Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

dustydigger

Reading - Finished another crime novel David Blake's Moorings,the 3rd in the Tanner and Evans series. Pleasant enough,but a bit bland. Will put the series aside for now.

I am enjoying a Judith Cutler book I hadnt yet read,Coming Alive. Nothing spectacular,just one of her comforting cozy novels,but her characters are always interesting and attractive,you care about them.

Must get back to my V E Schwab read,A Conjuring of Light.But its very long,nearly 800 pages long. Only 200 pages into it.These days I barely manage to read  25-30 pages an hour IF I could read for a full hour at a time,which with the dodgy eyes is unlikely.I read about 10 minutes,then stop for a while,then continue. Thats why I have been reading light fluff,less than 300 pages long,that doesnt need much effort.

I am doing a challenge on a SF site,read 100 books this year. Only read 48 so far,am way behind. Normally I finish the hundred in October.May have to cheat a little and read novellas etc.We'll see

beanielou

I have just bought a small ninja which is oven & air fryer.
Two reasons~~fuel costs & the bending over malarky.

dustydigger

beanielou said:

I have just bought a small ninja which is oven & air fryer.
Two reasons~~fuel costs & the bending over malarky.

Hi,beanielou,I second your reasons. Not sure about an airfryer though. There seem to be issues on cleaning them.and we rarely eat fried food.except for Mister Dusty's mushroom,tomato and onion topping on his beef.I like fishfingers,but I grill them,but apart from that I mainly cook african style,one pot or casserole,so an airfryer would be of limited use. And you cant see what you are cooking!

What I require is a conventional sort of oven to casserole meat. and to roast potatoes.I do this multiple times a week Just a smaller size to save energy costs,and my back.

I did look at the ninja oven,but the intricate design of the back of the oven promises a lot of work cleaning it.I hate cleaning ovens at the best of times!

Mr Dusty is not enjoying meat from the slow cooking,and I tend to agree. The slow cooker has been a godsend when I am not well,as it cooks all night quite happily,but I prefer the flavour of traditionally casseroled food. So I think I need a little table top oven - and I want to be able to peer in and see what is happening!

dustydigger

Sorry not been active lately. terrific back pain has made sitting at the computera bit of a no-no,and had some pain in the eye which needs an op,very tender and a bit swollen,so I spent most of Sunday just listening to music and yawning all the time!

At last had my B12 jab this afternoon. I've never known a bus be so hot!. The heat plus my heavy fatigue made going to the docs hard going. I came out and just came straight home,no attempt to do any shopping,I was gasping too much to struggle off to even one shop. Slept for a full hour on my return.

Mr Dusty has been having no luck using whatsapp to reach his sick daughter,but we got a surprise call from my stepson in the US. He had made a lightning visit to Uganda to see his sister. She is being brave and positive,making jokes about losing her hair.

There but by the grace of God go I.

Hmm,my dodgy eye is weeping so much,I'll take a break for a while to rest it. I washed bedding today,now have that irritating job of getting the duvet cover back on the duvet. No fun,usually Mr D and I struggle together,but I have been very wimpish and weak lately and we are sure to have  grumbles and arguments trying to work together. Mr D doesnt know his left from his right,cant follow my directions at all!

Will be back in a while after a  rest to do my Frugal Fortnight budget.

beanielou

For your future reference you can get coverless duvets.
Game changer in the summer!

bertiebalooga

Hello Dusty, I've been following your thread from afar, I hope your energy picks up and you feel better over the coming days.
 
I wanted to contribute to your oven search. I've got a Sage Multioven that I would recommend researching. I've had it for a year and no longer use my main oven. There are two versions, the later version has an air fryer but I have the older version without the airfryer which does me just fine and is still available. I describe it as cuddling my food as it cooks because it's so much more gentle cooking than my main oven used to do. And it uses less energy than the main oven.

It sits on the worktop, has a light to see what's going on and is easy to keep clean. It took some thinking to adjust to cooking in a smaller space but I'm glad I took the leap. 

Hope you find what you're looking for. 

 
 

dustydigger

We did a pretty good job doing the duvet,since I insisted on taking charge,and we did it downstairs,draping the duvet over the ironing board,as doing it on the bed is much harder. I made Mr Dusty hold the top corners of the duvet and cover ,and I pulled it down over the whole duvet. Simple... I let Mr D take it all upstairs and make the bed,I am too shattered.,and have to be wary with my back. Thats my excuse anyway!

My encounter with the nurse today was interesting. She's new,and very chatty,I heard all about her doing a degree,and that she had iron deficiency problems 4 years ago,and had the same treatment as me.,3 monthly jabs. She said that had I noticed that while told that the needles would make you healthy,you never did seem to be full of bouncing health. I fully agreed! Good to know she understands the situation,the rest of them dont have a clue,its one size fits all,and you must NEVER ask for extra treatment!  

I didnt inform her that lots of people are buying B12 online,and injecting themselves as necessary when they feel their body needs more than the somewhat inadequate standard dose.

OK,today was a new ''payday'',Frugal Fortnight #5. A quick update,and then make Mr Dusty's supper,then bed.

Its still 24 C so not looking forward to a hot sticky night.

Only read 20 pages today,but enjoyed a lot of music,I felt nostalgic for old traditional stuff,like scottish folk music All time favourites,''Will ye go,lassie,go?''  and ''She moved through the fair'' Sad,but beautiful.

beanielou

Love Scottish folk.
Did not when I was younger but it has really grown on me.

dustydigger

Dusty's Frugal Fortnight #5 : 11th July - 24th July

art is online,part cash

online income: £79  pension ,£200 to bank from our Pension Credit,total £279,then £123 cash to HBB (Home Budget Box) .

Total income -£402.

All bills paid online as follows(rounded up)

Charity DDs - £3

Water rates - £37

Insurance - £20

Home Insurance - £10

Asd@ monthly delivery pass -  £6

Asd@ food deliveries  - £120 (estimate)

total - £196

to bank buffer - £83

===============================

only outlay from HBB is window cleaner,£5,phone £10,leaving £108 for daily expenses This is the fortnight with lots of cash to be  put in the savings binder ''in transit'' envelope. Whenever it reaches £100,it goes in one of the savings pots. savings pots at present;

Sittingroom makeover - £2500/£2500

Xmas and birthdays - £500/£1000

Household - £700/£2000

Energy costs - £150

Health and personal - £200

Emergency fund - £500

this is a mixture of cash and placeholders.

Four years ago I had no savings,and lived from pay to pay. Now I have solid backup for many savings goals,and have a workable budget and savings. Here's hoping that the insane cost of living crisis,the crazy energy crisis,and our daughter in Africa needing help with cancer treatment dont mess up my excellent budgeting!

For now working fine.

beanielou

Looking most excellent Mrs budgeteer extraordinaire