From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

badmemory

It is interesting how the busy times at different big stores can vary so much.  In my MrT at lunch time I had the choice of at least 5 tills to use where the last person was already paying.  For some reason all the tills were open so they must have expected to be busy. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Dreich day with us weatherwise.  Nowt would even start to dry if pegged out, so I am now pleased that I pegged out yesterday, even though it came in cold and slightly damp - the strong breeze had made some difference.  Put on the airer overnight, everything has finished off.  

We walked into Greying Town first thing to sort out some banking for LG.  Then I rashly decided to stump up for a drink and a slice of cake at the greasy spoon.  It's only the second time we've been there in recent times (DH has never set foot in the place).  The coffee was all frothy milk and didn't taste of much and the warmed dessert tasted of plastic according to LG.  I happened to notice the length of the 'cooks' nails too.... 🤢  We shan't bother giving them our hard-earned cash again.  One of these days I'll go to a cafe or a takeaway and really feel that we've had a nice drink/meal/cake and that it represented VFM.  Today's experience didn't better our thermos flask and HM cake option, by some margin..... 😟

School was fine yesterday, and 'nothing' occurred which was by far the best outcome. Count down to the half-term hols now.  

DH and LG have popped out.  I was thinking of rustling up soup for lunch.  Now pondering whether to make a 'sort of' hot pot in the PC, using the plant-based mince for tea.   Will have a think.  The mince is BB tomorrow anyway.

Apart from springing for elevenses, I spent no other money today and shouldn't have to spend anything else.  Can't think of anything in an MSE vibe either.  So better push orf.

Ta from dropping in.  Greying X

kayannie

The greasy spoon sounds awful -  nothing worse than a coffee that just tastes of milk. Good that LG knows when his cake isn't up to his mum's standards!!

It's been a dramatic week in the KA household, Mr KA ambulanced off to hospital with a heart attack - thankfully he's on the mend. Hopefully home soon as it's a 4 hour round trip which doesn't  make for easy visiting. 
KA

Greying_Pilgrim

Goodness kayannie - how dramatic!  Indeed, I hope MrKA is home soon and on the mend. 

Greying X

rtandon27

@kayannie - sending healing vibes for your Mr! xx

@Greying_Pilgrim - more often than not, we are sorely disappointed by cake & coffee had out of the house - we are now firmly in camp MrL - they are discounted after 7pm which is when we tend to pop in, and taste just as fresh the next day with a cup of home made coffee or hot chocolate!  At under a pound for the stay-at-home option (or picnic in good weather), the funds in my shallow pocket-book stay firmly intact!

edinburgher

Because we live near one of the hipster parts of Glasgow we are spoiled for choice - 3 cakes for £11, that sort of thing. They still manage to ruin the vibe by being unfriendly or getting the orders wrong  As we're £20+ an order these days, it makes it easier to hold onto our cash

badmemory

When did eating anything away from home stop being a pleasure & a treat.  There is only one restaurant (indian) that is any use now & you can hear them cooking.  Every where else I just feel like I am eating a supermarket ready meal & paying too much for it.  I am not the worlds best cook & used to love eating out but not now.

redofromstart

I am so sorry to read that @kayannie, it must have been a huge shock for you both but so pleased that he is on the mend.  

(That was hard to type, as I am both pleased he is on the mend and frankly envious because Mr Redo didn't have any chance.)

Greying_Pilgrim

edinburgher said:

Because we live near one of the hipster parts of Glasgow we are spoiled for choice - 3 cakes for £11, that sort of thing. They still manage to ruin the vibe by being unfriendly or getting the orders wrong  As we're £20+ an order these days, it makes it easier to hold onto our cash

We're approaching that level of cost ed, and only 2 had cake......  I think this particular greasy spoon just sees what everyone else charges and matches them.  Never mind, they won't get our money again.  They too have made the decision for me to be MUCH more circumspect in future about 'eating out' expenditure.  I always feel "tight", not having a coffee out, or going to a fast food place or takeaway or whatever, but I honestly can't remember the last time I felt I'd received VFM.  Last time I went to our local hospice cafe, I had a nice 'light lunch' option, but it wasn't particularly cheap, and as it happened, my companion insisted on picking up the tab. There was no incentive to make it any more frequent than an 'annual' experience. 

badmemory said:

When did eating anything away from home stop being a pleasure & a treat.....

I agree badmemory - and it certainly is no longer an affordable treat.  Regrettably recent experiences for Family Greying have been a disappointment and rip-off.  I know coffee has gone up in cost, but there wasn't taste (nor colour) to the mugful we had.

Italy are playing a very good game........

Lunch was minestrone 'style' soup.  Not too sure what to do for tea, as we're all pretty full.  May cook up some sausages now, and we'll have hot dogs perhaps. I'll do something more constructive with the plant-based mince tomorrow.

Greying X

kayannie

redofromstart said:

I am so sorry to read that @kayannie, it must have been a huge shock for you both but so pleased that he is on the mend.  

(That was hard to type, as I am both pleased he is on the mend and frankly envious because Mr Redo didn't have any chance.)

Thank you @redofromstart. I was thinking of you earlier. I've always been pretty self-reliant & thought I was capable of turning my hands to most things, but there have been several times over the last few days when I could have done with his help or advice, but instead have had to just  sort out whatever it was on my own.

You've been so strong (or appear to be) but I expect it was your way of coping. Not sure how I would cope.

KA