2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Clutterbug07

Holy moly, I just used 'Too Good to Go' app for the first time- a fruit n veg shop opposite me do 'magic bags' for £5 to save on food waste.  omg.  I actually laughed when the guy came with one of those massive trays full of fruit n veg!  look how mad this is! And really only the bananas that need immediate use in banana bread!!  I'll definitely be doing this again.  I mean you don't know what you'll get, but I can get a lot of meals out of that.

PS. yes, those potatoes are literally the size of my head, they are potatoheads infact!

PPS. Anyone know what to do with mouli?

Wraithlady

Clutterbug07 said:

PPS. Anyone know what to do with mouli?

It's radish-flavoured so salads are a distinct possibility, or put it in a curry or a stir-fry.

It's spelt 'mooli' so feel free to google mooli recipes

Primrose

What a splendid bargain ! 

Several things you can do with mouli  as it has a very mild taste, including: 

1. chop it up and use as a substitute turnip in stews or casseroles,
2.  Shred it finely and use raw In Coleslaw 
3.   Cut it into long shreds and serve with raw carrots, cucumber etc as part of a crudité platter.
4. slice finely and use in a Chinese  stir fry. 

If it's a bit limp soak in cold water overnight, dry and store in salad container in your fridge where it should keep for a while.  It's an Asian member of the radish family but will also grow well in this country  in a non-stoney soil.  I have grown some massive ones over the years. 

And if you want to try growing  peppers /chillies, save the seeds from those veg, dry in an airing cupboard for a week and then sow them.  It will save you spending money on pricey seed packets so a double bargain! !

nannygladys

Clutterbug - what a great haul!!

I haven't been out today, so no money spent, mended a pair of socks, that's the second pair in as many weeks.
Started knitting a jumper with some wool I already had, which will be for next winter and randomly sorted the freezer out, so I now know what I have in there. There's loads of fruit and veggies from the allotment so I had better start eating them before I need the space for this years, I haven't even starting any seeds off yet - too soon!

Signature is up to date and when I am paid it will be updated, I love seeing the figures change, well the saving one anyway. January's grocery spends are very low and I'm hoping February's will be low as well, but it all depends what is acquired!!! 

During February I will try to get costs down even more but I'm getting to a stage now where I feel I'm doing all I can, so I will be trying to be more inventful (not sure that's even a word lol) and reading to see if I can include some of all yours into my life. Got to positive!!!!!! 
Nannyg

MazzieD

OFGEM ENERGY PRICE CAP ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD TO 11AM TODAY.

Current variable rate prices now showing on my Smart Meter.  Think I'll be putting savings for January and whatever I manage to save this month towards my future energy bills!.

Floss said:

MazzieD did your insurers not offer to replace your car rather than pay cash? 

Would take months to find a like for like replacement,  second hand ones are like gold dust, owners tend to run them into the ground rather than replace them.   The oldest second hand one I've seen is 2 years old and thousands more expensive.  They hold their value well.

Debsnewbudget

I am now a Food Waste Hero with Olio.
I did my first collection from T&5co  (which was  bread and pastries) last night and as a collector we are allowed to keep 10% for ourselves.
just waiting for the rest to be taken now
its a great system and worth joining if you have other people near you.

mumtoomany

Hi all. Frugal wins for today. Last night i cooked a £2, reduced to clear, Lidl chicken. 1.5kg, serves five apparently! Seven roast dinners last night. A box full of diced chicken back in the freezer, along with some diced mushrooms that had seen better days, for a pie, will serve us all. Also box of shredded chicken which will make a stir fry again for us all. The bones are boiler in last nights vegetable water, stripped of the last scraps of meat, the bones will go on the fire tonight the gristle and skin will feed the dog. Stock and meat bits went in a pan with two small diced onions, a bit of home grown garlic, some fake double cream, the"juice" that came from the sausages, (rinsed off the tray they were cooked on) from the night before, and half a pack of reduced instant mash. Served for of us for lunch with  reduced bread rolls. 
Cut DH's hair, been doing this for around thirty years, we are on our third set of clippers, easier now he has less of it.
I think this thread may start getting busier now fuel prices are going up. Happy travelling all, hugs, mumtoomany.xx

spudsmum

I love a "rubber" chicken @mumtoomany I always challenge myself to see how many days I can make it last. My record so far is 5 days worth of meals from a medium chicken (supplemented with additional veg etc of course) 

Not loving all the cost of living announcements today - belt tightening all round I think. The £350 of government "help" won't even scratch the surface  for us sadly.

Frugality still going well - reasonable hoard from pantry yesterday lovely sausages and ham and tuna and a full carrier bag of fruit and veg. I'm making toad in the hole tonight, ham and mushroom pie tomorrow and thai tuna fishcakes on saturday that's a least 3 evening meals sorted. Also got a massive bag of bread mix - enough to make 20 loaves so ill have a go at that over the weekend. 

I've only spent £5 since Monday (plus £19 on postage but work will reimburse that.) 3x NSD this week. 

Just reckoned up budgets and I had £50 left in my food budget and I made £100+ of extra income - hoping to keep up this momentum. 

Does anyone sell clothes on vinted etc. I have a tonne of kids clothes in storage. Not had much success with f@cebook marketplace so looking for alternative ways to get rid of it. 

willow_loulou

I can’t bring myself to eat chicken anymore, unless is in now way resembled the bird. The downside to keeping them is I’ve gotten soft lol but I am getting a few eggs a week. 
Im stocking my cupboards over the next couple of months and I’m going to keep ordering my small box of eco logs and 
get ready for next winter. My main focus though is clearing my debt. Credit card has been cut up - I just can’t risk using it. Going on this years wood use if I buy one a month between now and October - along with the pallets I have and will keep look out for, we will at least be warm. 

Trying out a tin meal today. Veggies, beans and bolognaise, it’s huge slow cookers worth so I hope it’s good as these are currently readily available so I can get more. I feel very sorry for those worse off than me. 

Clutterbug07

Thanks for the tips @Wraithlady and @Primrose - am planning to make some coleslaw to go with chicken wings for the rugby on Saturday, and also found a curry recipe!

One of my aims this year is to have less food waste, and spend less on groceries.  It's so easy when tired to go grab a ready meal from the super market but we need to get out of the habit (once or twice a fortnight usually), as that adds up so quickly!  It's more work as it's more cooking, but am hoping it will be worth it!