Fabulously Frugal and Free at 50!

EssexHebridean

Ooh ta for the soda bread recipe RT - I'll maybe have a go at that too, the "super quick" factor of soda bread appeals to me.

We use a CC regularly still but on the same basis you do - it pays us a small amount of cashback and we never pay IT any interest so that's a deal I can work with! If it wasn't for the cashback I would have stamped on it altogether by now though - but I do think for most folk there needs to be a sizeable emergency fund in place before you'd feel 100% happy cutting loose for anything like that. we also still have the OD's in place but they are only there are a "security blanket" now in that if a DD goes out earlier or later than I expected I don't want it bouncing because there aren't the funds there, and similarly I don't want silly fees for going a few pence over because I've forgotten to do a transfer or something.

Pippilongstocking

Thank you ladies - I must admit. I miss my hens. Must get that bit sorted huh? Although its about 20m+to the back of the garden.
And, just so we are sure, its not 20 miles.

Just picked the first of the autumn raspberries.

My question is just this - having had the 'pre-crop' - do they ever stop?

Like ever. Good variety choice - however freezer is too small.

XOXOXOX

Tea is sweet and sour - fire is on - off to the fray to pick the third bowl of rasps for the day.

Yes, I realise I picked this variety.

Back in a jiffy............

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, excellent work Pippi! :j :j Most impressed at your debt bashing

Once I paid off my credit card I got rid of it altogether and never had another one. The damn things scare me to death :rotfl: I'd probably be better now but I have NO intention of going down that road again :eek: Fortunate enough to have some actual savings now thank goodness

Pippilongstocking

Hey there evening chaps and chapsessesses

Just in from the garden and picked 2kg of rasps - oh my lord.

Autumn rasps - wholly. Already had a first crop of epic proportions.

EH thank you so much - I'm keeping both the OD's and the cards - I need a comfort blanket - right now I'm managing them by not activating the cards but I know I can if I need to. I think I will ditch a bank account once its cleared and keep the 0% OD on the old student one.

RT - lurveeee the recipe so I think I'll try that one - I'm mindful of keeping that blanket around me. What a great recipe site that one is. Morrisons do nice buttermilk - but I'd rather use sour or make my own sour as you suggest. thank you lovely. Love the lack of food miles but even if its 10 that's quite close.

Cheery I hope you're good thanks for the woo hoos. All grand here. thank you.

Today we had mindfullness in the garden - found it a lot easier this time, I changed my shoes and put my hair down - nothing I'd do when working - changed my mindset somehow. Whilst I've not 'got it' I was less trying to strip my own skin off this week.

Offered to help with a wedding cake this week. I am ashamed (proud) to say I did say I don't mind helping, no I can't travel to your kitchen to do it (1.5 hours away after work) but I can pick up ALL of the ingredients from you and work on it in my spare time. And agreed a time to get it back to them.

Firstly they'd not bought any ingredients - I can't afford to subsidise a three tier marzipaned and iced cake. Two cakes are made (that's cool) but the third isn't and none of the icing / marzipan is bought.

Secondly I haven't actually done this before so I'll get jitzy doing it in someones kitchen, I'll need head space and my own kitchen. And I may need UTOOB and I'm sure the bride doesnt' need to hear that 12 days before the wedding. Fear not, I shall do this.

Thirdly - I'm 1.5 hours away - I go to bed early, I finish work at 5.30 - so not anywhere til almost gone half seven (if I head home and feed the dogs) and I can't finish three cakes in that time.

Fourthly when asked if I'd add the decorations - I had to decline - I can perhaps ice a cake - making the decorations exaclty how the bride to be wants - it would freak me out - so erm no. I'll deliver ready to assemble.

Fifthly - I kept THE WHOLE of SUNDAY free and they were too hungover to even let me know I wasn't needed, I messaged at gone 8pm saying I had to head to bed. I don't have a lot of free time.

Feel a bit rubbish not running to order, but I've a lot on, I'm happy to help reduce their wedding costs but I can't subsidise it or keep up mega late. And they smoke and I@m so not comfy in houses where people smoke inside.

OH dear that was a wee rant wasnt' it. I don't mean to sound unkind, I'm truly happy to help, but I felt a bit like they didn't really realise that A I have a life, I work hard and I've not a lot of spare time and B whilst I don't mind helping, there's really quite a lot to do and I've not got lots of spare money.

I'm feeling a bit bad about not helping the way they want me to, but I'm helping, although aside petrol not really putting myself out of pocket.

Cheery_Daff

Well I think you did EXACTLY the right thing Pippi :kisses3: Fancy making you wait all day Sunday and not even letting you know :eek: How rude. And expecting you to travel all that way, and work in an unfamiliar kitchen, AND buy all the ingredients yourself?! Er... no :eek: Sometimes maybe people don't realise what they're asking :eek: You are doing them a massive favour making it

beanielou

Actually they are very selfish to think you would do that.
You are very kindly doing them a favour.
They are not doing you a favour.
You should not be out of pocket.
Bah.

EssexHebridean

A rant? No - that was a calm statement of facts. You were treated badly by people who you'd bent over backwards to help - that's a pretty shoddy way to proceed so HAD you ranted I think you would have been entirely justified. I remember a rather lovely "budget" wedding a few years ago where people offered to help and did so because the couple concerned were putting in SO much effort themselves AND were grateful for all the help given by others - that stands as a shining example - to me - of what a wonderful day can be created when people come together and work together, without having to throw fortunes at it.

In short - to ask for your help = fine.
To mean, by that "will you pay for it all" = not fine
To leave you dangling for a full day which you could have used doing something else = also very not fine.

Quite :mad: on your behalf.

Psst - if they both smoke they could cut that out for a start rather than leaning on others to help them make economies... sorry (not sorry!)

Greying_Pilgrim

EssexHebridean wrote: »

I remember a rather lovely "budget" wedding a few years ago where people offered to help and did so because the couple concerned were putting in SO much effort themselves AND were grateful for all the help given by others - that stands as a shining example - to me - of what a wonderful day can be created when people come together and work together, without having to throw fortunes at it.

Whole heartedly concur with EH.

This new scenario reminds me of a certain in-law who exhibited the same *stop everything you're doing in life, it's all about Me, Me, Me* attitude. I was expected to do and fund an activity for their wedding too (despite being a penniless student), and something for a christening..... took 20+ years, but there is now an 'X' in front of their name...........;)

Have a bonny day

Greying X

Pippilongstocking

Oh chaps how kind you all are. Thank you for the kind words - I'm helping as my parental isn't feeling well and was doing the cake as a gift - so they are a bit in limbo - and I'm very mindful of all the great help I've had over the years - so I want to give forward, but a bit miffled at losing my whole day on Sunday and being asked to dance to someone elses tune. When I couldn't just stop everything and come immediately I did get the whole 'oh well we will try and do it ourselves' rubbish.

Greying - glad the X is now definitely that. And thanks for being so sooper and supportive.

EH thank you for those very kind words they've really touched me.

Beanie thank you indeed selfish is as selfish does and in this case - they're pretty versed at it. Cheery I know, my WHOLE sunday - whilst I had a lovely day I did regrettfully turn down an invite from a chum to go and visit as I thought I was on icing alert.

Never fear - it will all be fine.

Today was a long work day but the new to us fridge was switched on (hurrah) and we had cold milk at tea break - thems the highlights eh.

Spent the day cleaning out plants overcome with pernicious weeds - I've saved many beautiful lives today. Must ring me bro later and make a 'you said you'd help with the larder plan' and create his fave cake as that will get him here quicker than a flash.

HM meals today - coleslaw and baked tattie for me 0 food miles (well unless you count the mayo......)

Mutts out lots at work and had a lovely sit in our prairie planting at lunch. A butterfly landed on me, how marvellous was that. I felt very blessed indeed.

Off to do some tidying as the cleaner comes tomorrow and the place is an utter pigsty

catch you all in a bit hope your days have been as blessed as mine.

EssexHebridean

This is SO why I won't have a cleaner Stripes - I too would end up tidying before they got here and MrEH would absolutely not "get" this" :rotfl:

Oh well if the requirers of the wedding cake are taking the "we'll do it ourselves then" approach all good - hopefully at some stage they will realise that their demands were rather (rather?!) unreasonable!

Coleslaw and a baked tattie - that's just defined my lunch for Friday I think...might have to add some cheese though....

I'm certain that a butterfly landing on you should signify lots of good luck - just seems right somehow, doesn't it!