Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Makingabobor2

Another one who's put on some winter clothes. Its like November FGS!  Although I am sat here with the windows open as DH has come down with some horrible cough lurgy (tested for Covid and negative), so I don't want his germs, got far too much on over the next couple of weeks to be ill.  So windows open and warm clothes on. Actually got a cami top type thing, then a long sleeved t shirt and then a hoodie!  In August!  I put leggings on and actually felt cold so put another pair over the top....only normally do that in winter.  Still according to the forecast, I should be in summer tops by next week. 

foxgloves

Hello Diary Readers,
Thanks for all your comments, which I always enjoy reading.
@Makingabobor2 - Yes, it does seem ridiculous wearing long sleeved clothes & socks at this time of year, but it does sound as though we might have a few better days over the coming week. 

Well, I can hear Mr F downstairs dishing up stinky Persian Queen food to the cats. They have been quite patient today. I think they were so surprised it wasn't raining that they didn't quite know what to do with themselves!
A no-spend day because although we both suddenly fancied biscuits with our coffee, neither of us succumbed to popping out to the shops......& don't we all just KNOW that biscuits are never the only thing we'd come home with?! Other small wins today:
*Synchronised our diaries so we know what we're doing this week. Being organised always saves us money one way or the other.
*Virtually no cooking required tonight as Mr F made enough lovely lamb & marrow bake to feed us for two nights & there are still plenty of home grown beans in the fridge.
*Pegged out Friday's laundry to finish drying as it was still damp due to me being a tight-wad & refusing to switch on the heated airer in August. All now dry & put away.
*Baked a loaf.
*Picked our last little cucumber of the year & composted the vines. I didn't count them, but we must have had about 20 cucumbers.....still got at least 3 in the fridge.
*Cut the gap in the ex-cucumber grow-bag a little wider & used it to plant up the remaining lettuce modules.
*Sowed the last spring onions of the year. Both the white & red varieties have done well this year. We still have a trough of the red ones to eat & two second sowings are putting on growth.
*Mr F weeded around one of the squashes which had become crowded out with weeds because of the incessant rain & then fed all the veg.
*Needed a craft project to do in the evenings while watching TV, but preferably one shopped from home. Decided to crochet some granny squares to make each of the cats a new warm blanket for the autumn. Sorted out a bagful of leftover yarn from my stash & was quietly confident I could knock out 10 granny squares while relaxing in the conservatory this afternoon . That was until it became apparent that I had completely forgotten the art of the granny square! Frogged the first 4 as they looked like a new shape altogether - the 'granny splat' - & had to look at a close-up photo online to remind myself of the exact construction. Unbelievable! If anyone asks me if I can crochet, I always say 'Only granny squares'. Thankfully, this assertion is once again true. I have crocheted 3 so far, & can see they are going to be an excellent way of using up little oddment balls - even if there is just enough to do the first chain & trebles to make the centre, it is nice to feel that small amounts of yarn are being used instead of sitting in my cabinet or being thrown away. The cat blankets won't need to be all that big. Just enough to fit a snoozing winter cat up on either side of our bow windowsill where they like to sit, as it's above the front room radiator.  
*A news article I read this morning reminded me that even though we are all using less energy because it's summertime & tariffs/DDs have dropped back, we are still paying on average £1000 per year more than pre-crisis. As the end of summer looms & 1st Oct (heating switch-on day at Foxgloves Manor) seems not quite so far away, I will be revisiting my everyday little energy-saving tactics.......starting tonight with 2 baths from 1 fill of hot water. Having had our DD reduced by £56 per month positively impacts our Savings Pots, so I'd be reluctant to see it increasing again.
Right, I shall have to go & find some socks as it seems quite a chilly evening, then I will set up a little sofa-side workstation for my new use-it-up crochet.
I could do with a positive, productive week this week. Anyone else feeling the same?
F x

PennysIntoPounds

Definitely up for a positive, productive week. The combination of a lot of recent upheaval and I think not having any of that 'joy of summer' feeling due to the weather, means my not-immediately-essential-but-absolutely-needs-doing list needs a kick up the backside (as well as a snappier name).
But I did win a few hundred quid on the pb, my most ever! So I shall take that as motivation that things do pay off if you put yourself in a position for them to. 

Four_Seasons

I definitely need a productive week seem unable to settle at the moment. Bank accounts checked and balanced now to prep dinner for later then crocheting xx

marionmgcars

Love reading all the posts while I’m having a coffee break.  I was up early and prepared our evening meal.  Burgers buns from Olio, along with lettuce and tomatoes and eggs.  Home grown cucumber, so will have a lovely salad and burgers.  Two lots of laundry out and drying.  Cleaned all the downstairs rooms and have now decided to spend the afternoon knitting and reading.  Tomorrow is another day 😊

foxgloves

That sounds very productive to me, @marionmgcars.
@PennysIntoPounds - excellent news on the PB win!
@Four_Seasons - Sounds like you are getting back into the headspace. I think the peculiar weather has had a bit of a stultifying effect on some of us - definitely me included!
F

foxgloves

Hello Sunbeams,
Well ok, not sure it's exactly sunny, but I can see a bit of blue sky & it isn't raining so I'm calling that a result.
I don't know where today has gone. Seems like I turned my back & this afternoon has disappeared up its own wot-not! Anyway, today's small wins:
*Did my regular Monday morning budget updates & sorted out 2 muddles.I need an outstanding figure before I can see how well we did on the grocery budget. Not like me not to request a receipt.
*Ruled up a couple more credit card payment log-sheets as I find these solve all sorts of queries.
*Did the rest of this week's laundry & line-dried it for free.
*Made dough for tonight's pizza & a batch of rolls.
*Dealt with our fish box order. Portioned it up for freezing, including a container of trimmings & a spare salmon fillet to make a fish pie.
*Did garden pickings: Tomatoes, french beans & courgettes. Beans prepped & 3 bags frozen.
*Made tomorrow's packed lunch & breakfast.
*Did a bit of knitting for the presents bag. Will crochet some more squares for the new cat blankets later.
Not an exciting day but perfectly pleasant & I was very relieved to receive a letter from the hospital to say that my recent scans did not show any signs of bowel cancer. As they also seem to have ruled out ovarian too (they did always say they thought there was only a v low risk of that), I have been removed from the '2-week pathway'. Surgery is still a possibility & will be discussed next month when I see the Consultant in person. 
Must fetch that nice clean laundry in now.
F xx

Cheery_Daff

Oh, that's a good letter to receive Foxgloves! What a weight off your mind, even if there are still other things to explore xx

Four_Seasons

That's lovely news Foxgloves so pleased xx

Tescodealqueen

That’s such a relief for you