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

Indout96

I love tinned tomatoes but wife does not, I normally buy the Lidl ones with Herb / Chillies added and have them on toast.
Finding that "fresh" tomatoes at the moment are very poor from Supermarkets, either solid or mushy and prices are high. Hoping to get to Otley market this week depending on plumber installing all new radiators (keeps changing date) so hopefully they will have some better quality ones.

YorksLass

@Indout96 - We like tinned tomatoes on toast too and, if there's a part tin in the fridge, I mix them with some baked beans and top with a bit of grated cheese.  The last decent fresh tomatoes I had were from M&S, not my usual shopping haunt since it's a bit out of the way for me - a bit more expensive but well worth it.

Longwalker

I sorted out my baking cupboard last week and threw away loads- or put out for the birds

Im on SW so bread isnt being made, I have a tendency to eat a full loaf with a side of a packet of butter if I bake  So the only flour I have in is plain and cornflour 

We get through shed loads of tinned tomatoes, I just buy the lidl bog standard ones. They break up in cooking, Ive never chopped one. I did pick up some cartons of Italian baby tomatoes under the Gino label for a very good price in Home Bargains a few weeks back, they were very nice , wish I had picked up more at the time 

Slowly working through the house decluttering and cleaning. The room of doom is being avoided though, most of whats in there is Mr L's and I need to get him at the right time to go through it with me. Theres so much there thats actually valuable, not as in works of art or heirlooms, but trains and cars, Id rather the space and the cash

Bargains galore from the chicken factory shop yesterday . 10kg of free range or organic chicken in various guises bought for £25, most of it boneless . All portioned up and in the freezer. Made a cheeky roast dinner last night using some thighs - they were HUGE. Stuck them in the ninja with some carrots and potatoes, peas in the microwave and dinner on the table in 20 mins

Have had a couple of short shifts in the tea rooms. Money is being saved for the trip to Florence. Its only a couple of hours a week as the weather is diabolical here but every penny counts 

YorksLass

General pottering over the last couple of days.  Beef joint sliced/frozen, plenty in the freezer for the coming weeks.  Batch of Yorkshire parkin baked this morning plus a loaf of bread.  Soft plastics, one item for food bank and two paperbacks left the house yesterday.  

Nice surprise at the Co-op - tins of sardines have come down 20p!  Since we often eat these I bought two to add to my stores and used a 50p membership offer on one so paid 60p for the two.  Another 50p membership offer went on a 6-pack of chocolate coconut macaroons (treat), paid 75p.  Add in a ys head of broccoli for 50p and it was a low spend shop.  

Our pondering over our energy supplier's deals didn't take long as there's only two on offer - SVR at £155 pm or a 12-month fixed deal at £150 pm/£1800 pa (duel fuel/DD payment/based on actual not estimated usage).  We've gone for the latter that will start at the end of August and we'll be saving £95 pm on what our current fixed deal is.  It's £274 pa less than the latest EPC of £2074 pa (typical), £133 pa less than what's predicted for Oct-Dec and £144 pa cheaper than the prediction for Jan-Mar next year.

I know no-one has a crystal ball but I can't see it being any cheaper - given Putin's antics it could go back up again - so I'm happy with the certainty of knowing what we'll be paying.  That £95 pm saving will help the budget no end.  We're currently £330 in credit, have July and August's bills to pay and two more DDs to make before the new fix kicks in and I reckon we'll have an even healthier credit balance come the end of August.  Mental note to self - ask for that back!     

Hairdresser's tomorrow and I might, just might, be able to make it there and back without getting wet.  I'll be taking the brolly though!  July has been a washout - literally, I don't think we've had more than one day without any rain at some point.  Good for the garden but I'm in serious need of some sun and warmth! 

Florenceem

I saw on the website that they had reduced my direct debit yesterday for Electric so I put it back up. Today a letter arrived saying that they were increasing the direct debit which was reduced - they don't know what they are doing!

London_1

Just seen on the news that Russia had bombed and destroyed 60k tons of grain in the Ukraine ports, a lot of which was destined for Europe and Africa so even more people in the third world will be going hungry ☹️ as Ukraine is the breadbasket of a large part of the world it will only push up prices even more I think ☹️ it’s so worrying with high heat devastating crops where will it end. ☹️ batten down the hatches folks it’s going to be a long hard winter ahead I think 

euronorris

He knows exactly what he's doing. Trying to put pressure on the rest of the world by interrupting the grain supply. It's not so bad for us, but like you say, the third world are the ones who end up paying an even higher price than us.

It feels like winter will be here before we know it. At least DD has a million blooming blankets haha. She loves a cushion and a blanket, and asked for more for her birthday! So she won't go cold this winter, that's for sure!

I'm off next week and am looking forward to spending some time with her, and having a bit of down time in general.

Elisheba

London_1 said:

Just seen on the news that Russia had bombed and destroyed 60k tons of grain in the Ukraine ports, a lot of which was destined for Europe and Africa so even more people in the third world will be going hungry ☹️ as Ukraine is the breadbasket of a large part of the world it will only push up prices even more I think ☹️ it’s so worrying with high heat devastating crops where will it end. ☹️ batten down the hatches folks it’s going to be a long hard winter ahead I think 

I hadn't even thought about how the heat wave in continental Europe was going to affect us and had zoned out of the Ukraine war a bit.  Thanks for mentioning it - will definitely cause food problems over winter.  Will stock up a bit now!

YorksLass

Quite a good day today here weather-wise - two lots of washing done and dried plus a nice walk to the hairdresser's and back.  Although it's only 8 weeks since my last cut, my hair had grown a lot so there was a fair bit of sweeping up for her to do!     At least I feel - and look - human again.

As well as the Russian attacks on Ukraine's grain ports, I read today that India has banned the export of non-basmati rice (weather related issues) that goes mainly to Africa and Asia.  It may not affect us but who knows?  I think it's more than likely the heatwave in Europe will affect our food imports.

I usually keep a pretty good pantry stock and can be adaptable according to what is and isn't available but I really do hope we're not in for more panic buying and empty supermarket shelves.  Not to mention more price rises, it's a job in itself always trying to stay within budget.

London_1

Indeed weighing up trying to keep within budget, and yet not to panic buy, is a bit of a double edged sword I think.
I have been eating from my cupboard and freezer for awhile now, and its surprising how much is actually in there to eat.Often bought and tucked away for 'Justin' as in just in case.

I think maybe a few extra basics may not break the bank, but shopping around and noting prices if you have the availability helps.

 I am quite fortunate where I live, I am within a very short drive of Sainsburys Lidl's Asda's aldi's and Tescos.
 Two of which are almost opposite each other. I also have a pound shop about five minutes walk away. So I scout around both on their websites for prices, and looking as well.
But then I am retired and only myself to feed so its not to hard.but if you have a family its obviously more difficult.
I know I am well stocked up for tea bags, coffee, sugar and rice. I may buy another pot of custard powder as I can easily knock up some custard to go with fruit of cake for a pudding. I must research the prices of UHT milk as with the onset of cold weather I like to have at least 6 cartons in stock as I can use it in cooking, and also in my cuppa. 

I have done quite well this month budget wise as being away for the first two weeks and bringing home fresh fruit and veg from the local farm shop on my way home was really good. In total I have only spent this month £43 odd and apart from getting some fresh tomatoes I don't have anything else on my shopping list at the moment, those can wait until tomorrow as it is. My grandson Ben is home from London this weekend and will dig the first of the spuds up that he planted in my garden at Easter time, plus some of the red onions which also are ready to be cropped.
 I have enough frozen veg to use up before needing to buy anything else .So my left over food budget cash will go into my 'big shop' jar.
 This will be done at the end of August probably. I think shoppers are becoming more careful with shopping now, and probably if they can shop around more.
Maybe the one positive thing to come out of the COL crisis plus less food being binned and wasted.

Onwards and upwards chums 
JackieO xx