2025 Frugal Living Challenge

MrsCD

Finished! 4 rounds less than the pattern said. 
Drops design - Sugar mesh bag.

suzeesu2000

Just remarked to DH that I have not managed to buy anything for our pantry shelves for several months now. All I am doing is buying what we actually need to replace and my shopping bill hasn’t reduced at all, if anything it’s increased. I don’t like looking towards the winter months without a good stock in place. I am housebound disabled and DH can only get out on his mobility scooter. Got to have a good think about shopping, need a new strategy. 

otb666

I have a tree that produces small apples I think they are crab.  I would like to use them this year Boil them to a pulp add some sugar then freeze  to add to porridge and milk shakes or will I be wasting my time. Please advise kind folk.

fionaandphil

We used to have crab apple years ago and I think we made apple jelly with them as they are so fiddly. Could you make some jelly and use it like jam for those things? 

joedenise

Google says it's fine to stew with some sugar to eat later.  Not sure about milk shakes but definitely worth it for porridge.

It's usual use is in making jams and jellies.

fionaandphil

Keep at it Quantaqa, it gets easier and much nicer to get out of bed and not have to face it. Ours gets cleaned after tea every night, means all leftovers are stored correctly and dishes all cleared.

We had roast chicken tonight with all the trimmings and while I was in the kitchen, prepped tea for tomorrow, and made a crumble with freshly picked blackberries.

Leftover chicken to go into another meal on Wednesday, carcass in the slow cooker for stock, dishwasher is on, bins emptied, son has hoovered and I'm just going to give it a quick mop.

Once you get into the swing of it, becomes much simpler and feels less of a chore 

kimwp

I only learned recently that pectin is soluble fibre. I'm thinking of stewing my apples to add to my morning oats for this reason. I've been a bit quiet on this thread, but been loving the crafts and the stories and totally in awe of mumtomanys polytunnel.

Gem-gem

MrsCD said:

Finished! 4 rounds less than the pattern said. 
Drops design - Sugar mesh bag.

Well done MrsCD, it looks good. I hope you get lots of use out of it. 

Gem-gem

Today has been a very busy day. 

Started with putting on washing and making porridge. 

Then hightailed it over to Mum's, supporting her with a phone call with a cardiologist. Further tests will be done. Whilst waiting filed and shredded her paperwork, made her porridge and gave medicines. 

Next, headed off to the gym and then shopping in town. Picked up nectar bargains from Sainsbobs plus a couple of items for dinner.

At home, had lunch, brought the washing in just as the rain started and promptly ironed the virtually dried items. Wanted to do more washing but decided against it as I didn't want to use the tumble dryer.

Next, I stripped and made our bed. Discarded DH pillow and a mattress protector. Two square pillows and one bolster pillow bagged up to sell. Pillow cases identified and bagged up too.  

One drawer in dining area also sorted and items decluttered. Boxes previously kept recycled. 

Mid afternoon, a neighbour came over and we swapped some hand crafted items. His wooden hand crafted items with my handmade crocheted and needlecraft items. These will be used as Christmas gifts.

Late afternoon, was spent cooking two curries from scratch, butternut squash, lentil and sweet potato curry and a chicken biryani. DH enjoyed the biryani so much that he had three helpings!! This was a new recipe for me. Leftovers have been portioned up and frozen. 

Tonight, before dark, I picked a few blackberries as well as polished bedroom one and two, lounge and dining area. After DH washed up I cleaned the kitchen work surfaces down. 
Finally sat down at 8:30pm. No crocheting worked on tonight. Just chilled out and ate a little homegrown/homemade rhubarb ice-cream. 

mumtoomany

Very frugal tea last night. DGS2 is staying for the week, he is 5. So tea was for 3 of us. DS-i-L had sent a joint of beef she found in her freezer and won't eat. Been there since before her OH passed away. So free beef, HG potatoes, cauliflower and beans, gravey granules donated by DD3, Yorkshire puddings made with eggs from our hens, yellow sticker flour and milk. So a few pence to feed three of us. After we had apple crumble and custard. 

Picking lots of blackberries and raspberries. The first apples are ready. Loads of veg still being picked, with DGS2. Hoping to get to the beach later. 

Hugs to all, mumtoomany.xx