Ready, steady… save!
You don’t need a chart to join in. Here are 2 ways to record your savings:
1. Cross it off
Pop a chart into your first post. Saved an amount? Cross it out! Read more »
£0.01 £0.02 £0.03
2. Write it down
Skip the chart and add updates to your first post. Read more »
“Another +£3 saved today. Go me!”
Use +£ before each new saving so it counts towards your total.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Away From The Madding Crowd
Comments
-
Not so much the week after! Doggy sitting this week for a family member will ensure a decent amount of activity. Loving your thread which is always a smorgasbord of interesting and useful information.
1 -
Hello and welcome.
Motivational quote of the week.
With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts – Eleanor Roosevelt.
Money Saving.
Our monthly grocery budget for me and my DH is £300. Week 1 spend for October was £74.37.
Some good savings to be had via my weekly Nect@r personalised offers, including a pack of leeks for 68p (instore price £1.37) and 6 x Royal Gala apples 90p (instore price £1.80). Don’t forget to unlock the offers and bonus points in your app each week. That said, I did find 6 x Royal Gala apples at Ald! for just 79p (Super 6 offer), so bought those!
Our utilities provider set participating customers the goal to shift their electric usage out of peak times. Those that did so were entered into a prize draw. We won £2 in September, which will be credited to our energy bill. Always worth checking what incentives your utility provider is offering in order to potentially save a little.
DH used wood from a pallet to fix a planter in the garden. At some point this week, I will fill the planter with the free strawberry plants that have grown from this year’s runners.
Freebies.
2 x Reese’s peanut butter cups via my mobile network provider.
This week’s main menu.
Monday – Breaded cod, oven chips and mushy peas. Meal will be cooked in the air fryer to save on energy costs. Ald!’s 4 x frozen breaded cod are currently £4.89 and, in my view, decent quality for that price.
Tuesday – Lentil and bean chilli (C0op recipe), with a small portion of rice.
Wednesday – Shepherd’s pie (H@iry D!eter’s recipe), kale, broccoli, and gravy. A meal swap from last week. I will replace the potato topping for swede and carrot mash. I will use a small pack of beef mince and add a tin of green lentils to not only reduce costs, but to also increase nutrients. I will use the remainder of the kale in the soup on Friday.
Thursday – Ping meal (as above) – cook once, eat twice – saves on time and energy costs.
Friday – Moroccan-spiced soup (C0-0p slow cooker recipe), with a hunk of homemade sourdough bread. To fully utilise the oven, I will pre-cook the baked potatoes for tomorrow’s meal when baking the sourdough.
Edited - I blended this recipe with a similar one from my recipe scrap book, adding a few extra spices, veg, dates, and a couple of chicken legs. It was delicious and something that I will make again.
Saturday – BBQ chicken (slow cooker recipe), baked potatoes, and sweetcorn. Baked potatoes will be reheated in the microwave and the sweetcorn will be added to the slow cooker near the end of the cooking time.
Sunday – Macaroni cheese (Go0d H0usekeeping recipe), with added vegetables. To fully utilise the oven, I will think of a sweet treat to bake.
Healthier lifestyle.
Last week’s step count was 35,783.
Completed 0 free online workouts.
Completed 4 free online meditations.
Simple pleasures.
A perfectly ripe conference pear. S@insbury’s pears currently just 99p per bag.
This week I gave my houseplants some much needed tlc. Some were potted into bigger pots; others have had their soil refreshed. Probably not the correct time of year to do this, but they look better for it.
DH and I are doggy sitting this week for a family member. It is lovely to start and end the day walking the dog.
Another bag of decluttered items dropped off at Oxf@m.
Well, I didn’t know that…Koromogae is a twice-yearly occasion in Japan. On 1 October (and 1 June), it’s the switchover between the seasons: a change to get out the clothes and furnishing you’ve had in storage, and carefully stash away the things you’ll no longer need for the coming months. Similar events exist elsewhere – such as Norway’s ‘Mitten Day’ on 14 October, the date to aim for when getting your mittens and other knitwear ready for winter.
Thank you for dropping by and reading my diary.
5 -
Thanks @KintsugiWhippet for the leaves Fairy Tale, never heard that story before.
I really like your motivational quotes @Humboldt. I do Koromogae/ Mitten Day without realising. I have to as not enough room in my wardrobes for clothes for each season so they go in boxes under my ottoman bed. Though have just realised will have to look at my warmer weather clothes as Rome in 3 weeks and Canaries cruise in January 27.
Hope you have enjoyed your doggy sitting. We take our dog out for a 4 mile walk in woods daily. Loving all the different mushrooms I see at moment, my favourite being the bright red with white spots “pixie” mushrooms. My friend sends me the location of any she finds via What3Words so I go on a treasure hunt 🍄 . A simple free pleasure, I find it very enjoyable, definitely beats working.😂
Money SPENDING Expert4 -
Thanks for sharing your stunning autumnal photo @bluenose1. Never heard of What3Words, will have to check that out, but what a great way to enjoy a shared interest with a friend. Love your holiday plans. We have enjoyed a Canaries cruise, my favourite port was La Palma. We are away at the end of November and return a couple of weeks before Christmas, hence, my early preparations. Thoroughly enjoying doggy sitting 😊 Have a great week.
2 -
Hello and welcome.
Motivational quote of the week.
A dog wags its tail with its heart – CJ Frick.
Money saving.
Our grocery budget for me and my DH is £300. Week 2 spend for October was £63.84. Total to date for October is £138.21.
Gained 300 Nect@r points via participating in S@insbury’s Count up to Christmas initiative, plus an extra 200 points via a random Christmas bonus reward.
Took advantage of S@insbury’s wine buy 6 save 25% offer – saving £10.33, plus £7.75 via Nect@r price savings. Included a bottle of fizz to celebrate DH’s retirement at the end of the month.
I found DH a book that he had expressed an interest in reading for just £1.70 on V!nted. Bought new and read by only 1 careful owner.
This week’s main menu.
Monday – Flamiche (a traditional savoury French tart/pie. I used leeks and cheese. Go0d F0od recipe), with dressed rocket. Leeks were only 68p for 500g via my Nect@r personalised price offer. I will use the leftover crème fraiche in the soup tomorrow. To fully utilise the oven, I will also cook a couple of baking potatoes for tomorrow’s lunch and a batch of sausage rolls. The sausage rolls will be frozen until Christmas.
Tuesday – Broccoli and stilton soup (G0od Fo0d recipe), with homemade sourdough. I will reduce the liquid content and cook this in the slow cooker.
Wednesday – Venison sausage casserole (from one of my recipe scrap books). Sausages were reduced in price and frozen until required. I will reduce the liquid content and cook this in the slow cooker.
Thursday – Tomato and feta pasta (from one of my recipe scrap books). Basil is homegrown. I will add leftover feta to tomorrow’s recipe.
Friday – Roasted vegetables with feta, baba ghanoush, couscous and toasted almonds. To fully utilise the oven, I will also cook a homemade seeded wholewheat sourdough.
Saturday – Spicy autumn chicken (from one of my recipe scrap books), with naan.
Sunday - Cajun-spiced fish with hot salsa (from one of my recipe scrap books). Salmon was reduced in price and frozen until required.
Healthier lifestyle.
Last week’s step count was 75,002.
Completed 0 free online workouts.
Completed 5 free online meditations.
Simple pleasures.
Autumn is putting on a spectacular show of colour and it is a joy to witness.
It has been an absolute pleasure doggy sitting this week. One more week to go.
Receiving daily holiday snaps from the family member who away. Great that they have the opportunity to enjoy some downtime.
Christmas mince pies made and now in the freezer. Mincemeat was vastly reduced when bought in January.
Books read 24/26 - North and the Only One – Vashti Hardy (passed onto me by a friend)
The authors middle-grade fantasy novels have won several awards. And whilst it was obvious that the novel was targeted at much younger readers, it was certainly a thought-provoking book.
Twelve-year-old Rose can’t remember anything before she woke up 2 weeks ago. Not knowing her own name, her own house or even her own mother, the only thing Rose can recognize is her puppy, North. Mother is kind and helpful, but something isn’t right. When Rose finally runs away with North, it becomes clear that she is different. In a world of AI, she might be the only girl left alive …But where did she come from? And can she make it back? A moving story about humanity, technology and belonging.
Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.
7 -
Hi Humboldt,
You have made me smile. I think you meant doggy sitting! The joys of predictive text.
3 -
Smile…that made me laugh out loud! 🤣. Thanks for letting me know @BrilliantButScary.
1 -
Hello and welcome.
Motivational quote of the week.
Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears – John Lennon.
Money saving.
Our grocery budget for me and my DH is £300. Week 3 spend for October was £58.21. Total spend to date for October is £196.42.
Took advantage of a half price lamb joint currently on offer (Nect@r Price) at S@insbury’s, saving £9.06. This is now in the freezer and will be the highlight of our New Years Day meal.
Gained another 300 Nect@r points via S@insbury’s ‘Count up to Christm@s’ challenge.
A trip to the dentist and all costs were covered by our Denplan, with no extra treatments required.
I have downloaded the L!dl Plus App in the hope that I can gain a few savings. Our local L!dl now has a new manager and the store looks better as a result.
Freebies.
A free pizza via a S@insbury’s voucher code from our network provider. Not something that I would normally buy, but it is now in the freezer and will be enjoyed at some point.
This week’s main menu.
Monday – Bacon and lentil soup (slow cooker recipe), with homemade sourdough bread. I will use the remainder of the bacon in tomorrow’s recipe.
Tuesday – Creamy spaghetti with bacon and courgette (from one of my recipe scrap books).
Wednesday – Roast chicken, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, roast potatoes, carrots, greens, Yorkshire puds. Medium chickens are currently on offer for £3.66 at S@insbury’s (Nect@r Price). Cranberry sauce is from the freezer.
Thursday – Ping Meal (as above) – cook once, eat twice – saves on time and energy costs.
Friday – Super squash lasagne (from one of my recipe scrap books), with a lemon dressed green salad. Squash bought when on offer for 69p in Ald!.
Sunday – Steak, peppercorn sauce, mushrooms, breaded onion rings, grilled tomatoes, peas, and chips, followed by homemade tiramisu. We will also open a bottle of fizz and celebrate DH’s retirement. Tiramisu was made when family visited a couple of weeks ago, and leftover portions were frozen.
Healthier lifestyle.
Last week’s step count was 72,183.
Completed 0 free online workouts.
Completed 4 free online meditations.
Simple pleasures.
The garden furniture has now been safely stored away in the summer house.
DH and I enjoyed a leisurely coffee and the most delicious pastry in a fairly local Scandinavian inspired bakery.
A meet up with former work colleagues for a cuppa and natter.
The dog that we have been taking care of for the last 2 weeks was so very excited to be reunited with their owner. I think the family member was a little concerned that they may have forgotten about them.
Books read 25/26 – Island on the Edge of the World – Deborah Rodriguez (library book).
From the author of The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul comes a captivating story set in the colourful but chaotic land of Haiti, as four very different women work together to find a lost child.
This is the fifth book that I have read by this author. As per all the others, this book not only has a storyline that twists and turns, but it also provides a wonderful insight into the sights, culture and traditions of it’s setting.
Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read my diary.
5 -
@Humboldt thank you for your weekly digest which I enjoy reading. My congratulations to your DH on his retirement. His celebratory meal sounds delicious. I retired last Wednesday (technically on leave this week). My leaving drinks were fun and I am awaiting delivery of a large Japanese maple as my leaving present. It will feature prominently in my garden design (a retirement project). The last self-employed payment arrived in my account last Friday. A scary moment when I realized that’s it. But looking forward to the challenge of stretching my reduced pension income. I will be employing many of your tips: your food budgeting and meal planning is a triumph.
3 -
I retired in August 2025 from teaching but have done some ad hoc supply work. Last year I did 45 days work spread out from October to July which was roughly 1-2 days a week.
This academic year I've had one days supply! It's been so quiet and other people I know on the supply network have said the same.
But, it's made me realise I can certainly manage on my teachers pension perfectly well so that does make me feel better.
4
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 355.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 255K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 456.2K Spending & Discounts
- 248.4K Work, Benefits & Business
- 606.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 179K Life & Family
- 263.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards