The Garden Fence - proper Old Style support and chat!

burtha

Morning all,
Sorry playing catch up , life busy
Nothing changed 3mw called in twice in the last week ..and he's away at the weekend ... seams to be the norm now ...
So hope I've not missed to much fun here .... apple jelly ? Sounds like you had fun .... Fuddle hope your feeling better , and hello to babs, welcome , my only advice would be do things in short bursts ... There is no rush , ... as for food shopping I can't think , I went to a large supermarket last night , walked around aimlessly , still struggling with what to make , weird going from feeding up to 8 to 3 , only one eating meat ... Getting there slowly
Night out tomorrow night ... or a few hours ... should be a day of tomorrow but facepainting at a friends christening... think I may end up doing some games as well , she doesn't sound very organised lol . So the idea of a night out will keep me motivated .
Still today to get through first , waiting for daylight to walk the dogs

Ttfn xx

maryb

Re our discussions about the price of butter, I was in Sainsbugs today and they were flogging off Anchor unsalted butter for 88p. I bought a few because I use it in baking but I checked when I got home and it's still showing in Mysupermarket and on the Sainsbugs website as £1.79 so I don't know if it was a manager's special

babs_103

Hi all,


I've had a long think and I've come up with this cunning plan, so I'd like your opinion if you don't mind.


I have done a little list (literally) it has 3 things on it, when I finish one think I'll tick it off and add something else to it. If I completely finish all three things on it I'm worried I wont add anymore and will end up not doing anything.


I will also use the timer on my phone until I can get a kitchen timer, and set it for 15 minutes at a time to clear stuff and do housework.


I will do a monthly Mr T delivery for the heavy/bulky things so it will just leave me to get fresh every week or maybe every two days, I haven't figured that out yet. With this I will have to do a meal plan which I have done before but cannot stick to it - I may just do a months worth of meals then cook what we fancy each day, I don't know if that will work but will give it a try.. Cravendale is already on the shopping list.


I have a question regarding the fresh stuff, do you think I should have a purse with cash in for that? maybe it will stop me buying things I don't need.


Still not sure where to go shopping tho, a taxi is much too dear but the bus is a fiver, still cheaper than buying stuff online I don't need I suppose. So I'll have to see if it's Chatham or Gillingham that gets my pennies.


Well that's all for now except to say a mahosive thank you to everyone who has replied and helped me. Any comments welcome xx

nursemaggie

Hi babs

I don't write a meal plan but I do have about 20 different meals I make regularly and we occasionally have others when either the ingredients are cheaper or on offer.

Today I should have gone to market, but this morning When I got up both my hips were agony and I could barely walk. By barely walk I mean it took me several minutes to walk out of my bedroom into the kitchen rather than the about 8 steps I normally take.

Consequently we have no chicken left and I had intended to cook sweet and sour chicken today. DS decided what we could have based on what he bought yesterday.

I think you just have to use up things in the order of how well they keep. e.g. I like to use up broccoli in the first 3 days as it does not keep so long and carrots will usually keep for two weeks.

If you have a low income some councils allow certain categories to have a free bus pass like the ones for retired. As soon as you turn 60 go and get your bus pass. I am sure I save 100s of pounds every year. Especially since I found out I can go anywhere within Greater Manchester on trains too with my card.

I agree on keeping your food money in a separate purse it makes you think what you are buying and stops you buying things you probably will never use.

Another thing it is often cheaper to buy meat at a butchers and fruit and veg at a greengrocers.

Learn lots of things you can do with eggs because they can be very cheap meals.

babs_103

Hi nursemaggie


I have to wait until I'm 66 before I can get my bus pass, it is a big bugbear with me. DH has one that is plus carer but as he cannot get out very often it is a waste and he could never go shopping, it would knock him out for days!


Thanks for the other tips tho and hope you feel better soon

Nargleblast

Babs it sounds like you have the makings of a cunning plan. Putting cash in a purse or envelope is a good idea, when it's gone it's gone until you top it up next week.

When you do your online shop include things like minced beef, sausages, chicken, fish portions, stewing beef etc. All this could go in the freezer and you do a meal plan for say, 4 or 5 days at a time (some can do a whole month of meal plans, but start with a few days and go from there). You pull what you need for a meal from the freezer the night before. When cooking a meal, make enough for one or two more portions than you need. These extras can be boxed up and put in the fridge for a day or two, or in the freezer. Either way, it's instant ready meal that just needs heating up.

Another idea is to look in your fridge at the start of the day and see what needs using up before it goes off. Leftover veg can go in soups or pasta dishes, leftover fruit can be eaten with yoghourt or custard or ice cream. Look at the Love Food Hate Waste thread for further ideas.

nursemaggie

babs bus passes are at sixty for both sexes. You do not have to be retired. There must be people who are in good jobs who are going to work on bus passes. Not everyone works 9-5.

manchestermargo

I live in Manchester. Bus pass only issued when you are eligible for state pension. I got mine aged 62 years 4 months.

nursemaggie

Have they changed the law again because they changed it to 60 for everyone because it discriminated against men. It is National not local. Councils are supposed to administer but most give the right to do that to the bus companies to save two authorities having to do the same work.

fuddle

My mam was 61 and wasn't able to get a bus pass nm.