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

Pollycat

YoungBlueEyes said:

Would you mind sharing that @Pollycat?

I'll see if I can find it - it might be in one of my recipe books or in a box of recipes clipped out of magazines.

I've put a note in my calendar to remind me.

Spendless

My village fish and chip shop has always been quite dear and not too generous on portion sizes and the quality is ok but not amazing.  I can't remember the prices now of their standard and large chips but a cone of chips, the smallest size they do was £1.50 earlier this year - it is now £1.80.  Now that's probably still cheap compared to other areas of the country, but even the town centre chippy that I guess pays higher rates was charging less than my local, at £1.10 per cone at the beginning of this year. .

A short drive away about 6-7 mins we have both Maccys and KFC and their deals which include fries and a drink will work out more reasonable. 

EssexHebridean

We're still waiting to hear what our new electricity rates are going to be from the 1st - with GEUK on a fixed deal and although they've said that prices will be "lowered in line with the EPG" they've not yet specified how that will affect what we pay on our Economy 7. Having said that, the fix has no exit fees and I have eyeballed that EDF have a very attractive SVR night rate on E7 at the moment so if GE don't come up with the goods another switch might end up happening...we'll see! 

Our freezer is back to being full to bursting so next week's meal plan is going to involved meals from there I think - I need to get my thinking cap on. There will still be eggs, and there is a couple of portions of the pulled pork from sunday gone into the freezer too so I think a partial repeat of this week's plan (which involved bacon & mushroom omelettes last night and pulled pork buns with wedges tomorrow) might be in order. Ot's a veg box week too  so I think I might put off shopping until Sunday as that means we then know for definite what we have in ahead of going to the shops. I had a quick "idle curiosity" browse of prices yesterday - the speed of increases on some things really is shocking, and I can see it catching out those who need to keep a tally of prices as they go round to stick within a tight budget. An extra 24p on butter and 6p on a 4pt container of milk in the last couple of weeks - and the fact that all the price matching to aldi/lidl etc prices means that once one goes up, the others all increase regardless makes the whole thing meaningless. 

Heating remains off but it's unquestionably chiller now. I've needed my reflective/waterproof jacket on cycling the last couple of days, and the office is COLD! Need to remind Mr Boss that he was going to get the boiler fixed I think! 

Slinky

Spendless said:

Re water - yes, when I was at school you went without except for lunchtime and maybe a water fountain at playtime but some years ago it was shown that being able to drink water throughout the day aided concentration. My kids are 22 and 19 and they weren't the first lot told to bring in a water bottle when they started school. It will be a continuation of that, plus a lot of workplaces offer chilled water (my previous 3 employers have) so makes sense to take in a water bottle and take the water on offer there. 

I've been in Italy with DD for a mini break before she leaves this weekend, so missed the news. From the bits I've picked up I'm only thankful our mortgage has less than 6 months left on it.    

I remember at primary school we had a 1/3rd pint of milk from a glass bottle in the morning, a glass of water at lunch and that was it as far as the school provided us with a drink. I remember if we got thirsty running around in the sun, we used to fashion a drinking vessel out of a folded paper towel from the toilets and use that to drink from with water from the basins. I can still recall the taste of the water drunk this way.

Pollycat

Slinky said:

Spendless said:

Re water - yes, when I was at school you went without except for lunchtime and maybe a water fountain at playtime but some years ago it was shown that being able to drink water throughout the day aided concentration. My kids are 22 and 19 and they weren't the first lot told to bring in a water bottle when they started school. It will be a continuation of that, plus a lot of workplaces offer chilled water (my previous 3 employers have) so makes sense to take in a water bottle and take the water on offer there. 

I've been in Italy with DD for a mini break before she leaves this weekend, so missed the news. From the bits I've picked up I'm only thankful our mortgage has less than 6 months left on it.    

I remember at primary school we had a 1/3rd pint of milk from a glass bottle in the morning, a glass of water at lunch and that was it as far as the school provided us with a drink. I remember if we got thirsty running around in the sun, we used to fashion a drinking vessel out of a folded paper towel from the toilets and use that to drink from with water from the basins. I can still recall the taste of the water drunk this way.

Same here. I was born early 1950s.

Toonie

I've been sorting out the winter bits and pieces, so blankets are now laundered, and chunky dressing gowns are being done tomorrow. We've not yet gone back to a duvet here (still just with a sheet) but have noticed the chill first thing so may chuck a blanket on the bed for cooler nights.

Today I'm having a proper treat, my friend is over from Berlin for the first time in four years and we're going to have lunch. In fact we're going to my favourite greasy spoon and having proper cafe food as it's something she really misses (she's Mancunian). I've not eaten out since before Covid, so this is coming from my treat money which I've earned from doing surveys. I'm also going to use the opportunity to pop to the fruit and veg market afterwards and pop into the Turkish shop for some yummy bread.

CKhalvashi

Toonie said:

I've been sorting out the winter bits and pieces, so blankets are now laundered, and chunky dressing gowns are being done tomorrow. We've not yet gone back to a duvet here (still just with a sheet) but have noticed the chill first thing so may chuck a blanket on the bed for cooler nights.

Today I'm having a proper treat, my friend is over from Berlin for the first time in four years and we're going to have lunch. In fact we're going to my favourite greasy spoon and having proper cafe food as it's something she really misses (she's Mancunian). I've not eaten out since before Covid, so this is coming from my treat money which I've earned from doing surveys. I'm also going to use the opportunity to pop to the fruit and veg market afterwards and pop into the Turkish shop for some yummy bread.

Enjoy!

I've just got home but flew in last night (stayed with a relative as when we got back just after midnight I couldn't be bothered to walk 5 minutes).

Earned £30 this morning mystery shopping while doing something I'd have needed to do anyway which was nice. It's not something I do very often and only if it can be fitted into other things though (had about £200 some years ago when shopping for a new car for example and could test drive/negotiate with a few dealerships on different brands I would have looked at anyway, actually ended up ordering a slightly higher specification of a model that was discussed).

That of course comes within the £1000 of tax free self-employed income now for anyone looking at it, but I've always needed to complete a tax return anyway, so it's never really mattered.

EssexHebridean

Slinky said:

Spendless said:

Re water - yes, when I was at school you went without except for lunchtime and maybe a water fountain at playtime but some years ago it was shown that being able to drink water throughout the day aided concentration. My kids are 22 and 19 and they weren't the first lot told to bring in a water bottle when they started school. It will be a continuation of that, plus a lot of workplaces offer chilled water (my previous 3 employers have) so makes sense to take in a water bottle and take the water on offer there. 

I've been in Italy with DD for a mini break before she leaves this weekend, so missed the news. From the bits I've picked up I'm only thankful our mortgage has less than 6 months left on it.    

I remember at primary school we had a 1/3rd pint of milk from a glass bottle in the morning, a glass of water at lunch and that was it as far as the school provided us with a drink. I remember if we got thirsty running around in the sun, we used to fashion a drinking vessel out of a folded paper towel from the toilets and use that to drink from with water from the basins. I can still recall the taste of the water drunk this way.

Oh my word I'd completely forgotten the paper towel trick! Rank! 

Spendless

Slinky said:

Spendless said:

Re water - yes, when I was at school you went without except for lunchtime and maybe a water fountain at playtime but some years ago it was shown that being able to drink water throughout the day aided concentration. My kids are 22 and 19 and they weren't the first lot told to bring in a water bottle when they started school. It will be a continuation of that, plus a lot of workplaces offer chilled water (my previous 3 employers have) so makes sense to take in a water bottle and take the water on offer there. 

I've been in Italy with DD for a mini break before she leaves this weekend, so missed the news. From the bits I've picked up I'm only thankful our mortgage has less than 6 months left on it.    

I remember at primary school we had a 1/3rd pint of milk from a glass bottle in the morning, a glass of water at lunch and that was it as far as the school provided us with a drink. I remember if we got thirsty running around in the sun, we used to fashion a drinking vessel out of a folded paper towel from the toilets and use that to drink from with water from the basins. I can still recall the taste of the water drunk this way.

Slinky said:

Spendless said:

Re water - yes, when I was at school you went without except for lunchtime and maybe a water fountain at playtime but some years ago it was shown that being able to drink water throughout the day aided concentration. My kids are 22 and 19 and they weren't the first lot told to bring in a water bottle when they started school. It will be a continuation of that, plus a lot of workplaces offer chilled water (my previous 3 employers have) so makes sense to take in a water bottle and take the water on offer there. 

I've been in Italy with DD for a mini break before she leaves this weekend, so missed the news. From the bits I've picked up I'm only thankful our mortgage has less than 6 months left on it.    

I remember at primary school we had a 1/3rd pint of milk from a glass bottle in the morning, a glass of water at lunch and that was it as far as the school provided us with a drink. I remember if we got thirsty running around in the sun, we used to fashion a drinking vessel out of a folded paper towel from the toilets and use that to drink from with water from the basins. I can still recall the taste of the water drunk this way.

Yes, I remember the same and the drink at lunchtime was from a large metal jug and you had a plastic beaker. Fine at Primary where they was one set lunchtime and an older child/teacher as server but at Secondary, people would pour their part drunk water back into the jug. Lost count of the times you'd ask someone trusted at the table you'd just sat at 'is the water fresh' and if they didn't know, you'd go back and rinse out and re-fill the jug. I'm glad health and hygiene rules fetched in for today's children that they take their own bottle in.

Spendless

EssexHebridean said:

We're still waiting to hear what our new electricity rates are going to be from the 1st - with GEUK on a fixed deal and although they've said that prices will be "lowered in line with the EPG" they've not yet specified how that will affect what we pay on our Economy 7. Having said that, the fix has no exit fees and I have eyeballed that EDF have a very attractive SVR night rate on E7 at the moment so if GE don't come up with the goods another switch might end up happening...we'll see! 

Our freezer is back to being full to bursting so next week's meal plan is going to involved meals from there I think - I need to get my thinking cap on. There will still be eggs, and there is a couple of portions of the pulled pork from sunday gone into the freezer too so I think a partial repeat of this week's plan (which involved bacon & mushroom omelettes last night and pulled pork buns with wedges tomorrow) might be in order. Ot's a veg box week too  so I think I might put off shopping until Sunday as that means we then know for definite what we have in ahead of going to the shops. I had a quick "idle curiosity" browse of prices yesterday - the speed of increases on some things really is shocking, and I can see it catching out those who need to keep a tally of prices as they go round to stick within a tight budget. An extra 24p on butter and 6p on a 4pt container of milk in the last couple of weeks - and the fact that all the price matching to aldi/lidl etc prices means that once one goes up, the others all increase regardless makes the whole thing meaningless. 

Heating remains off but it's unquestionably chiller now. I've needed my reflective/waterproof jacket on cycling the last couple of days, and the office is COLD! Need to remind Mr Boss that he was going to get the boiler fixed I think! 

I'm glad you fetched this up as DH has been mentioning this for a while, that the larger supermarkets are more obsessed with what the budget stores are charging than looking at what they do differently/better.

He uses my example of years ago when the kids were small and his Mum couldn't understand why I wasn't shopping in Netto like she was as it was cheaper and the reason I told her was because they didn't help pack the groceries away for me and I found it a struggle to do with 1-2 pre-schoolers with me. Likewise my sister used to only go to certain supermarkets based on the trolleys they had because she had twins and not everywhere did trolleys with double seats for babies.