anything and it seems to work fine. Useful for things like a whole chicken which is marvellously tender though you miss the crispy skin. Gammon works, too.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, I'll have to give that a try.

I've been onto the gov website today and found a Child Benefit page and sent a question regarding non-payment that way, since trying on the phone hasn't worked. I got a message back to say my query will be dealt with in 2 weeks. I must admit I got concerned then about the tax credit payments and whether that would be paid, but have checked in the government gateway thing ( Thanks Wannabefree for that excellent tip ) and that looks to be ok. I have checked the bank today but still no CB.

crazy_cat_lady

How concerning, about your CB not showing up. I really hope that you get it sorted soon.
I know I'm not one to talk about cooking, but when I do use my slow cooker I never, ever use the hob to brown anything.

Drawingaline

I have never used the hob if using te slow cooker. Just shove it all in, turn it on. Are you supposed to do something else?! Although I dont use it a huge amount. I ha to leave a slow cooker recipe group as all I was making was bread and cakes in it lol!

Annoying about cb, it's one of those payments that is like clockwork, you always expect it. I also like the government gateway thing, updated a pay increase to tax credits, know within 24hours how much payments would change by.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL and Drawingaline. I do have a slow cooker but have always cooked the ingredients in a pan on the hob first, then put into the slow cooker. Chopping and putting it in direct sounds much simpler:).

Cherryfudge

I think the main thing I found different with using a slow cooker is that veg take longer than meat - carrots seem to take forever! However if they go in first so they are near the hot sides, they will cook eventually.

Apparently you can even bake potatoes in one, though again the skin doesn't crisp up.