From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Cherryfudge

Thanks for the reminders about vouchers - I have a few ££ worth expiring tomorrow and will be travelling most of the day so time is indeed limited. When I went online to do something about them, first I had a message to say my password was compromised on another site, so I needed to change it. I checked the site I was using was secure and set up a new password.

Then it told me that not one but two browsers couldn't be used as there was a security concern… so I think I will have to go into the shop and actually spend the things, or lose them. At least I should get a few hours to fit that in - I hate letting them time out!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

So yesterday ended up a really good day.

I made a vat of tommie sauce in the PrC which used up the last 3 YS'd green bell peppers, I made sausage casserole which used up one of the punnets of qu0rn cocktail sausages and made enough for one main family meal, and one that can be 'padded out' for a family meal. Interestingly, in the '20 cocktail sausages' pack, there were only 19…… The tommie sauce was used in the casserole, as a splodge to top the pizza, and it made 3 takeaway punnets for the freezer, and a pizza topping portion, frozen for another day.

I made a huge banana cake, which used up the bananas out of the freezer, that were from a 'waste box' sometime last autumn. It also used up 4 of the eggs that were bb 27/2. I also made a chocolate chip cake that used up 4 more of the eggs and a bag of chocolate chips that had been in the cupboard since Christmas. There are 2 eggs left, so I will do the float test, and plan (if they pass that), to use them for egg mayo sangers together. I made pizza, which used up the second punnet of qu0rn sausages (there were 20 in this punnet!), and used some of the sprouty, soft wilja potatoes to make wedges. There were 2 pieces of pizza leftover, which have gone into the freezer for another day.

LG had had a good day at school, and something that had been weighing on their mind, didn't turn out as badly as they feared. In fact, the teacher had - by default or intent - been very mindful of LG 😉They showed progress in one of the weekly tests - which was no mean feat, as they've recently been promoted up to the harder examples group, and we've had HT in the middle of it all. When they got home, they set to doing their 'block' bits of homework, straight away - as they'd been asked, and I was only asked to check if a couple of the maths questions were right. I don't know if they were, but I independently got the same answer, which is no mean feat since it's decades since I did textbook maths……. 🫤

DH has agreed to go out today, so we're off to a NT venue later. We're travelling to see a place that has some connection with what LG is studying in school, although there is little point in one way, as the kids never go on trips and everything is 'book-based'. I'm not sure, even if LG sees the 'reality', they will be able to translate it to class. Ah well, we get to take a butty sangwich somewhere different, and we get to be together.

Therefore, lunch will be sandwich-based, possibly egg mayo. Tea is as yet a mystery, it will depend what time we get back etc.

Ta for popping by. Greying X

peb

Now want egg mayonnaise sandwich

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

So yesterday turned out to be a great day too! So blessed. We went to the NT property that I'd wanted to go back to for years (last time we were there, LG really was a little pickle), that not only offered an example of what is being studied at school, but is also a really great site. The volunteers couldn't have been nicer, more enthusiastic about their subject and there was no'coldness' (for want of a better word) towards voucher users - huzzah!

It did rain ☹️It rained virtually all the way there, and the mizzle made us soaked, just walking across the car park to reception. But we then were inside, until we had to walk to a different bit of the site for a guided tour - we got damp walking there, but by the time we were done with the tour, it had stopped raining and stayed dry for the rest of the day - the sun even came out too! We had taken a picnic lunch, and found benches, but they were still soggy, so we stood up - but the sun was out by then, so absolutely no hardship. As we were on the guided tour, I did look out of a window and saw a redstart in a hollybush! I couldn't tell the others, as the dear volunteer was mid information delivery, and it would have been rude, but I was so excited! When we were out in the grounds later, I saw a bird (it made a funny screech), which I can only assume was a raptor, as it's wings were curved, and it seemed to have a long tail - male sparrowhawk? And at one point i deployed Merlin, as although I could see a load of starlings in a tree, there was a single note 'squawk'. But the app kept identifying 'starling', so whether they had learnt to emulate the other birds I'm not quite sure. The app picked up redstarts in this location too - although, unless they were amongst the starlings at the top of the oak tree, I couldn't spot them. But we'd been disappointed in a wooden section, as a bird was screeching - but merlin wouldn't pick it up, despite it being quite loud and no other noises/calls to confuse the app. So I have no idea what that was.

I did buy something from the shop - and LG, did too. The assembled online MSE'r Auntie's and Uncles will be proud. LG was initially looking in the sweet treat section, and they wanted to buy something that they could share with DH (and me 😊) and they were looking between a bag of sweeties and some form of chocolate bar. Both were ridiculously priced for what they were - but I know that's not the point of the exercise, so we were discussing likes/preferences etc when my eyes fell on a box of NT branded biscuits on another shelf that had been 50% YS'd. I pointed them out to LG, as they were less than either the bag of sweeties or the chocolate bar, and were a flavour combo that we all like (raspberry and white chocolate). LG was sold on the biscuits scratching their 'sweet' itch, and being affordable! My kiddo's learning!

Coming home we ended up taking the long route as there was a diversion, and DH took a second exit, instead of the third that the satnav advised 🙄 So it was dark by the time we got home, but we had the benefit of watching a most magical sunset, plus we'd spent a good portion of the day at the NT venue, and seen everything we'd wanted to see, and the rain didn't, actually, stop us seeing anything we wanted to see/do.

I'd done egg mayo sangers for lunch, so that de-cluttered the last 2 eggs. We had banana cake - which LG loved! And we weren't the only people to have brought a picnic. We were, however, a bit bummed to discover the 'indoor' picnic area, later in the afternoon……… 🫤🤣

When we got home, nobody was overly hungry, so I had defrosted some baps (originally for lunch), and decided to cook some veggie burgers on the stove top and we just had those (no chips to accompany). For pud we had yoghurt and a couple of the biscuits each (the biscuits weren't huge). They were lovely, and it felt like a real treat. There is a biscuit left for each of us, for elevenses too. LG got a kick out of getting something to share - for a good price - and we at least supported the NT site in a small way.

Today's weather is far better than forecast….. so I have stuck a workwear wash on, and I'm hopeful it can get out on the line just now. DH wouldn't be without workwear tomorrow, but it all helps if I can get the stuff washed.

Lunch today will be probably soup based - even though the weather is nicer than anticipated. I also need to have a rootle around the freezer space again, as whilst I decluttered eg a hand of bananas, I have filled the space back up with pots of casserole and boxes of cake slices.

Happy St David's Day!

Greying X

Watty1

I love that your daughter wanted something "to share" and considered the prices of options. The sharing is so special. What a joy she is to her MSE aunties (and uncles)

Greying_Pilgrim

Agree Watty - and whilst I think sometimes stuff is way too overpriced, I try very hard to let LG spend their money how they wish. There was a time when they suddenly got a bit giddy about pennies 'burning a hole in their pocket', but we're slowly but surely starting to move through that, and they give alot more consideration to spending now. Also, we popped into the gift shop (because it was raining) on our way to the guided tour, and LG had identified the sweeties they (thought) they wanted to purchase, but I asked them to hold off, as we had to get to the (timed) guided tour. But I promised we would go back into the gift shop before we left - and I kept that promise, but it had the effect of us having more time to actually consider our purchases, and led to the spotting of other potential yummy things.

Sharing is incredibly important to me. My upbringing was in a rural very low-income area. Whilst we didn't have much, I think my parents 'held on' to what we'd got, rather than sharing. They weren't mean, but I think they took the "scarcity" view to money and resource management. Whereas relatives/colleagues who were in a similar boat, seemed to take a much different approach, of sharing what little they had. Even if it didn't make anyone any the richer, there seemed to be much more 'joy' to their approach to living. That has stuck with me, even if I can't always afford to 'splash out'.

Greying X

teapot2

Morning GP in answer to your earlier ponderings, starlings can definitely imitate other bird calls and even some 'human' noises such as cars or phones. Glad you all had a good day. x

Watty1

Scarcity mindset. Interesting. I have been pondering that lately a lot. When I was PPH he was really stuck in it and I didn't realise how it had affected me.

A rich life does not mean money riches, attitude comes into it a lot. You are doing a great job with LG.

beanielou

Sounds like a great wee family outing 🤗

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon MFW'rs

Wash is out on the line. We have a (relatively) brief window of drying-worthy breeze and some sunshine today (clouded over now), so I gathered all our 'everyday' clothes and put a wash on. Fingers crossed they come in dry enough to not warrant the dehu going on - yesterday's wash was dry enough when it came in to just go on the airer overnight, and meant i had all the workwear washed and ready for the start of the week again. Phew!

I walked into Greying Town to pop some money in the bank, to top up the savings pots for longer-term bills. I also picked up some apples, lentil crisps and some YS'd leeks in hB. The leeks weren't quite 50% off (not too sure what the reduction policy was), but I haven't seen leeks for 75p for a 500g pack in quite a while, so snaffled the pack with the least (manky) trimming to do. I spent…..£3.84 from the grocery budget.

Tea last night actually ended up being a sandwich, as no-one was overly hungry, and we'd enjoyed Carrot, Lentil and fennel seed soup - a Sabrina Ghayour recipe, for lunch.

I can't think of anything else MSE-worthy at the mo. I shall amend my siggie figgie and push orf.

Greying X