Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

joedenise

That's why I want to borrow it from the library @Baileys_Babe to see if it's worth buying. I've got a few of the PON books which I've bought without borrowing first and wouldn't have bothered if I'd borrowed them from the library.

foxgloves

I always borrow new cookbooks from the library first. I love books - I have no interest in following a recipe from a screen, but I need to know that a book is going to contain sufficient recipes we'll want to cook before parting with the money. Some titles I've initially borrowed from the library I've gone straight out to buy.....others not so. One new title I was pretty sure I'd go on to buy turned out to have just 1 recipe I thought I'd make & that was breadsticks!! I copied that one out & haven't yet used it so that would have been around £20 wasted. Well worth perusing from library first.

joedenise

Absolutely agree. Just wish I'd done that before buying some of my cookbooks!

foxgloves

Hello Campers! I'm glad I'm NOT camping. It began raining here at around 8am & only stopped a few minutes ago. The sky is still heavy with cloud, so I don't think we have seen the end of it yet. I'd planned to go out for a walk & do lots of nice floriferous circuits of our garden, to try & narrow the gap between my June Challenge steps & Mr F's, but the rain stopped that, esp as our decent umbrella is in the car boot 26 miles away, grr. Never mind, my steps haven't been too shabby. I have been busy today so have built in all sorts of funny little circuits, marching on the spot, going upstairs 3 times rather than once with 3 items, etc, & it is true what someone on here said last week, that lots of little bits of stepping & a 'keep moving' mentality does quickly add up. Anyway, enough of that, has there been any vaguely budget-friendly activity today?

*Did a few budget updates & sorted out a few pots transfers I shall need to do tomorrow.

*Re-messaged decorator. I thought he was on What'sApp but am now doubting that, so have contacted him another way on a platform I know he does use. We want the work done asap but it is also important to me to get a quote so that I can decide how best to fund it & what timescale we are looking at.

*Made a sourdough. It's sitting in its little basket looking chilly atm. It does feel colder today. I have my sandals on & my feet are really cold. I am not generally a chilly mortal but even in a long-sleeved jersey fabric dress today, I've had to go & fetch my hoodie. Ridiculous for nearly mid-June. The builders turned our back bedroom radiator off the other day so that the new plaster could dry out optimally on its own. Mr F said 'Heating? That went off as soon as April appeared, mate, & it won't be going on again until October!"

*Did a quick round-up of veg for making tonight's meal - cannellini bean & veg crumble. It's an old Patrick Holford recipe with an oaty crumble topping with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds. I add a bit of grated cheese to it as well. It's one of those recipes which are useful for using up all sort of oddments of veg.

*Got another skein of sock yarn wound. This is to knit myself a pair of black lace panel socks for the colder months. I like tights in unusual colours so a black pair of lacy socks will be useful to go over them with my boots. I have plenty of handknitted colourful pairs (especially pinks & purples) to go over black tights. I have 2 knitting projects on the needles atm & 2 further ones rtg. There are others waiting in the wings too, so no need for any naughty little trippettes to yarn shops for a good while.

*Another item wrapped & decluttered to the charity shop bag.

*Added a few more items to my library wish-list.

*Did a couple of surveys - very few around for me the last couple of days so I think it unlikely I shall be cashing anything out at the end of this month after a chunky sum last time.

I am currently sitting at my desk upstairs & since the rain stopped, I've heard 2 lots of knocking sounds from the top of the outside wall. I am really hoping this means that our other 2 swift boxes are occupied. We defo have swifts nesting in the box at the back of the house - that one's more visible from our courtyard & we have been watching them fly in & out & have seen a little head poking out taking the air & watching the rest of the colony go screeching past. Lovely birds - my favourites. Red-listed too, so it's well-worth thinking about a box, anyone who has room for one. I find them endlessly entertaining.

Right, that is the money-saving bits of today. I think I'll have a soggy wander down the garden now to see how the greenhouse veg is doing. I do hope it's set to be drier than this tomorrow so I can get the rest of my summer bedding planted out.

But that's for tomorrow,

Until then, F x

Cheery_Daff

How lovely to have nesting swifts! 🥰

I confess I have sneakily turned our heating on this afternoon 🙈 Came home cold and damp and the thermostat said 13 degrees 😬 I have a hot water bottle and a jumper as well, and if I don't properly thaw out soon I might take to a bath!

Makingabobor2

Today really has been dismal hasn't it? I got soaked running from the car to the post office earlier and then again getting the bins in. It was torrential for about 4 hours here. Hoping for a good weekend, to get in the garden and chop some of the acer tree off.

Don't know how you are wearing sandals….LOL I am in leggings, socks, long sleeve Tshirt and fleece, and still feel cold. Its more like November than June

PennysIntoPounds

'Someone on here' indeed 😂 glad you're getting good steps in 🥂

I considered wearing my gloves when I went out earlier and refused because it is June

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031716#Comment_82031716

I did wear my gloves, leather ones for driving as my hands were so cold. If I get cold hands my finger goes white and numb, so I am a glove person…actually have wrist warmers on now while I'm typing…LOL

Baileys_Babe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031716#Comment_82031716

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031731#Comment_82031731

I wish I'd worn gloves when I was driving early my hands were so cold. I bought a sack of coal in from the store cupboard and lite the fire it's that cold and damp 🥶

Humdinger1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82025516#Comment_82025516

But you DO indeed keep us sane @foxgloves! A feet-on-the-ground refuge from what is a funny old world. Not a hint of magical thinking, plenty of realistic goals. On behalf of a grateful nation, I salute you. Am going to try that recipe too. Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx