From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Cherryfudge

I wonder if it's worth emailing to see if they have a work-around such as an emailed voucher code? I had a refund from TK Mxx but we don't have a local branch - when I raised the issue that it would cost me more to get to the shop than I had to spend there, I was given an online code that I put towards a gift. So yes, that's still online shopping but sometimes it's worth asking in case they can send you a code by email that the shop assistant enters at the till. If we don't ask, they won't know there's a demand.

All that said - really useful thoughts from everyone above!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Thank you for all your contributions. I'm still mulling over things. I was minded to get something more treaty/luxury/not what we'd easily buy for ourselves. But the option of the range of stores available under the 'buy a giftcard' is tempting. We could go down the DIY/workwear/new mobile phone route……… I've got to give this careful consideration - or just throw caution to the wind, and spend on some nice things. I fear I'm sometimes too practical, to remember to pop a little joy into our lives…..

Anyhoo, in other MSE news.

I got the washing in just before the school run. It wasn't bone dry, but all the sheets/duvet covers/pillowcases were cotton, so they hadn't taken as long to dry as brushed cotton might. We had 'real' April showers today. Big bloppy drops, but over almost as soon as they started. All the bed linen is on airers now, so fingers crossed it'll be dry enough tomorrow to put away.

Tea was noodles with veg and smoked tofu. We had been gifted some random foodstuffs at the end of last year (you may recall the 'only just' ood porridge pot that contained rank oats), and these noodles (in date until the end of this year), were part of the parcel. LG has been itching to have them for a meal for yonks, and they have also been itching to eat with chopsticks. I had intended to do something for the Chinese New Year, but that came and went. Anyhoo, on hols, I had spotted a pack of relatively inexpensive, reuseable chopsticks. So I bought them, and then for tea I diced up an onion, and chopped some garlic and celery and fried them off. I sliced some carrots and steamed them lightly and then added them to the other veg, with some chopped mixed peppers, some green beans, some lightly defrosted, and chopped broccoli - to which I then added the cooked and drained noodles. I had dice up the smoked tofu and fried it off in a frying pan, and had toasted some pumpkin and sunflower seeds. I put the veg noodles in a bowl, scattered the tofu over and then the seeds. I didn't have/make any type of sauce, but the vegetables had yielded some liquid, and I'd shaken some smokey seasoning over, which had combined with the oil, and moisture and so the food wasn't bone dry if you see what I mean. LG was thrilled to have the noodles and to use chopsticks. DH was less so…… 🤣 Bless him, he did try, but reverted to a fork….. he is better with chopsticks than he gives himself credit for - but he did ask if this was a calorie controlled tea, when he was struggling to pick anything up with the chopsticks 🤣 Anyhoo, slowly but surely, LG and I are gaining ninja grade chopstick wielding skills, just in case we encounter any 'Internet Aunties' at an all-you-can-eat boofay, at any point 😉 By the end of the meal, DH wasn't totally put off, and said he wouldn't mind that dish again, and wouldn't complain if it was perhaps on a monthly rotation….. which is movement indeed for the hubster. Pud was yoghurt, nuts, banana slices and a square of chocolate from LG's Easter stash (they shared, we didn't just take).

I can't think of anything else that is legitimately MSE to mention, although I achieved another NSD today, and whilst I'm not counting them or anything, and i will be spending tomorrow (dentist), I think it's important to try to be mindful about what I'm buying.

Greying X

beanielou

Use the giftcard to get something that brings you joy.

Baileys_Babe

My DD prefers to use chopsticks for some reason and currently has half a dozen sets, some of which she uses when cooking 🥢

Cherryfudge

I've seen someone successfully eat jelly and cream with chop sticks.

KajiKita

It’s seeing someone eat teeny, wriggly things like peas with chopsticks that always impresses me! 😊

I also think use the gift card to get a treat. You get a treat and there will be less pressure to ‘maximise the value’ of it.

KK

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81961924#Comment_81961924

That would not have been my DH….🤣🤣

I quite like using chopsticks too. Maybe not for everymeal, but I do enjoy using them for rice dishes, and noodles. I mean, I eat noodles inelegantly, so I'm not too sure anyone else enjoys seeing me using them, but I just crack on 🤣 At least these chopsticks we have now are nice a finely tipped. The ones that I bought donkeys years ago are actually quite thick at the point - you certainly couldn't stab an errant cube of tofu with them. I don't know if there are different grades, or whether my original ones were just cheap and cheerful (although ironically, they were purchased from a shop selling oriental foods, as opposed to the local ironmongers).

It should be soup & pud night tonight, although I've not thought about what that might look like, but I think I'll stick with it, as it's easier to use up what we have in. Having said that, I am probably going to have to get milk today, as the 'leftovers' from holiday/the splodge out of the freezer are pretty much down to the last dregs, and won't last until tomorrow, when I was planning to do shopping. I will try to pick some up whilst I'm out at the dentist. I shall be over the FF side of Greying Town, so I may pop in there to have a looksee.

I think we're forecast rain today - and as the beebeecee and the browser are both giving it, I suspect it is not worth putting a wash on. I am more or less caught up, so it's not a biggie. I could do with doing a towels wash, but they need a good drying window, so I'll hang fire on that.

I asked DH about spending the £50 and he couldn't come up with any suggestions. What's the betting that 2 minutes after spending it on 'unnecessaries', he'll come up with needing to spend at scr3wf1x or argoose……. I'll give it some more thought - as I've just thought of something, but I don't know how much they cost.

Anyhoo, I can't think of anything else MSE to add.

Ta for popping in. Greying X

greenbee

Pointy chopsticks are Japanese, the others are Chinese. Japanese ones are often lacquered and coloured or patterned so you know which pair belong to which person (they’re personal, not communal like western cutlery). It’s a great skill for LG to learn!

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81962114#Comment_81962114

Oooooooo - everyday is a school day! Thanks greenbee - I didn't know that - although the irony of buying 'blunt' chopsticks from a shop run by a Japanese couple, is not lost on me 😁 But I definitely prefer the Japanese version, I find them just 'easier' to use. If we get more into using them, I would definitely think about the 'personalised' option, but baby steps and all that 😁

Greying X

KajiKita

One of the few gifts I kept from my times in Japan was a beautiful pair of lacquered chopsticks covered in cranes, in their own fabric case. Beautiful objects 😊

KK