From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

mumtoomany

Hi, @Staffordia. They don't ever seen to ask for proof, and do seem to assume that anyone shopping on Tuesdays is "old". Maybe greying could try to get away with it? Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

Staffordia

mumtoomany said:

Hi, @Staffordia. They don't ever seen to ask for proof, and do seem to assume that anyone shopping on Tuesdays is "old". Maybe greying could try to get away with it? Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

That makes sense.  The woman in front of her showed her card, so maybe it's an automatic action by the casher. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Well, LG has been and gorn and dun the school trip that we saved all through covid for*.......  They came back in one piece - despite being left behind at one bit (because they were fascinated by the display and hadn't noticed Teacher & co had moved on 🙄)  They got shouted at 🙄 which was probably because teacher (newish TA) was worried they'd been the one to 'lose one' 🙄 Other than that, spiffing time had 😁

Now we've got to rev back into World Book Day costuming 🙄LG loves books, loves reading, but wouldn't come up with a suggestion as to which book character  they wanted to dress up as (dressing up has never been a big thing), and I refused to buy outfits off the 'Big River' for the 'ubiquitous' ones.  I think World Book day has failed if "everyone" wears the same outfit........ having never even read the book.........  maybe seen a bit of the movie if you're lucky.......... doesn't even know the character names.......  

Anyway, I've sort of gathered a few things together to try to make something.  I dropped on a top for LG yesterday, that not only will help with the character interpretation (very loose interpretation), but also will do for LG post World Book Day.  Yay!  Score for £2 outlay.  I also picked up a crafting item (on clearance 95p - score!), and noticed that the person serving me was a parent from school.  I engaged them in discussion about WBD, and they said that despite working in a craft store, they had purchased an outfit online........  🤣  

Just gotta make the darn outfit now 🙄

Shopping needs getting today.  Not alot on my list, but I'm already up to £36. and I suppose with what I've already spent this week, we're already nudging towards £50pw grocery spend.  

Tea last night was omlette, mash & beans.  No idea about tonight.

No washing done/put out yesterday - with the exception of the new top rinsed thru, put on the line for just and hour or two to catch the last rays of sun and then put on the airer by the radiator.   It stayed misty for yonks yesterday, when it eventually burst through, the sun was lovely.  

Right, better shift, have a multitude of things to do today.  Ta for popping by.  

Greying X

*  The 10p collection was a hang-over from lockdown.  When we moved, we found the money box again, and on counting up, found just over £15 in 10p's - which went to fund LG's place on the school trip 😁

Greying_Pilgrim

Back from the shops.....

£45.05 spent across MrAl and MrL.  I think I got everything on my list today 🤔  I had added several things to the list after I posted this morning, and I did buy some alcohol which I hadn't listed/added this morning.  I got more from MrAl than I'd anticipated, but it was stuff I would have otherwise got from MrL anyway.  I got a bag of mixed peppers from MrAl, as I saw them and they are usually the same price as MrL (were today too), but I found a bag of mostly red with a couple of yellow peppers, so I got those whilst I saw them.  

I have spent more than my 'notional' £50 pw budget this week, so far, but then again, I won't have to go to MrAl for 'school lunch box things' until next term, as I think I have enough in stock now until the end of term.  I didn't get anything in the S6, but did get onions, easy peelers and a savoy cabbage in PoTW.

Right, best get my siggie total amended then crack on with this costume, I can't procrastinate any longer....... 🙁  

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Well, World Book Day (in our own private time/space continuum) costume finished, plonked on LG, and said child deposited through the school gates - what happens to it after that is not my responsibility, I did my bit.  It's a shame that LG was worried that another child in the class would wreck the outfit, but there you go.  I totted up that LG's outfit cost £5 and my time.  And of the £5, £2 was spent on a top that is a plain colour and will fit LG into the future, so can either be used for casual, leisure or play.  I was astounded to discover that it was new/unworn as when I rinsed it, the 'QC' stickers were still firmly in place on the labels, YAY!  Also, I purchased a couple of craft items - that accounted for the other £3, of which there are 'leftovers'.  Although the one item is a bit 'niche' (but only cost 95p), so not too sure what I might use that for.  

One load of washing is out on the line, and another is in the machine.  Although we're not promised wall-to-wall sunshine today (not sure if we'll see the golden orb at all tbh), there is a goodly breeze so potential for drying, as long as the coldness doesn't tip over into lingering damp.  Fingers crossed its another day that I don't have to resort to using the launderette.

Tea last night was turnip dhal, basmati rice and a splodge of leftover Ramja masala.  The turnip dhal was nice - although I did use onion/garlic/ginger as my base, and swede rather than white turnips.  The original recipe omits the onion and ginger.  I shall link to the source I got the recipe from - but it is a very 'skeletal', basic blog.  I think the originator is German (?) but this is written in English.  The recipe does appear elsewhere on the web, but it appears that it's been randomly copied, and some recipes have incomplete ingredients lists.  So THIS recipe is complete, but off-putting to read.  I would make the recipe again.  I happened to have a small tin of coconut milk (Mayfl0w3r brand I think) in my store cupboard, it is 165ml, so I just threw it into the curry.  I would definitely make this dhal again, and will add it to my curry index + my blossoming collection of swede recipes......

Not too sure about what's for tea tonight yet, but want to get on and make a veggie version of Irish Stew (relies on mushrooms in place of the meat), as it's one of these dishes that is better the next day and I want it for the rugger match tomorrow.  I think Ireland will demolish England, if I'm honest, but hopefully it will be a good engaging game of rugger in which no-one sustains serious injury.  I need to get some stout for it, so will add it to my grocery total once purchased.  

Right, best shift-a-tail-feather, daylight is burning.  

Ta for popping in.  Greying X

debtfreewannabe321

I don't miss world book day costumes. In fact by the time DS2 was getting to that stage I had already had enough with DS1 and DD and he went as spiderman for 5 years on the trot and I argued that a comic BOOK is a book regardless if it's mostly pictures lazy mummying eh. Cheap though so definitely MS  
A turnip dhal....oooo...whatever next...I will have a look at that recipe. I am always a make it up as you go along cook but sometimes it's nice to try a new recipe. 

edinburgher

Belated thanks to everyone for the frugal curry ideas, all will be considered as I write my shopping list this afternoon 

Greying_Pilgrim

dfw321 - I count myself extremely lucky that LG kept the same outfit for the start of schooling.  It's just as well that this year's effort is in effect 'disposable' because they will have moved on with their literary interests by next year anyway.  Looking around this morning in the queue, it didn't seem like there was alot of engagement, and very few actual costumes - bought or HM.  It's an idea past it's sell by date I think.  Surely there are other ways of engaging children in accessing reading, listening and visual literature.  

So Veggie Gu1ness Stew is made, and I've cooked it once in the PC.  I got a bottle of porter (Gu1ness brand) for the stew from MrA - along with a bag of veggie 'plantballs' and meatless burgers from the frozen section.  I then popped to MrS and luckily they had some of the 4 pack 0% Gu1ness in stock.  I've wanted to try it for a while, but MrA only had the 10 packs in stock, and I'm not trying to be funny, but not all alcohol free beers/wines are that nice, so I didn't want to shell out for a 10 pack if we decide we don't like it.   £12.25 spent in total and grocery total updated.

Still haven't decided what to do for tea - might go for pizza if I have got some tomato sauce for topping kicking about.  

The washing is all out on the line and drying reasonably well.  We've had little episodes of weak sunshine, but the breeze has been pretty consistent, so fingers crossed it'll be drier than when it went out.  

Ta for popping in.  Appreciated.

Greying X

themadvix

You are quite right about all AF beers not being equal GP, but I think you’ll like the Irish stout - Mr MV reckons you’d be hard pushed to tell them apart drinking them back to back. It’s very good - enjoy!

redofromstart

I have to plead mildly guilty about making zero effort for world book day over the years, the DS simply didnt care, certainly not enough to remind me, and when they did I generally sent them in the Halloween skeleton costume (funny bones, great book) until they were old enough to refuse.  I think I made more effort for the 1940s event, because there was more point (steam train evacuation, and WW2 stuff), unwound a jumper and knitted a sleeveless jumper and made some too short school trousers in to shorts and that was v popular with them.  trouble is half the kids turn up as a disney princess.  We did buy an Indiana jones hat and whip, which did a few years as I happened to own the book of the film from my second hand bookshop days. 

I have bought mung beans for sprouting.  The green lentil sprouts have worked really well, thoroughly recommended and I suspect I will have jars on the go through winter going forwards.