From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

beanielou

Sorry no input on Mr GP’s worries. Though I can empathise as I worry about money all the time. 

Greying_Pilgrim

I just lost a post 🤬

Blackcats - you have an outstanding memory, I DID have that phrase as a siggie strapline.  I'm happy that we have 'enough'.  I have to say, even if you asked him, I'm not sure DH could tell you what his 'enough' is.  He does get his head turned a bit by other people having [insert object of desirable appeal], which is human nature I guess, but if you asked him what we "lacked", I suspect he'd be hard pressed to come up with anything.  I agree with you, we are rich - we have LG, each other and chocolate cakes.  Rich! rich I tell ya! 😁

KajiKita - there is much to unpack in your posts.  I will give more thought to "how" to illustrate our (relative) wealth.  Sadly it's not illness related, he's like this all the time, but I agree that he needs a jolt up the bahookie, because it's not on to make LG worried, and the appearance of affluence can be an illusion anyway, we're not necessarily any worse off than anyone else.  Not that it matters to me, but there is an educational attainment difference between DH and I too - but that doesn't stop us working well as a team, and we're lucky to have skills/nowse/logic in the mix too - which no amount of book-learning can yield.  

beanie - I'd better get ready to hang up my bakers apron, eh? 😁

Greying X

Humdinger1

Dearest @Greying_Pilgrim, I'm wading in here and hope it's OK.   I didn't have a proper LBM until I was £140k in debt.   Yup, that's not a misprint. I was self employed and 2 clients bounced cheques when I'd already spent the money, less than one week before I married my DH.  I managed to trade my way out of it and paid everything back.  That's how I learned to budget.  My first husband couldn't define how much money in the bank would be enough either which tells me now that it was an emotional element dating back years, to childhood.  Together we ramped it up to an unsustainable level.  It can be fixed and I think that baby steps are key as otherwise you can end up overwhelmed.  My ex wanted me to be a SAHM but also wanted to spend money to impress the outside world.  I'm not saying that's the case with you but the two aims were incompatible.  Please tell me to mind my own business but if Mr GP is worrying about money, would he worry any less if you did work outside the home as the pressures would be different.  You make a massive contribution by budgeting, being available to consider the picture in the round.  You're sending a priceless message to LG that money is not the only element in a happy balanced life. If you decide that you do want a job, that's a choice but not the only one possible.   DH might have different anxieties and what would the impact on LG be?

You might be interested to know that I'm living on a shoestring now; never happier.  Looking for part time work that fits with my ethical standards and voluntary work. 

Hope I've not gone on for too long or overstepped the mark.  Love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

I stuck with my commitment to start to use my mountain stash of green lentils and made a lentil stew for tea.  I cooked it in the PrC.  It was onion, celery, garlic, carrot, swede, green lentils, water, a bay leaf and when cooked I added in a squirt of mild paprika puree, hendo's relish, pepper, dried parsley, some haricot beans (baked beans with the tommie sauce rinsed off), and some frozen mixed veg.  I heated it all up again to make sure everything was piping hot.  I made mash from some of my tattie stash, and cooked some broccoli.  I will be the first to say that 'Brown Windsor soup' looked "colourful" in comparison to my stew, but it tasted all right.  There is a punnet of mash left over, and a punnet of stew.  Clean plates from the 'crew'.

DH and LG finished off yesterday's apple crumble with some yoghurt.  

DH is on new meds - the swab taken at the last hospital visit has told the Drs what type of infection DH has had - and now he's on the correct meds 🙄 Fingers crossed it's zapped to oblivion this time.  

Of the 2 items I washed, my top came in dry (only a fleece) and my coat was damp - so they are both on the airer.  I could have set out a load of washing though today - we've not had the forecast rain 🙄

Can't think of anything else MSE to add.  So thank you for popping in today and for having conversations with me.  Mucho, mucho appreciated.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning MFW'rs

I consulted the weather forecast (not beebeecee), and it said there was a significant chance of rain showers missing us today, and there is a nice breeze.  I gathered up all the towels and heavy weight clothing and stuck a wash on.  Later I noticed it was raining 🙄  Anyhoo, I've put the bulk of the wash out - it's dry at the mo, and there should be a window of at least a couple of hours - which, with the good breeze, may make a difference.  I'm going to pop the dehu on just now, as the jacket I washed yesterday is still damp to the touch.

I wondered why we were low on kitchen towels and t-towels, as I knew we'd got spares and I'd washed the ones we'd taken with us on hols.  Turns out DH had decided to put the towels away..... in the sheet and blanket drawer under the bed 🤔  Anyhoo, at least I know I've enough towels again 😁

I poured my second cup of coffee this morning, and then noticed a huge crack, the whole length of the cup had appeared ☹️  It immediately got emptied and put in the bin.  It's a shame though, as it's a mug that DH and I bought (his broke long-time since), from habitat (when it was a shop in its own right) - at least 20 years ago (probably longer come to think of it).  It was a little bit sad.  Safety first though.  We have other mugs.  

The boiler service has been booked for later in the month, so that is sorted.  We're going to need a 'widget' fitted too, as the boiler keeps on firing up everytime water is drawn - super annoying when the washing machine is going.  That is going to be done at the same time.  I don't suppose our gas use will 'plummet' but it's an annoying waste everytime it happens.

I can't think of anything else MSE to add at the mo, so I'll shuffle orf to set up the dehu.  Ta for popping by.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Change of plan.  I've pegged everything out, including my jacket, and I'll hope for the best.  It's a gamble, but if it doesn't pay off, I'll have to have the dehu on anyway.  If it does work, then I've saved the leccy for another time.  Looking at the forecast for the next few days, it may well be needed.  

Greying X

EssexHebridean

beanielou said:

Buns look lush. 

"Lush Buns" - this thread is providing a LOT of potential drag names all of a sudden!  

Greying_Pilgrim

EssexHebridean said:

beanielou said:

Buns look lush. 

"Lush Buns" - this thread is providing a LOT of potential drag names all of a sudden!  

See now, that had me minded of Judy & Jonathan taping Joanna Lumley to make a fake phone call in Paddington 2?  The one with the Felix Dexter character anyway 😁

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Well, I'm counting my lucky stars that I gambled to put the washing out today - despite a fine mizzle at times making me think I had made the wrong decision.  The forecast had said light rain was due to start at 2.30pm, but by about 1.45pm, the skies began to darken, and I found myself concentrating more on the outside, than supervising the PrC making a vat of tommie sauce.  So I switched the stove off and went outside to retrieve the clothes.  They weren't bone dry, but something like 85-90% dry, and 100% better than I anticipated I'd achieve today.  I was popping stuff on the airer, and by 2.05pm, the big blops of rain started........  So, so blessed that I was around to pull the stuff in, and it being relatively dry too.

I've made 2 and a half big pots of lentil bolognese - which will be used on Thursday (club night).  LG will probably have with pasta, DH and I may go the jacket spud route - and I may look to do them in the SC.  I've just whizzed up the tommie sauce and it's filled 4 pots, so that will go in the freezer when cooled.  I've already got a stash of smaller pots for pizza topping, so that's good.  

Also - know that you guys are with me on a daily basis (whether you like it or not!).  We're running low on milk, but i remembered I'd shoved the leftover pint (or so) of milk from before we went away, into the freezer.  I've defrosted it - using the technique..... badmemory?? described, of using cool/room temp water in a bowl to thaw it.  We now should have enough milk to last until shopping day.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

I ended up making the veggie version of harira for tea.  There was enough for 3 portions, and it was nice and thick.  Just the job for such a dark, dreich afternoon.  Lentils again, but at least it was red lentils.  I used up the last of the celery, and the last of the cooked/frozen chickpeas.  I hadn't got any carrots, so I used the remaining (big) sweet potato that I'd got in the last MrS box.   It was past it's best - having been left in the fridge whilst we were away, but I peeled and trimmed it, and then diced it up and put it in the pot.  I also diced up 2 of the 3 potatoes that I bought back from holiday - I'd bought a bag from MrL for wedges, and then used more for mash.  

Just commonal garden 'using up', but it feels good to be using everything and not dipping into the 'new & shiney'.  LG has definitely had harira before, but they liked it.  

Can't think of anything else MSE worthy to report.  Thanks for popping by.

Greying X