From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Ah ha!  tmv - you're a marvel!  I can indeed get my "Your n*ctar prices" and exit via the staffed tills in addition to doing it the smart shop way!  I didn't know that!  I did FAQ's first, and that seemed to point towards having to use the smart shop, when getting the personalised prices instore.  But I also looked at the 'learn more' section of the Points/personalised prices, and yes, it quite clearly states that I can do a smart shop, or exit via the store tills!  YAY! to having options!  

I recognise smart shop has it's place - for all sorts of reasons, and I really don't mind using it - with the exception of the several times I've had my shop 'checked'.  What's the point of packing carefully as you shop, just to have someone rummage carelessly through your bags.  

Yet again - this forum and the lovely MSE'rs who frequent these boards, make such a difference to my day.  Thank you! 😁

Greying X

EssexHebridean

If dried yeast is something you use on a reasonably regular basis try the D0ves F@rm blocks of it - the orange ones - I know they can be found with the free from type foods in S's sometimes, and usually with regular baking stuff in Waitflower. Around £2 a block or a little more, but far more in terms of contents than the boxes of sachets, and they keep brilliantly in the fridge. 

As for incentives to use Smart shop - for me the fact that it saves me time is very definitely the only real incentive I need! 

newgirly

Hi GP, thanks for posting your Christmas menu plans 😁🎄I usually just plan meals when people are visiting and go way overboard and then have the same old things over and over the rest of the time, I shall copy your idea this year and meal plan! 

Greying_Pilgrim

newgirly - I'm going to have to stick to my plan now, aren't I? 🤣  I have to say though, where I can "cheat", I will do so - even if it's using HM tommie sauce, but I make the tommie sauce 3 weeks before and freeze it, if you see what I mean.  I still don't want to be stuck in the kitchen, slaving over a hot stove.  I did enjoy making the qu0rn bake thing in the SC last year for Christmas Day - I saw more of the W&G film, for sure! but because it was a 'first' I still fussed over it a bit too much.  I've made that sort of dish a few times now, so I'm more 'relaxed' about using the SC for that type of dish.  A bit like if you get the hang of a roast dinner and timings come easier to you, because you 'know'.  

And I think I'm lucky in that DH and LG are quite flexible about what they eat.  I'd be stumped if I had to dish up a full roast dinner "because it's tradition".  I'm definitely blessed that I can offer 'pasta' or curry or Fish finger sandwiches as options 😁 And they're acceptable to my crew 😁 Plus there's still room for cheese & biscuits, or a 'buffet of random things' too 😁  All good eating really, whatever shape, size or cuisine style it is 😁

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, tea has been munched.  LG is out at club, so they had lentil dhal, rice and an omlette.  DH and I had baked tattie and lentil dhal.  The tatties were wilja, and goodness they are so fluffy when baked!  I only did them in the microwave this afternoon, but if they'd seen a bit of the oven, they would have been *chefs kiss*.  In fact, I was thinking to myself how this - maybe not lentil dhal, but stew, or ratatouille, or curry, over a fluffy/crispy buttery baked tattie would be my idea of heaven, even over Christmas; moreso if the weather was dreich.  I should find the time to sort through the tattie bag and see if there are sufficient 'bigger' tatties to set aside with that kind of dish in mind for one of the days over the Christmas week.  I'd probably need something as a back up for LG as baked tatties aren't their favourite - but there again, they'd probably eat a smaller one, so......

DH and I have discussed this month's wages and sorted out what needs paying and what amounts need to go where, so that is done.  

We've both agreed that getting a tow-bar is the next priority for the car, so that will be a savings focus for 2026.  We need to get back into the swing of going places, and cycling routes etc with LG as the time when they don't want to be with us, will come soon enough.  

I'm going to keep with the target of £200 for groceries in December.  I don't like to be defeatist, but I think it will be a tall order and then some.  But prices are rising for all of us, so I've got to try something.  We're not on our uppers, but if we start to erode savings, then we'll soon be in a pickle.  I refuse to be sack cloth and ashes about it, but I will certainly be trying my best to make best use of what we have in the cupboards and £200.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could manage it 🤔

I pegged the washing out this morning.  It did dry - perhaps not quite as well as I thought it might, given we had a good breeze and it was mild today - borderline 'too warm' for a November day - especially as we didn't have much sun.  Anyway, I brought it in before I went on the school run and put it on the airer in front of the dehu.  It had a couple of hours and it's all dried now, so I've put it away.  Not the cheapest wash & dry, but cheap-ish given the time of year.

EH I'll bear that in mind - i did have one of those boxes a long time ago........ it may even have been from Appr*ved f00ds - remember them?  It was a long time ago, because it was at our first house, not the rental.  I can't remember why, but there was a reason why I threw it away in the end.  But definitely worth keeping hold of as a substitute product in the future - thank you.

I can't think of anything else MSE at the mo to add.  Thank you all for your help and support today.  As always, I'm blown away by the kindness you show me and my fam, and the generosity you give in posting on this thread.  Thank you.  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

A wash has been pegged out - some of DH's workwear, the lighter stuff.  We're supposed to be having rain today, but there's a small window of opportunity, and we have the most magnificent breeze, so i have taken a punt.  

My n*ctar prices have refreshed - what a load of rubbish again.  Mostly stuff I don't buy, one thing I bought once in the summer, and one thing that I buy occasionally.  Nothing worth the ignominy of having your bag rifled through at checkout - so that's smarty shop knocked on the head, unless it suits me to do one 😉.  I'll have to scour n*ctar prices (available to all), and think up other means to keep my shopping bill low - starting with not buying in the first place aka shopping from home. YS'd stuff and veg boxes are part of the mix - but never as 'easily/regularly' available for me, due to the time i go shopping etc.  We have no 0li0 system near us, and whilst I'm happy to use food waste diversion schemes, ours locally have got a bit.....  territorial (people in the queue, not volunteers staffing them), and didactic (I don't want to be forced to take a loaf of mouldy bread - and be pressured to contribute a 'suggested' £2 for it...thank you).  The scheme in the market town across the way is run along much better lines, but they're on a temporary hiatus for some reason - lack of accommodation/storage or something.  We'll not starve, and it's a challenge to tackle a (hopefully) temporary blip.  I want to learn some new techniques/try some new dishes, not spend the month wailing woe is me.  This will be a useful challenge to set myself.

I've suggested a couple of activities for us to do as a family on Sunday - one definitely 'Advent' themed - a carol concert in a local church, and the other is a concert by an orchestra (I think of enthusiastic amateurs), in a local village hall.  Both suggestions were met with 'meh' 🙄

Can't think of anything else MSE to add at the mo, so I'll shove orf.  Ta for popping in.  Greying X

themadvix

Have you checked Oli0 lately GP? I know you previously said it wasn't operational, but they have since added a lot more businesses so it's unlikely there's nothing on there, although it may not be what you're after. They've also started listing the not-free, but YS stuff from Icyland on there - I don't know how this works, but might be useful gen? Equally, individuals list things sometimes, so it's worth keeping an eye for anything that might be of use.

Greying_Pilgrim

No, I shall be honest tmv - I haven't, but - unfortunate true fact - Greying Town is a very strange place, and whilst a few good folk have bandied together to get fr33gle sites, no buy, and repair cafe type things off the ground, they run into a continual issue of abuse of the systems, and eventually fold.  I'm not saying that there wouldn't be stuff from shops available, although our local waste food group are pretty comprehensive, but anything else would be 'cliquey' - some of the food waste distribution venues have gone like that.  It's a great idea, but sadly, not for me - in this locale.

I have got my b.u.m. into gear and tidied up the freezer space, so that I know what i've got, and what I haven't.  I then did the same with the food cupboards.  There has been a tiny bit of chucking out, but mercifully not much, and certainly little of monetary value - which is important.  

I've got my 'restock' list up and running.  There's nothing on it that is an 'occasional use', but I have let some things go down to being one packet/canister, and no 'spares' in the cupboard, so I will address that.  The list is completely 'ingredients' rather than nice chi-chi things.  i'm hopeful that targeting spending like this will leave some over for 'nice' things.  Mind, our 'nice things' extend to things like cheese & crackers, or a 'wrap buffet', so it's possibly more affordable than the spreads illustrated on some supermercado ads 😉

The washing is still on the line, but I'm watching the clouds like a hawk, as the weather is starting to change as the day wears on.  If the washing can stay out until midday at least. I will have achieved far more than I'd hoped this morning.  Actually, I just dashed out and checked - the clothes have made phenomenal progress in the breeze - I would be stupid to let any rain reverse the morning's drying.  I might be able to eschew the dehu at this rate.

I'm going to write up next weeks meal plan - I'd got ideas anyway, but I can firm it up now, and have a better idea of what essentials versus 're-stocks' I can do with next week's shopping budget.  

Thank you for listening and contributing.  If ever it appears i'm being dismissive of suggestions proffered in good faith, please don't assume I've not given thought to things.  I do live in a town that has always been 'keep up with the Jones's' even if folks can't afford it, and it has more than its fair share of cliques, which span across the social spectrum.  I often feel like an outsider, and only talk about MSing, or paying off mortgages or saving for things, on here.  On here we 'get' it, in RL, folks don't so much........

Greying X

Watty1

I'm don't think many people get it in real life.  So many of the people I know have a spend now worry later mindset.  It genuinely surprises them that I shop in charity shops, often pointing out I can afford new - err -yes - but buying second hand is 'fun' and it frees money for other things.

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks Watty - to be fair, sometimes MSing is mentioned in the queue at the school gates.  I get the impression (hope I'm wrong) that sometimes it's mentioned, and then immediately gets competitive, or judgey - which is a shame.  I suppose I'm surprised in a way it's mentioned at all - Greying Town has always, always been about keeping up appearances, and when the 'leading families' always made the coalman wait for his payment, whilst re-stocking the cellars with the finest vintages, it's easy to see why....... 🙄

Heavens!  I looked at the computer weather model, and it said rain was coming just after midday, so I got the washing in just on 12.  I was loading up the airer - 12.04pm and the rain starts.  It has just developed into a storm with sideways rain, and it's felt like we were in a washing machine!  Horrible!  I hope the kiddies weren't allowed out on the playground in the first place - they'd be sopping in 10 seconds flat.

The rain was coming from the wrong direction - but at least I haven't had to run up to the landing to check that the water isn't pouring in through the rotten window frame!  Although I would be lying if I said I wasn't doing a tentative check of the windows as I pass.... 🫤

Greying X