Escape to the country & living off savings

MovingForwards

Have you looked on the council website to see if there's any discounts for locals or a membership which would cover what you want and work out cheaper?

Shopping came in at a good price and your meals sound yummy as always. I'm pleased homegrown fresh is featuring on your plate.

Fingers crossed the rain doesn't appear at an inconvenient time.

SuzeQStan

Thank you SYA - my blitzer gave up on me so haven’t been able to make soups lately but my MIL said they would get me a new one as a present so your butternut squash soup will be on the agenda!

Had a little read back and saw your monthly budget - very impressive what you have achieved.  

One thing that struck me is your water bill - is that metered? Asking as it’s quite high.  We brought our monthly metered water bill down from £46 to £28pcm when we found out a toilet was constantly running (easy fix to watch on YoooTuba step by step to replace a broken diaphragm bought on €b@y for £6 free postage). 

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks MF and @SuzeQStan

No water meter yet but now the tradesmen have finished work on the house & the new boiler and bathroom are fitted I will consider getting one. 

I have just booked one session at the pool for now. Just need to get the courage to go! 

Yesterday was a lovely warm sunny day. Got a load of washing dried on the line. Went to the local reservoir for a walk with DF. Took about an hour (with a few sits on benches admiring the view on the way round) and we had some lunch and a drink in the cafe. I paid for us both total spend £9.90

My old school friend invited me to  dinner last night & we had a cold cider which was nice. 

Total contrast to the weather today. It is cool, windy and raining. Touched up a few last bits of paintwork in the dining room and put down my rug brought with me from my old house & put pictures and clock back up. It feels really homely now 😊

I have a pork and butternut squash casserole cooking in the slow cooker and am making some swede mash plus green beans from DF allotment. 

My niece came over and brought her shark for me to use on my car. It needs a good hoover and clean inside. Just need a dry day now! 

Skint_yet_Again

Saturday morning started off bright and sunny. I did a bit of tidying in the garden and sanded down an old side table outside ready for painting. Then the sky went black and the rest of the day was thunder and lightning and torrential rain. 

I gave the table a coat of paint indoors! The remaining butternut squash was roasted and stuffed with a mince beef / roast tomato bolognese type mixture then topped with cheese and finished in the oven. 😋 One portion in the freezer. 

DF has brought me a huge green pumpkin so I will probably try making pumpkin soup today in my slow cooker. Hopefully the weather will be better and I can get out for a walk too. 

SuzeQStan

That stuffed b-nut squash sounds delicious - perfect comfort food for a windswept rainy day 😊👍🏻

MovingForwards

You will have a wonderful time at the pool and potentially make new acquaintances, making it less scary next time.

Casserole sounds great, stuffed squash has made my mouth water.  DF grows varied produce.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks MF and @SuzeQStan

Have managed 3 coats of paint over the last few days on the legs of the side table for the living room. Today I will turn it over and make a start on the top. 

Hoovered the stairs and DF helped me clean the stair carpet with my nieces carpet cleaner which weighs a ton. 

Made green pumpkin soup. Not as nice as butternut squash but was ok with a few rosemary crackers (aldee). 5 portions in the freezer. Still half the pumpkin left! Will try roasting it with some peppers, courgettes, mushrooms and onions. 

Did a bit of garden tidying. Towels partly dried between thunder storms and finished on the airer. Managed a couple of walks. 

I am going to pop into the village hairdresser today and try to get a hair cut this week. It’s suddenly looking very long and straggley Also planning to go clothes shopping 😊

SuzeQStan

Must admit SYA - I’ve never tried green pumpkin before!  Wondering if it’s as sweet as the orange pumpkin I have used in the past for soup & pies.

enjoy the new hairdo & clothes shopping - you deserve it xx

Skint_yet_Again

I don’t think I will bother with green pumpkin again. It’s rather bland and needs something else with it. I chopped up and roasted the remaining half with herbs and garlic granuals and it was ok to use it up. They were from the guy who has a plot next to DF’s allotment. Think he was trying to get rid of them 😆 DF grows butternut squash but they are not ready yet. 

Spends yesterday were new top & a jumper £35.50. Petrol £15. Aldee £25.20.  Couldn’t get in at the hairdressers. 

Gifts from DF’s allotment today were courgettes, green beans, carrots and red gooseberries which are sweet and ‘lish 😋

In my slow cooker today was chicken thighs, onions, swede and carrots. 

Had a 45 minute walk around the village this afternoon once the rain passed over. 

Plan is to go to the cinema with DF tomorrow before the schools break up for summer on Friday and pick up a chinese takeaway on the way home 😁

Skint_yet_Again

Had a lovely afternoon at the cinema with DF cost £13.98 for 2 cheap but good central seats not near the screen so no cricked neck! There were only 7 people watching the film including the two of us 😆 but it was a bit of entertaining nonsense for a couple of hours. (Ind Jonesy not barby movie) 😂 

After that we went to wertherspoons for curry night which DF paid for. I had the basic meal, beef madras & rice with a side order of roasted veg and diet cola. No Nan bread. No poppadom. No mango chutney! 

Aquafit tomorrow