Missy’s Surviving the storm so we can dance in the rain.

missymoo81

Thanks @Bluegreen143 I remember from your diary you used to have a Lottie. Have you still got one or does working more hours put paid to that? Really need to catch up on your lovely diary! 

I might try just for fun growing a pot of peppers, a pot of tomatoes a pot of potatoes and some spinach, I can grab seeds out of the peppers and tomatoes and have some very sprouty potatoes. Don’t have spinach seeds though. Wonder if I have anything in the garage….. think I’ve got some old buckets and pots I could use maybe.  I think the children would enjoy it. 

Went for a walk with OH this morning and  he paid for butties out of coffee machine money from work. I know we could have made some but I’m really trying. It’s small steps at the moment, usually we would eat in the cafe and it would come to around £22 for breakfast. But we took our own coffee and got some takeaway rolls which came to £8. So this although seems extravagant is definitely a step in the right direction. I think if I were to add up all of the food we eat out, or should I say did in the past, we’d probably be looking at £100+ a week some weeks, including, Sunday roasts and meal deals etc. which you don’t need to tell me is absolutely crazy, I am hanging my head in shame. I just didn’t really think about it as we work whilst we’re out, so in my head it comes under the bracket of work so I didn’t even think about the money. And I always wondered why I was so skint. But I am suddenly very aware. Especially as money is so tight and such a worry. These treats did come out of my and OHs spending money but often it was over and above. So crazy.

I don’t want to completely knock it on the head unless we absolutely have to. Of course if we really struggle it will be the first thing to go. We enjoy going out and we don’t have many vices. I’m going to set a budget and see if we can stick to it. 

OH is really onboard which makes life so much easier.

Cheery_Daff

Good point about the lettuce! Yes, easy and pretty quick to grow and expensive to buy! 

joedenise

Agree with @Cheery_Daff and @Bluegreen143; not really money saving to start with but the food tastes nicer.  I'd stick with perhaps some tomatoes, some lettuce and herbs if you use them.  Having said that I tend to just buy the living herbs from SM and then split into a bigger pot to keep it going for a few months.

I'm going to try growing some butternut squash in big pots this year using some seeds from a SM squash which I dried last year but I will be using compost I've already got and just topping it up with a bag of multipurpose compost.

Grumpelstiltskin

Missy Lidl is the cheapest place for seeds and compost. Be careful with tomatoes as you will need an outdoor variety.

Bluegreen143

Agree with Lidl being a good bet.

We done actually have an allotment but do have quite a big garden with greenhouse, veg patch, fruit trees etc (though the layout of our garden will be changing with smaller raised beds and we are giving our greenhouse away as the conservatory will be going over the veg patch/greenhouse). But as you guessed, we didn’t do that well last year growing stuff now I’m working 😆 this year will be hardly anything because the garden will be in upheaval for a while but I’ll do salad/herbs/fruit at least. 

Love your idea of doing a few bits for the kids, for fun. 

That is a steep eating out bill. Remember if you decrease that, your grocery bill may go up a bit so factor that in. But the more you cut your eating out, the better stuff you can afford at home - your eating at home budget goes so much further.

missymoo81

Thank you all so much. Thank you for the tips and thanks for the info on lidl @Grumpelstiltskin we have 2 lidl near us and one doesn’t do seeds but I know the one near work does. I may have a little look on Friday when I have some spare time. I’m sure we bought some a year or so ago. But I couldn’t tell you what we actually bought. 

@Bluegreen143 your plans sound very exciting. 

missymoo81

Ah sinus infection has well and truly taken hold this morning and May woke me up at 5 as she had a nightmare. Going to go back to bed after the school run and try and feel better. I did lots yesterday. Washing and dw and litter trays and made lunches and dinners and programs for people and had to go into work in the evening. I’m really struggling keeping myself awake right now! Which isn’t good when we need to leave in an hour! Can not wait to get back into bed. I’ve got work later on today. But have a clear evening to sleep or chill once the children are in bed at 2030.

missymoo81

Hmmm my cooking the banana bread in the oven with other things is throwing things off slightly. The bread is still doughy in the middle despite being in the oven for an hour. I’m going to make banana bread muffins which would take a lot less time to cook. Have found a jar in the cupboard for a pasta bake for a quick easy meal when we get in. As I’m teaching from 1600-1730. OH is working until 2230. Hmm may need to put some protein in it for him though. Think I’ve got some sausages in the freezer. I could cook and cut up just for him.

Just watching the Cockfields. Then going to get the children then work then home. I really need to get Roo to the barbers, I cut his hair yesterday and I’ve not made the best job of it 😳. I was trying to save money but I’m just not a hairdresser!

I’ve broken May’s water bottle 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️. It’s a new one she saved up for from the expensive £miggle shop. So I need to find £10 for a replacement.

i got 2 books of £1 meals from the library. But i didn’t realise it was £1 per portion! So it’s not actually that great. But good for ideas I guess. 

joedenise

@missymoo81 - I made that mistake with the £1 meals book.  The title is definitely misleading.  Like you I don't think £1 per portion is that good particularly when you're trying to save money.  

Have a look at Jack Monroe's website - www.cookingonabootstrap.com and also www.thriftylesley.com fr some cheap meal ideas.  Might also be worth trying to get some of the Jack Monroe books from the library.

missymoo81

@joedenise thank you for those suggestions I was thinking the same thing re Jack Monroe. I will see if I can order some of her books from the library. I haven’t heard of ThriftyLesley so will take a look. Not many people booked into class today which is a pain as won’t break even today but I think it’s down to a lot of people around here having Covid. 

Going to have a look in the garage for seeds when I get home.