I Just Want To Retire Debt Free

Purplebonnie

Hi SunAddict, I love Pearl Barley Risotto so much more substance than rice. I like my food (hence the need to lose weight!) so healthy food that really fills me up is my aim when I cook. Have a great day x

Purplebonnie

Yesterday got completely messed up with my young granddaughter ending up in hospital with croup and me looking after her older sister. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to post or read any of your diaries, but will have a look later when I have caught up on some sleep. I did end up spending £6.80 on drinks and cake in Morrisons for DIL, me and the girls, but it was in a good cause.

Today I have done a ‘big shop’ but I stuck to my list again, so quite pleased with myself.

I have now used up all the old veg in the fridge, zero waste so far this month. Today lunch was a WW wrap with lettuce and lentil curry and dinner tonight was a roasted pepper sauce with pasta. It was the first time I had cooked a roasted red pepper sauce and, even if I say so myself, it was amazing.

enthusiasticsaver

There is a nasty cough virus doing the rounds at the moment which can lead to croup. My little granddaughter has it too and was coughing so hard on Sunday night she was sick. I think she caught it at nursery but makes you feel so sorry for them when they are little.

Well done on zero food waste.

Purplebonnie

Morning Enthusiasticsaver - It's hard when they are so little to see them suffer and not be able to tell you. I hope your gradndauger is on the mend now.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Your allotment sounds very moneysaving for organic veg Bonnie. Do you plant all your veg from seeds? I find from the supermarket that it's cheapest to buy frozen veg.

It's a good idea to watch out for the coffee and cakes when out. Not very money saving and as you say bad for the waistline. I love Costa coffee so I allow myself one a week as a treat, but I never eat there. One look at the prices and I lose my appetite :rotfl:

Buying presents in sales or charity shops and stockpiling until needed can be very money saving if you need to give a lot of gifts.

You seem very focused at the moment

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope your little GDD is better now, how worrying for you

Purplebonnie

Hi Hairy, I do grow from seeds unless I have an epic crop fail and then I will buy plug plants. Mind you, 12 cabbage plants for £1.99 is still a money saver.

Thanks for the tips about Christmas presents, the more grandchildren the more expensive Christmas gets

Purplebonnie

Hi again Hairy, thanks, she has just eaten some breakfast which is the first thing she has had for a few days, so looking good

Seasidegal58

So pleased to hear your DGD is on the mend.

Our local Factory Shop is very cheap for children's gifts - sticker books and the like - I'm going to start to look out in there now Xmas is approaching.

Purplebonnie

I used up the lentil curry in a wrap with raw spinach for breakfast. My husband thinks I’m mad, but I like curry for breakfast and I am certainly not letting it go to waste!

Khichri for dinner, which is basically Kedgeree without the fish and with split peas instead, but very tasty. I served it with crispy, garlic mushrooms.

You must have guessed by now how much I like my food and cooking! Cutting down my food bill is an absolute must, I was spending a fortune and also wasting quite a lot of food. I have challenged myself to actually use what I have in the stores and freezer. Another weakness of mine is buying cookery books; I read them like novels and I have soooo many. So another challenge is not to buy anymore and start using the ones that I have. I am going to pick one a week and meal plan at least two meals from it, using ingredients that I already have. There are two new recipe books that I really, really want, but I have put them on my Amazon wish list and will direct the kids there for my upcoming birthday/Christmas. Hopefully they will get them for me, but I will have to sit on my hands so as not to order them for myself first.

I was given a butternut squash today so now I have to think of something tasty to do with it. We have also been sorting out stuff for a table at a local boot fair on Saturday, I hope the weather is going to be kind to us.

I spent another £18.11 at the farm shop today, so I think I am just about done on food shopping for the rest of the month apart from bread and soy milk.