2025 Frugal Living Challenge

kimwp

Prudent said:

OH has just come back from Lidl with a veggie box. It has a big bag of something labelled paprika. They are like long green peppers and labelled as 'very hot'. I have always though of paprika as a spice and only bought it in dried, ground form. Any ideas as to what I can do with it? 

I think paprika is just ground up peppers - it can have no heat or be really hot (though I think in the UK it usually doesn't have heat).

You could use them (sparingly depending on spice tolerance) in chilli, on pizzas etc. Probably anywhere where a jalapeno  or chilli pepper could be used is a good guide.

Gem-gem

Good afternoon everyone, 
FYI, Sainsbobs have reduced their whole chickens (with a nectar card) from £5.25 to £2.62 each. We have just bought three for £7.86

fionaandphil

I've just picked some up too, great value for Easter. I also used my nectar points to pay for them 😆

Gem-gem

DH went back and bought another five. He did leave loads for other people. 

Also picked up several 200g of Lurpack for £1.40 that they had under clearance. 

FYI... Waitr0se are selling beef joints half price for Mother's Day 

t14cy_t

i visit the library every week, i read 4 books a week on average. its a lovely little place and luckily well used.

sams247

I really like a cookbook and the library have a great selection.  I used to buy them but I found I only ever used 4 or 5 recipes from some, and some less than that once the novelty wore off, so borrowing them from the library makes far more sense.

Prudent

@sams247 That is a good idea. I found I wanted to keep cookbooks when I did the 'big declutter' at the start of the year. I have to admit to using just a few recipes from each.

I am doing some budget setting today for the next financial year. 

Income up: 1.7% 
Council tax up 13%   
Water and waste 9.9%
Internet up 6.2%
Mobile up 5%
Home insurance 11% (? no figure yet, but that is apparently average) 
Car insurance 16% (? as above)
Gas and Electricity 9% (fixed until May, price based on best renewal option)
Food ??? -comments welcome as the official figures seem like pure fantasy in the real world of the supermarket.

Income is a steep decline in real net terms as HMRC has calculated my tax due on interest and made deductions for both this year and for an underpayment last year. However I do not resent paying taxes. I would rather pay them and keep services going.

MayDogsandCoffee

Prudent said:

OH has just come back from Lidl with a veggie box. It has a big bag of something labelled paprika. They are like long green peppers and labelled as 'very hot'. I have always though of paprika as a spice and only bought it in dried, ground form. Any ideas as to what I can do with it? 

Maybe try a tiny bit first before cooking with them, although raw and cooked sometimes have a different strength.  Is it a UK label?  I always thought they were red but tend only to use dried.  I wonder if you can dry them?  Very interested to find out how to use them.

dND

Thank you for the chicken tip @Gem-gem, I availed myself of 3 and have spent the last hour or so jointing/filleting them.  Currently the skin and carcasses are poaching; I'll strip the carcasses then which depending on the amount I get off will be treats for the cats and maybe a chicken risotto for me.  There will be so many meals for example each chicken breast is now 2 inner breast fillets, a reasonable sized nugget (lump), of chicken breast, (stops me overeating 🤣) and the thin end of the breast I will beat flat and then make into kebabs.  I have had to fight the cats to keep them out of the kitchen!!
Once I've stripped the carcasses I'll then pressure cook the remains a couple of times for lovely chicken stock 😋

While in Mr S's I spotted that the 97% sausages were also on offer so got a couple of packets. 

@Prudent Like you I'm trying to work out where the official inflation figures come from.  I just priced up my next lot of cat food.  At the end of January I paid £53.59 for 160*100g F***x, today they want £78.39!!!  That's a 46% increase I think. 😱  The other boxes look the same price except they have dropped from 100g to 85g so shrinkflation being employed. 😞😞

Duchess2

It’s all “lies, lies and statistics”.  Statistics can basically be made to show anything. We all know that inflation is well above what is published, but then if they told us the truth they’d have to pay us pensioners more!!