From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Fortune_Smiles

'Pedestrian' days are my favourite sort Greying.  I love a gentle pace and simple pleasures.  Your cosy nana nap during story time sounds idyllic.

Fortune x

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

redo, 🐞, beanie and Fortune thanks so very for stopping by and for your support.  🐞 you made me think about bottle sizes - I grabbed the Worcestershire sauce from MrL as i saw it and thought about it - and then got the replacement from there a few weeks ago, but H's relish is now stocked by HB - it is more expensive, but is in a bigger bottle, so ml for ml may not actually be that more costly - I shall investigate!  Thanks for the nudge.

Cold start for us here, but colder for many others I am sure.  I have wiped the condensation off the windows - sopping 😕

Tomato sauce is defrosting and a wash is finishing off.  Hopefully the promised breeze materialises as whilst we have weak sunshine (which is super welcome), it won't hit the washing line for long enough to make a substantive difference.  

CHB should hit the bank account today, but LG's lesson needs paying for today and I have already spent some of the CHB buying some clothes for LG last week, so must set it aside for the cc bill.

Will the telephone DD refund land today?  The new DD for beetee was due yesterday, so that will definitely be going out.  How come it always takes longer to come back to you, than it does for any company to take it off you in the first place?

I think I must investigate what's going on with the water company too, as they have gone strangely quiet, and I don't want to be in arrears - just because they have messed up our account.  

At the minute I can't see any avenues for diverting any pennies/£'s into any pots today, but never say never!

Thanks for popping by, reading and supporting me - I greatly appreciate it, always.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good afternoon MFW'rs

I walked into Greying Town this morning (free exercise no parking charges 👍).  First stop was the bank.  So the previous telephone company had paid my refund and beetee had taken our charges for this month, so this month's beetee bill cost me £6 in effect (in one hand, out the other 🙄).  Wish it was like that every month.  But still, at least that is sorted.

Then I went to check on H3nd3rson's r3lish prices in HB.  £1.59 for a 284ml bottle in comparison with MrL 150ml bottle of worcestershire sauce 69p.  Not a huge price differential.  I shall bear it in mind when the bottle runs out to put HR on my list, although I have never claimed to be a 'proper' vegetarian - I occasionally eat fish, and don't necessarily avoid products that contain eg gelatin or fish or whatever. 

I had a quick look in a couple of chazzers.  The one is a bit down at heel - although it is worth a look if in that side of town, as that is where I got LG's christmas jumper - when all other avenues had failed/cost too much/didn't fit.  Didn't see anything that we needed, so no spends.

I then nicked over to the library.  Had a look in the cookery book section.  Either EVERYONE is eschewing take-aways in Greying Town, and we're all cooking from scratch, or the library service has decided to put funds elsewhere.  The selection was very underwhelming.  However, I did pick up a copy of Dr Rupy's 'C00ks'.  There look to be a couple of recipes in it that use ingredients that I readily buy, so it's worth a browse.  

Just got in and the postie delivered a letter from the water company, setting out the DD going forward.  I knew it was going to be high, as technically we have to pay for 5 month's supply over 3 months, but they have also set out the payments until November, and they are at the same rate.  Now, whether this is a case of that the computer can't deal with 'catch-up' payments and then set the level back down to 'normal' repayment levels, or whether the company really do think that we'll use that much water/sewage removal..... it's well over double what we were paying when we were on a meter, in the (technically larger) rental property.......I know that I owe the amount that the next 3 DD's will come too, so I will pay them (by DD) and then see where we're at come the new financial year.  My knee jerk reaction was to phone the company, but I'm thinking better of it.  Wait.See.Diarise.  Hark at me getting all chilled, rather than an 'Exasperated Ethel'..  🤣

Washing is out on the line, blowing in the breeze - which hopefully is offsetting the rather nippy temperature and getting the clothes someway to dry.

I forgot to add that I cast off my blanket last night, so just need to weave in a couple of ends.  I think I possibly could have done one more pattern repeat (6 rows), without totally running out of yarn, but it falls within the required sizing, so it will be good enough.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

A bright but cold start with us today, but again, I am aware that others are having it far colder than us 😬

A load of washing out on the line. Predominantly LG's things.  Fingers crossed that the breeze counteracts the temperature, as the sun has now passed over and they will need the one item for school tomorrow 😬

I have assembled and started cooking the soup for tonight.  I am making Fasolada (Rose Elliot's version from her bean cookery book).  I'm hopeful that the beans will absorb all the flavourings as it sits until teatime.  I will probably semi-puree it, as I don't like it totally blended, but it can be a bit of a watery soup if you don't blitz it a bit.  LG has their club across town tonight, so we need an early tea.  At least we pay fees monthly for that, so no additional expenditure required. 

I have folded the clothes that were out on the line yesterday and were on the airer overnight.  They are dry but cold as the house is cold.   

I am valiantly trying NOT to come down with the cold LG has had/DH has got - despite their best efforts at 'sharing' 🙄But I have a slightly tickly throat and feel slightly achey, so it ain't looking peachy 🤧

Right, best shift-a-tail feather to get moving again/stay warm.

Ta for popping in and reading.  Very, very much appreciated.

Greying X

rtandon27

Morning GP - just popped on to say good morning & post this link to a Beeb article regarding dehumidifiers which I believe you were chatting about a short while ago! xxx

beanielou

Passes the vitamin c. 

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

Morning GP - just popped on to say good morning & post this link to a Beeb article regarding dehumidifiers which I believe you were chatting about a short while ago! x

Thanks RT we're going to have to do something - we open the windows daily, wipe down, and it's just getting worse.  'Us' is the problem, but the windows getting so cold (because they are low performance/old/failing/are North-East facing) doesn't help matters.  I'm sure others face the same dilemma, as to what to spend your money on (when you have it) - 2x dehumidifiers or a high performing double glazed unit (for starters) for your child's bedroom? 🤔😕

beanielou said:

Passes the vitamin c. 

Thanks love - I'm dosing up with that and zinc in a combined drink.  Fingers crossed I have caught it in time.

Well. I am not helping with my condensation woes, as I had to bring the washing in a bit earlier than I had planned.  OK, so I have lost probably about an hours extra drying - which given the conditions would NOT have seen the clothes bone dry anyway, but I went outside to put something in the wheelie bin and was swamped by bonfire smoke 🙁I rushed out the back and got the washing in - luckily the aroma hadn't percolated into the fabric, but the smoke was swirling around the garden.  I'm pretty sure that the actual fire is across at the back in a field - so quite a few houses between us and the source, but the wind was carrying the smoke at garden level, due to the breeze.  Because of course, every health and safety officer advises you to light a fire on a windy day..... 🙄Anyway, it is what it is.  

Soup is made.

I sorted a cupboard shelf, ditched/recycled some bottles and packages, and have emptied some things out of one more box (unfortunately still some more toot in there, but it's going in the right direction. 

Thus far I have spent no money.  Torn as to sit on my hands in the car whilst LG is at club tonight, or whether to go 'targeted' grocery shopping.  Will make a decision later.

Post today was a NY card from a friend who got busy at the tail-end of last year and had Christmas fly past them, so it was good to hear their news.  They are a small business owner, so good to hear that they are thriving, despite the prevailing economic gloom. 

Right, best get a move on.  I'm sure I can complete another task - it'll keep me warm!

Greying X 

beanielou

I would buy the window for LG ‘s bedroom. 

When I replaced mine in bits & bobs I replaced DS’s fist. The fact that it now needs replacing again is another story. 

redofromstart

We have condensation problems too. The dehumidifier helps a lot, but as you say £100 gadget. I always mean to try bowls of bicarbonate to see if that helps absorb liquid but tbh one of the furry Borg would inevitably eat it, sleep in it or decide it was a tiny litter tray.

there was an advert in our local magazine for 5 x upvc windows for £2.9k, wasn't sure if that was good or not but thought it might be useful info. There is also someone who repairs old upvc - replacing perished glass etc - which I hadn't realised might be an option for us at least. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Thanks redo I think de-humidifiers are the way to go.  If nowt else, long-term, working with the (new) windows they would (hopefully) make the house as cosy as it's going to be.  I suppose at the moment, the new loft insulation and the new heating system can only do so much.  I had pondered about the 'rejunvenation' angle, but we have wooden framed windows, so I am assuming (?) the process is not as straightforward?  There is the issue that - certainly for one of the frames - they are rotten/have suffered moisture ingress, so probably wouldn't take the pane being removed without falling to bits 🙁

The soup was a success last night.  Clean plates all around, so I was delighted at that, as it's another (relatively) low cost dish to add to the repertoire.

I did go shopping last night - just for things that we need/were on the list, plus I stocked up on cough sweets and cough medicine for DH........ 🤧  I will update my totals just now - I do know it was less than £15 (£13.26, I just checked).  Mr Al looked like a plague of locusts had been thru - I began to wonder what memo I had missed.  

If the weather is too bad tomorrow I won't go shopping.  We have the basics, so I shall stay off the roads.  

I won't do any washing today - I'm nearly caught up anyway - because it's forecast cold (not as cold as many), and with little breeze, so I would have to go to the launderette.  I shall try to save the launderette budget for emergencies or if damp washing begins to overwhelm the house.

I'm not sure what is for tea tonight, as I have changed my mind a bit and changed the menu planner around, but i will make a veggie version of Cocido (got some more chickpeas from MrAl for it last night), today, so that it is ready for tomorrow (veggie or meat versions of this stew are always better the next day).  Snap is already done for DH/LG so that's those meals done.

Right, off to shift- a-tail-feather.

Greying X