From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81985261#Comment_81985261

Thanks cheesymouse - I'll probably give that option a go first (being careful with hygiene when using the first bit out of the jar), as in theory, it won't create any extra washing of ice cube trays or plastic bags. However, I also have those methods as back-up practices.

🤞Fam. Greying has seen the last of me wasting pesto!

Greying X

Watty1

I'm thinking I might not be fussy - I freeze pesto in ice cube trays, once frozen tip the cubes into a bag and then wash the ice cube trays with a bit of washing up liquid and they are fine. Maybe I'm not that fussy?

Love the thoughts on doing it all vs working. I work from home yet am in awe of your line dried washing because I get involved in work and just can't manage to monitor what is going on outside, or, am in a meeting online or whatever. I have a clean house but that is only because I choose to spend some money on my cleaner, when i run my monthly calculations I always look over them and realise some spends are simply because I work and I adore your thread for the inspiration for when I finally manage to accumulate enough to give up work 😊

in_need_of_direction

echoing kk’s sentiments. As a working parent, I never felt on top of things and accordingly felt lacking. I did have a mini lbm however when a German colleague explained how she appeared to have it all by outsourcing and therefore her salary contributed to economic growth in multiple ways. Since then when faced with a big task, I have asked myself if I can earn more in the time it would take me to do it than it would cost to get someone appropriate in to do it. Given I am practically incompetent, I outsource selectively. Good to hear the view from the other side.

Greying_Pilgrim

That is certainly a very logical way to do things inod. I think if I'd have had a job/career that i adored, I would have gone along similar lines - 2 colleagues certainly went along similar lines with hiring cleaners the minute they got into junior manager salary territory.

We did chose to buy a little bit of childcare - more from a socialisation point of view, as there were few neighbours of a similar age/family members of LG's age etc. But I don't think they added to LG's upbringing that much. LG certainly learnt to talk, eat, read etc at home. I think nursery certainly helped to 'cement' (?) potty-training, they didn't instigate it, they didn't wave a magic wand, but they endorsed what was happening at home, and LG was certainly potty-trained well before they started school.

I hope I'm honest about my life. I'm older so I've benefitted (slightly) from rising property prices - although it turned around and bit us on the bum with this house, so…… If DH and I were starting out, we'd need 2 salaries (minimum) to afford a mortgage. We're OK with second hand and make-do and mend, and our pleasures are relatively simple, so that helps. We don't have any family for financial support nor childcare support and we're at peace with that. Perhaps you don't miss what you've never had. LG has missed out on emotional and financial support from relatives, and Christmas and birthday presents have been forgotten,and are increasingly being overlooked, but a) they've benefitted from an army of friends and 'aunties' who've picked up the slack, and b) they say they don't mind, money or 'things' aren't important. I don't know if that is really what they think, in their true heart of hearts, but that is what they say.

DH and LG have gone for a pootle out. There is a little show on locally, where a bunch of enthusiasts have gathered, and I think it's free/might be a charge for parking. They've taken hot drinks and a slab of HM cake with them anyway.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Always interesting chatter on your thread Greying 😊 I work almost full time (Mr C would tell you it's more than full time, although it's officially only 4 days) and have no children and still can't keep a spotless house 😂 I do keep on top of the washing without a dryer, but we are 2 adults with a lot of clothes 😬 and I often work at home (and have plenty of room for indoor drying). Occasionally things get a second wash on the line 🙈

I do sometimes think of a cleaner... We could technically afford it if we spend less time in cafes 🙈 but for now, that's the choice.

Mr C was talking to a friend the other day about retirement etc - that couple both worked full time for a full working life and are unsurprisingly in a much better financial position than us. I do sometimes wonder what would have happened to us financially if Mr C hadn't given up his job aged 47... We'd certainly be having more holidays! Also unlikely we'd be living here if we were both commuting to the same place (oddly enough he worked for the same organisation as me, although he several years before I arrived).

Anyway, waffling on. Interesting to ponder one's choices and the different choices and situations others are in 😊

We do share our make do and mend attitude though, which has helped us no end - Mr C is currently making soup with some elderly parsnips from the waste not scheme 😂

Greying_Pilgrim

DH and LG are back 😁 they had a lovely time at the little event - it wasn't very well attended ☹️ but that meant LG could get to touch and hold things that they may well not have done, had it been busier. DH parked for free, nearby. The HM cake was munched, but unfortunately DH didn't secure the therm0s cup properly and it leaked all over the backpack and his coat 🙄 so that's gone in the wash.

I made Bob Chorba for lunch - Bulgarian Bean Soup (Monastery style). It made just enough for 3 bowls, and the fam. liked it, so clean bowls all round.

I had to clear up some cat sick off the front step, just before DH came back. A local cat seems to prefer our grass to their own, but clearly doesn't want to remove the grass from our property, and seen to be thieving, so it deposits it back, right where we step in the house……🙄

Never a dull moment…..

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

No money spent today. It's easy on a Sunday, but still.

I made a curry plate for tea, as I wanted to try a couple of recipes from Rukmini Iyer's book. I made her version of Aloo Dum - although I will openly confess that I did not peel the tatties, either before I cooked them, nor after. I get the thinking behind making them look good, and even maybe that they suck the sauce up better, but I couldn't get past the loss of fibre, plus all the 'goodies' in tatties are supposed to be right under the skin. It didn't seem to affect the curry, and it's a keeper of a recipe for me - albeit I can't serve my version in a michel1n starred eatery 😉

I also made Beetroot, carrot and coconut dhal, although I didn't end up putting lime in mine, as I made it a little runnier (didn't weigh the lentils, just eyeballed). To complete the dish, I made ordinary dhal (as I didn't think LG would like the beetroot dhal - I was wrong, they did), and I boiled up some basmati (in case LG wasn't too keen on the tattie curry - wrong again, they lapped it up), and I heated up the leftover Lal Khodu (pumpkin curry) I made the other day. I didn't give LG much, but they didn't like that - but did eat up what was on their plate. I used up the last 3 beetroot that had been in a vac-pac, I finished off the last of the 50% off baby tatties I bought on Friday, and finished off the last portion of frozen coconut milk from the frezzer. I have 2 new recipes that are keepers and we've all got full tummies. Win. DH and LG will finish off the apple crumble with some natural yoghurt for pud.

From the top, clockwise; Lal Khodu (pumpkin curry), lentil dhal, Beetroot, carrot and Coconut dhal, boiled rice and Aloo Dum.

DH's backpack and coat dried in the sun and this afternoon's breeze.

Can't think of anything else MSE to add. I'm away to update my recipe index.

Ta for popping in. Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

From a conversation that started on dearest rt's thread about letter writing, I was reminded how much l used to love writing letters. I wrote some epic tomes (I'm sure they must have been dreadfully dull) to the mentor teacher who was assigned to me when I went to college for a semester in the US. But whether this computer is 'listening' to my typing on here or not, I just came across an article on msn, that was talking about a charity that encourages people to write letters 'to strangers', perhaps when they're undergoing treatment for cancer, or just when they're lonely.

The article mentioned that there are workshops to hone your letter writing skills, and determine what is (and perhaps what isn't) appropriate to 'say' in a letter. I did smile, as in the article, it mentioned how a volunteer writer had relayed a story about their dog on the bus, who was sliding forward down the aisle, every time the bus driver applied the brakes, no-one noticed the dogs 'journey' on the bus - the writer then illustrated the story, within the letter. That's the sort of silly little thing I would do……

From Me To You - I think I may look into this a little more closely. Although would I be a bore, whanging on about camo-wearing tree creepers, or the waft from the irises as I open the front door……

Greying X

Watty1

Curry plate looked fantastic.

ladysummerisle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81981918#Comment_81981918

Wow. That really does look good. I’m far too lazy to do more than one at a time unfortunately. I think I could cope quite well if someone filled my fridge with those (like a fancier homemade Morrisons salad bar). I’d never have to cook again!