From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Dreich start with us.  Absolutely scuppered my clothes washing plans 😟  The forecast gave breeze and sunny spells all weekend - which has now changed to wall-to-wall drizzle 😟  I've semi-caught up with the washing, and washed towels yesterday and did a white wash.  Despite the really cold temperatures, everything dried really well, despite it coming to rain.  I was lucky in that I spotted a mum from school walking past with an umbrella, so dashed out and got everything in.  It didn't need the dehu, and has finished off in front of the radiator.  

For tea last night we ended up having 'dirty rice' and the 'original' pb sausages that I bought in MrL on Thursday.  The sauce for the rice was from the freezer, and I fried up the sausages and then sliced them thinly and popped them on top of the rice.  I was a bit worried as I started cooking the sausages, as they went very, very floppy as they unfroze in the pan 😬  but to be fair, they did firm up as they cooked.  Verdict on them...... mixed.  I thought that whilst they didn't taste of much (they were the ones that were supposed to be the pb equivalent of pork sausages, so that's not entirely unusual), I thought they had  a bit of a weird taste to them - not chemically, but not entirely natural either.  DH and LG didn't agree, and all slices were munched.  I think I would be 'reluctant' to purchase them again - I probably wouldn't bother at full price, but might at 50% off.  Pud was a trifle each - just the MrL cheap and cheerful custard and jelly trifle that were YS'd to 49p for 3.  Nothing earth shattering, but ok occasionally.

I had made heart shaped shortbread biscuits for valentines lunch boxes, which were well received 🥰  Pizza may have been cut into heart shapes with the pastry cutter too....... 😉  Cheap and cheerful 😁

We're onto half-term now.  LG hasn't had a good end to the week, but that is entirely down to them, making an error of judgement.  I'm certainly not condoning what they did, and they were squarely in the wrong, but I am grateful that the member of staff that sorted it all out did so extremely impartially.  Hopefully LG has learnt their lesson, as the "transgression" really, really wasn't worth the stress and tears that resulted 😟  And yes, it was "worse" because it was so out of character.  I wouldn't want LG to be any different, but a very small part of me was slightly envious of how the routinely naughty kiddos would have the brass neck to brazen the situation out, and let any fall out run off them like a teflon coated merganser.......

Onwards and upwards!

Greying X

themadvix

Lovely Valentine's touches with the pizza and biscuits GP

And that was totally me at school - on the very rare occasions I did something wrong, I regretted it so much and can still remember the feelings of embarrassment they brought on to this day - it means you're doing something right, even if the naughty kiddos wouldn't have felt bad - that's never a good sign in primary school kids!

Cheery_Daff

Yep, me too - I still remember the shame  and tears when I misplaced a notebook 🙈 I remember the teacher shouting, and me feeling it was unfair, but also that I was really bad - but I look back now and think the teacher was probably about 22 and not necessarily dealing with everything perfectly 😂

Hope LG feels better about it soon x

beanielou

Enjoy half term. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Thank you tmv, Cheery and beanie - you're all right, kind and supportive, as ever 🥰

tmv - I agree about it not actually being good for anyone (kids or adults), to not be reflective about their actions, poor choices or when they get things wrong.  Even in our primary school that serves a 'good' area, some of the tales of pupil behaviour that have been coming out in these last few years..........  

Cheery - you poor thing!  I can't imagine you purposely losing a lovely notebook - boo to being shouted at 😟There are staff at LG's school who just shriek about everything.  If you've been raised to 'respect' authority, I think as a child you 'hear' it more deeply than those who haven't.  At least the member of staff was specific in their admonishment of one aspect of LG's misdemeanour - they didn't do a carpet 'you're so naughty Muriel....'  Although the tiresome 'this isn't like you' got wheeled out - which isn't helpful.  There was a reason behind the action - was it justified?  no.  Was it directly relevant to that moment in time/situation?  no.  But sometimes we all reach our threshold and react. We didn't bother filling them in on what had caused the situation, (as it shouldn't have), and hopefully we can move on.

Potato soup in the PC for lunch.  LG and DH have popped out and will come home via MrA, as LG has a World Book Day token burning a hole in their pocket 🙄  They used to be a rare as hen's teeth, but seem to be given away by the fistful now.  

Greying X

rtandon27

Hi luv - hope all is well chez the Greying family!  Popping some virtual biscuits on the table for when you return xxx

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

Hi luv - hope all is well chez the Greying family!  Popping some virtual biscuits on the table for when you return xxx

Thanks love, we're good 🥰

Need to update my siggie, as did get some shopping on Tuesday - but not all was food/ordinary groceries, so need to work out what did constitute 'groceries'.  Went to MrS and did a smart shop as it got a couple of things a little cheaper.

Half-term is in full swing.  We're keeping busy and hooking up with friends - who are insisting on paying for everything, so it's mildly frustrating that we're not able to pay our way.  But we're certainly benefitting from a whole heap of kindness, which is wonderful.  

Other than that, we've submitted the energy readings - this month did wipe out the residual credit and the monthly DD amount, so I flinged a small amount at the account so that we're back in credit.  We have used the heating and dehu more this past month, so it isn't out of whack, cost-wise.  

Really haven't got much grocery budget left - in the ball park of a tenner, I think.  So will need to prioritise what that buys.  Might just be able to limp to the end of the month in budget, or a little over, so it's a worthwhile exercise - but trying hard to not make life a 'sack cloth & ashes' gig.  Everything in moderation, including moderation!

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

rtandon27

Well done on the grocery challenge GP - A little challenge now and then is so good for reflection.

While I didn't succeed in my January efforts, I did get half way there with savings percentage and firmly confirmed to myself that yes groceries have gone up and budgets while squeaky need to be adjusted!

beanielou

Only a week to go to the end of the month 🤗

Greying_Pilgrim

So i have worked out my spend on Tuesday, it was £12.58 on groceries that we will consume before the end of the month.  There was £2.40 on non-food (need to add that to siggie - was concentrating so hard on food figures, i forgot to add it), and a  couple of snacky treat items that were only bought because we were on holiday, so I've not counted them as that is from 'holiday treats' budget line - which has only extended to a tenner this HT.  

I need to pop to the PO to put the MrS spend back in my bank a/c as I popped it on the card doing a smart shop.  

That leaves me with a budget of £14.11 until the 28th.  Frankly, better than I thought, but on the other hand, not a mahoosive amount.  Especially as stocks are beginning to dwindle.  But I would like to try my best to get to the end of the month without going too much over.  After all, if I HAD no additional money, we would have to make it work. And there are plenty of folks in that position.

The way things are at the moment, there's no real injection of cash from other sources to fund the replacement glazing, so saving pennies here and there on groceries, IS helping.  Whereas the fact that grocery prices have ballooned, is not......  One or two posters, elsewhere on the forum have been posting about DG prices. I have to say, they are frightening figures, and I can well see us being in that territory - given tradespeople in Greying Town seem to think they are all working for monied folks 😞When I get to the end of February, I will start to get quotes (if I can) from local companies.  As whilst I fear we don't have enough saved for what we would like we should have sufficient to get the imperative replacements done.  Anything extra will be gravy.  For example, we would like 2 doors replacing, but ultimately it's one that needs replacing, as it doesn't meet modern building regs.  Bricking up the 'patio doors' 🙄 would be great, but is possibly a step too far, cost-wise.  At least we have been round MSE long enough to be objective about having priorities for expenditure.

I'm not really any nearer a n*ctar voucher (£2.50), so that won't be in the mix before the end of Feb.  

Right, onwards and upwards, we remain very blessed, and I have tons to be grateful for, which I am.

Greying X