Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

Sun_Addict

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling great, hope you feel better soon. 

Blackcats

Sorry you have succumbed to a leurgy.  I had an odd couple of days after Easter when my nose was v runny alternating with v snotty but no other symptoms.   If you see a bunny with a nose that is runny don't think it's funny cos it's snot 🙃

foxgloves

Awww, thank-you all. I feel much better, barely any symptoms by the time we were in the city centre & I was tucking into a toasted teacake & a cappucino. Today has very definitely involved spending but I did manage to bag a bargain as popped in an outdoor shop hoping to try on a pair of walking boots I'd seen online, which took my fancy as they had a little bit of leopard print. They were reduced from £79.99 to £49.99, which was a nice surprise, but when I got to the till, there was a further 20% off so I got them for £40. I shall change the red laces for purple ones but the red ones won't be wasted as Mr F said he'd really like to have them for a pair of his boots. Anyway, a good bargain & it will do me good stomping about the village this month to walk them in. 
Plenty of other shopping but all of it planned & an enjoyable morning. On the way home, I think we must have had about 7 different drivers pull straight out in front of us so I'm glad Mr F had his wits about him as a couple were near misses. 
Oh, & managed to fight off a sudden desire to trough my face with chocolate brazils! Braved the scales yesterday & there is very definitely more Foxgloves than there was this time last year....when there was more than there was the year before. ....repeat ad infinitum. Had to laugh this morning. You know how cleaning up one's diet can initially have a bit of a diuretic effect? Was most amused to discover I'd already wee'd off 300g!! Ha! 
Jacket potato night tonight. Guess who is making Man-Stew. Yes, too right it isn't me! I'm having king prawns & avocado on my sweet potato followed by fresh pineapple which the Man-Stew Maker has sliced into the most perfect slices using the pineapple gadget he rather suspiciously seemed to think I might have sent off to the charity shop.
The cats have one of those licky treats in a tube on Sundays. They absolutely love them. Despite being a shocking gannet, Soot really takes time with his, licking it really delicately. Ash, on the other hand, can only manage about 3 sensible licks before he starts chomping the tube to try & extract the fishy goo at a faster rate. They are very amusing to watch.
Anyway, enough of my yakk....just wanted to acknowledge all your kind wishes for speedy vanquishing of lergy & to share bargainaceous walking boots news.
Off to find some socks now. It's dropped cold here today.
Cheers,
F x

Makingabobor2

Great bargain on the boots. I love a browse round a nice outdoor shop. I could buy loads, if I wasn't sensible. 

Suffolk_lass

Makingabobor2 said:

Great bargain on the boots. I love a browse round a nice outdoor shop. I could buy loads, if I wasn't sensible. 

I try not to go unless I am short of time and have one specific thing to get, as I find I can resist anything except temptation in an outdoors shop!

foxgloves

I was much more tempted by outdoor shops when we used to go camping regularly. Now it'd be more for walking boots & supplies of useful kit for when the lights go out.
F

Suffolk_lass

foxgloves said:

I was much more tempted by outdoor shops when we used to go camping regularly. Now it'd be more for walking boots & supplies of useful kit for when the lights go out.
F

That's like me but we still camp, allbeit in a motorised tin-can. We need nothing beyond a new mattress but it's the "ooh, that's a good idea!" stuff

foxgloves

Hello Diary Readers,
Been getting back to usual routines after the long BH weekend:
*2 loads of laundry done & pegged out.
*Dinner in slow cooker since this morning - a bean chilli which will be served topped with grated cheese & a home baked bread roll.
*Did budget updates. More time-consuming than usual as several different pots involved.
*Postie brought some M&S loyalty vouchers which have been added to voucher stash.
*Wrapped B-i-L's birthday presents using stuff (inc a nice gift bag) from my recycled wrappings stash.
*Divvied up remains of yesterday's spatchcock chicken.
*Made tomorrow's packed lunch & breakfast.
*Was intending to buy a new journal for keeping a daily food-tracking log but decided to use my current one. I dip in & out of writing in it so as it's a thick one, there are plenty of pages to accomodate daily food log as well as any other thoughts I want to include. Am counting plant foods this week out of interest. Starting yesterday, by the time I've eaten tonight's meal, I shall be up to 29. I was surprised it was that many but I do use lots of herbs & spices, invariably cook from scratch & currently have a bag of mixed berries & assorted nuts on the go.
Mr F offered to pick up my new sewing machine on his way home from work, which I ordered on 'Click & Collect'. I'm excited about that. My old one was working ok until this year & I may look for a new home for it on the understanding that it will need a friendly mechanical geek to give it a good clean-out & oiling. Exactly the sort of job my old Grandad used to love! In the meantime, I decided on a bit of an upgrade.
Right, I must stop yakking & fetch the washing in, though it is cat treat time first tbf.
F x

BrilliantButScary

Can I ask what cleaning products you use from the eco-refill shop? You mention a multi-purpose cleaner. I am keen to reduce the amount of bottles lurking underneath the sink and in the bathroom! 
Many Thanks

Suffolk_lass

I don't sew enough to warrant a new sewing machine so I have an old Singer, converted from manual to electric by adding a box containing the motor, a replacement 13amp cable (instead of the twisted fabric covered one!) and foot pedal, certainly the box with the motor is made of Bakelite! It was my grandmother's, before she bought a new one that she never got to grips with. She gave that replacement to my sister for her 21st birthday, so that was over 40 years ago. I have the little manual on how to clean, oil and maintain my machine, in a tin of different attachments my grandfather (a squirrel) acquired and compiled. I always feel I could make a bit more of it, given a bit more time as it still works well and the packets of replacement needles have shown me they can last longer than a lifetime!
My Mum (95 now) is not about to give her Singer away. I remember she took the job at the local infants school as the welfare assistant (that's the lady with plasters and dry knickers) to pay for it in instalments from Bentall's in Kingston-upon-Thames, back in the 1960s. 

Ooh, memories, just sewing machine-related!