Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

Viking_mfw

I would try processing and preserving plums - stewing and freezing or mulling to keep in jars. Plum chutney if you eat chutney etc https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/aug/07/plum-recipes-fearnley-whittingstall
I love preserving fruit. I love making jam and am delighted my children like eating it as I am not that keen myself !

girlatplay

I regularly leave my bags in the car by accident.  I usually just put all the stuff back in the trolley and take that to the car as I refuse to buy another bag.  If anyone questions me, they can come and see my 100,000 bags in the boot.

Mrs_Binxtoria

• Paid SW for 6 weeks last night £29.75. I'd put 3lb on. For it to be worth my life energy to pay - I need to recommit to healthier eating.

A few years ago I lost a great deal of weight with SW but have since put it all and plus some back on.  I am at a crossroads at the moment where I really need to think about my health.  I am toying with the idea with SW again but hate the fact that it costs so much money and that at times it is too restrictive.  I would like to do a hybrid approach follow, SW the majority of the time with the flexibility of being 'off plan' on occasion with the need for feeling guilty about it, because the group certainly makes you feeling guilty about even thinking about going 'off plan'.  I guess it is all about balance but I am yet to find that balance 

Alternatively I can stop looking on the forums so much and move more.... now there's an idea 

doingitanyway

Good luck for the dentist

beanielou

Ooh yes, I do love my beezwax wraps.

beanielou

Mrs_Binxtoria said:

• Paid SW for 6 weeks last night £29.75. I'd put 3lb on. For it to be worth my life energy to pay - I need to recommit to healthier eating.

A few years ago I lost a great deal of weight with SW but have since put it all and plus some back on.  I am at a crossroads at the moment where I really need to think about my health.  I am toying with the idea with SW again but hate the fact that it costs so much money and that at times it is too restrictive.  I would like to do a hybrid approach follow, SW the majority of the time with the flexibility of being 'off plan' on occasion with the need for feeling guilty about it, because the group certainly makes you feeling guilty about even thinking about going 'off plan'.  I guess it is all about balance but I am yet to find that balance 

Alternatively I can stop looking on the forums so much and move more.... now there's an idea 

I am currently doing SW & it is currently working.
Currently having a couple of weeks off in the lead up to the big 60 (:( )  as have relatives up & other stuff going on & i refuse to be thinking about everything I eat.
HTH.

mark55man

good luck with whatever you decide diet-wise - but don't stress about the decision. 

MovingForwards

DD could always get into the habit of washing / reusing the foil. 
Depending on what you use cling film for look at alternatives as mentioned by someone, tupperware, washable zip bags etc.

I'm sure we all understand your quandary about direction, whether to move etc. Things will be clearer when DD moves on as she's come a long way over the last few years.

savingholmes

Thanks @greent and Beanie - not something I was aware of. 

Hi @Vikingmfw I'm not sure I've ever made jam as an adult. Not really sure where to start. Picking the plums would be a good first step. They are very tasty.

GAP - I get caught out if I don't get a trolley. I daren't get a trolley though half the time as I'd buy a lot more. I really struggle to stop putting stuff in my basket / trolley if there's still room!! Hence why I often send others in for me.

DD asked me to get gravy cubes £2.50 and I needed salt £1.78 - but I spent an extra £6.50 on 2 medium pizzas, soft drink and a possible cinema voucher... But pizza isn't SW friendly so why?  I shared the drink and pizza with DD and still have one for tomorrow but £6.50 extra I didn't need to spend. I did get 2 x 10p sliced mushrooms though which was a win. (However I already had a pack at home.... ) You get the idea... 

@Mrs_Binxtoria You may be able to get 12 weeks SW free if you've not been a member in the previous 12 weeks. Check your local council. 

Thanks DIA - Dentist tomorrow am!! I hate going. On the phobic side. He's lovely though which helps a little.

Beanie not sure when you're 60th birthday is - but to make sure I don't miss it - Happy Birthday!

Thanks MF. I think I need to learn contentment - either that or find the right challenge for me... 

savingholmes

Well tonight - I had buyer's remorse over my yet more grocery spending. However - I watched some frugal type videos - including ones about living on £5 or £10 a week (for food) - and it made me appreciate all over again how blessed I am. It also motivated me to batch cook - using some of my recent YS goodies.

I therefore made a veggie pasta:

• pasta
• half a jar of sun dried tomatoes
• half a jar of pickled peppers
• onions, mushrooms, a few frozen green beans
• a couple of small green peppers
• kidney beans
• 2 caps of vinegar
• chilli, salt and garlic to taste
• A sprinkle of parmesan at the end

That ought to be 2-4 portions depending on whether it's eaten with salad or on its own. I didn't buy salad leaves as my fridge is tending towards freezing currently. My frozen stuff in the freezer seems okay again so I have put 2 portions in the freezer in the bottom drawer which was empty. Really hoping it stays okay and was just a hot weather blip.

I had to bin one lot of parmesan that had gone mouldy (out of date 4/7) but luckily had some from mid July that was still mould free. 

I also cooked a bolognese sauce with 500g of 5% minced beef. I've put about a third with pasta and frozen that. A third will become cottage pie and I added some frozen sweetcorn. Another third became chilli and I added kidney beans and chilli powder. Just got the mash left to finish and then done. Having watched the frugal type programmes I froze the other portion of unused mince that DD picked up for me the other day.

Hopefully that will help me get back on track SW wise as off plan again today. 

A potential new handy man is due to come and quote tomorrow. Will let you know how that goes. Tomorrow I have a dentist appointment and GP review.

DD was happy today as she finally got a refund from her breakdown insurance for the car she sold months ago.