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

YorksLass

It was a very chilly start to the day here this morning but it soon warmed up with blue skies, a few high thin wispy clouds and a light breeze.  I enjoyed my walk to the Co-op and noticed cowslips, pink flowering cherry trees in bloom and beech hedges beginning to open their leaf buds.  I'm also enjoying the lighter evenings.

Not much bought but I did nab a couple of clearance tins of Heinz Steak & Potato Big soups (57p each with a BB date of Sep 2024) and used a 50p off membership on a tin of sardines (paid 25p), both now in the store cupboard.  I also had 20p off a 2L bottle of lemonade for DH (paid 40p).  I cut out fizzy drinks about 3 years ago and don't miss them at all. - I'd rather have a glass of water.

A more peaceful day today but the council grass cutters were round (again) early doors and there were two deliveries of building materials at the new extension house.  Painting contractors were nowhere to be seen, although their ladders etc are still here.  They'll probably turn up tomorrow when it's raining!

Beef, onion & green pepper stir fry with noodles for tea tonight, sliced banana and yogurt for afters.

otb666

@YoungBlueEyes i go to fruit and veg man that has a pitch once a week.  I read that its good to eat the rainbow so got it for that reason, The yellow and orange strange shapped tomatoes have been nice in pesto salad.  I spend 45 a week on fruit veg and salad stuff now and makes a lot of meals.  I really enjoy jamies £1 meals although i doubt the ice ream he made would feed 12.  We used to have a strawberry mouse that was made from condensed milk and jelly that fed 9 with seconds.  Recently had this but not as good as i remembered.  The Gnocchi looks like fun but dont think i would go to the effort.  I would not leave the fish bones in the rice dish he made and I think the Yorkshire pudding dish needed a sausage.  I will get myself some miso also and try that afore mention dish

euronorris

Well, I'm guessing the miso paste is what elevates that dish as I tried it last night without it and it was very very bland.

And I hadn't realised it was based on prices from September. So yeah, I expect they are not all under a £1 per portion anymore.

@Nelliegrace well done on giving the first aid. A very worthwhile skill to have!

And yes, the biggest impact of Fizzy drinks on my health for me has been my teeth. That's why it's banned for DD. We do have an NHS dentist, but our last experience with her was for DD a few weeks back and it was so bad I have submitted a complaint! They also bumped us from 6 monthly to annual appointments as they are so backlogged, which isn't great. We also subsequently took DD to a different, private, dentist for a second opinion. That first appt for her was £65 alone.

I have a health cash plan at work, but it only covers £50 of dentistry for her per year. Which is not enough to cover 2 private appts a year.

The state of accessing good dentists at the moment is really shocking. There are no NHS dentists in our area taking on new patients. We were lucky we were with one to begin with. It is a large firm though, and they've had high turnover so we are currently on our third dentist at this practice in the space of 3 years.

sarahj1986

euronorris said:

I'm currently trying to detox myself from fizzy drinks. This is day 6. I know that some people will think that's mad, but I think they are really addictive. At least they are to me.

I'm also cutting back on the treats/sugar, and increasing my movement. Bought a cheap fitness watch from Amazon to help track my steps. Which is encouraging me to go for a walk at lunchtime more often.

I am so pleased that the sun is shining this week. Fed the ducks at lunchtime with DD. 

Has anyone tried Jamie Oliver's aromatic veg broth from his 'under £1' meals this week? Looks like something I'd enjoy, but also seems to require quite a lot of ingredients that I don't think many people have in their stock cupboard. I have quite a few (from experimenting with other recipes), but I don't have white miso paste (for example).

I’ve been cutting back my usage. As recently I’ve been having 2 cans a day and that’s a lot for me. I’m trying to have one every other day. I don’t like supermarket own cola only Pepsi max or Diet Coke and both are expensive these days. I’ll never go cold Turkey fully because there are certain meals I love a cold fizzy drink with. 

sarahj1986

Nelliegrace said:

Good luck on giving up fizzy drinks @euronorris
A good time with the dental charges going up, 
Band 1 £23.80 to £25.80
Band 2 £65.20 to £70.70.
Band 3 £282.80 to £306.80.
There are no NHS dentists available in many areas. A friend of DD had to pay £90 for emergency treatment for a 6 year old.

We are extremely lucky where we live. Well our town I believe only has 2 NHS dentists but it’s Stratford Upon Avon, they assume the working class don’t live here. When we lived here before I did manage to get in an NHS dentist straight away but my colleague who lived here told me I was lucky as she had to wait months to get in that same dentist. When we left we dropped off that list. In my home town Leamington only 10 miles away there are loads of NHS dentists, loads so I messaged a few and got us in. I’ve been twice as I chipped my front veneer but the lady who we see I lovely, very gentle, calming and caring. The surgery itself is very modern, clean and tidy. I feel lucky to get in there. 

Florenceem

I am Blessed to have a NHS dentist - been at the same surgery for years.

Auntycaz

Has everyone seen the 19/20p veg available i Sainsburys, Morrisons aldi and some other supermarkets (not my local waitrose unfortunately) I'm going to get some and freeze it in portions for later when the prices go back up again.

JIL

I cant get an NHS dentist so pay nearly £80 per month denplan for myself and husband and  It's a lot of money. 
However it's good to know that if I ever need to be seen urgently I can be.

Auntycaz

We kept our dentist in my home town when I moved here 10 yrs ago. I asked him if it was ok and he said as long as we didn't miss any appointments it was fine. We have been with him 20+ from when he came to the practice as a very young man when my original dentist retired.  He does do private work, but he has a couple of days per week set aside for it. 

Pollycat

Auntycaz said:

Has everyone seen the 19/20p veg available i Sainsburys, Morrisons aldi and some other supermarkets (not my local waitrose unfortunately) I'm going to get some and freeze it in portions for later when the prices go back up again.

I've bought carrots, swede and parsnips from Aldi for 19p.
The potatoes were small so I didn't bother.
OH will pick up a couple of bags from Tesco later.

I'm doing Irish stew so will use some in that and the rest will be steamed and mashed.
Mashed parsnip/carrots/swede are very nice added to mashed potato topping for a 'shepherds' pie.