2021 Frugal Living Challenge

Wraithlady

Tightpants24 said:

Thanks for the bread making tips.  I am going to make some by hand for now.  A friend has a bread maker which she hardly uses so I am going to borrow it when I next see her to experiment before I make a decision about buying one.

There was a thread about breadmakers, I seem to remember I did a costing and it worked out slightly cheaper (iirc) to make your own. 
The tins of yeast - I tend to use those as they work out cheaper, they keep for up to 3 months in the fridge ( I note the date I opened them on the lid in Sharpie)

[Deleted User]

Day 4 check in
Free exercise done again this morning. NSD today. Main task today was housework - bed changed, upstairs swished & swiped and hoovered and bathroom given a clean.  

It's been absolutely freezing here today, snow this morning and not got much warmer since, although it did brighten up.  I didn't venture out.

I'll add my tuppence worth to the breadmaker chat.  I have had a breadmaker for years. We are on our third one.  Our first was a cheaper one that made great bread but the shape was quite strange. When that one went we upgraded to a more expensive one that also gives great bread but with a more traditional bread shape.  When that one went we bought the same one again. I don't think it is necessarily cheaper to do HM bread but the quality is so much better.  I've decluttered various kitchen gadgets including the microwave, yogurt maker and other bits but the breadmaker stays as it's used regularly.  During first lockdown last year I experimented with HM bread in the oven too and just using plain flour.  I got recipes from a couple of YouTube channels - Jenny Can Cook and Artisan Bread with Steve.  HM bread elevates a meal for me. I can take soup to work for luch but I look forward to it more if I've got a slice or two of HM crusty loaf to go with it. 

the_cross_rabbit

After the hubbster helped sort out a friend's pear tree,we were kindly repayed with a water butt (the one at the allotment has sprung a leak, but will be cut up and made into planters). She is redoing her garden and wants to get rid of lots of little stones which we just happen need, so another saving. The cost of posts for the tree was about £10, but the stuff we are been gifted amounts to about £50. My sister is getting a skip next week, but is going to save me the wood she is getting rid of which we will use for edging the paths at the allotment as well, so another saving.
CRx

AskYouWillGet

Frugal cooking day today and a  first making wraps from scratch with sourdough starter given to me a couple of weeks back. I keep feeding the sourdough starter but not baked with it and you need to discard some regularly... instead of wasting it, I've set another starter off & today found a recipe and ended up using all odds/ends of flour & used the breadmaker to knead the dough. When it came to rolling out I found rice flour was perfect, which I gained free from Olio. Now have 30 wraps made up, if anyone made chapatis/flatbread before it is the same and is easy enough and quite therapeutic in a mindfulness kind of way. I also made chicken strips (ys) into goujon style with cornmeal found in cupboard, spiced with cayenne pepper and smoked paprika and cooked in oven. With these wrapped and dipped into Nandos Chilli jam (free from Olio) I have to say it wsd the best budget meal for a long time, and fed the cat and leftovers for tomorrow lunch too. Total spent £2.10 for chicken from T-xpress at 7am this morning! Was intending to feed the cat most of it but no way that's happening now! 

MazzieD

Really enjoyed yesterday, amazing how a humble potato can be transformed into the centrepiece of a delicious meal!.  Cake went straight into the freezer, think even a slice would have been too much after the Easter Egg!.  Freezer is full up after that and 6 portions of beef casserole.  Sounds like quite a few of us were in the kitchen cooking yesterday.  Mince is so versatile, I'm always trying new additions to pad it out and experimenting with herbs and spices I've already got in the cupboard, I've even sieved and washed the sauce from a tin of cheap baked beans and added them with a tin of tomatoes.  Pleasantly surprised, quite tasty.

I've never had a bread maker, for a variety of reasons I don't eat bread much now.   It's a matter of trying to choose kitchen gadgets wisely, like @[Deleted User] I've decluttered most of mine over the years and think it's a great idea to borrow them and try them out @Tightpants24.  Wish I'd thought of that years ago!. 

Back to work today, I was going to say normal but we still aren't there yet!.  Read an article about coping with life at the moment, a psychologist suggested using 'now normal'  until we get back to a permanent normal.  Interesting idea.

[Deleted User]

Day 5 of 17 NSDs

Checking in for day five, no money spent. Lots of wood foraged, eggs sold and fire lit rather than put the heating on. I am really trying to further reduce our energy consumption so the flask was filled when the kettle was boiled this morning, and I haven’t had to use the oven today (dinner was leftovers reheated in the microwave).

Tomorrow’s frugal plans - sports club for two hours for the children, followed by a crafting session at the town hall - all free. Take care all xx

mandy47

Friend gave me loads of newspaper today. We don't buy papers but use it for the bottom of the bird cage and getting the wood burner going. 
Managed to get a few mark downs at Aldi and just stuck to my list. Trying the own brand dog food. Will have to let you know if my four legged friend approves. Could save me around £8 a month so fingers crossed.

elbree

Well done @Deleted_User! I'm following your progress with interest but not posting much because I feel like I'm not being very frugal this holiday! Lots of spends on the garden. Quite good today though, free trip to the playground with daughter and little friend, took snacks and coffee to avoid the kiosk. Then made some scones which apparently freeze well so that's treats for the next week or two. However, massive T shop arriving tomorrow. Can't seem to get it below £90! Going back to review. 

[Deleted User]

@elbree why not post a screen shot here and we'll see where we can help. Also have you considered making tea loaves for snacks, very easy and can be frozen. Nice buttered toasted too xx

[Deleted User]

Day 5 check in
Another NSD here. Took a break from my Youtube exercise and did a walk this morning. It was beautiful but freezing and I managed to get it done before a wee snow flurry started.  I also sorted out a new isa for myself today and transferred money into OHs as well.  Other than that, washing done and hanging on clothes horse to dry, choc chip cookies made and dinner sorted.  I love these relaxed days just pottering around.