From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, we got our bums into gear this morning.  

A wash was put on - general clothes.

LG and I popped to get fuel in the car.  I had half a tank, and we've no plans to go anywhere, but I would have to put fuel in the car soon anyway, so may as well do it today.  There were only 2 cars in the petrol station 👍

We popped into MrL on the way back.  I primarily went to pick up a bag of crisps, but we did get another bag of carrots and one of parsnips.  The sprouts in MrL were on the smaller side - which is fine, but as I mostly shred them, my preference is for slightly larger sprouts, so I preferred MrS's offering for sprouts.  There was tons of produce stacked up still.  If I had more storage, I would have got more.  LG looked in the YS'd section of the fridges, and thought there was a stock of mozzarella pizzas there - but unfortunately, they were.... prosciutto (?) and mozzarella, but at least we had a rootle, and i came across a couple of breaded haddock that were YS'd 50% to £1.49.  We don't eat much fish, but I couldn't leave them there for that price - it'll be a nice fish supper for me & DH at some point.  I also got a YS'd pot of cottage cheese.  

When we got home the wash was done, so I pegged out.  It's lovely and breezy, but heck my fingers were frozen by the time I'd finished ☹️ 

DH is only working a half-day today - they finally got informed yesterday 🙄  I mean, yes, OK, so we're grateful to have him home 'early', but it makes making plans difficult if you're travelling.  Yes, OK, we're not - but how hard can it be to decide what time you're shutting up shop on Christmas Eve?  Even the supermarkets display that well in advance, and let's face it, you might have a 'no sprouts' or 'no custard' emergency!  Anyhoo, he's not told LG, so it should be a nice surprise.  LG wants to make biscuits and I'm having to try very hard to not say 'do it with dad when he comes home....' 😉

I remembered to get the ratatouille and mixed pepper & tomato sauces out of the frezzer, for our pasta bake this afternoon - I'm hoping to get the SC going this afternoon.  

Other than that, I've not much else to report.  The grocery budget is bust, but some of yesterday's and today's expenditure will be swallowed up by the bulk fund, as, in actuality the things won't get eaten before the end of the month.  Which points at slight 'hoarding' tendencies on my part ☹️  Everything does get used, and I've got a WHOLE lot better at really buying only the components or ingredients that we use regularly.  I don't have 5 grades of balsamic, 43 flavoured salts and a 1kg unopened jar of baharat spice...... So maybe in 2026, in addition to changing how I record the 'bulk' fund (moving to reducing balance), I need to actually get a Christmas budget - we've not actually bought much 'different' this year, I think I've just bought 'more' - which isn't really necessary.  We have a good time with what we have.  

Greying X

beanielou

Have a lovely Christmas 🎄 

Sunshine_girl2

Happy Christmas to the Greying Family , hope you all stay well .

Baileys_Babe

Sounds like you are doing all the right things to get roast potatoes, my only thoughts are perhaps your oven runs cool. It would be worth trying a batch at a higher temperature to see if that has better results.

How useless are Mr GPs company at communicating Christmas Eve closing times. Companies imo should make an announcement in September about Christmas hours and publish shifts (if this is relevant) so everyone knows where they stand. I feel this is such a small thing for each company but makes a huge difference to the employees whatever time they choose to close.

Happy Christmas to Family Greying Pilgrim 🎄

I'm off now to prepare Christmas dinner which we are serving this evening 

Greying_Pilgrim

Thank you beanie, Sunshine_girl2 and Baileys_babe for your wonderfully kind and generous Chrimbo wishes.

DH has just come home and LG was made.up! 😁the were sooooooo excited and only noticed as DH pulled up on the drive 🤣

Right, better get and dish up some soup.  I've made carrot (!) and coriander - jus' coz 🤣

Baileys_babe - I like the idea of a special meal being on Christmas Eve - it's something alot of Scandi countries observe, isn't it?  I'm hoping that our pasta bake in the SC turns out OK, as I'd like it to become a tradition if poss. 

Greying X

VintageHistorian

Greying_Pilgrim said:

So maybe in 2026, in addition to changing how I record the 'bulk' fund (moving to reducing balance), I need to actually get a Christmas budget - we've not actually bought much 'different' this year, I think I've just bought 'more' - which isn't really necessary.  We have a good time with what we have.  

Don't forget that prices have also gone up throughout the year, once again, so there's a chance you haven't actually bought too much more than last year it's just that it all costs so much more

Blackcats

Have a wonderful Christmas - done just the way that Family Greying want to do it.

Greying_Pilgrim

Blackcats said:

Have a wonderful Christmas - done just the way that Family Greying want to do it.

Thank you Blackcats to me, that's a gift, right there.  Advent has been OK - one or two things inadvertently missed, but definitely there was some sharing, some new experiences, some festive related activities, and quite a bit of chocolate, and some laughs and enjoyment.  Certainly, it was in line with what I'd wanted; thoughtful.  That's good enough for me.  

VH - you are, as ever, right.  I did also have a very small grocery budget this December (self-imposed), and if I'm being honest, what I think i've done is spent more or less my 'normal' grocery budget - although it seems such an age since I've done a 'normal' month.  I do need a reset - and best to do it whilst we've plenty, that's luxurious, I know - we're not starving, and not scratting around for tuppences down the back of the sofa - I'm well aware of how blessed we are. 

The pasta bake is puttering away in the SC.  I've got some garlic bread to go with, so will need to put that in the oven, just now.  

Greying X

Staffordia

Have a lovely Christmas GP et al, and I look forward to following you on your adventures next year. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Best laid plans....... I was sprinkling some cheese on top of the pasta bake.  I had bought ready shredded mozzarella for convenience.  I wish I hadn't...... I noticed as I topped the bake, one bit had clumped together and there appeared to be a dark section, and I thought there was perhaps a piece of paper or something in with the cheese.  Nope, mould covering  a clump of shredded cheese 🤢I pulled the lump out of the SC, and didn't put anymore of that cheese on the top of the bake - but I had already sprinkled some.  DH said the pasta bake smelt OK, but when I dished up, I could detect a slight tang - along the lines of blue cheese, which of course, is fine if a) you know it's blue cheese mould and b) like blue cheese.  Regrettably we don't know a) and b) this household doesn't - and I mean really doesn't like blue cheese 🤢I've just thrown the whole pasta bake in the bin.  We all had a couple of mouthfuls each, so hopefully it won't make us ill, but....... So our Christmas Eve feast consisted of garlic bread.  

Thank goodness it was just us 3, and that I hadn't taken the dish to a pot luck or something.  And thank heavens I spotted it - imagine if I'd have just dumped the whole lot in 😱 Or been using it to make a sauce 😱 and not  noticed 😱

I will complain to the manufacturer after Christmas.  And won't be (knowingly) buying their products again.  

The SC pasta bake principle worked - although I'm sad I've wasted some ratatouille that I made in the summer, from freeby courgettes and a veg box aubergine ☹️ and we've wasted some MrAl bronze cut pasta, and smoked tofu.  Ah well.  It's a veggie's equivalent of a non-defrosted turkey, isn't it 🤣 

Greying X