And now we go again...

PennysIntoPounds

What a fabulous list of mse things, and all while having an excellent time!

Definitely agree on prioritising works that make our mums/loved ones safer 🍻

EssexHebridean

Hey all - thanks for popping by!

Just reading on SA's diary about her epic kitchen decluttering spree reminds me that I've not discussed my February Frugal Food challenge on here as yet I don't think? Obviously we went for January as a super-low spend month, and that worked really well. I'm keen to keep spending this month down too, and also to continue with eating our way through freezer stocks, but I also want to turn the focus on cupboards as well, as like SA we do have good stocks of various things in that probably need addressing.

• I need to go through the fridge and sort out anything that needs using ASAP or is past its best and needs to go - the problem with having a big fridge is that things lurk in back corners and get forgotten!
• I will swap couscous on tuesdays for rice bowls every other week I think - almost as easy, as I do my rice in a microwave cooker/steamer, and means that I can sometimes have brown while MrEH has white, too as he will cook his separately. We have good stocks of brown, white and basmati rice. This will also be a cheaper option than using couscous every week.
• Meal planning will continue - I'm finding having a plan further ahead is really working so I'll continue with that too.
• As we now have freezer space it is probably sensible of me to do a big batch cook of chickpeas - I'll probably use the slow cooker for this, I can soak them through a day and then SC them overnight, then they can be portioned into tubs and frozen in "tin sized" amounts ready for use.
• I need to make the remaining 5p parsnips into soup, and batch cook some more ragu. I'd like to get a batch cook of daal done at some stage as well - that might end up being the sweet potato and coconut variant I've done before that's so tasty.
• Our big pull-out cupboards have lots of stuff in them - some of it quite random (sausage casserole seasoning mix that came as freebies at the good food show some years ago, curry pastes (same), various other packets of stuff (either same, or given to us by a pal who would otherwise have been throwing it out). They need going through, and stuff prioritised for use.

I still intend to do some restocking of various things -

• tins (which rotate regularly anyway) including tuna which we are getting low on - that will be a trip to F@rmf00ds for that. Also various beans and pulses, and sardines - all staples in our house and good for making cheap meals.
• while at FF's I will also get MrEH another couple of jars of coffee - he has one left in the cupboard but will more moving on to that one shortly
• we are currently completely out of granulated sugar bar what is in the sugar bowl - that too is a FF's purchase as it's heaper there than elsewhere so far as I know
• We're intending to go to the Farmers market next weekend for mince - ideally venison mince if she has it, but otherwise I'll buy a big pack of beef mince. we'll likely also get a couple of packs of Peter's lovely lamb sausages. Beyond that we will see what's available.
• I noted that T's currently have a good price offer on the N@po* branded orzo - at £1 a pack it's little more that Als used to sell it for - I will likely buy three packs.

So the intention is to still keep costs as low as we can, but they will definitely be higher than last month by a good bit. We intend to continue with using freezer stocks, but also switch focus to other items we are well stocked on or which have been lingering about for a long while.

I'd also like to follow SA's lead in relation to a general kitchen cupboard declutter - with the aim being to ensure we're making best use of space.

Sun_Addict

Well I’m glad I’ve been a good influence 😆

EssexHebridean

Haha SA - always a good influence, you are!

Blackcats

we are also munching through cupboards and freezer this month in a bid to clear space and save money. I do get jittery when stocks run down but keep reminding myself that I'm 10 minutes drive from the supermarket if a catastrophic lack of kidney beans type event happens and if the missing item is absolutely essential. In my world running out of teabags would be catastrophic whilst running out of kidney beans would merely require a rejig of plans. MrBC made a fabulous hummus yesterday which we had with chicken from the freezer and use it up salad in a pitta. We both agreed that it made a really tasty dinner.

Approximately how much have you allocated to Feb's groceries? If you don't mind me asking.

lucielle

I’ve just done a Lidl’s shop and hoping bar fruit veg and dairy it’ll see us through. Interested in your sweet potato Dahl recipe if you could post a link. Pretty please

L

EssexHebridean

I haven’t allocated a set amount for this month @Blackcats - not least as I know that there was a decent amount of stocking up we were going to want to do on things that are needed. My standard amount that heads to the grocery account each month though is £250- if I could get through the month with £100 left of that I would be delighted! I’m mostly aiming for a month where the sound is kept as low as is possible, but not expecting another rock-bottom month.
Hmmm…a recipe, L, now we know how that works don’t we! If I was going to make it right now I’d use a bag if Lil’s cheap sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into chunks, then probably about 300g red lentils - maybe a bit less. I’d use whatever Indian spices felt right at the time, I usually use them whole in daal - most likely cumin and mustard seeds, probably some coriander. Definitely garlic too - lots of it!I’d start that lot simmering in a tin of coconut milk, and add more water as needed to ensure the lentils are cooked to collapsing. In fact I DO currently have a pan of daal on the go at the moment, but it involves yellow split peas, chopped shallots, and coconut milk, plus plenty of spices and garlic - it should make plenty, so we’ll likely have some this evening then I’ll portion out the rest and freeze.
Shopping done this morning between T’s, Lil’s and FF’s . A point of interest for some may be that both Lil’s and FF’s currently have what feel like decent deals on dried pulses - Lil’s are offering a kilo of chickpeas for £1.49, while FF’s want £1.29 for the same weight. Both have various other pulses on the same sort of price as well, so could be worth looking at for anyone who wants to stock up.
For a “frugal” month it feels like this week has been a sizeable spend - around £54 between the three stores, that’s included two big jars of himself’s preferred coffee, 12 tins of tuna, 4 of sardines, 4 bags of sugar (FF’s 2 for £1.60 deal), 3 packs each of couscous and orzo, various tins of tomatoes, sweetcorn and baked beans, AND the regular weekly stuff though, so in reality probably not really that bad. Theory is that aside from the farmers market stuff next week, the rest of the month really should be pretty low spend - fingers crossed! I used three coupons today - a £2 off £25 in FF’s, the Lil’s free. Akers one, and the one for a free croissant I nabbed from the £Supermarket email in the week.
A personal spend in the shape of one of Lil’s little miniature roses - we already have a red one, this one is bright yellow and SO pretty! If it thrives as well as the other one did then it will be a big win for £2.99. Also a household spend - £9.98 on two frames, one for three more of my black & white photo prints, and the other will take the mounted print we bought in York last weekend - those will both be going up on the staircase wall.

joedenise

Lil's miniature roses are really good value aren't they EH? We've got a red one and a yellow one which we bought probably 3 or maybe 4 years ago and they're still going strong - the red one definitely has lots more flowers than the yellow one.

lucielle

thanks I’ll have a play.
L

EssexHebridean

Happy Saturday all - it’s been a proper soggy one here, raining pretty much all day!

MSE stuff then - mostly kitchen related!:

• remainder of the Christmas 5p parsnips and shallots turned into a batch of soup - 4 portions stashed in the freezer
• Chickpeas set to soak first thing in the slow cooker - I’ll pop those on overnight to cook through and portion them tomorrow
• a batch of green lentils cooked - 5 tubs to the freezer and the balance have gone in to…
• Two cottage pie bases - or whatever you call such a thing when made with venison as this one was! Absolutely packed with veg and lentils - which hopefully MrEH won’t particularly notice! I also threw a very elderly sachet of sausage casserole mix in there - it came from the good food show as a freebie a long while ago - BB date was in 2016 but it smelled and looked fine, and tastes fine in the resulting mix too!
• a single portion of potato bake decluttered from the freezer for lunch - it was only a half portion really so I cracked a couple of eggs onto the top for the last 5 minutes of cooking and added a bit of cheese too - very tasty!
• MrEH baked a loaf overnight on at least slightly cheaper electricity - no super-cheap agile prices at the moment but we do what we can when the prices are the lowest.
• On that note I’ve got a reminder to get a load of washing in the machine ready for tonight too, and I think thr dishwasher will need to run as well.
• Free exercise via a Yoga session.
  

Now, the fire is lit, I’ve got an episode of Call the Midwife on (thanks to Cheery for starting me on that one!) and there will be cheese and crackers for tea shortly!