Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

I'll have to remember each time I cook dinner, obviously salads will probably be the cheapest

I mostly make my own cakes and I think the next one I make I will cost up the ingredients (well as best I can) add on the fuel cost and see if it's worth it, I know hm are better because you know exactly what goes into them but if it costs you 2/3 times more than a shop one ....

I always said I wouldn't downgrade my favourite instant coffee, but now I buy a cheaper one and mix it half and half with my usual one and weigh a week's amount out and put it in a container to use, when I see it going down too quickly I make a cup of tea or even just have hot water, in fact I prefer the water to the tea
I also timed a shower and hair wash the other day, no it wasn't near the 4 minute mark, I don't think it ever will be, I can't move that fast lol but now I have less showers and have a good old fashioned all over wash on non shower days and nobodies complained or moved away because I smell lol (unless they're just too polite!) It sounds as if I'm getting hung up on timing things, I'm not but these are small things I can improve on to save the odd pence and you never know if I find enough of these small things I may stand a chance of staying in the black.
Just a thought there's vacuum useage, washing machine useage oh what an exciting life I'm going to lead at this rate, it could be my new 'going out' oh no!!!! 
It's funny how I'm doing little bits to cut down, things I wouldn't do in the past.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Had a lovely day today, been spoilt by dds and dgc. 
The hour going forward threw me a bit this morning, but OK now although I must remember to change the kitchen clock before I think I've gained an hour.

No shopping, only happy thoughts and some good company, dd3 also bought pup down to see me and he went berserk doing zoomies around the garden flattening some taffs and tulips but one look with his puppy dog eyes and he's forgiven.

Mixed veggies & noodles for tea, they weren't off my menu list but they were what I wanted and I had everything in so that was fine and I used up some veggies out of the fridge that needed eating and I had fruit and yogurt for afters.

Missing a bit of sweet stuff to eat so may make some flap Jack or some twinks -  I only ever make half the amount of twinks as the recipe makes so many, but that's a job for tomorrow.
Nannyg

warby68

You're doing so well living a good full life on the tightest of budgets.

I still think your children could direct say a tenner a week your way for childcare. I know you don't want to and you all sound really close doing things for each other but I really think a tenner would make far more difference to you than to them IYSWIM. I know I'm poking my nose in but we paid my MIL, not a huge amount but she wasn't working otherwise at the time and she soon came to like the spends and we loved the help. Only a day or 2 a week like you.

nannygladys

warby68 - it's funny you should mention payment for looking after dgs, because I noticed when the fuel prices went up there was an unexpected payment into my bank account by dd, when I mentioned it to her she said it was to pay for my fuel!! So I don't mention it now and accept it, but if I feel it's getting a bit too often (as my car is only small) I will be having words with her! 

I've had a really productive day today, eldest dgd came up to mine and after a quick lunch we went to the lottie, where she worked like a Trojan clearing different areas for me, pulling old inedible veg up and then coming to the tip with me to get rid of the boot load of rubbish, and she's coming with me again if it's not raining on Thursday to help some more! Or we will be going to get a couple of bags of gravel for the back garden and paint for the shed which she's going to attempt for me!!! Saves me doing it and she wants to have a go, mind you she said she doesn't want to inherit the lottie from me but doesn't mind helping - bless
The poor poly tunnel was completely destroyed, so a new cover will be ordered as I have the money for that and that was something else we took down and tipped, only the cover though!!! So I came home had two big mugs of coffee and a good wash and then a sit down. I'm hoping I sleep well tonight.
No money spent on anything so my £10 is still intact, I really can't think I will need anything but I'm very tempted to spend £4 of it at the community pantry on stores on Thursday, everything seems to happen on Tuesdays and Thursdays in my world!!! I will be visiting the food hub though for a bit of fresh veg, but not fruit as I still have some that needs eating. The flapjack/biscuits will probably made Wednesday now as its grandma duties tomorrow, but I may have a sneaky look and see if dd has any biscuits at her house, trouble is her and OH are trying to eat healthily, (well since Xmas really) and she doesn't make/buy any cakes or biscuits anymore but you never know my luck may be in, fingers crossed!!
I had pizza for tea that was on the menu plan, but I'm taking my fruit and yogurt - pudding, with me tomorrow as I can't be bothered to have it now, I'm trying to use up my last couple of bags of fruit from the lottie and the yogurt I made last week and hopefully I can start thinking about defrosting the fridge freezer in readiness for this year's crops, I have loads of veg still to plough through in the freezer, so I'd better get eating that down. 
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Have you thought about making or buying meringue nests? They are lovely and sweet for having with fruit and yoghurt (or ice cream) and are pretty cheap as desserts go. I usually have frozen berries in for that, as it’s less wastage than trying to remember to eat up fresh short lasting fruit 😁 Anyway, might be an idea to jazz up yoghurt if you are getting tired of it. I also like fancy muesli with yoghurt (it reminds me of those little 2 pot yoghurts with crunchy bits in one side….but bigger 😬). 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - I love the meringue nests with fruit & yogurt, and ice cream, I had forgotten about them I'll have to see if I can get some, I do have some tosco vouchers so perhaps I should use one of those and stock up.

I'm sat in dds garden enjoying a bit of warm sun whilst it's still about. Dgs and pup love being outside and its easier to watch them!!! They reckon there may be a sprinkling of snow soon, but I can't see it at the moment as I'm sat out without a jumper/fleece on

Have to get dgs in to clean him up before I go to school and pick dgd up, it's in the next village so by the time ive I've seen to him and pup it'll be time to go.

There's a big dark cloud just blocked the sun out, better get washing in as well!!
Nannyg

nannygladys

Well, that big black cloud stayed overhead and started to dump rain on us, but at least we got back to dds first and stayed dry!! When I got home it didn't look as if it had rained here at all and its only 15/16 miles away 

Anyway as usual time went really quickly whilst there and when I got back I had tea that I had taken out of the freezer this morning and just flopped down on the settee with a cup of coffee and a thick jumper on as its definitely a bit colder.

Watched a vlog by Martin and was shocked how much my g&e may be after October, surely the gvt will have to do something, my original cost was quite low, then my fixed plan ended in February and it shot up then, and come April it goes up by about 50% so when I did Martin's workings on what it may be in October it really shook me up I don't know what to make of it all it's really going to be hard for all of us and many of us have no options to pay if we heat our houses by g&e. It's like we're going backwards all the time.

Anyway, DD didn't have cake or biscuits so I will have to make something quick, easy and using little gas cooking, so flapjack or twinks I reckon.

Nannyg

Pollie

If you have a microwave you could try Jack Monroe's microwave brownies or there are also recipes online for microwave mug cakes. They are very easy and only take about 2 minutes to cook.

WinterWarrior

@Pollie you’ve reminded me that I got gifted a few boxes of microwave mug cake mixes a while ago. I tried a couple and they weren’t bad with a dollop of ice cream, so I don’t know why I forgot them! 

nannygladys

Pollie - I had forgotten about microwave mug cakes, thanks . I used to make microwave puddings a lot when kids were little, I think our favourites were 'steamed' syrup sponge and jam sponge served with ice cream!