It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

YorksLass

Yesterday I went to the SM for some items that I can't get with my online delivery and had mixed success.  Two items aren't being  stocked any more but I managed all the others, albeit much dearer than when I last bought them - although I was expecting that to be the case.  I'm not a shopping lover at the best of times and my trip just reinforced that feeling.  Things were being moved around - again   - and I felt really sorry for the assistants who must have been so fed up of being asked "Where's this gone?" or "Do you still sell?"  I'm guessing they were making room for Christmas stuff and Halloween tat, given the shelf space being allocated for these.

I expect that for many people Christmas this year will be a much leaner affair, given the current cost of living.  As a family, we've already had "the conversation", have agreed on one inexpensive present per adult and have circulated lists of "would like" suggestions.  Not bothered if they are new, home made or from the CS.     For the little ones we're clubbing together for something from their Santa wish lists and any leftover cash can be spent on an outing.

I have a Xmas grocery savings pot and will be using some of that next week to stock up on baking goods so I can make a cake (a rich fruit cake not a Xmas one), mince pies, sausage rolls etc.

Tonight's planned chicken stir fry has turned into a casserole as it's quite chilly and miserable here.  Everything in the SC so it's a one-pot meal and I'll add some herb dumplings towards the end of the cooking time.  There'll probably be leftover gravy from that so tomorrow I'll add more veg and broken bits of pasta to it for a minestrone type soup that we can have for lunch with crispy rolls.

London_1

Well I have arrived at Ilfracombe, left Kent in sunshine and arrived in Devon in pouring rain ,but hey ho its a change of scenery The hotel is spotless and just going down to have a dinner I haven't had to cook or shop for

Nice eseaview from my room of waves crashing on the harbour in front of the hotel:) But is lovely and warm so I don't mind, think there is an exscursion tomorrow so we may go on that as its nice to see different parts of the area.Good job I brought my brolly just in case

Cheers chums

JackieO xx 

linz

YorksLass said:

I expect that for many people Christmas this year will be a much leaner affair, given the current cost of living.  As a family, we've already had "the conversation", have agreed on one inexpensive present per adult and have circulated lists of "would like" suggestions.  Not bothered if they are new, home made or from the CS.     For the little ones we're clubbing together for something from their Santa wish lists and any leftover cash can be spent on an outing.

Partner and I have also discussed this a few months ago. We decided on £50 on each other. I've got most of his already, mainly from CS or stuff i've picked up for free. I'm up to £37 and have probably got about 8 or 9 things including a lovely dressy shirt and a Barbour t-shirt

joedenise

London_1 said:

Well I have arrived at Ilfracombe, left Kent in sunshine and arrived in Devon in pouring rain ,but hey ho its a change of scenery The hotel is spotless and just going down to have a dinner I haven't had to cook or shop for

Nice eseaview from my room of waves crashing on the harbour in front of the hotel:) But is lovely and warm so I don't mind, think there is an exscursion tomorrow so we may go on that as its nice to see different parts of the area.Good job I brought my brolly just in case

Cheers chums

JackieO xx 

Enjoy your break @London_1 Jackie

elsien

I’ve decided I’m treating myself via groupon if anything good comes up, so that everything isn’t all doom and gloom. 

2 course Malaysian meal for two with a glass of wine each for £15.
I’m sure they’re hoping to make money on extra drinks, a third course etc which normally cost more than the meal itself, but tap water will do me.  

tooldle

London_1 said:

Well I have arrived at Ilfracombe, left Kent in sunshine and arrived in Devon in pouring rain ,but hey ho its a change of scenery The hotel is spotless and just going down to have a dinner I haven't had to cook or shop for

Nice eseaview from my room of waves crashing on the harbour in front of the hotel:) But is lovely and warm so I don't mind, think there is an exscursion tomorrow so we may go on that as its nice to see different parts of the area.Good job I brought my brolly just in case

Cheers chums

JackieO xx 

If the weather were a little clearer, I’d give you a wave. On good days we can see Ilfracombe from our part of South West Wales. Heavy drizzle here all afternoon. 

ladyholly

tooldle said:

If the weather were a little clearer, I’d give you a wave. On good days we can see Ilfracombe from our part of South West Wales. Heavy drizzle here all afternoon. 

We live on the west coast of England though further north than Ilfracombe and the saying here is if you can see Wales it going th rain and if you cant see Wales it is raining.

Rosa_Damascena

I am definitely feeling the pinch now - I refuse to pay £2.65 for a cake from Asda (notional problem as I was after Victoria sponge which is a variety that seems to have yielded shelf space to Christmas cakes and mince pies. It didn't stop me from spending £15 (less 10%) on shampoo, but I expect that to last me for well over a year.

My cupboard is getting barer, freezer is running down and food is a tad boring. Surprisingly what I can afford is a glass of wine in the evenings, stretching a single bottle out over a week. 

linz

Rosa_Damascena said:

I am definitely feeling the pinch now - I refuse to pay £2.65 for a cake from Asda (notional problem as I was after Victoria sponge which is a variety that seems to have yielded shelf space to Christmas cakes and mince pies. 

I nipped to the co-op on my way home from work to see if there was any YS stuff - I wanted some onions and peppers aswell. I could have sworn the peppers were on promotion at 70p for a 3 pack but the till scanned then at £1.59 so I told the cashier to take them back off. I'll get them from Aldi or Lidl on Friday instead.

RobM99

Graham's Channel Island milk. £1 in Feb, £1.60 a litre now.