Put away your purse & become debt-averse

Tescodealqueen

I am sure that it might be possible to fashion an insert made from a cereal box into a square Tupperware or other storage box to transport cupcakes.  Thinking about it I am tempted to give it a go.

foxgloves

Yes, HHoD & DawnW, I think some people are much more customer-oriented than others. Of course, many people in public-facing roles do receive appropriate training. I suppose this is a lot less likely to happen in small one-person businesses. However, on this occasion it probably cost him between £10 & £30 of sales depending on what he had in stock. Unfortunately, as he was not prepared to let me any further in than about a metre or so past the front doormat, nor to bring me an assortment of relevant stock to look through, he lost a sale. I honestly thought all small business owners who have endured months of lockdown closure this year would have been biting my arm off to get a sale........seriously, another 3 or 4 people receiving the same attitude would mean losing a decent amount of sales. Ah well, not to worry, everyone else was pleased to see me.

Humdinger - I feel no drive atm to start filling a cantilever box with hard-to-source culinary ingredients. My lovely new panty, only completed this September, is already bursting at the seams. All comments welcome, so yes, do feel free to contribute when the mood takes you. We like chatting on here!
F x

foxgloves

Tescodealqueen - That's a really good idea - Thanks. I'm sure I can do that. I don't need to take many with me, so I am first going to check all my cake tins to see if I have one in a perfect size for them, so that they won't jiggle around. I have a musical cake tin somewhere, which plays something Christmassy (can't remember what, exactly) when you wind it up, so I must see if that is suitable. Honestly, it's anything to cheer ourselves up at the moment, isn't it? And my friend who will be there has recently lost her Mum after a very difficult time, so I do want her to have a nice morning, as well as Mr F the birthday boy.
F x

foxgloves

And I'd better pop today's post on before my eyes go any more squiffy, as I have spent too long on my laptop this afternoon. 
Hello Money Saviing Divas, I hope you have all had a decent day. The weather here has been most unenticing - squally rain, & I have only ventured forth as far as the bird feeders to put out a saucer of scraps for our feathery visitors. 
Today's frugal activity has been limited to making a meatloaf & some fudge. The meatloaf was to use up some pork mince, which Mr F found yellow-stickered at 75p. Well, I agreed he couldn't leave that in the shop, so I've put it with chopped onions, celery, apple & winter savoury, various other flavourings , breadcrumbs & bound it with beaten egg & it is currently in the oven smelling quite promising. There will be enough to feed us tomorrow as well. Like several of us on here, I do like 'cook once, eat twice'  - it always surprises me what can be achieved in that little bit of time saved the next day.
The fudge is a recipe I've been making for a while now - I always think it's 'proper fudge', as in it is made from boiling sugar, butter & a mixture of dairy ingredients. So much 'home made fudge' including quite expensive stuff from craft fairs seems to be made from an icing sugar mixture (& maybe glucose?) & just doesn't have that caramelized sugar/crystalline texture I expect in fudge. The recipe I use must be an old one as it is from a traditional sweets recipe book which is only in imperial measurements. Anyway, I digress.......this fudge is the final Christmas present I need to sort out, as I am seeing the recipient this week for exchange of gifts. I'm not bothered about having made it early, as I know she never manages to hang onto it longer than a day or two before her resolve cracks & she eats it! I just need to pop it in a box tomorrow & add a ribbon & label and that is all my presents done.
Tomorrow is my mid-month budget check-in, so that I can go into the festive period knowing that our financials are looking straight & that hopefully I haven't overlooked anything. I want a blimming good week this week, no time wasting or winding myself up reading endless news, which I am finding a complete grim-fest at the moment.
Cheers m'dears,
F x

Tescodealqueen

Yes it's the small things Foxgloves. It's my birthday today, it's tipping it down and just me and my OH  here cos we are tier 3 so after a morning  listening to my favourite radio show while doing a bit of crafting,  I made scones, found some bought nice jam in the cupboard (i am not a jam maker) and clotted cream from Aldi in the fridge and we had a lovely tea with the nice china. Then sat and watched my guilty pleasure film Die Hard. Enjoyed it a lot and it was cheap as chips. Simple pleasures

ladyholly

i make (occasionally) a toffee from condensed milk, butter, sugar and golden syrup. It comes out soft and fudge like. Disgustingly fattening but delicious. The recipe came from my great aunt many years ago.

Baileys_Babe

Happy Birthday @Tescodealqueen sounds like a great day.

Honeysucklelou2

Happy Birthday Tescodealqueen! Nothing like a cream tea! 😋

foxgloves

Happy Birthday for yesterday Tescodealqueen. I love scones. What a nice birthday treat. We are Tier 3 too, so can't do much, though it is nice to have all the shops open again.
F x

foxgloves

That toffee sounds lush, Ladyholly. My little old sweetie recipe book has so much in it I'd like to try, but I know I wouldn't have much self-restraint (& can only JUST get my jeans fastened after this year of lockdowns, Tier 3 & too much baking!). I used to make old-fashioned bonfire toffee if I was going anywhere or hosting anything for Guy Fawkes night.
F