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

Auntycaz

@CKhalvashi I wasn't complaining about my landlord and I can afford my rent as I live very simply, but I can't afford what other properties are charging if he decides to sell. 

CKhalvashi

Auntycaz said:

@CKhalvashi I wasn't complaining about my landlord and I can afford my rent as I live very simply, but I can't afford what other properties are charging if he decides to sell. 

Caz, I completely agree with you that it's ridiculous situation. I was trying to highlight that it's not a unique problem and I know people personally affected by this.

Sorry if that wasn't clear, I take no issue with anything you've said and agree on every point. My only 'gripe' was with the 'this is a 6 month commitment only' brigade, but that's a debate not really appropriate for here.

Katiehound

Having been away for over 5 weeks I have just had a mammoth trawl on this thread over the past couple of days., so some of my comments refer to things mentioned way back early last month!!

Tesco haven't done double the difference for quite a while.... sadly.

As said before Kefir is really easy to make. I bought the 'grains' online for a fiver well over 2 years ago.
There are a few basic rules: don't use anything metallic- you might need to search for a nylon sieve- no longer in Tesco!
Works best with full fat milk ( I buy  larger amount and freeze the rest) but does not work with alternative 'milks'
Make in glass jar covered (not sealed) I use kitchen roll with elastic band.
Don't wash the jar until it gets 'disgusting!'
Keep in a warmish place, if you have too much slow it down in the fridge
keep the strained kefir in the fridge- tastes rather like old fashioned yoghurt.

Potato Cakes (like scones)
These are really good but get stale quickly so I would freeze what is not eaten on the day
8 oz SR flour
1 x t salt
3 oz marg
2 1/2 fl oz milk (75 ml)
6 oz mashed potato

Rub fat into flour
Add warm potato
Add milk
Should now be a soft dough

Roll to 1/2" / 1 cm thick
Cut into 3" circle(optional : sprinkle with caraway seeds)
Grease & flour baking trays
Bake 20-30mins  4f0F/ gas 8/ C?

                                          *******************

I managed to get 2 x 15 pence bags of spuds in Aldi last week so I think some of these could be made and stored in the freezer if I can find a small gap  between the boxes of (19 pence!) frozen diced carrots!

I have been making Bircher muesli from a recipe somewhere on this board! Thanks to whoever, as the oats soaked in apple juice are really good with a handful of sultanas, then yoghurt & other fruit added to the serving. 4 portions in a box keep for a few days and the grated apple doesn't go brown which really surprised me.

Longwalker

Finally getting to have a roast dinner, the first meal all three of us will sit down together to eat since Good Friday

19p carrots, parsnips and spuds and a huge organic chicken I got a few weeks back for £2. Made sage and onion stuffing from the end of a loaf I made last week, a couple of onions and sage picked from the garden. My stomach is rumbling already and dinner is not till this evening when Mr L gets in from work

I didnt realise Tesco stopped the double the difference , sorry for the wrong information 

My rotary clothes line gave up the ghost last week. It has done about 25 years so I shouldn't really moan. But OMG, the cost of a replacement. Where I live is like a wind tunnel. Yesterday for instance, I had to fight the car door to get in and out, 2 miles down the road - it was no more then a summer breeze. So I have to buy heavy duty. Found one that wasnt so expensive, then they wanted £84 delivery !!!!!! Spent hours online finding one that wasnt going to cost a kings ransom and would be delivered. I have a sneaky feeling this one wont last 25 years. Mind if Im still alive in 25 years I wont be doing my washing , Ill be in a care home

Katiehound

I bought a cheap rotary last year from Wilko but this time (it's at my holiday home) the wind was fierce and it was bedding on the lines- result- the pole now has a bend in it! not surprising I suppose since the washing was almost horizontal, it's a wonder it sail off across the fields....

Dogs have just been out for their walk (with my dog runner) 2 drowned rats came home: thunder, lightening & hailstones- yep, it's a BH!

Have been enjoying Jamie's £1 meals on More4. Some of them look really moreish.

linz

Hope everyone on here had a lovely Easter weekend. I went down to Devon to see a relative. Lovely weather but back home now to rain. At least the plants will be grateful. Have just got back from YS shopping. Glad I went as I managed to get a bulging carrier bag full of meat, veg, bread & milk. 

I recently switched energy provider to Octopus. My brother referred me so we both got £50. I must say I am really impressed with them. I love that they are so focussed on renewable energy and were the pioneers of the energy saving sessions over the winter. I've just switched my electricity to one of their smart tariffs called Octopus Agile. This tracks the wholesale price of electricity in 30 minute blocks and they give the following day's prices for each block 24 hours in advance. I noticed that the overnight rates between 01.00 and 05.00 tomorrow are actually in minus figures meaning Octopus will pay me to use electricity. I think it benefits electric vehicle owners more, but I thought i'd give it a go too. So i've prepped a load of food and am going to put both slow cookers, the washing machine and the heated airer on before I go to bed.

greyteam1959

😁😁
I have set the dishwasher, washing machine & tumble dryer to come on for those minus rates.
Fancy getting paid for using electricity !!

linz

greyteam1959 said:

😁😁
I have set the dishwasher, washing machine & tumble dryer to come on for those minus rates.
Fancy getting paid for using electricity !!

It's great isn't it ?! I'd do the same if I had a tumble drier. Not got anything for the dishwasher tonight or I'd use that too! This is the first time for me seeing minus figures, only switched last week.

Floss

linz said:

greyteam1959 said:

😁😁
I have set the dishwasher, washing machine & tumble dryer to come on for those minus rates.
Fancy getting paid for using electricity !!

It's great isn't it ?! I'd do the same if I had a tumble drier. Not got anything for the dishwasher tonight or I'd use that too! This is the first time for me seeing minus figures, only switched last week.

Let us know how much you get!

Longwalker

Id love that we had the choice here, we dont even get smart meters

I am on a renewable energy tariff which means sod all as most power here is renewable and you dont get preferable rates.

Im just cutting usage as much as possible. However even not using the drier unless a complete emergency, putting the dishwasher on eco ( OMG that takes hours ) and using an air fryer/ multi cooker for the majority of cooking, I saved only 130 units on the same period as last year, 

We have LED lights, the hot water is an hour maybe 2 a day. We shower- 3 mins max - other then mum. I cant have a cold home, shes 84 and sat in a chair and refuses to use the electric radiator or fire she has in here sitting room because all she sees is the cost of electricity - not realising oil heating is dearer

We dont have the luxury of mains gas, and we have the choice of two electricity suppliers - you might save a penny a unit on one but will pay that out in the daily charge

Today the cows were let out, what I mean is the farmers have decided the weather is getting better and the ground is firm enough as well as having enough grass - and still the central heating has to be on

This winter we got by cos we had a lot of logs, Im getting pretty concerned already over next year. I can see us up at the moss yet ( thats getting a line of peats cut and then you go up and turn and stack and when they are dry, you borrow a tractor and trailer and bring them down for burning ) Totally envoirmently murdering, but coal now at a £1 a kilo, sometimes you have to leave your morals at the door