Simple living in the country - back to basics

South_coast

I was about to suggest aubergine parmigiana and risottos - you've beaten me to it! I also do bean stew type things, basically anything I think I can make a huge quantity of and will freeze well. The hardest bit is motivating myself to do more when there's still some in the freezer, so I don't end up having the same thing every day. I did try the Frugalwoods rice and beans (which also froze fine), but it was a bit dull for me. 

I love my breakfast, couldn't cope without it (especially when I'm out of the house for 11 hours on office days). I don't ever snack though, so that probably balances it out 🤔?

Cheery_Daff

Ah, yes SC, motivating yourself to do more when there's already some in the freezer must be a tough one...

Foggy day here again, we've had endless fog for days now, can barely see past the garden gate! Certainly inspiring cosiness.

We've just been and had a cuppa in the chicken run with the ladies. All seem fine, although Bonny's bum is a bit mucky again which might be a sign of more soft eggs - she seems fine, but if it gets much worse we'll have to give her a wash. 

Back inside now, and I'm going to head upstairs and paint the bedroom ceiling while there's still a bit of daylight. I want one of my new years resolutions to be around something like working to completion, getting the final bit done - very often i stop without getting to the end of a task when finishing wouldn't need that much more effort. Bet I could finish the top half of the ceiling at least today!

Cheery_Daff

Oh, and it's Day 6 for Mr Cheery today, and he tested negative this morning. Fingers crossed for the same again tomorrow, and then he can be let out for a cafe trip!

Cheery_Daff

Evening chums

Trying to get into a vague routine, and today it's Monday Finances! (I don't know why it's not Money Monday, because that would make more sense, but somehow Monday Finances has stuck now )

I'm looking at the LPG bill... 

We had a delivery on the 22nd, and they're charging us 43.9p a litre (46p inc VAT). I worked out last year that we used an average of about 4200 litres a year, so that would total £1,935.99 a year

Last delivery (July) was 38.9p (40.8p including VAT), so £1,715.49

I've been reading back over my old MSE diary, and apparently I was going to sort this out last August, when I had a quote for a 2 year fix at 33.6ppl (inc VAT), which would have been £1411.20 a year, had I actually got round to doing it... Sigh. It's not actually a 2 year fix - they have the right to increase by a certain amount in the second year, but I'm clearly now on a variable rate which is no use to anyone! 

The MSE LPG thread reckons we should still be able to get it for 30-something ppl, so I'll give current supplier, and main local alternative, a shout tomorrow and see what they can do. It'll tie me into another 2 year fix but at least there won't be any surprises... 

Watty1

lovely new diary already moving quickly. Really enjoyed, no that is not the right word, thinking about those questions to the frugal living challenge

Cheery_Daff

Hi Watty They're certainly thought-provoking questions, and quite confronting, some of them Are you going through them too? 

Off to check on banks & YNAB. Hope things haven't been misbehaving! 

Karmacat

Those food ideas are very interesting - and it so happens I have some sweet potatoes in the fridge right now along with fresh mushrooms (uh, which should have been used yesterday, but so what ...) 

Cheery, I hope you get good news about your LPG prices - I was just reading about tankers of LPG changing course mid-ocean and heading for Western Europe because our prices are so high they can make a better profit here.  

And yes, I agree with Watty, the questions are very thought provoking.  And useful.  Thanks for putting it into your diary.

hb2

Happy new diary Cheery!

I have to admit to feeling quite ashamed that I have never really budgeted, just drifted through life - financially and regarding work. However, as we are mortgage-free and both retired, I'm not likely to change now!

Karmacat

hb2 said:

I have to admit to feeling quite ashamed that I have never really budgeted, just drifted through life - financially and regarding work. However, as we are mortgage-free and both retired, I'm not likely to change now!

I've kept an eye on things, but I've never had a budget I stuck to, either, hb2, just tried to spend as little as possible at various times.  And I'm in the same boat as you now, mortage free and retired (and in receipt of State Pension, no less!) but I don't like the feeling of drifting, I do like to have a larger aim in mind, which has been difficult the last few years!

Cheery, I just copied out your headings on the frugalwoods questions, and I'll have a go offline before I commit anything to the interwebulator    most of my monthly spends are in your category of "relatively fixed stuff", but we'll see where it ends up, it's definitely thought provoking.

beanielou

Happy shiny ew diary