2021 Frugal Living Challenge

nannygladys

Hi everyone
Really good ideas for potatoes, I don't eat that many so it would pay me to freeze them. I used to grow them on the lottie for dd but it was a lot of effort and now I just have a few tubs. On the onion front I do freeze and use from frozen, I don't thaw them out just fry, use in casseroles etc and it seems to work OK, I also do the same for mushrooms and peppers, it's great when you can get them ys.
On the frugal front today I have I scrubbed the hh bins out, I have seen some nice wooden, ones but in the interests of being frugal and eco I'm going to keep using then until they are falling apart - so they will probably outlive me!!! 
Dinner for tonight is prepared and waiting to be cooked and I've been washing curtains and cushion covers whilst the sun is out-well the washer had washed them. Bottomed the bathroom and managed to clean the window and mirror with mold remover!! Bought them up lovely, not something I would normally buy but this was pre frugal days and determined to use everything all up that I have (not clean Windows with it though) 
Anyway going out in the garden to do a bit of weeding and watering.
Nannyg

MazzieD

Oops, just read my post again.  What I meant to say was there is some variation in times, F&V boxes are now out between 8.45 and 9am here so judging by other posts if you aim for around 8.30 - 9.30am @zafiro1984 you might be lucky, still think it's worth asking staff, they should have some idea, but possibly not judging by @joedenise's post!.  There have been days when I've popped in and there haven't been any but I shop there anyway.  

Ironically I always used to run out of onions but that's very unlikely now.  Like Nanny Gladys I don't eat potatoes very often but that has changed as they are a frequent part of the F&V boxes so I'll probably start freezing as well.  That's the joy of posting on here, always lots of helpful suggestions.

Wow @jak, good luck with the viewings. 

Trying to motivate myself to do some work, really need to get out for some fresh air, all that sitting/driving in the car this morning hasn't helped.

Mummy2cheekymonkeys

Good luck jak. I've been having driving lessons since last july. I've just started up again last week after 4 months without a lesson due to lockdown. The delays have been annoying not going to lie. I'm nearly test ready but can't get a test date for love nor money. Just need to keep my fingers crossed.

willow_loulou

Just back from collecting my Cafe Nero to good to go bag and wow! I got a chicken salad sandwich, a breakfast box, two blueberry muffins and 2 pastry’s for £3! Amazing value.  I had a muffin and the rest DS and DD have shared.  There is salad to bulk it out. 

Tomorrow I need milk and weekend food, I’m going to order 2 Waitrose or M&S bags and pick my milk on the way back. Having checked out the bags I’ll see what extra I need to get if any for the weekend and Monday lunch. The freezer is full so hopefully nothing and I can get meals covered for most of next week on Sunday night. 

I am really enjoying these bags, I’m intending on alternate weeks doing it so I shop the other week to make sure I have all food groups covered! 

AskYouWillGet

Happy Earth Day everyone.
@willow_loulou am extremely jealous of your choices of lovely magic bags.
I am now inspired to buy again so thank you for sharing your haul 👍

balabooberlies

AskYouWillGet said:

Happy Earth Day everyone.
@willow_loulou am extremely jealous of your choices of lovely magic bags.
I am now inspired to buy again so thank you for sharing your haul 👍

Ditto......dead jealous......

willow_loulou

I’m just so pleased I can actually get food from the app now! The muffin really made my day! I’m so sore I couldn’t face a meal and a muffin is super easy to eat in bed. Also, I’d got so bored of what we were eating. This is making food exciting, I’m loving going out at night to get it and so are my dogs and dd. I’m sure that will get old soon enough! 

I’ve a long work day tomorrow, so I’ll be glad of not thinking about a weekend shop or trying to get an affordable delivery. 

Frugal bath fix today, £9 on some hideous smelling glue and fibreglass mesh, fingers crossed it gives the bath a few more months use. 

MazzieD

@willow_loulou Thanks, it's interesting to get feedback about what a magic bag might contain.  Hadn't noticed Cafe Nero were on TGTG so might get one as a treat sometime.

Had a browse on the TGTG app last night, quite a lot of existing and new joiners so should be good when everything hopefully re-opens in May.  Worth having a scroll in the 'browse' section to see if you have got anything locally, you never know - there may be a surprise or two.

After a lot of searching discovered there is a community pantry here but it's 5.5 miles away on the other side of the city and only open 9-3pm during the week at the moment.  Looks like I'll be sticking to L*dl and TGTG.  Such a shame Olio doesn't work for me, but I'm  reducing food waste for a nominal payment instead.

willow_loulou

Picked up my 2 bags. 2 masala meals, 2 aloo gobi Saag, a ceaser salad, a large spicy sausage pizza. 2 pints of milk and a garlic flat bread! So I picked up my milk and some veg for me (I don’t eat spicy foods) 
I think I’ll not get the bags from this Waitrose often as she said it’s been mainly curry lately. 

jak

Good luck @Mummy2cheekymonkeys. I hope you get a date for your test soon. It’s tricky with all the backlogs isnt it! 

Looking at 3 houses on wed. The ones I saw were too old tho lovely. Need to think frugal. Are they near enough the shops so I can do my own shopping and save money/ near a bus stop for my boy etc. 

My son has had an extra weekend with his dad so that saves a bundle. Switched off everything that can be. I’m determined to keep my electric Bill down! 

Hope all is well with everyone xx