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

weenancyinAmerica

Tahlullah.H - Have you considered trying it in place of the mango in your recipe. Sounds good to me.

Spendless

Re - the TV show (I'll watch it later). I've been on here years and I remember one of Martin Lewis tv shows (I can make you rich????) and that being the criticism  levelled at him about the savings. His reply was that the production team's brief was to show huge savings which is why  they showed large over-spending as examples. It took him many years before he was able to do the sort of show he has now.

@sammykaye - What a shocker. I'm sorry you've not been having a great time. I'm another thinking why on earth did the new company take on starters only to finish them!! They'd have been better pulling the job offer in the first place. Glad he's managed to get a place at his old workplace back. Don't worry too much about eldest's 18th and only having  limited finances for it just concentrate on making memories instead. My 2 had their 21st and 18th  under lockdown rules last year. Since youngest was born I'd been so excited to do something to mark these milestone birthdays that were in the same month, but it wasn't to be. Couldn't even visit older one, younger one at least could have a few people in the garden, rules having changed that very week. You've always struck me as being very resourceful, so am sure you'll come up with some wonderful ideas.

annieb64

I made mango fool, mango sorbet and added the pulp to my plain yogurt at breakfast.

Tahlullah.H

weenancyinAmerica said:

Tahlullah.H - Have you considered trying it in place of the mango in your recipe. Sounds good to me.

Thanks, I may give that a go.  Lassi is supposed to be a drink, you make it thinner with milk if needed and it takes the edge off hot curries - the yogurt neutralises the heat in your mouth.  Not sure the grapefruit would be as sweet, but I will definitely give it a go.

I will also try grapefruit fool as suggested by annieb64.

dustydigger

Thats torn it. Scottish Power informed me that my new fixed tariff would go from £106 per month to a mere £337 pm. They then emailed me to say that on consideration of my actual usage from my smart meter,they were reducing it to .......£327.Well,thats a relief......

So,variable tariff here I come. Will have to research the details,as I havent a clue as its years since I had such bills. Is it one dual fuel bill or do you pay each fuel seperately?

luvchocolate

Pop onto the energy forum...some very knowledgeable people there

Rosa_Damascena

EssexHebridean said:

I disagree to a degree on the “Secret Spenders” type programmes - of course they look for the extremes, that’s what makes it entertaining TV, but it can trickle into the consciousness of those lower down the spendy scale I think. 

I applied for one of these shows when I decided to take a break from work a few years ago (zero income, living off my wits and savings) but was rejected as aside from the very rare coffee out, the researcher couldn't find any areas of expenditure for me to cut back on. 

I'm now working harder than ever and utterly exhausted - not what I envisaged approaching 50 - but its the fear of the rainy day that is keeping me going! My neighbour had their hot tub replaced yesterday and I have had my heating switched off since January.

Auntycaz

@Rosa Damascena. You've worked hard for what you have and you're not living beyond your means like some. Your neighbour could have put their new hot tub on their credit card. People who look like they're well off can often be drowning in debt. Be proud of what you've achieved you're doing really well.

LadyHarriet

Spendless said:

I've now forgotten who it was who said it, but the poster that works in the food bank. I'm guessing that when you're talking about OOD items you're talking about those past their best Before date? I do wish there was more education about this, that it's a quality issue not a safety one. My own kids are just as bad about it, despite me telling them many times and I think it's lack of info that backs my stance up that has them unconvinced.

Yes, that was me - anything past the best before date cannot be handed out, but clients can (if they wish) choose to take those items - we have a special box (now several boxes!) with those past BBE foodstuffs. It's mostly tins. We've now been told that we can make a suitable donation (cash or in-date replacements) and take these items ourselves as there are just too many now and we really don't have the space. I have no problem with BBE stuff - so long as the tin isn't 'blown', the food in there is totally safe to eat - depending on how old the tin is, the quality may not be as perfect, but it isn't going to kill you! I also wish the powers-that-be would get that message across!

sammyjammy

Doom_and_Gloom said:

 The bananas will be turned into banana cake tonight in my multicooker when cheap time hits so my OH will have that when he gets home. For some odd reason he loves banana cake even though he hates bananas. 

Me too