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

annieb64

Not sure grapefruit would work in a fool but you could make sorbet.

nannygladys

LadyHarriet - during the first lockdown, when I couldn't get any pasta for love nor money, I found some cannelloni tubes behind a very large box dated 2015!!!!! I ate them as they looked fine, the box was still sealed and I'm still here!!!! Just gave them a good looking at and sniff, no mould or smell so thought we'll I could die from cv so I will give them a go!!!!

nannygladys

Needless to say I'm not advising it, it was just the situation at the time, covid or food poisoning

ladyholly

Rosa_Damascena said:

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.

Thats the problem with them. The people who advise have no idea how to cut an already small budget plus the show has to be entaining not necessarily educational. Perhaps there needs to be a new kind of programme that focuses on small budget and small savings. I am in the middle of watching it at the moment and the income level of the participants is way above most working people in my area. I have taken part in a completely different kind of TV programme and the story they present can be very different to the reality- Over 4 hours filming for a 5minute slot in our case.

Rosa_Damascena

annieb64 said:

Not sure grapefruit would work in a fool but you could make sorbet.

I'm not fond of mango pulp - far too sweet even for me! - but my mum makes a lovely ice-cream out of it. I get the privileged task of beating out the ice crystals 

Grapefruit can be turned into curd. Alternatively if you are entertaining this summer you could make a cheesecake with them, layered over the base to offset the sweetened cream cheese?

Spendless

ladyholly said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

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.

Thats the problem with them. The people who advise have no idea how to cut an already small budget plus the show has to be entaining not necessarily educational. Perhaps there needs to be a new kind of programme that focuses on small budget and small savings. I am in the middle of watching it at the moment and the income level of the participants is way above most working people in my area. I have taken part in a completely different kind of TV programme and the story they present can be very different to the reality- Over 4 hours filming for a 5minute slot in our case.

ladyholly said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

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.

Thats the problem with them. The people who advise have no idea how to cut an already small budget plus the show has to be entaining not necessarily educational. Perhaps there needs to be a new kind of programme that focuses on small budget and small savings. I am in the middle of watching it at the moment and the income level of the participants is way above most working people in my area. I have taken part in a completely different kind of TV programme and the story they present can be very different to the reality- Over 4 hours filming for a 5minute slot in our case.

That's commonplace with screen work. DD has been a film extra a couple of times (one via an agent and  paid, one open casting unpaid). Both times she was there all day long. One of them (a Xmas date for my Dad) you only know where she is because she told me -lol, you don't even see a full shot view. The other as I've never seen the film version of Everyone is talking about Jamie I've no idea if she even made it to the screen.  

QueenJess

sammyjammy said:

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 

Where as I like bananas but hate banana cake

London_1

It's strange, but I too love bananas, banana custard and banana flavoured ice cream but can;'t abide banana cake/loaf at all. I've never yet tasted one I like which is a shame as I'm sure its nice but there is just something i can't take to in it 
Love gingerbread though or malt loaf especially sliced with some nice unsalted butter on it ,naughty but nice  

JackieO xx

Spendless

I haven't been grocery shopping this week so far. This was fine until lunchtime when DD asked for scrambled eggs on toast and I had no bread or eggs! This was already plan B as she's also asked if we had her fav brand of veggie sausage in and we hadn't. Mindful that she needed to eat before doing an online video (educational reasons) I dismissed going to the nearby Tesco or Aldi as Saturday lunchtime would mean queues whereas the more expensive co-op would be quieter. I thought never mind I'll have a nosey through their reduction section, that'll make it worthwhile. I've frequently had a packet of naans for 20p or savoury pasties for similar that I've frozen. Well today the reductions were rubbish! All ready meals and roughly less than 50p off something that was around £3 starting price. Maybe it was just because I'd done in early but my previous bargains didn't have more than their original reduction sticker on them so maybe not.  

Rosa_Damascena

London_1 said:

It's strange, but I too love bananas, banana custard and banana flavoured ice cream but can;'t abide banana cake/loaf at all. I've never yet tasted one I like which is a shame as I'm sure its nice but there is just something i can't take to in it 
Love gingerbread though or malt loaf especially sliced with some nice unsalted butter on it ,naughty but nice  

JackieO xx

Now you have reminded me of The Railway Children: butter or jam but not both!