2021 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

PipneyJane

@TwibbleDee as someone who grew up hating vegetables, I think the best lesson I learned was that they didn’t have to be cooked the way my mum did them.  Take zucchini/courgette:  I will swear that my mum used to boil hers, which made them both bitter and soggy.  It wasn’t until I discovered ratatouille that I learned they could be tasty!

Most years, I grow courgettes, so we frequently have a glut.  (Not growing any this year.)  As well as ratatouille, I’ll roast batons of courgette, tossed in olive oil with sliced onion.  There’s a courgette lasagne recipe that I make a couple of times a year and I add grated courgette to bulk out minced/ground beef-based dishes (add when you add the tinned tomatoes).  This afternoon, I made a loaf-cake version of  Nigella Lawson’s recipe, Flora’s Famous Courgette Cake,   (No frosting.  Baked for 55 minutes at 180c.)

Would your kids eat sweet potato fries? Or wedges?  (Cut into wedges, par-boil for 5 minutes, toss in oil and roast for 30-45 minutes, until toffee around the edges.)

@diminua, I am really impressed by your spreadsheet.  While I’ve played around with the idea of trying a Ration Book Diet, I’m too lazy to track it.

- Pip

CAFCGirl

Gifted 28 balls of yarn yesterday,  and double yay since its not out of my coupon stash

Must finish the next big project before I'm allowed to go playing around with it though LOL

wit40iwtwan

Yikes - I turned notifications off and came back to 97 messages! 

Question - I wear a non wired bra that has gone on reduced to clear for 50% off... If I stock up for a few years in the fear of this super comfy bra being discontinued do I count all 6 bra's in my coupons for 2021/22 or only when I start to use them?  

Laura_Elsewhere

wit40iwtwan said:

Question - I wear a non wired bra that has gone on reduced to clear for 50% off... If I stock up for a few years in the fear of this super comfy bra being discontinued do I count all 6 bra's in my coupons for 2021/22 or only when I start to use them?  

I suspect you would need to use this year's coupons to buy them, just as people did in the war if trying to stock up on something they might not be able to get easily in the future... sorry!   

Now then, the *real* question is whether you are nobly supporting local businesses and helping the economy by buying extra, or whether you are panic-buying and hoarding! (there's quite a bit of anxious soul-searching in the Mass.Obs. books by people juggling the dilemma!)

PipneyJane

wit40iwtwan said:

Yikes - I turned notifications off and came back to 97 messages! 

Question - I wear a non wired bra that has gone on reduced to clear for 50% off... If I stock up for a few years in the fear of this super comfy bra being discontinued do I count all 6 bra's in my coupons for 2021/22 or only when I start to use them?  

Hi @wit40iwtwan.  You have to count them when you buy them.  (In 1942, you would have had to hand over your 9 coupons at the point of purchase.)

Hopefully, they'll last you a long time AND fit you beautifully throughout their lifespan.

- Pip

wit40iwtwan

Laura_Elsewhere said:

wit40iwtwan said:

Question - I wear a non wired bra that has gone on reduced to clear for 50% off... If I stock up for a few years in the fear of this super comfy bra being discontinued do I count all 6 bra's in my coupons for 2021/22 or only when I start to use them?  

I suspect you would need to use this year's coupons to buy them, just as people did in the war if trying to stock up on something they might not be able to get easily in the future... sorry!   

Now then, the *real* question is whether you are nobly supporting local businesses and helping the economy by buying extra, or whether you are panic-buying and hoarding! (there's quite a bit of anxious soul-searching in the Mass.Obs. books by people juggling the dilemma!)

It sure is a bit of a panic buy as it took so long to find ones that fit... but as I have enough for this year instead of the 6 I am just going to buy 2 instead - that will more than cover the rest of my year (i.e. I started only in in May so I am finishing in May 22....)

Besides as things change next year they may not fit as well... 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, been MIA for a week or so, I have been busy on the moth front. I was a bit freaked by the whole thing and decided I needed to do a complete clear out of my clothes so every draw has been emptied and things I haven't worn in a while, (the last 4 weeks), have been washed and checked over, I still have 3 jumpers to hand wash but I can't see any damage, all handknitted, 2 mohair and 1 colourwork 1 I paid quite a lot of money for which a friend's Mum knitted for me, 50 pounds about 30 years ago but it is still going strong and looks good so I think that proves the point about buying good quality and things will last. Now, of course the ironing pile has taken over the conservatory but it will get done after I have finished thoroughly cleaning the bedroom from ceiling to floor. I can't take up the carpet and beat it on the line unfortunately as it is fitted but I have hoovered it 3 times and I will do it again after I have finished wiping down the picture rail and skirting boards as recommended by Laura. The bedside rug has been beaten though, which I found strangely therapeutic. I have found some damage to 3 of my Dad's scarves which I had kept as a sentimental reminder. They are the only things I have of his apart from his war medals so I am thinking of salvaging what I can from them and making a sort of patchwork scarf as I am not sure I will be able to recycle / let them go just yet.
On the making front I have started knitting the wrap for my sister from the yarn I got last month but there is no rush for this as her birthday is in November. I am quite tired at the moment as I am also sorting stuff at work. I now have less than 4 weeks until we finish for the summer and I retire and I have lots of loose ends to tie up. Plus the head has decided to have a staffing structure change and as I am the union rep I have been involved in the consultation and it will be out to the staff on Wednesday so I am sure that will create more work in the form of talking things through with various staff.
@Laura_Elsewhere please let us know when you find a suitable yarn for baby things, like you I have been using mashine washable stuff working on the basis that new Mums really have got better things to do than standing at the sink hand washing. It really makes you think about how our Mums and Grandmothers fitted it all in. They must have been super women
Here's hoping for some better times ahead, or at least some nicer gardening weather , take care everyone.
Anne

Liverpool_Anne

@wit40iwtwan, I think I would be very tempted to get the bras. Like you I really don't like underwires and struggle to find any that fit and are comfortable and half price seems too good to pass up  

PipneyJane

Liverpool_Anne said:

@wit40iwtwan, I think I would be very tempted to get the bras. Like you I really don't like underwires and struggle to find any that fit and are comfortable and half price seems too good to pass up  

That is really good logic, @Liverpool_Anne and made me think of something else:  opportunity cost.  @wit40iwtwan - what would you spend the coupons on if you don’t spend them on the bras?  

- Pip

ETA:  @Liverpool_Anne, sounds like you’ve had a really busy few weeks.  I am sorry about the moth damage to your dad’s scarves.

skogar

Spend to report.

As I have really wide feet buying shoes is a problem. I bought some nice navy ankle boots in a 6E width over a year ago and wanted some similar black ones but they have had none available in my size for months. Padder now have a sale on (and this time actually some wide fitting things in my size - hence a major coupon spend). Very happy as I normally have to pay full price for shoes and all were half price or less.

2 pairs of black ankle boots

1 pair of black shoes

1 pair of red shoes

So a total of 20 coupons spent. So with the 7 already spent on the skirt that takes me down to 39.