Struggling along as best I can

cbsexec

It’s lovely when a shop costs less than you think 😀

nannygladys

WinterWarrior: I want to be able to enjoy my chocolate on my own and I'm that tired I wouldn't know if I've eaten it or not lol!! This sitting lark is exhausting but at least this is the only full week.

cbsexec: I thought it would have been about £15 more! I was just so chuffed!

Sorry I missed yesterday I was just so tired. Today has been busy but I've just had my tea and a sit down and I feel almost normal lol!! 

Nothing spent so still on track and that's about it really, kiddies have been fine and eldest has helped, she receives her gcse results tomorrow, she has struggled with school but since going to 'big' school and receiving help has come on by leaps and bounds. She's off to college in September and we're all so proud of her.

Well tonight it'll be a little light knitting before having an early night, so I can do it all again tomorrow.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

I’m glad you were just having a day off posting and hadn’t fallen into a chocolate coma 😬🍫

nannygladys

Oh WinterWarrior a chocolate coma, I wish lol!!

Had a manic yesterday eldest dgd received her exam results and she bought them to me to open!!!! I was as nervous as her!! Anyway we are all very proud of her as she has passed them all, which with the learning problems she has had is sooooooo brilliant, me and her parents are so proud. So I asked her what we should do to celebrate and inevitably she wanted to go to McDs, so off we went, we haven't been near the place since before first lockdown and then only as a treat, so can't remember when that was! Anyway we had a good time and dgd and her cousin (who I looked after yesterday) enjoyed the lunch out. The money I took out of my treat fund that I usually dip in to to buy bits of craft stuff, but it was worth it!! And a very well done to dgd.

So, still haven't spent anything of food budget, and I was given quite a bit of rhubarb yesterday, so I froze that last night. I haven't too much room left in my freezer at the moment, so will have to do a reshuffle in there.I pickled two jars of beetroot and made a jar of jam. Looked for a recipe for fridge pickles using cucumbers which I managed to find, so that will be happening later today, so a bit more will be put away for future use.

Well better get a shuffle on and do a few more chores
Nannyg

Blackcats

Well done to your grand daughter - you are right to be proud.  It's been a tough time for the school kids so I'm pleased she did well.

Nannygladys , I used you as an inspiration yesterday.  I was doing an online shop and searched for yoghurt.  A "deal" came up of 2 for £3 instead of £1.80 each.  I am always lured in by labels and fancy descriptions so I added the Greek style with honey and a pot of Greek style with lemon curd to my basket.  Then I noticed the same sized Greek style yoghurt own brand for 90p so I bought 2 pots of that and I can add my own honey and dollop of lemon curd and £1.20 stays in my purse.  I thought to myself that nannygladys would have been wise to the yoghurt deal 😇

WinterWarrior

Oh that’s such a good yoghurt idea…well done both of you! I like it with the really fruity or nutty muesli you can get from Lidl. It reminds me of the pots of yoghurt you could get with a tip in top bit…not sure if they are still a thing? 

nannygladys

Pleased you got a bargain  Blackcats, I often add different favouring to yogurt, I rather fancy the idea of that lemon curd! 
Sorry I have missed a couple of days I have been so tired I think the sitting of dgc wore me out a bit and I have been doing a few bits that I wanted to - get me! Anyway made another dress but although it fits OK it doesn't really suit me, I love the colour and pattern but it doesn't love me. I have looked at the clothes in my wardrobe and will take inspiration from them as I'm determined to have another try.

I also made some fridge pickles today, from two of many cucumbers I have grown and other bits from the veggie draw and gave one jar to my dd1, I'm going to have a go at pickling some green beans to see how they turn out, because I have so many coming ready and they won't all fit in my freezer or get eaten by dds! And courgettes........ well!!

Anyway I haven't spent anymore grocery money, not sure how I'm managing it, but tomorrow is a dentist check up for me, so the money for that comes out of the annual bill account, I'm so glad I started one a couple of years ago, I started it because several bills came in together and I had to use the credit card for a couple of them, so I took the annual bill amount added them altogether then added some more on top and divided by how many pay days in the year, so I always have the money now. This year I managed to get my car insurance down quite a bit but I have kept putting the same amount away so there's a bit extra in there, and I also got a different house and contents insurance deal that saved me nearly £200, so instead of paying those monthly I paid for them out of the annual and readjusted the monthly annual amount again, who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks!!! I also have a travel account that as I haven't been away anywhere for a couple of years is slowly increasing, so I may even be able to afford a weekend away at the bottom of my garden soon lol!!

So off to bed, the dentist is in the morning so I will have to get up at a reasonable time.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Well the trip to the dentist was fine, although my regular dentist is leaving so I saw another one today, but it was fine and he seems like a nice bloke, so that's it for a bit and not so bad money wise.
After that I went into mosserz to get a few bits for my veggie pickling, chutney making etc that wasn't as much as it could have been as I had quite a bit from last year still, so after that I down to the lottie to water the tunnel and pick some of what's ready. Came away a bit early as I managed to slice my finger and it wouldn't stop bleeding, but still bought quite a bit home. I've frozen some, chopped cabbage for use this week, given some away to dds and pickled a load of beans so the whole house stinks of vinegar!!! I've had the windows wide open, but it takes ages to go away! I'm glad I'm out tomorrow dgs sitting lol
So lunch was poached eggs on toast and tea was courgette and carrot risotto. I also finished some fruit with the last of the icecream to free a space in the freezer, that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it lol.
Tomorrow I'm out all day, so I'm taking a sandwich with me for lunch and I'm having butterbean casserole for tea that I made tonight.
So off to bed, I'll update my grocery total before I go.take care.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

What a productive day. If you are dgs sitting can you not have a sandwich at theirs? Cheaper than a babysitter! 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior: I know it's strange because dd always offers me food, it's my way of helping out even though they really don't need the money from me helping out for nothing, they are not in dire straights or anything. I have never accepted any money for sitting the dgc even though both dds are always offering, yesterday dd gave me a new pair of crocs that I have been coveting (strange I know but I wear them around the house as slippers and my present pair are well worn after over 6 years!) And the eldest does the same sort of thing, I also get taken out for meals when I least expect it and I get to see dgc even if they wear me out!  

Anyway I came on line last night and my kindle needed recharging and as I'm a bit frugal, (tightfisted) I didn't charge it until this morning as I have solar panels! 

So yesterday I took dgs for a walk in the afternoon, well I walked he sat in his pushchair, and bought a couple of bits in the sm that I didn't really need and spent £6.54! So I only have £2.70 left and 6 days left!!! Eek. That will teach me!! But looking at the bigger picture I don't really need anything, I have enough in and plenty of coffee and things to be getting on with so I don't even have to go out unless I want to, but we will see....

I have been doing a bit more preserving, pickled beans, more pickled beetroot and later I'm going to have a go at some chutney as I have everything in, it's nice to use veggies from the lottie and I've nearly run out of freezer space oh and if I have enough sugar I will make a couple more jars of jam, I'm no expert at this before you imagine I'm some sort of kitchen guru, it's all from books and internet and a old ordinary kitchen!!

Anyway off to do a bit of cleaning, upstairs today I think and then in the kitchen for the cooking.
Nannyg