From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Staffordia

Oh Greying, that last comment about too many things to do and not enough time to do it rang so true. We're retired and we struggle.

Interesting that you had a slightly negative experience using the voucher. I didn't get any sort of negative vibe at all. In fact I put the sticker in my pocket and no one queried why I wasn't wearing it. I found the volunteers in the house really engaging, I have encountered a bit of snootiness in the past.

Cheery_Daff

I've never had vouchers quibbled - I've never taken children but also have never taken an adult I live with 😂 sometimes I'm related, sometimes not, and usually arrive in separate cars. The way I see it, they're getting me through the doors when I otherwise wouldn't go at all, and I then usually spend in the cafe (and sometimes the bookshop and plant stall 😬). Which is the whole point of their wintery vouchers after all!

I've had to use a few vouchers on my own as not been able to get someone to come with me at short notice- always feel like I should accost someone in the car park and offer to get them in for free 😂

Glad you have a few places lined up to visit 😊

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81927725#Comment_81927725

Ha ha - I'm a retiree-in-training Staffordia! 🤣 tbf - it was 'on the gate' that we encountered the snootiness. and it was at 2 properties - the other 2 that we visited could not have been friendlier, welcoming, informing, handing over site maps and pointing out 'pinch points' or where activities were taking place. And even at the properties where the 'gate-keepers' were unfriendly, other volunteers stationed elsewhere more than made up for being informative, friendly, helpful, site map providing……. So the only common denominator was handing over the vouchers, otherwise we were clearly viewed as visitors like anyone else. And yes, I stuffed some tags in my pocket and we didn't wear them at all on our visit, as I found them the other day when I needed my rain coat again 😁

Perhaps we were unlucky with those volunteers - although they appeared to be far less abrupt with paying guests/members, who were in line before us, and came after…..

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Right, back from shopping. I've brought it forward a day, as I've a Drs appt (yes, really) tomorrow, so I did the shop today.

I went to MrL and MrS today. I did manage to snag a green box. Mostly fruit, but worth it to me. I am going to have to dig out a JaymeeO recipe for…….. Jalfrezi? as I have a mango, a red pepper, and already have some sweet potatoes - I have in my mind that is the combination - possibly with some chickpeas in the mix too 🤔 Normally I make it without the mango, but there are at least 2 in the box, so…..

There weren't alot of YS's in MrL - but I got some 50% off mushrooms, and 20% off some cheese & onion 'sausage' rolls - they will come in handy for the Easter hols.

There were even fewer YS'd things in MrS, and it was 10p off here, and 8p off there again - just as well it was nothing I was after. I did better with SEL n*ctar prices today. LG has asked - when we are on holiday - to have cereal for breakfast, rather than porridge 🙄 I have to say, I'm not super keen, and do wonder what has prompted this change of heart. Cereal is expensive ☹️ And I don't personally believe it to be that healthy - particularly given the portion size that we all measure out of the box….. as opposed to what size/weight a portion is supposed to be…… Anyway, I was looking at cereal in both MrL and MrS today, as it's an aisle I usually bypass. But I did spot in MrS that the 'Ceiliog' company (look for the Welsh rooster on the packet 😉), had got their selection pack of 8 little boxes on NP offer for £2, versus £3.50. Now before well meaning MSE'rs tell me ickle packets are always dearer gramme for gramme, I hear you, BUT I did buy them - on this occasion - as a) if this is a short-lived fad, I won't be left with half open boxes of cereal, b) most of the boxes were the chocolate rice cereal that had been mentioned as desirous, and c) the boxes are portion-sized, and I'm hoping that 'when they're gone, they're gone', and d) they are portable to be taken away on hols.

And yes, I do realise that 'myn*ctarprices' are going to be stuffed with offers for branded cereal that I don't want to buy, from hereonin………. 🤣🙄🤣

In total, I spent a whopping £39.08, including the green box. This was more than I hoped, but several of the items should (fingers crossed last until the end of the month - I'm looking at you yoghurt…….). And the cereal and cheese rolls, will be used on hols, so technically an April spend.

I'm still fretting about the cereal. I don't want this to be a slippery slope. I know LG is a good kiddo - in the grand scheme of things, but I'm finding it very hard to navigate between what's 'better' for them, and giving them a little bit of head. It was easier when they just didn't like milk, so wouldn't eat cereal, because of the milk…..

Right, siggie figgie to amend, and storage solutions for some fruit and veg to come up with.

Greying X

in_need_of_direction

with my two, there was always cereal available but the rule was that the sugary stuff was for weekends only. only problem was, as a teenage boy, ds would eat 6 shredded wheat or eight weetabix accompanied by multiple slices of toast. we still buy "special cereal" for Christmas.

rtandon27

GP - it sounds like LG was framing the cereal as something 'special' for the hols. If you reinforce that it is just that and not an everyday occurrence, I'm sure there will be no slippery slope! After all sack cloth and ashes for everyday are fine but on special occasions we stick a flower behind one ear & dance barefoot through puddles!

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928253#Comment_81928253

Ha ha - true that 😁And actually, it's 2 weeks+ until the hols, so they are going to have to demonstrate tremendous patience, which if they can, will make the treat all the 'sweeter' 😉

Greying X

Blackcats

The mini cereal boxes are visually a great treat too. My kids had a "treat" breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. A mini cereal box, scrambled egg, croissants or just eating on laps in front of the tv watching a video (that dates us)

There are different rules for holidays 😀

Baileys_Babe

My parents used to buy the mini cereal boxes as a treat for visiting the grandchildren. This also meant the grandparents weren't left with half finished boxes of cereal they weren't interested in going stale in the cupboard.

None of the grandchildren liked cornflakes so they were kept for great grandma who would choose those of any cereal.

Let LG know their MSE aunties say the cereal is a treat for this holiday - we don't want you being trapped into buying them for every future holiday/treat day/celebration.

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81928708#Comment_81928708

Ha ha - what a super idea 😁 The Aunties expect 🤣👍

Certainly I'm happy to report that thus far, the packets have been admired, and poked and prodded slightly, but have been put away in the "holiday food" box 😁 LG told DH at teatime that they had the cereal, and that there was 'Ceiliog-gs' 😉 and c0copops…… I don't think they've looked further than the cheeky monkey, but I think I've managed to "hit the spot" with that purchase. Thus far it seems like LG is seeing them as a treat, and understands, but we'll see….. I bought them today, as I didn't know how long the offer had been on/was staying on, so sometimes you have to get stuff when you see it.

I love the idea of buying the boxes for staying with the grandparents, that is very sensible - and I'm not surprised that great-grandma liked the flakes of corn - they are a very old product, originally marketed as a health food I believe.

Blackcats - I would like your weekend brekkie without the cereal - delish! Funnily enough, as we are lucky enough to have a kitchen that is just big enough for a table; eating off a tray on our laps, watching something on TV is a "treat" in this house too 😁

So tea has been munched. We had sausage ragu from the freezer. I had made a vat of it, using some of the YS's qu0rn cocktail sausages I got a couple of weeks ago. I added in extra chopped peppers and spinach and a tin of tomatoes and cooked it all up together. Then I cooked up some pasta, and steamed some carrots in the microwave and then topped it all off with a sliced up cherry tomato - there were 4 'on the vine' in the bottom of today's box. It went down well with the crew. Yoghurt and banana for pud. I had 4 (I think) more bananas in the box today, but they were underripe, rather than overripe, so we can use the last banana from the previous box.

I did notice in MrL today that sultanas have gone up 20p since last week 😱they are now £1.49 a pack in MrL 😱 Has there been a grape crop failure, or are we back to drinking more wine, with all the woes of the world 🤔 My team have been warned that each porridge or yoghurt sprinkle needs to err on the parsimonious side, as they are so expensive.

I did share some of the green box contents with a chum - there were several items that I know they like/will use.

I dried a load of washing outside today. That is now on the airer.

We haven't had the heating on…… last night, this morning or this evening, so small savings being made there too, without discomfort.

I can't think of anything else MSE to add. So I'll push orf.

Ta for popping in. Greying X