Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

CRANKY40

We mixed some vermiculite and some perlite with the compost for potting on this year. It's the first time that I've managed to grow courgettes in three years. I used to grow them no problem so maybe it was the compost or maybe I just lost the knack.

PennysIntoPounds

Love hearing about the cats @foxgloves can really imagine soot giving you a look of 'why would you show me this disrespect' every time there's only 15g of biscuits 

I've sent off my exchange form with the non-barcoded stamps, and picked up several loaves of free Olio bread this morning so feeling very money saving thus far

marionmgcars

Just catching up, seems that I lost the link for my notifications on the post for some strange reason, so hopefully it is all fixed now, and I've enjoyed having a coffee and catching up with everyone's posts.  I've been trying to keep busy, a little more exercise, some mindful meal planning and then enjoying knitting and reading.  I was gifted 2 dozen large eggs from Olio, so have made two frittatas with them, and still have some spare.  I noticed you have finished your shawl Foxgloves....  and chance of a photo, thanks

foxgloves

Afternoon Campers, Just thought I'd pop up a photo of my pickings basket after a trot down the garden in the pouring rain this morning. Lots of courgettes, including the trombocino variety, french beans & tomatoes. That can start off today's list of small positive money saving wins.
*Did daily veg pickings for a basketful of fresh seasonal bounty.
*Popped out to the farm shop in our village for breakfast in their cafe. It's good food & the cheapest around here of its type. This will come from our Personal Spends, so was budget-neutral.
*Saved petrol by staying local instead of going to our favourite big garden centre which is about a 20-mile round trip. It's poured with rain all day so far & we just didn't fancy going far.
*Perused latest statement from the Cephalopods. This was the first month paying the reduced DD of £120. We used £71-56 of energy so have added a little more to our credit balance for Winter. I think given that we still have Aug & Sept to go, we should be on target for a £600 credit balance to take us into the colder months, allowing that the heating isn't likely to go on until October. Over the last month, we have used £46-73's worth of electricity, which is 13p more than the previous month, so I would say this is looking very stable. We also used £24-83's worth of gas, a reduction of £5-22 compared to the previous month. Am trying to watch silly wastages such as leaving the kitchen mixer tap lever on 'hot' so that when I next use the tap without noticing, it triggers the boiler into action. When I only require cold water, that is just a silly waste.......it might only be a few seconds or so, but if it happens frequently, like all these micro-measures, it adds up.
*Repaired a bra again. I honestly thought I had cracked the problem of wires poking out by sewing a double thickness tiny piece of calico over each potential site of poke-through, but unusually, I have had to repair one of these again. So far it has held. 
Well, it's not my cooking night.....Mr F is 'doing something' with minted lamb burnt ends from the butcher, pittas & salad. I intend to enjoy it, followed by an ice cream, as I am on horrid pre-scan bowel prep again tomorrow, bah! Not intending to do any more jobs today.......am destined for finishing my book, reading the 'Guardian' which I hope will contain plenty of analysis of the wheels coming off the Government, bath & hair wash, final episode of 'Beck' & maybe start my next library book, I'll see.
F x

Sun_Addict

That’s a good haul there in your basket. The courgettes look interesting. Enjoy your meal tonight. 

foxgloves

@marionmgcars - 2 dozen free eggs a real bonus. Well done on those! I will try to remember to post a photo of my shawl. I haven't taken one yet & my sister has also asked to see it, so I will have to write myself a note.

@PenniesIntoPounds - More Oilo freebies. Excellent! Hope the postage stamps exchange goes smoothly. I didn't have any non-barcoded ones leftover, so thankfully didn't need to remember the swap.

@CRANKY40 - It could have been the compost. I can't sow my courgettes & squashes until the middle of April or I find that they sulk in the cold. I am in the East Mids so am hardly so far north you'd think this would make a difference, but it does seem to. French beans have to be sown even later....the end of April or they get deliberately sniffy. 
F

Makingabobor2

There's some interesting courgettes there. Never heard of that variety, but look like fun to grow. I love courgettes, last year on my first attempt we had loads. So fingers crossed again for next year, after this years disasters. Think I'm going to get a nice note book and start writing down what I should plant and when, along with any FG tips. 

milann

That’s a good haul in your basket.
Good luck for tomorrow and Monday .

foxgloves

Thanks @Milann. I am aiming to keep reasonably busy tomorrow, have got my limited food supplies ready & will just concentrate on getting it over & done with. I now know I need to add plenty of squash to the horrid medicine to get it down & will have a glass of water & mouthwash at the ready! You see, I am a planner in all things. At least I shan't be spending any money as I won't be able to go out. Then, depending on the results, I am supposed to decide whether to have surgery or 'watch & wait'. I will need more info first & some senior professional input into pros & cons. Ah well, one step at a time, let's get tomorrow & Mon over with first.
F x

foxgloves

There's nothing like a warm bubble bath to soothe the spirits, is there? While lining up all my ungents tonight, I noticed how many little last bits & pieces of stuff I have in my bathroom cupboard which need using up. I will make an effort to do that over the next couple of weeks, have a good declutter, then choose some stuff to bring down from my toiletries stash.....quite a lot in there, inc skincare freebies, so it will be shopping from home & non-spendy.
F x