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

Nelliegrace

Not a problem @EssexHebridean I put a variety of vegetables in soup and in the steamer to have with dinner. We aim to have at least 30 different edible plants, seeds and nuts every week even on our frugal budget. This week we added purple kalettes yellow-stickered to 10p at Sainsbury’s. 
I am still using up the stored pumpkins sold for pennies after Halloween.

Toonie

EssexHebridean said:

Cooler temperatures NEXT week? It's been none too warm here THIS week! 

I've been alright most of this week, just a thin fleece occasionally if I've been sat out in the garden and indoors tshirt and joggers (and no heating). I'm already planning warmer suppers for next week. I've got a piece of yellow sticked beef in the freezer which I will slow cook and then turn the leftovers into pasties for DPs work lunches. I'm also thinking toad in the hole with lots of gravy will go down well.

Elisheba

Nelliegrace said:

Not a problem @EssexHebridean I put a variety of vegetables in soup and in the steamer to have with dinner. We aim to have at least 30 different edible plants, seeds and nuts every week even on our frugal budget. This week we added purple kalettes yellow-stickered to 10p at Sainsbury’s. 
I am still using up the stored pumpkins sold for pennies after Halloween.

How have you made the pumpkins last?

Elisheba

Toonie said:

EssexHebridean said:

Cooler temperatures NEXT week? It's been none too warm here THIS week! 

I've been alright most of this week, just a thin fleece occasionally if I've been sat out in the garden and indoors tshirt and joggers (and no heating). I'm already planning warmer suppers for next week. I've got a piece of yellow sticked beef in the freezer which I will slow cook and then turn the leftovers into pasties for DPs work lunches. I'm also thinking toad in the hole with lots of gravy will go down well.

Goodness! I've not been putting the heating on until 5pm, but to do that I've been wearing about 5 layers and a blanket during the day. And I'm only in the south west not the far north 🤣

Bluegreen143

Here we generally say one banana, one apple, one orange (two of the tiny satsumas) etc is a portion, but if I buy particularly big bananas I will make my children share one. Which they are outraged by as they think they should get one each regardless of size. 

DS’s school give them free fruit twice a week (at snack - they get free fruit at lunch daily as part of their free school meals) but they also then send leftover fruit home with them to avoid waste. So it is quite helpful when he comes home with a couple of extra apples or satsumas most weeks. The fruit bill can get expensive with little people in the house (I do buy a punnet of grapes or a melon weekly and some berries as well, so it adds up). 

joedenise

DH and I share a tin of fruit between us on the rare occasion that we have it; definitely wouldn't want to share it amongst 4 or 6 people, you'd only get a spoonful or so each.

I agree with your DH @EssexHebridean that bananas, bananas, apples etc are a single portion.

Nelliegrace

Because I used the other ones first?

@Elisheba It is a hard skinned pumpkin, and fortunately it hadn’t been tossed around and bruised by staff or customers, so it stores for weeks in a cool, frost free place. I shall make another large batch of soup for the cold weather which is forecast, and the chickens will have the seeds. 

Nelliegrace

The washing has all dried on the line for a couple of weeks, with just some time on the airer to warm it up a bit afterwards.
I took a flask of coffee and sat in the sunshine in the park on Tuesday after having bloods done at the hospital, (I know the free parking places.) I had lots of layers of clothing, and a sherpa lined windproof coat, and a warm hat, but the wind was too cold to stay long so I went to the library. 
When the weather is too cold I walk round one of the local superstores when it is quiet, up and down all of the aisles. I do get to see the offers and reductions. A few frugal purchases, or just the milk, then back to the car for my flask of coffee. 

Asda were very good with click and collect all through lockdown. DH would go at 7 a.m. and the staff put the two boxes of groceries down and keep clear. We never had any bruised or damaged produce, and they were generous with any substitutions. Someone took a lot of care over a small order, mainly basic range ingredients which can’t have made them much profit. 

Floss

Nelliegrace said:

@Elisheba It is a hard skinned pumpkin, and fortunately it hadn’t been tossed around and bruised by staff or customers, so it stores for weeks in a cool, frost free place. I shall make another large batch of soup for the cold weather which is forecast, and the chickens will have the seeds. 

I wash & bake pumpkin seeds tossed with a spray of oil & chilli flakes for picking at while I'm cooking.

ladyholly

I have to share bananas with the dog.