Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Suffolk_lass

Morning! Just to return briefly (and late, as I was tree felling yesterday...) to the pantry (larder, as we call ours), we had a recess in two rooms to the side of the inglenook fireplace. The sitting room side had the TV in it, the dining room side had an old wardrobe for visitors' coats. I really wanted a proper larder so we got the builder to make the sitting room side shallow enough for a bookcase, and then knocked through from the dining room side and put double doors on. We bought a marble hearth from a salvage yard, and several oak floorboards for wall-shelves, then originally moved an old dresser in there but then replaced this with an old ikea shelving unit which stands on block pavers (so I can fit things underneath too). I love it and all my preserves, bulk purchases of flour, sugar etc, and supermarket non-perishables along with sacks of stuff we have grown, live in there. It is much coveted by several friends, and I love it!

Makingabobor2

Love the 3p story...sounds like my DH. 

slm6002

I must admit I would have been very tempted with the 3p items too

foxgloves

Pantries/larders are certainly very useful, @Suffolk_lass. Because of the slope from the stairs, I can only stand full height in ours immediately as I go in, & need to stoop, & even crouch to get right down to the furthest reaches. I don't have a traditional stone thrawl, though I did use an old marble chopping board for this purpose in my old house. Our pantry is cool & has a quarry tiled floor, so I can stand things on that if they require a colder temperature, which seems to work ok.
F

Moorviews

I have only a very tiny cupboard under the turn in our stairs, with a wine rack and a small set of shelves. We jokingly refer to it as the wine cellar. The shelves are where I store my home made preserves. Growing up, we had big walk in larders in some of the houses we lived in, which could contain a fridge or freezer too. I’d love to replicate this in some more modest way and am always mentally replanning my large hall cupboard or utility room for pantry purposes. There were some great ideas for me to mull over. Fellow insomniac here so I appreciated that discussion because it made me feel less unusual. I am glad you then had a good night though. 

There is some fun in the idea of things only costing 3p but indeed, does one actually want or need them? I am sure I must have several such irresistible bargains lingering and long forgotten in a cupboard somewhere. 

foxgloves

Hello Sunday Savers,
Just a quick one from me today as not much to report. Small wins:
*We enjoyed taking part in the Big garden Bird Count this morning - we do it every year - a nice gentle start to the day, a free activity & contribution to citizen science.
*Made bread - it's just about to go in the oven.
*Batch-cooked bolognese sauce in the slow cooker & is smelling very inviting. It will provide tonight's meal plus 4 portions for freezing.
*This year's seeds sorted into labelled recycled envelopes according to their sowing months.
*Synchronised diaries with Mr F to make sure we are both up to date with dentist appointments, annual leave & all the sorts of odds & sods which are useful to know for the smooth running of the household & budget.
*The scarf I cast on last night from chunky yarn from my stash is coming on well, so I will progress it tonight, I'm knitting it in double moss st, which I think might actually be called blackberry stitch. Either way, it is a nice texture. I might add charms to the 4 corners when it's cast off....depends what I decide to do with it.
*Checked for surveys as would like to get to £30 PA cash-out by the 31st, but nothing doing on any of the sites I use today. Fair enough, as wasn't wholly in the mood anyway.
And a definite small win from Mr F - He made bacon rolls for breakfast this morning AND FROZE THE SURPLUS BACON!!! This might sound like a very small thing, but Mr F can be a bit of a bacon hoover, so saving some for another occasion is defo a win!
Off to pop that loaf in the oven now.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Sunday.
F x

Makingabobor2

How do you do double moss stitch? I'm sure I've heard of it from my mum in years gone by, but can't think. I'm doing a blanket at the moment, for DG3 and doing it in squares, so want as many different stitches as possible to make them as different as I can. I'm not a great knitter, so just doing it at all is an achievement for me.....lol.  Got the wool in charity shop and had 1 pair of needles lurking in the cupboard at home, after getting rid of loads a while ago as I thought I would never knit again. But then DG3 (who is only 6), told me that I couldn't possibly be 65, as if I was I would be wrinkly and knitting....lol.  So I promised to make him a blanket for when he watches TV. Hopefully I can keep the wrinkles at bay though....lol

foxgloves

@Makingabobor2 - All I do is cast on an even number of stitches, then K2, P2, K2, P2 along the row. Repeat this for the 2nd row.
For the 3rd & 4th rows, reverse this by starting with P2.
Then having set the pattern, you just repeat Rows 1 to 4 until your piece of knitting is as long as you require. It creates quite a nice textured fabric & is very easy to do.
F x

marionmgcars

I’ve just done my January final accounts.  Food & fuel on budget, so was pleased.  Household and personal spends £50 over budget, but that accounted for new light fittings required to finish electrical work, so not wasted, but still money overspend. Might claw some back in February 👍.  Night out meeting work colleagues from previous job,  took the car so had 2 diet cokes and lots of good company - did not break the bank x

foxgloves

Well it's important to have electrical work finished off properly, @marionmgcars. I think £50 sounds like the sort of sum which could, as you say, be 'clawed back' or partially clawed back next month. It's worth a try. If you break it down, you need 10 savings of £5. I think it sounds more doable like that, as could be £5 from surveys, £5 saved on a week's grocery shopping, etc. Good that your food & fuel were on budget though.
F