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

greyteam1959

gran3 said:

TracyS66 said:

Good Morning all I don't post very oftern still new to this forum, i am due to be redudant at the end of August after 15 years, fingers crossed i get another job as i am the bread winner for a family of 4 adults 2 are my inlaws who are in their 90's and my husband is their full time carer. I have been trying really hard over the last 18 months the keep my spending as low as possible and like some of you i have stock piled some tins etc. I spend most evenings searching online for the best deals and prices and this year i have grown a few vegetables, new potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes and lettuce!! Planning to plant winter potatoes, carrots and onions later in the year!!
I love reading all the comments and we are all doing a fab job so keep it up one and all 

Tracy, I hope you are getting attendance allowance for the elderlies. It will affect council tax and rent, if you pay it, Also not means tested.

I hope your husband is claiming Carers Allowance as well ??

YorksLass

Yesterday's promised rain never arrived but we're forecast rain every day until next Friday - one dry day only - and then back to rain again.  Bah.  Today is very dull and dark, rain since the get-go and cold with it too.  Top temperatures of 16c, lows of 13c.     Summer clothes don't seem to be getting much of an airing this year!

Just pottering today with meal plan to do for the coming week and an online grocery order for delivery on Tuesday.  I've looked through the freezer and cupboards first and shouldn't need too much, apart from the usual milk, potatoes, F&V and cheese.  I may have to add on some store cupboard stuff to get to the minimum spend - I have a delivery pass so no point in paying again!  I do need tissues and toilet rolls though so that will help bump up the total.

Tonight we're having a fry up (bacon, beans, mushrooms and h/m potato cakes) to use up bits from the fridge and I have a  rice pudding in the SC using the YS milk I got yesterday.  I think the Yorkshire parkin I made the other day should be suitably 'sticky' now for eating - I hope so, the cake tin is calling me!  

Florenceem

DGd is back from uni and working in a farm shop - brought me 24 extra large free range eggs yesterday - go out of date today so shop won't sell them. I never know what DGd is going to bring home from work for me. NSD here today and tomorrow - never shop on a Sunday.

Florenceem

DGd is back from uni and working in a farm shop - brought me 24 extra large free range eggs yesterday - go out of date today so shop won't sell them. I never know what DGd is going to bring home from work for me. NSD here today and tomorrow - never shop on a Sunday.

YorksLass

Another miserable day outside, the less said the better!  I did however manage a short walk for a bit of fresh air during a brief spell when it wasn't raining.  The gaps that were left by the blackberry brambles cleared earlier this year by the council have quickly been filled with swathes of very tall rose bay willow herb.  It may look pretty when in flower but it seems to take over everything else.  A bit like my small border next to the patio that sports not only the said plant, but also cleavers aka sticky willies.  I'll have to own up to neglecting the border this year but have now made more work for myself down the line.  A flame thrower might come in handy!   

Meal plan has been done and it seems to feature quite a few casseroles this week - hardly a summer menu, but it's not summer weather either.    I've also placed a grocery order for delivery on Tuesday, pared down to the bare minimum.  I have two grocery budgets, one for card payments for the deliveries and a smaller cash one for top-ups in-between.  This is the last delivery for July and, if I get everything I've ordered, there'll be about £15-odd left in that budget to carry over to next month.     The cash budget has £12-odd left in it for odds and ends.

Dinner today was lamb slices in gravy from the freezer, mash, carrots and dwarf green beans.  I did extra veg that we'll have tomorrow,  Not a great deal on TV tonight (Freeview only here) but I'll look forward to the next episode of World on Fire.  After that I'm not sure but there's always knitting to be getting on with!

TracyS66

gran3 said:

TracyS66 said:

Good Morning all I don't post very oftern still new to this forum, i am due to be redudant at the end of August after 15 years, fingers crossed i get another job as i am the bread winner for a family of 4 adults 2 are my inlaws who are in their 90's and my husband is their full time carer. I have been trying really hard over the last 18 months the keep my spending as low as possible and like some of you i have stock piled some tins etc. I spend most evenings searching online for the best deals and prices and this year i have grown a few vegetables, new potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes and lettuce!! Planning to plant winter potatoes, carrots and onions later in the year!!
I love reading all the comments and we are all doing a fab job so keep it up one and all 

Tracy, I hope you are getting attendance allowance for the elderlies. It will affect council tax and rent, if you pay it, Also not means tested.

My husband is getting attendance allowance so thats a small bonus

YorksLass

Yesterday's weather was much better than expected, as is today's (so far), but it's still on the chilly side with rain forecast at some point most days for the foreseeable future.  I really hope we haven't had our summer!  

Grocery delivery arrived with just one (acceptable) sub, pleasant and helpful delivery driver.  It didn't take long to put away as it was a small order but I feel happier now my pantry has been re-stocked, especially with flour, yeast and teabags.  Can't be doing without those.     I didn't order any veg other than potatoes; instead I'll be making a trip to M&S later in the week for that - I prefer to choose my own and, although they might be a bit more expensive, their quality is generally better.  M&S isn't my usual shopping destination since it's a bit of a trek but I can combine it with a visit to the CS to drop off some donations.  Just need to pick a dry day!  

The bread maker has done its thing this morning and I have a liver, bacon & onion casserole in the SC for tonight's dinner with mash and the last bit of cabbage.  I've made a tub of hummus and also some mushroom spread to use up two large and wrinkly ones.  Chopped fine and sweated down in some butter with a bit of garlic paste, cool and add some cream cheese.  Perfect to have on toast or crackers for a light lunch.

Yesterday I had a phone call from a cousin's daughter to say her DM had passed away.  Sad, but not unexpected given her state of health and age (91).  They've had confirmation of the date for the funeral and have been told 21st August, a wait of six weeks.  It seems a long time but I guess that's the way it is nowadays.  I'm not sure yet whether I'll be attending or not but will confirm with her nearer the time.

Right, back to sorting through the dressmaking patterns with the aim of parting with some of them.  

Longwalker

OMG - 6 weeks? !!!!!!

Here its 3 days - 4 maybe if there has to be a post mortem. How very distressing for family to have to wait so long

Money has been slipping through my fingers like water this past week. We have house guests , niece and her GF stopping for a break whilst they are doing the grand Europe Tour ( they are from Australia ) and Granddaughter who wanted to be here to meet them. Washing machine has been on non stop for 2 days and the tumble dryer had to be called back into service, plus the heating. Also the hot water is on twice as much - so not looking forward to this quarters bill. `Plus Ive had to fill the car. Usually £30 would do me 10 days - £60 and I need to put some in after 3 days. Plus entertaining the GD - shes a dote and likes her colouring and crafting, and playing out. but also likes a wee treat. So cinema the other day which was fine but omg, they have changed their pricing and kids are no longer half price nor is their any longer a senior discount so last year it would have been £10 for us both, this year £16. Still she used her pocket money on sweeties from B&M before we went in  

Its terrible that Im worrying about the expense of hosting. And its really bought to light how frugally we live normally. The cutting back has been so gradual that whilst we feel comfortable as a rule, its obvious that we perhaps are living differently to the norm. And Ive a whole summer of hosting to get through, Mr L's son is also coming from Oz, bringing wife to be AND her parents for 3 days and between then and now I have two sets of inlaws booked in for weekends lol. Then we have the wedding in Florence. The sooner we can downsize the better Im dreaming of a 2 bedroom  

Still Im as frugal as ever on the food front Because their flight was delayed and they never got to us till late on Sunday, it was a take away. Chinese and whilst thats really shot up in price, it was only 1 extra dish and rice added to the normal , and it fed 10 meals - 6 dinners and 4 for lunch - so a win Then a leg of lamb from my stash and 11 meals - roast on one day, then with bubble and squeak and salad the next and the last of it for Mr L's pack up today. Im praying the weather clears this afternoon, so we can BBQ. Ive a load of BBQ style food in the freezer which needs a lot of hungry mouths and then on Thursday the girls are taking us out to dinner as a thenkyou for hosting.  Thursday I have 3 hour drive to take GD home so looking forward to being treated instead of having to cook They head on for the next stage of their Tour on Friday but all I have to do that day is pack ups and drop them at the train station - and breathe  

GD is wise to our frugal ways. Shes been enjoying a reading book and said she had 2 of the set and would love to read them all. So grandad said to look on Amazon - over £100. So smart cookie she is, went on Ebay, found a set that needed to be bid on, we agreed we would go to £30 including postage, and she got them . Also on cinema day she wanted subway for lunch and was wise to take a bottle of drink as the meal deal instead of a pour - so she could save some for the cinema - never even had to prompt her lol. Shes 9 and does have a wise head on her. Unlike her mother who spends what she doesn't have - robbing Peter to pay Paul all the time, even texted me last night and asked for £30 loan till today cos her UC would go in today but she wanted to go out last night!!!  She can not get it into her head that now shes starting the month short and will be looking extra mid month and then starting the following month even shorter. I did loan it to her, Christmas I refused, I never had it myself, and I didnt hear from her in months!!!!  Her mother is the same ( Mr L's first wife )  so its a learned behaviour and we have no influence 

Oh well, onwards and upwards 

euronorris

Sorry to hear of your loss @YorksLass xx

Nothing much to report here. Had a fab day out to Warwick Castle on Monday with DH, DD and her friend. Despite the rain! Lol managed to do a lot there and the girls both loved it!

Just trying to spend as little as possible between now and payday (Monday). We have enough in to cover meals until then. Its only today that will likely incur a cost. DH and I both have hygeiniest this afternoon. The appts are covered by our monthly plan, but we have to use a toll bridge to get there (£1 each way) and DH will probably take DD to a small cafe nearby during my appt. Although, thinking about it, I don't think there's enough times between our appts this time, so I think we should be able to avoid that.

This morning, Friday and Sunday are my only quiet days this week (going to another mums on thursday morning and DH's mums on saturday), so hoping to get some more sorting done, and a bit of sewing. 

euronorris

The cinema is extortionate. If you have O2, you can get 2 tickets for the vue, for £9, plus 20% off food and drink. I took DD and another friend yesterday morning using that deal. Bought sweets and popcorn in Sainsburys before going. So glad I did. Bought them both a slushie whilst there.....with 20% discount......£8.18!!!! I nearly wept!!

They also do 'Mini Mornings' at the Vue, where tickets are only £2.49 each. But its only selected films. For our cinema its currently the mario movie, but DD has already seen that.