Rambling on...

Scott_Weiland_2

When you get to 800 points you can get a 5 pound paypal voucher.

Hiddenidenity

I always do Amazon so can't help on 'money'

If you go to the post in the up your income board though it explains how works out best paypal/pre paid card thing.

I always cash out as soon as I hit enough for a £5 Amazon. I don't let it build up

UncannyScot

Hi folks,

I know, I've been quiet on here this past wee while.
I've been using a lot of my online time doing surveys and making a wee bit of extra cash. It's not a lot, however, it is useful and is adding to my savings pot.
I am still baking and cooking from scratch to save money. I think I have bought most of the decent cookery and baking books from my local charity shops over the past few weeks lol
Most of you may already know that you can do decent food on a very limited budget and you don't need loads of fancy stuff in your kitchen to do so. So far, since Saturday, I have been able to limit my daily food spend to an average of £2... not bad, I think.

A friend says that I am guilty of "positive procrastination" at times... erm, yep, I think that is a fair comment...

I feel at times that I've hit a plateau. I climbed to get this point and it's like... okay, now what?
I know, still have 4 years ahead of me before I have completed the BIG S process. Is it the lull before the storm, or is it that I've become weathered by it all and this is no longer the big nasty that I thought it would be?

I've found some really wonderful people on here who inspire me immensely, don't panic, I'm not going to embarrass anyone as I'm sure you all know who you are

Anyway, my friend said that all this cooking and baking I am doing is "positive procrastination", in that, I am doing good and useful things, yet not really addressing what I need to? I told her that I have everything in progress now and that I just need to stick to the plan and steer my way onward with care.
She did not realise that I have worked my way through things now and that was now prepared for the BIG S.
She then understood why I was doing the baking and cooking and reading and everything else that I could with my free-time.
She said that I had taken care of the big issue and now I was doing other stuff that I liked as the pressure was off

I am a little more relaxed about things now, just a little and yes, baking and cooking helps me to do that. Especially if I have some good tunes on

Thanks for reading my ramble and have a lovely evening everyone.
:A

parsniphead

You're doing fantastically well and inspire others on here. I feel the baking is showing how aware you are of the journey ahead. You have four years ahead to work tbrough but you will have some treats at minimal cost.......well unless your mates keep eating them.

Its fantastic when you can live simplyl, have a good life and enjoy it.

Keep up the good work but if i get fatter looking at those pics I wont be happy.;)

Hiddenidenity

parsniphead wrote: »

You're doing fantastically well and inspire others on here. I feel the baking is showing how aware you are of the journey ahead. You have four years ahead to work tbrough but you will have some treats at minimal cost.......well unless your mates keep eating them.

Its fantastic when you can live simplyl, have a good life and enjoy it.

Keep up the good work but if i get fatter looking at those pics I wont be happy.;)

Totally agree.

UncannyScot

I thought I'd share the Victoria Sponge Recipe
Everyone who has tried the finished article loves it

So here it is, My Grans' victoria Sponge recipe

Ingredients
For the sponge;
200g Caster Sugar
200g Softened Unsalted Butter
4 Medium eggs, beaten
200g of Self Raising Flour
1 teaspoon of Baking Powder
2 tablespoons milk

For the filling;
250g (full pack) of Softened Unsalted Butter
150g Icing Sugar, sifted
A dash of vanilla essence
Half a jar of Jam (Strawberry or Raspberry)
A wee dusting of Icing Sugar to decorate the top

Method
1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas mark 5 / 190C or 170C if fan assist
2. Smear butter inside on the bottom and all around the edge of two 8" (20cm) sandwich tins, mind and line them with non-stick baking paper if the tins aren't non-stick themselves.
3. In a big mixing bowl, beat (or mix) all the sponge ingredients together until you have a smooth, soft batter like mix.
4. Divide the mix evenly between the two tins and smooth the top with the back of the spoon (or spatula). Bake in centre of the oven for between 20 - 25 minutes. Until they are golden brown and spring back when touch tested.
5. Turn them out onto cooling rack when done and leave them to cool completely.
6. When cooled, use your big bread knife to evenly slice the top off of one of the sponges.
7. In your other mixing bowl, or after you've washed and dried the one you used beat the softened butter until its smooth and creamy, then gradually add in the icing sugar and a dash of vanilla essence making sure the mix stays smooth and creamy.
8. Spread the mixed butter-cream evenly over the sponge that you evened off with the bread knife.
9. Turn the other sponge over on the cooling rack, spread the jam evenly over its bottom and then turn it back over and onto the other sponge in one easy movement.
10. Dust the top with a wee bit of icing sugar and then cut, eat and enjoy

UncannyScot

Just read (Martin's article) that Virgin are putting their prices up again...
Will need to get my Haggle Hat on again and cut 'em down.

I have in my favour that I am a LONG standing customer.
I have a discounted package deal with them at the mo which runs out at end of year. Was advised by a lovely Scottish Virgin Media rep to contact them the month before it runs out to re-negotiate the deal. Looks like I shall need to do so sooner as the hike will be included from October's bill...

Going to look at what the competition are offering. I have Freeview on my TV and so I only really need Broadband and phone. However, as I have mentioned before, it is actually cheaper to have the whole package than just Broadband and Phone with Virgin. Also, Virgin has the best broadband service (regardless of what BT say in their adverts, everyone that I know that has one of their superhubs cannot get a signal from the next room...).
The problem with actually switching is that it may mean having to get a BT line in (most other providers need a BT line in to operate) and BT are notoriously inept and problematic.
My only real alternative, I suppose, would be SKY who have a good rating in my area for Broadband speed... however, they use BT for line in...
This may all be irrelevant to me as I may have to stay with Virgin due to the BIG S as other providers may not take me on as a new customer. So it would be a case of haggling for the best deal I can get in my circumstances...
Rambling on... again...

Always haggle for a deal that suits you. I'm always reminded of that scene from The Life of Brian

Going to grab a cuppa and catch up
Have a wonderful day folks
:A

Hiddenidenity

We had nothing but trouble with Sky internet and T@lk T@lk where even worse! Hence we ended up with a stupidly expensive V!rgin package.

I still haven't decided what to do myself :cool:

Have a lovely day x

UncannyScot

Haggle for what you need missus.
You have a lot of options as you're already connected up with all the lines needed if you've had Sky and Talk Cr*p...
If you have Freeview on your TV then look at what Broadband and Phone deals are available or if you don't need or want a landline, Broadband only deals...
There are options

I'm having a wee nosy at what's on offer just now myself...

UncannyScot

Morning folks,

an important BIG S day today...

Signing more paperwork with the IP / Trustee representative...

Wish me luck, feeling apprehensive, don't know why as the IP / Trustee folks are very nice and have been very helpful.

Meeting is here at my house at 10am so I am going to have a quick whizz round tidy-up blitz (not a lot as I am relatively tidy) and a cuppa to calm me...

Will come back and update when done.

Have a lovely day folks
:A