Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

foxgloves

@QueenJess - I can't see why not. I've not done it myself because I only buy sun-dried tomatoes extremely rarely, but I've used the oil from olives, anchovies, etc, depending on what I'm cooking, for an extra depth of flavour. I'd probably also replace the 2tbsp of oil in my pizza dough with the sun-dried tomato oil too. My home made sun-dried cherry tomatoes (an experiment several years ago) failed to keep - they needed drying for longer - but I remember the recipe did just use normal sunflower or olive oil, so I assume the commercial ones are the same.
F

foxgloves

Bah! It's my cleaning day & I am not feeling like leaping into action. I have planned some leisure time & a nice soak in a bubbly bath for later though, & don't wish to be cleaning at the weekend, so I'm going to set myself a challenge of having it all finished by coffee time - 10.30am. As I don't even have the vacuum.on charge yet, this could be a stretch. Also need to look at grocery budget after last night's shop & to move a small amount of funds around.
Ah well, that's Coffee no.2 finished, I must get moving.......
F x

peb

Ooh, you've reminded me that I need to buy a new bath plug.   So I can have a bath!

foxgloves

Hi all,
@Sayschezza - Actually, I do sometimes find that happens with bought muesli, but my creation won't last very long as it's a 'use-it-up' x
@Crazycatlady2 - Me too! a new sieve, as the old one broke. We all have to buy something new sometimes, 
@Peb - Lol, it's not going to be much of a bath without one!
F x

foxgloves

Morning Campers!
House cleaning was pretty much achieved by coffee break time - I did stop for coffee a bit earlier than intended but only because the vacuum needed a recharge to get the bedrooms finished & Postie knocked with 2 parcels, so I was busy opening them (both gifts just in case anyone thinks I've been melting the plastic on a bit of sneaky online spending).
*Checked stocks of cleaning products while I was in & out of utility - we seem to have plenty of everything, although an extra bag of soda crystals is something I like to have as back-up in case I don't have enough in current bag to deal with a blocked sink or drain - will put on next week's list). I don't buy a lot of cleaning products - I tend to use just a few things for everything.
*More salvage from aforementioned parcels - 1 useful-size box, 1 paddibag, bubblewrap & tissue paper. All now in wrappings stash.
*Made bread....well almost, it's on its 2nd proving & will go in the oven after lunch,
*Snipped out 2 recipes from current Waitr*se free weekend paper. 
*Did grocery budget update - I'd usually leave this & do on Monday morning, but last night's shop included a new sieve which required a transfer from the House & Garden Pot plus a magazine for me from my Personal Spends, so I wanted to be able to see the grocery budget figure without those obfuscations. Grocery spend was £19.23 under budget, & Mr F did manage to get everything on the list except coleslaw, so only a small spend still to come for this week. I'm finding he is very motivated if I actually tell him he came in on or under budget. He likes a challenge, so I must make sure I keep doing so on the weeks he ends up doing the grocery shopping.
*Did a couple of surveys.
*Wrote a list for tomorrow's intended city centre trip. Also jotted on the list how much money currently in my Personal Spends & how much in the Clothes Pot - that should keep me focussed. Mr F would like new jeans - I have put £21 of vouchers in my purse which could theoretically be used on those. 
Apart from baking that loaf, that's all the jobs I intend to do today. I am going to enjoy a bubble bath & hair wash, watch an episode of something on TV, knit a bit more secret sock & hopefully finish my book.
Ooooh, & @ziggy2407 - thanks for mentioning the 'Clean & green' books - I've managed to borrow one from the library. Haven't started reading it yet, but it looks like it's going to be my kind of thing.
Hope you all get to join me in a 'feet-up Friday night'.
Love F x

badmemory

Why didn't I think of using the oil from a jar of olives to cook with?  I'm off to check what the jars say.

QueenJess

badmemory said:

Why didn't I think of using the oil from a jar of olives to cook with?  I'm off to check what the jars say.

Thanks everyone for responses.  I checked my jar and it says sunflower oil with a small bit of garlic etc.  I will definitely reuse it for cooking.  There is so much oil in there, it would be such a waste to throw it away!

peb

I remembered to buy the toilet seat but not the plug☹️

badmemory

peb said:

I remembered to buy the toilet seat but not the plug☹️

Now you know how I got my username!

foxgloves

@peb....Oh no..... Mind you, I can't talk. I once stopped off at Waitr*se without a list, but knowing I needed 4 items. I'd recited those items all the way there & also walking across the car park & into the shop. I bought 4 items. When I got home, I realised only two of them were things I went in for. The other two were random groceries! If I can't remember just 4 words, I shouldn't be allowed out without a list, clearly!
F