I'm back, still struggling along, still frugal

nannygladys

Thanks all for the replies it was nice to see familiar names!

I think 'poster gran' is more me Sun_Addict, you really made me chuckle!!🤣🤣🤣

Well no other disasters have happened, the dogs leg seems to be getting better every day but he's supposed to kept calm but now he's feeling more himself he's racing around like a loon! I put a large container where the water was coming from the gap in the guttering to catch it and filled the bath up with quite a lot of it - well as much as I could keep carrying upstairs in a bucket for the toilet and filled up any container to save for the garden use.

The veggies seem to have doubled in size overnight, but I'm not complaining as it's more food for me, shame some had already died off but the courgettes seem to be coming back, so more cake and pasta dishes will be made and plenty of chard, kale and green beans.

I haven't been shopping for a week now, I have run out of milk and a few other bits and pieces but it has gone much better than I thought it would, so this weeks food money will go in the jars to go towards the guttering or a stock up of food, water etc, as we are supposed to heading towards disaster if you believe the msm and the gvt!! Anyway I'll spread it around several jars I'm keeping for emergencies, stores etc and spend wisely.

That's it for today, it's been quite warm where I live and no rain so far, so all is well in my world at the moment.

Nannyg

beanielou

Good to hear from you.

nannygladys

Thanks beanielou

Nothing miraculous has happened since I last posted. I have managed to pay half the credit card off over the last month by spending only what has been necessary, eating from the garden and stores, taking money from every available pot (except my bill one) eating from stores, garden and freezer and not going in any shops unless necessary!!! So although I'm feeling really upbeat about it I now have to face reality and live really carefully until it's paid off, as I have exhausted every spare/found money in the house, pots and accounts. I had to use the leftover money I managed to save in a glass jar on birthday cards and presents so at least that came from the hk money!

When I was paid last week, I made a 4x weekly menu plan, worked out the pup's monthly food, any money that was necessary for birthdays etc and that's it. So now with the majority of my monthly spent on food etc and not much left, I'm feeling deflated with seeing how little is left in my account, but I keep reminding myself by Xmas the card WILL be paid off and I still have some savings and be solvent again. Thank goodness for the garden, even the courgettes are having a second flush of growth with all the rain we have been having,I do have plenty of food!! I've so far made a lentil Loaf (sliced and froze), spag bol portioned and froze and today I'll be making a curry and freezing enough portions, other meals I'll be eating are pasta bakes, risotto, homemade veggie burgers and bean stew, I've had a go at making baked beans again and they aren't Heinz but fine for me, mind you they aren't cheaper than tins but at least there's no sugar or salt in them.

So what else has been happening, well as all the dgc are back at school so it's been a bit quieter around here and the pup's leg is very slowly getting better it seems to be two steps forward and one back. It's been my birthday, so a year older but as everyone says - it's only a number and my life doesn't change that much. And no more disasters (fingers crossed) - yay!!!

I'm still saving the dripping gutter water (well most of it) flushing the toilet and getting the extra exercise going up and down stairs with a bucket which can't be a bad thing 🤣. When I was visiting eldest dgc I collected a few conkers and might have a go at making laundry liquid, I've watched a fair few YT videos and it seems easy enough but I'm not entirely convinced, I could try washing the pup's blanket's first I suppose as an experiment. I've collected them before but bottled it trying to make the liquid. I also found an apple tree whilst out walking the pup but they don't look very edible but I will go and have another look in a few weeks, there's also a horse chestnut tree near it as well but they look tiny, it's probably been too dry for most trees to produce a good harvest.

Anyway that's about it, not much to report, Oh I've been making microwave bundt cakes 4 1/2 minutes in the microwave! They are basically an iced sponge cake really, but so far I have made a chocolate one, raspberry and almond one and a plain sponge one and some time this week I'm going to try a coffee and walnut one!!! others ideas are apple, choc chip, a light fruit one and I have some dried strawberries I could use in another!! I only make about one a week, slice it up and freeze so I have a sweet treat when needed. And the bread machine is on once a week - when the bread has been eaten for that week I don't make anymore as I've rationed the bread flour!!!! Flipping heck I'm beginning to sound really virtuous but I can assure you I'm not - it's more 'when needs must' and 'I'll make the most of it whilst I'm in the right mind'!!!! 🤣😉

Nannyg

Cherryfudge

Good to hear from you, and that the pup is getting better. You must have super muscles from carrying all that water: I got some good exercise from using the bathwater for the garden but that was carrying it down, not up, and I didn't do it very often.

The cakes sound very nice: it's good to know you have treats to hand. I'm assuming the bread flour is more expensive than plain flour, so I wonder if you could dilute one with the other to make it go further?

nannygladys

Thanks for the comment Cheeryfudge I'm still making the bundt cake and have tried a few other flavours, so simple and quick.

I've not had a very good month, the boiler is working fine so that's really good and I'm still hammering the credit card payments as much as I can and the balance is going down, not as quick as I would like but that's OK. Firstly my air fryer gave up the ghost followed by the toaster and the price of fuel shot up!! I know it might not seem important and they can be replaced or hopefully go down in price in the future but I must admit I fell apart a bit as it seemed everything had started to go wrong all at once. Anyway, I gradually pulled my big girls knickers up and now realise they are all just convenient things (even the fuel) that can be replaced and I can still make dinner, bake cakes and travel by bus to cut my fuel cost, but it's hard😞Anyway, no more of the pity party!

I'm still picking some veggies out of the garden, potatoes, kale, chard and the last few courgettes and I still have a few beetroot and blackberries to process, so a bit of pickling and jam to make in the next couple of weeks. I went through my pantry the last week as I've been using it more and made a new list of tins etc to replace which will be be done one tin at a time and I have found some tinned dog food I can buy that the pouch can cope with so I'll buy a few of those as well, I usually cook fresh ingredients for him but it's nice to have an alternative in the pantry, just in case.

So that's about it really, the pooch is only hopping occasionally, which is good and he's going a daily walk, although not as long as before, we are working up to that, we'll be back to being out in the woods and over the fields again soon I'm sure. Halloween will be here soon and Xmas has invaded the shops big time, I'm seeing some lovely looking Xmas food and gifts in the shops but the purse will stay shut for now, but by Xmas the c/c will be paid off and I will be able to treat myself and pooch to a couple of goodies.

Hoping everyone is well and coping with what life is throwing at you.

Nannyg

Makingabobor2

So glad you are still ok. You are right, the toaster & AF are just material posessions & not essential. If it was me, I would get a cheap toaster & not bother with an AF. I'm finding I'm hardly using mine these days & it just takes up so much room on the work surface.

beanielou

I would have to replace the AF as it’s so much easier for me to use than the oven.
Not long til the CC is paid off. I was going to buy a beer glass for my son with his name on it but I resisted.

fionaandphil

All these things seem to happen at once! It may be worth looking out for a toaster and airfryer in the supermarkets now that the students have gone back? The toasters were about £10 in either Aldi or Lidl but may reduce if they still have stock. Not an absolute necessity but worth keeping your eyes open - or drop a big hint for Christmas! Have you got a Farmfoods nearby? They have some good tins of various beans and pulses at 3 for £1, and have also had some tinned tomatoes.

Glad to hear your pooch is on the mend.

Cherryfudge

Well done for the progress on the CC, and good to hear the doggie is still improving!

The price of things is shocking. I usually look on V1nted and I've had some real bargains there.