2025 Frugal Living Challenge

suzeesu2000

Recently bought a microwave steamer. I had not bought one before as I didnt really like the taste or texture of microwaved veggies but, have to say, this little chap is a Godsend. Its incredibly basic and really good at doing the job. Can now cook proper veggies in a fraction of the time and without raising the temperature in the kitchen. Looking to save money on utility bills.

Gem-gem

@Prudent, I just tried putting in housewife and my premium went up by £30.00!!! I quickly changed it back to retired. 

Prudent

suzeesu2000 said:

Recently bought a microwave steamer. I had not bought one before as I didnt really like the taste or texture of microwaved veggies but, have to say, this little chap is a Godsend. Its incredibly basic and really good at doing the job. Can now cook proper veggies in a fraction of the time and without raising the temperature in the kitchen. Looking to save money on utility bills.

Which one did you buy? I put mine in the charity shop bag in January as I wasn't getting decent results. It would be so handy to have one that worked.

Topher

Quantaqa said:

Hello All, happy Saturday.  I hope you are having a lovely weekend.  My boiler finally got fixed yesterday and it is a relief to have hot water again.  The car is still in the garage while they wait for a part so I just have to be patient.

Plans for the weekend:
*Catch up with a friend today at a local cafe
*Take advantage of the beautiful weather and get laundry out to dry on the line.  Second load in the machine now.
*HM Pizza for dinner tonight
*HM Sunday roast for dinner tomorrow
*Relax in the garden this afternoon with my library book


Thank you to whoever mentioned the book 'Less' by Patrick Grant a while back.  I treated myself to this last month and absolutley love it.  I have stopped buying books but made an exception for this one as it wasn't available in my library, and it really was worth buying.  I did have a trip to the library yesterday and picked up 5 fiction books and one Craft and Stitch book to get ideas from, so they should keep me going for a while.

Thank you for adding your comment on the book “Less”. It’s one I’ve been considering and like you I can’t get it from my library (not without a long wait anyway). At the moment I’m reading Four thousand weeks. I’m feeling a lot more chilled about so many things since starting it. (So chilled I’ve not finished it yet. 

suzeesu2000

Prudent said:

suzeesu2000 said:

Recently bought a microwave steamer. I had not bought one before as I didnt really like the taste or texture of microwaved veggies but, have to say, this little chap is a Godsend. Its incredibly basic and really good at doing the job. Can now cook proper veggies in a fraction of the time and without raising the temperature in the kitchen. Looking to save money on utility bills.

Which one did you buy? I put mine in the charity shop bag in January as I wasn't getting decent results. It would be so handy to have one that worked.

It is this one from eBay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/293656181985 and it definitely works like a charm

fionaandphil

I have been out in the garden this morning helping OH chop back some trees and bushes before the garden bin goes out.  The weather is becoming more autumnal and much cooler this week.  While I was out there I picked some tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, courgettes and blackberries so that will get used during the week.  I will freeze some of the blackberries for crumbles during the winter and I'm taking some over to DM for her porridge. The tomato glut is starting so I will probably make some pasta sauces in the slow cooker this week, especially if the rain arrives.  I am trying a Nancy B recipe to make apple pectin with all the windfalls so hopefully that will help with setting the jam.

I have been selling clothes on vinted which has made a little bit of cash.  Just need to declutter and be a bit more ruthless with the wardrobe, and stop buying things that I'm unlikely to wear.

Hope you are all having a good start to the weekend.

Gem-gem

Used up the last of last year's big beef tomatoes (frozen) and some of this year's  tomatoes and made a big batch of Dehlia's tomato and basil soup. We had this for lunch. 

Tonight we had ys roast chicken, leftover Yorkshire puds from the freezer, last of cheap Easter swede and runner beans from the garden. Only full priced items were the potatoes and cauliflower. 

Today, took DM to the drs to have stitches out. I also did both mine and my DM ironing. Managed an hour or two of crocheting. My king-sized blanket is growing. 

Have loaded up the car for another boot fair - tomorrow. 

Highlanddream

I love reading all the comments, I don't have very much to add but I do have flowers on my sweet potato plants and I am over the moon, they are beautiful, like a small bind weed flower, light pink on the outside going to a dark pinky purple inside. I have grown sweet potatoes for a number of years ( over 10) and have never had flowers, must be the hot temperatures this summer. I live in Devon. 

Gem-gem

@Highlanddream, I have never thought about growing sweet potatoes. Do you just do the same as new potatoes etc?

Gem-gem

Up at 5am to do another boot fair. £70 profit made. £50 put towards household bills. £20 kept for enjoyment money. We are going on another football weekend soon and this means I can treat myself to some things whilst away like a hot choc from G@il's. 

At the boot fair some know me as the 'jam' lady. Today a gentlemen came up to me and said, 'Are you the jam lady?'I replied that I was and he said that he had a present for me. It thought that he was going to come back with some jam jars, but no. He returned with 1.2kg of damsons, that he picked from his mother's tree, and asked if I would make jam with them and bring him back a jar. I said that I would. That I would be back in two weeks time.