2021 Frugal Living Challenge

pregnancy_parking

Hello
what a lovely thread! I’m hoping to join in please. I won’t post figures but have a long term plan to retire early and a new car will be needed soon so my aim is to up savings.
I’ve always been (and enjoyed being) frugal. Much better than shopping and splurging ! Apart from my local charity shop which I 😍.
ive joined prolific and have £7 in there already, I’m hoping to let this mount up to cover Xmas 21.
im also aiming to waste nothing. Today I’ve made coleslaw and sauerkraut, parboiled, oiled and frozen some sprouting spuds and frozen spinach in bags to add to stuff.
What can I do with 4 rock hard lemons?? 

Thanks 😊 

tryingtodobetter

fiwen30 said:

Morning all. Rocky start to the year so far - partner had an annual charge come out for Norton Antivirus that he’d forgotten about, to the tune of £85! It had an offer on last year for about £20, which is why we got it. He’s not pleased, but it’s still the best thing out there, and covers all our devices, so I’ve just put it down as an expense to remember for next year. Also had to clear the last £50 off his credit card, from Xmas spends.

Dog is going to start costing even more of a small fortune, due to the vet physio coming out and finally having a diagnosis for his 7 week lameness - 2 damaged cruciate ligaments. She’s optimistic, and we’re going with holistic treatments, hydrotherapy, and increased pain medication for now, before looking at surgical options. Trying to sock away as much as we can for when that time comes, but we’re running out of places in the budget to cut down.

Am furloughed for 6 weeks for the first time (NI lockdown), and I’ve absolutely no idea what amount I’m going to get paid at the end of the month. I’m part time, and my contracted 8 hours/week fluctuate between about 11 - 28 hours/week, in the run up to Christmas last year. So goodness knows what is going to land in my account, but it can’t come soon enough! 

Have you thought about asking for a refund for the renewal, I wonder if the 14 day cooling off period applies? x

MandM90

fiwen30 I'm in NI too though I'm an English blow in *waves*

DawnW

pregnancy_parking said:

What can I do with 4 rock hard lemons?? 

Thanks 😊 

Well, they aren't as nice as fresh ones for some uses, but you can use for lemon drizzle cakes and freeze them, cut in slices and freeze to add to drinks, squeeze over fish etc. Or squeeze out the juice and freeze in ice cube trays for when you have a recipe calling for lemon juice.

Lemon drizzle cake

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C or gas 4, grease and line a 1 lb size (450g) loaf tin.

Beat together 115g (4 oz) butter or margarine, 175g (6 oz) SR flour, 175g (6 oz) sugar, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp milk, and the grated rind of 1 lemon till combined. Add a tiny bit more milk if the mixture seems too stiff. Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for about an hour, or till a skewer comes out clean when pushed into the cake. Mix the juice of the lemon with 3 tbsp icing sugar, carefully make holes all over the hot cake with your skewer or similar, and spoon the mixture over. You can sprinkle some granulated sugar over for a crunchy finish if you like, but I don't bother. Allow to cool in tin. Freezes well if it gets that far!

willow_loulou

So I found a new fare-share outlet that just puts the food outside to collect. I got 2 lemons a bag of mixed herbs and a pack of steam veg. Going to freeze 1 lemon in slices and I’m wondering if the herbs can be rooted from. If not I’ll put them in with a veg and roast. 

I cancelled my asd@ order and we braved Tesco as we’d run out of everything fresh. I’ve booked it for next week instead. 

pregnancy_parking

DawnW said:

pregnancy_parking said:

What can I do with 4 rock hard lemons?? 

Thanks 😊 

Well, they aren't as nice as fresh ones for some uses, but you can use for lemon drizzle cakes and freeze them, cut in slices and freeze to add to drinks, squeeze over fish etc. Or squeeze out the juice and freeze in ice cube trays for when you have a recipe calling for lemon juice.

Lemon drizzle cake

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C or gas 4, grease and line a 1 lb size (450g) loaf tin.

Beat together 115g (4 oz) butter or margarine, 175g (6 oz) SR flour, 175g (6 oz) sugar, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp milk, and the grated rind of 1 lemon till combined. Add a tiny bit more milk if the mixture seems too stiff. Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for about an hour, or till a skewer comes out clean when pushed into the cake. Mix the juice of the lemon with 3 tbsp icing sugar, carefully make holes all over the hot cake with your skewer or similar, and spoon the mixture over. You can sprinkle some granulated sugar over for a crunchy finish if you like, but I don't bother. Allow to cool in tin. Freezes well if it gets that far!

Thanks Dawn! 

I found another lemon hiding so had 5 to use. I’ve just made lemon curd for the first time ever using up 3, praying it sets and surprised it made a full jar!
I will definitely make lemon drizzle with the other two and may add a curd centre now.

I have another couple of questions for you guys please.
I have a nearly full tin of peaches in syrup left that was opened Xmas eve for a recipe. Would you use? They look and smell fine and would be enough for a small crumble.

secondly, any tips to feed the birds? I usually buy fat balls, seeds and mealworms but unable to go out to Wilko right now and I wonder if there are scraps they can eat I’m not aware of. We don’t really have many leftovers as we also have a dog. Just pondering really....

balabooberlies

pregnancy_parking said:

DawnW said:

pregnancy_parking said:

What can I do with 4 rock hard lemons?? 

Thanks 😊 

Well, they aren't as nice as fresh ones for some uses, but you can use for lemon drizzle cakes and freeze them, cut in slices and freeze to add to drinks, squeeze over fish etc. Or squeeze out the juice and freeze in ice cube trays for when you have a recipe calling for lemon juice.

Lemon drizzle cake

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C or gas 4, grease and line a 1 lb size (450g) loaf tin.

Beat together 115g (4 oz) butter or margarine, 175g (6 oz) SR flour, 175g (6 oz) sugar, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp milk, and the grated rind of 1 lemon till combined. Add a tiny bit more milk if the mixture seems too stiff. Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for about an hour, or till a skewer comes out clean when pushed into the cake. Mix the juice of the lemon with 3 tbsp icing sugar, carefully make holes all over the hot cake with your skewer or similar, and spoon the mixture over. You can sprinkle some granulated sugar over for a crunchy finish if you like, but I don't bother. Allow to cool in tin. Freezes well if it gets that far!

Thanks Dawn! 

I found another lemon hiding so had 5 to use. I’ve just made lemon curd for the first time ever using up 3, praying it sets and surprised it made a full jar!
I will definitely make lemon drizzle with the other two and may add a curd centre now.

I have another couple of questions for you guys please.
I have a nearly full tin of peaches in syrup left that was opened Xmas eve for a recipe. Would you use? They look and smell fine and would be enough for a small crumble.

secondly, any tips to feed the birds? I usually buy fat balls, seeds and mealworms but unable to go out to Wilko right now and I wonder if there are scraps they can eat I’m not aware of. We don’t really have many leftovers as we also have a dog. Just pondering really....

I have put out (for the birds) chicken skin, chicken, liver, fruit and nut muesli, lightly buttered bread, cheese, cakes, biscuits croisants, etc

I have many crows and wood pigeons.  They prefer all of the things mentioned above.  The fat balls get eaten last.

bala

the_cross_rabbit

my dad's wife puts out left over mashed potatoe which the starlings love. Not something we would do as it always gets eaten or is added to a soup. 
CRx

fiwen30

MandM90 said:

fiwen30 I'm in NI too though I'm an English blow in *waves*

Same here! From the east mids originally, but set up house here nearly 11 years ago.

Remembered that my mobile contract was up this month, and have decided to switch to SIM only for a year, as not bothered about upgrading my iPhone7. Managed to get the same amount of data, calls & texts, for £10/month, as opposed to the £36 I had been paying! Partner’s phone is up soon as well, hoping that he can settle on something that’ll cost less than his current £73/month.

Thrifty_Taylor

Whilst shopping last night, I bought 6 ys tubs of thick cream, which I made into butter & put in the freezer. Quite pleased with the results! Happy that my shop was a lot cheaper than usual too, as we didn't need a huge amount of items 😁