Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks @doingitanyway and @[Deleted User] I will speak to DF about positioning and plumbing and start to research prices

Today I am making butternut squash soup in my slow cooker. Dinner tonight will be medallion steak with mushrooms, green beans and chickpea salad

I have a relatives birthday coming up so I will withdraw £20 from the birthday fund to put in their card. I already bought the card months ago but as it’s a big birthday I will put extra money in. We usually stick to £10 each as a family for birthdays and gifts up to £20 for Christmas. I will be driving past a cashpoint on Friday after aqua fit so I will save fuel instead of a separate journey, then I can give it to them when I see them at the family meal out on Saturday. 

Right, the sun is out so I’m going to wash my bedding and hopefully get it dry out on the line today! ☀️

SuzeQStan

Hey SYA - sun didn’t last too long here this morning hopefully you don’t have to rush out to rescue the washing! 

Your meal for today sounds gorgeous - I’m going to get a butternut squash to make soup as you have inspired me. Used to get them all the time but gave it up due to all the chopping required (I’m a terribly lazy cook)

Re water meters - am sure you know this already but if you have more bedrooms then people water meters are supposed to be a beneficial thing.  

My hubby and I have a meter and we run the washing machine every day, run the dishwasher every other day & shower every day (OH) & every other day (me).  I use my rain barrels for the garden.  Our water bill is under £30 - when we 1st moved in it was very high but we found one of the toilets leaking repaired it (£6 part) - and that brought the bill right down. 

But I suppose water rates differ by area - we are with Un!ted Ut!l!t!es (one of the worst polluters 😡) 

Like you we had our doubts about getting a water meter but our current home had one when we moved in so we didn’t have much choice!  

Anyway will stop banging on about it now promise.  Hope you have a lovely day and enjoy your meal & Aqua Fit tomorrow 😊👍🏻

[Deleted User]

We have a water meter. Dishwasher everyday, washing machine three times a week. Shower used about 14 times a week. Normal use of toilet and in  summer use watering cans for pots and containers. Although recent weather has meant no watering needed lol. Current DD currently under £9 per month although I think this will change when we have reduced the credit in our account. The meter was also read by the company on August 1st but still a great deal lower than yours.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks @SuzeQStan and @[Deleted User] I am convinced! 

Today DF helped me use nieces carpet cleaner on the stairs. He is measuring up his dishwasher and we are going to see if it will fit in my kitchen which is very small. 

It has been a lovely sunny day. Washing dried outside. My friend came round for a cuppa and the ice cream van pulled up outside. We couldn’t resist and we each had a soft ice cream & flake with nuts in a tub (no wafer/cornet) £2 each. Ice cream & chocolate are allowed but should be an occasional treat. 
Nuts are ok 😉
Dinner tonight was medallion steak with mushrooms, peppers, courgettes and onions. 

Just going for a walk. No sign of the rain forecast for this evening. Still blue sky and sunshine here ☀️

doingitanyway

A lovely day for you. I love that the ice cream van pulled up and you treated yourself 
Glad you are getting a dishwasher. You cook from scratch so will easily generate enough for regular use...
I had a slimline dishwasher as I had a tiny kitchen. It took 6 place settings instead of 8 and was fine...

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks @doingitanyway

The dishwasher I am looking at is a small one that goes on the worktop. Should fit 1-2 days worth depending on what I am cooking. I may have to still hand wash any pans/ trays / slow cooker pot. 

I enjoyed aqua fit today apart from the increase in price. It has gone up from £7.90 to £8.50! I will consider joining online which is apparently cheaper. 

Then went out to lunch with my old school friend & both her DIL with their families. Local pub, nice food, I had Cajun chicken, new potatoes, coleslaw & salad plus large Diet cola £15.40

Also withdrew £20 from cashpoint from gifts pot for family birthday. I already have a card. 

Butternut squash soup for tea tonight. 2 portions went into the freezer. 

The sun is out now after the rain this morning. I washed my swim suit & towel plus bathroom towels when I got back from lunch and they are still out on the line so hopefully they will be dry. Still blue sky outside so I may go for a walk 

Skint_yet_Again

Had a lovely meal out with family on Saturday. DF insisted on paying. Sunday I cooked a roast dinner which everyone seemed to enjoy. 

Yesterday (Monday) was spent chopping back the dead weeds on my flower border. DF and sis moved soil and some rocks in the wheelbarrow and I now have a flowerbed/rockery 😁

We then went to the garden centre for a look at plants and I ended up buying 5 alpines at £1 each and a pack of 4 autumn flowering cyclamen £3.99. Total spend £8.99. I have several herbs already to plant up from pots and 2 small white rose bushes. We couldn’t find any spring bulbs so I will have to get some nearer to spring time. I would also like to get 2 small lavender. It’s so nice to have a pretty part of the garden ☺️

SuzeQStan

Gardening is good for the soul - plans sound lovely SYA - your neighbours might have some cuttings to share as well - great way to see what will grow well in your area too xx

Skint_yet_Again

Yesterday was a glorious sunny day with a lovely cool breeze. 

Went to Mr T and treated myself to a black cardi and new slippers (25% off) £22.50. Also got a half price bath towel for swimming £3, a notebook 60p for my food diary & kitchen scissors £2 plus pastry brush £1.25 & bin for my bedroom £1.75. All paid from household bills/clothes pot. Cans of cider for friends husbands birthday and bottles of beer plus chocolate for b-in-law birthday. Gift bags 3 pack for £2. Total £17 from birthdays pot. Also got milk & cans of diet cola. £5.20 from shopping budget. 

After lunch I went for a walk with my sister round the village and through the woods. 2 1/2 hours. Then planted up my alpines. We had indian delivered for tea which DF insisted on paying for. Was v tired last night 😴

Today I am going to finish hoovering my car as the weather is bright and sunny again. May have a short walk later! Not going far today, just enough so I don’t seize up from yesterday’s epic walk 😆

Skint_yet_Again

Have decided to go visit my sister on the east coast this weekend. Instead of doing a weekly shop at aldee I popped to asd@ and bought a cooked chicken, sandwich thins, cucumber, toms, apples & strawberries for meals today and tomorrow. 

It has been dry and sunny most of the day. Load of washing dried outside. Hoovered the front of my car then washed down all the seats and inside the roof. Just the plastic inside to wash tomorrow. 

Chicken for dinner with swede & carrot mash & greens with gravy. Have just been for a 20 minute walk and then watered my new plants.