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

JinJinBlue

weenancyinAmerica said:

You can make your own oat milk. There are instructions on the Internet.

During World War II, it was said the ideal diet would be lots of potatoes with butter - that would provide all the nutrients you needed. Even better with foraged greens and a carrot or two including eating the tops of the carrots.

Thanks weenancyinAmerica. I will look up recipes for oatmilk. X

Spendless

I found in a corner shop yesterday some OOD Twix bars (date just over 2 weeks ago), they were the snack size multipack ones (4 x 2 fingers) reduced to 30p. I've bought several packets and left plenty behind for others but will return over the next few days and get more if no-one else is buying them. That reduces them to 7.5p per each snack pack, but  to put in  DD's packed lunch today (she works at a tourist attraction so no BH off for her, it's their busiest time) I opened the packet and just used one finger, reducing it to just over 3p for a  twix finger. I intend doing this with the rest of the packets for packed lunches.  I've hidden them away so they can't be found - shhhh, you lot know but not my family hahahaha.

DD ended up with 2 drama school offers, unfortunately both for 1 year courses rather than the degree she desires, but at least both came with student funding. This however meant a whirlwind trip to both places (had to use savings again - sigh!)  but too risky for her to just guess which place she wanted. Drama schools prior to the pandemic auditioned in person, now most don't and you send in self tapes or do Zoom calls (and still pay their audition fees!) it makes it very hard to get a 'feel' for a place if you're unfamiliar with the area. This time last week we'd never visited either. Could have been worse though she couldn't find her return ticket home, fortunately they let us on the train anyway and then late last night she found it in her leggings pocket! Anyway she has at least made her mind up now as to what she'd doing this Autumn and it fits in with when her seasonal job ends too.

Due to being away DH did the grocery shopping, but that meant he didn't get some items that I would have bought inc some more baking supplies, I have plenty of flour but very little else. Next time I go I will pick the missing items up and then am thinking of doing some costings on packed lunches. 

Siebrie

Funny story: yesterday when I was shopping at Aldi I bought my maximum 3 boxes of pasta, and the 1 bottle of oil (only olive oil available, no corn oil or peanut oil) with my normal shopping. When I came to the check-out there were about 8 small middle-aged women, all with a cheerful headscarf, all carrying 3 (or more...) sacks of plain flour. Lots of laughter in the line, some trying to buy more than 3, but the cashier took all extras away (good for her!). It was just fun to watch this 'raid'.

Florenceem

I went shopping at Ald. today - first time for 2 weeks. Noticed lots of price increases.
Lots of gaps on the shelves too.

nannygladys

Just been reading through and this year I have been trying to utilize every bit of space at the allotment for growing, especially for Autumn and winter veggies. It's not quite a full size one and on the site I'm on, each individual lottie has its own gate and fencing or hedging round, so a bit like a private garden really, I have a lock on my gate but haven't used it for ages so I think I will oil it when I'm there and you have to have a key to actually enter the site as well, so hopefully we are quite secure!!
The Secretary was telling me the waiting list has that many people on it at the moment , they've closed it for the time being, I think more people are thinking of growing most of their fruit & veggies, but what many don't realise is the amount of time you have to put into it most of the year, its not as easy as some think, especially if it's over grown to start with and you work full time. 
We have our annual seed/plant sale next Saturday so I'm hoping to pick a few bits up, plants I would like to try but haven't got around to it. One veg I don't grow is cauliflower because at my first attempt there were so many slugs in them it put me completely off, and if I want one I'll just buy it lol!!!
Nannyg

euronorris

Yes, an allotment is a big commitment! I'd love one, but I know that realistically I don't have the time to be able to do it.

Off to enjoy some free jubilee celebrations later this morning. Our local M&S have got percy pig visiting, free face painting, free food tasting, live music etc.

sammy_kaye18

nannygladys said:

The Secretary was telling me the waiting list has that many people on it at the moment , they've closed it for the time being, I think more people are thinking of growing most of their fruit & veggies, but what many don't realise is the amount of time you have to put into it most of the year, its not as easy as some think, especially if it's over grown to start with and you work full time. 

I have been on the waiting list for an allotment for years - nearly 10 I think and never hear anything about them so I took to making beds in my own garden and putting up a plastic walk in greenhouse so I am able to grow in my own garden. Thankfully our garden has plenty of space being that its an old miners house on the side of the mountain so we have a large shed come workshop for husband (when he decides to fix the roof and organise it) and plenty of grass space. I have also cleared space behind the shed which is a little sun trap most the day so I'm trying to decide what to grow down there but I am thinking maybe some small fruit trees might be a good shout to keep us in things like Bramley and eating apples etc. 
I have been really focusing on getting my garden together this year, I have dug up areas, put weed control sheeting in place for more difficult areas, I leave the edge of the garden long so that butterflies, bees and insects are ok and in my garden pollinating. My daughter also has a bird table that we feed on daily so birds are in the garden too. 
I currently have one bed with runner beans training over an arch and in the bed underneath have just planted cucumbers and put struts to the fence for them to grow up. In the greenhouse I have just re potted on 9 tomato plants and have a load of pepper plants that I will probably need to do the same with soon. 
I have 3 empty beds in my garden at the minute that I am planning on sorting today. One will be for lettuce and rocket (we have lizards and a guinea pig so none of it goes to waste) and then the other too I am hoping to direct sow a few bits which will be winter growing like cabbage, sprouts, parsnips, swede. I also have small carrot variety that I am hoping to put into a tub but I do have carrots growing already as well as radishes which I had my first harvest of the other day and 2 courgette plants. My peas seem to be doing well as well and I don't seem to have taken much damage since I put sawdust around them. 

I am also trying to make in the house work better for me. I'm currently having a declutter and joined the declutter thread on here but one of my tasks was to defrost the freezer which I did and then refilled yesterday (that cost me £70) but I'm hoping we will be ok and I am being much more savvy with food - freezing left over portions etc as well as home baking and making things from scratch. 

I have noticed obviously when I am kept busy that our electric and gas usage is much lower (it literally heats our water) so I am finding that good as well. I am hoping that I will be able to turn my hand to crafting more and then in theory should use little to no electric in the day whilst its just me home. 

Spendless

I went back to the corner shop yesterday, bought 5 more packs of the twix bars and still left a pile there for others. This morning I returned and there were   just 3 packets left so I bought them. I'm happy I stacked up without taking every single one for myself. They did have other chocolates but a bit more expensive. I have bought though but for when DD has a craving, whereas the twix bars are for packed lunches. .

We had guests yesterday and they brought some food and drink with them. Didn't realise till this morning that included 2 bottles of Prosecco and the 2nd had been opened so was left behind. Will be enjoying using it up later.  

sammy_kaye18

Spendless said:

We had guests yesterday and they brought some food and drink with them. Didn't realise till this morning that included 2 bottles of Prosecco and the 2nd had been opened so was left behind. Will be enjoying using it up later.  

My husband went out with workmates the other day and they intended to have a BBQ after they had been mountain biking but it was too late by the time they got round to it so he came home last night with a pack of 6 rolls, lincolnshire sausages and fancy burgers so I will be putting those to use later and maybe having a small BBQ of our own :-) 
I would freeze them but I think they need using up rather than risking it.
I did make gammon in the slow cooker the other day and used up some maple syrup and shredded it up so husband had that in rolls and I have another 2 portions of it now in the freezer so will be looking up sauces to add to it in a bit to use it up as there wasnt quite enough sauce when I served it. 

MovingForwards

One of the first things I did after purchasing my flat was put my name down on the waiting list.  Each year I email them to ask what my position number is. 

I'm lucky as I deliberately purchased a flat with a garden, most of it is for edibles. 

When I've got the allotment place, my mortgage will be paid off and I'll drop a few days at work.