Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

I forgot to put that in my post sleepiness this afternoon and loo roll hunt, it wasn't until I found them that I realized that I had looked and found some yesterday as well!! How much loo paper did I stash?? I didn't hoard any honestly, mind you when loo roll panic buying started I was in HBs and a lady came through the back doors with a huge crate of them and asked everyone around if they wanted any, and I panic bought some them as I didnt want to be left out, talk about me being a sheep!! I think they were the ones under the spare bed yesterday!! Lol
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

But lockdown you has saved ‘now’ you money with stashing the toilet rolls 😁 That’s a win! 

nannygladys

It certainly is WinterWarrior!! I didn't think of it like that.

Today I defrosted dds fridge/freezer, what a big ice ball that was! I thought I'd found a yeti at one point but is was a plastic bag in the middle of a load of ice!!! Anyway all done and dusted and I had a shower whilst I was there, which I brings me onto some good news, a neighbour came to talk to me this morning to tell me about his roof and I mentioned that my electric shower had stopped working a few months ago and he asked if the trip switch had gone off, guess what I looked and it had so it's working now!! I would have got somebody in for a repair, it's one of the things on my list. So that's money saved and I'm a very happy bunny.

Anyway I have had to spend 50p today at the library, I ordered a book and didn't realise you paid for the privilege, I wasn't told originally. It's called The no spend year by Michelle McGrath, I haven't had chance to start it but it's looks interesting. 

So I have finished on £59.50 - yay I did it. I get paid tomorrow, and thinking I will carry on with the low grocery spend for the time being, so I will keep going on here as well. It's surprising how much I have saved, not just on food but it's made me more aware on how much money I waste on little needs ie coffee out, £shop and the like. It also means I can now get my boiler serviced if I can find someone.

Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Well done on the shower. I have that book on kindle. Very inspiring, but she really does go to extremes.

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - yes she does, I can't imagine anyone around here going everywhere on a bike it's too hilly!! And drinking a pint of water in a pub .... but I have to take my hat off to her, she stuck with It.

Had a busy day today, money shuffle done and cash from atm in my envelopes, water bill paid I pay every six months so money came out if annual bills.
This morning I made some apple and onion chutney and then went to the allotment to pick some veg and do a bit of digging and tidying up, then visited dd1 and gave her some veg mainly sweetcorn and beans. I picked 14 big cobs of sweetcorn and already froze the 10 I kept and there's still quite a few left! The beans have nearly finished but the cabbage and kale are always ready when I need some. Shame the toms are rubbish this year but you have to celebrate the good and hope the rubbish bits are better next year. Going to have a go at piccalilli tomorrow.

No money spent and made a list of what I have in the cupboards, it's not on really there's way too much stock for one person I still think I'm feeding 4 people! 

Off to have a look around the boards.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

Sweetcorn relish is lovely…I’ve no idea if it’s easy to make though?
and yes she had some bonkers ideas, the holiday was scary, I would rather not have gone at all than cycle all that way. 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - I never gave sweetcorn relish a thought I'll have to look it up as I still have loads of cobs on the plants, I planted 29 plants and didn't expect them all to do so well, but I'm not complaining honestly.

So today I haven't been out anywhere. This morning I made 5 jars of piccalilli, sil rather likes it so that's  him sorted! And this afternoon I have been weeding the garden and cutting flowers down and giving a bush a quick trim. 
Just going to cook tea and then go for short stroll to make the most of the sunny day we have had.
Lunch - cobs of sweetcorn 
Tea - burgers in buns with hm relish
Later - a slice or two of the banana loaf that keeps giving! Not sure how much is left but it seems to be going on forever, anyone that comes has been having some as well, mind you I did make three of them!! 
Nannyg

poppy811

Just wanted to say how much I admire you.  You are so positive.  Our circumstances are not dissimilar and I know how hard it can be.  I was given some courgettes the other day so made pasta lemon and courgette for tea yesterday and will make courgette soup today.  Free meals ( well almost).
Anyway well done you and keep going.

nannygladys

poppy811 -thank you for the very kind comment. It isn't plain sailing all the time but I try to keep positive and make the best of everything, well on most days anyway. I like courgette and potato soup from vivis you tube channel.

Today has been another no spend day and I've been busy doing bits and bobs. I made a canalloni, using veggies from the fridge and dried brown lentils, as well as some out of date pasta!! It was tasty, and I followed this with some crumble made with fruit from the freezer and custard powder I found in the back of the cupboard, I've just had that!
Nothing else to report really, not sure about tomorrow, I know I'm looking after an old fur baby for a few hours and I need to do some washing and cleaning, so that sounds like a plan to me.
Next week I must try to book in a boiler service and the opticians, both will be paid for out of annual expenses account, I'm so glad I set this up some time ago it's a relief to have the money to pay them instead of either putting things on a credit card, going over drawn or not having them done. 
Off to explore the boards
Nannyg 

nannygladys

Yesterday was another quiet day not doing much at all, just taking it easy. In days gone by, probably more pre cv, I would have gone shopping in the city, had a small lunch somewhere and bought a few unnecessary fripperies, how times have changed! I don't enjoy doing it anymore or I've got out of the habit, not sure which! (Or can't/don't want to spend the money.)

Had dds dog for the day, and she enjoyed wondering in and out into the garden, she's getting on in years now and can't handle such long walks now. They enjoyed their day out and collected her later in the day.
Read my books and did a little cleaning and that was it really.

Today won't be much different, I'm eating leftovers of what's in the fridge today and tomorrow and then I will go to the lottie and get the weeks veggies to start again! I haven't done a proper menu plan as I'm not sure what veggies are ready, I can always make something with the amount of food I have in my pantry.

Pantries- are they a good thing or are they a false saving? I suppose it depends on how you look at it, as it is 'lost' money up front but come hard times (or here bad weather)  they come into their own, still undecided but I reckon I like having a safety blanket to fall back on.

I've been thinking of the 'c' word as well, I always allocate all dds and dgc the same amount of money and usually ask parents what to buy the kiddies, another cop out I suppose, but I don't enjoy kiddie shopping much they're always changing their minds what they like and I hate to waste time and money and then it gets put in a corner to go to the cs a but later on, in fact I would just give them the money if I had my way - bah humbug lol!!! On the Xmas food front I usually just treat myself to a couple of bits (chocolate) and that's about it, gone are the days when I cook for everyone, and I usually go to one dd for my Xmas dinner! I do take a dessert/wine with me. This has been bought on because someone said it's only 4 months until Xmas! 

So I'd better go and water the peppers and chillies in the garden and see if anymore are ready.
Nannyg