So it Begins - The Accountability

sams247

I had a tally up of the money I've spent so far on food this month. And I've spent about the same as I spent last month. I actually thought I'd spend a lot more. But I'm sort of disappointed that I haven't spent less. I'm not sure if I got to grips with the big shop, maybe I didn't make it big enough. Because I do know, by watching the purchases this month, that if I go into a supermarket for one thing I come out with 10. The idea of using somewhere like gousto is a good idea, because obviously that will save me going to the supermarket at all. Maybe next month I'll try combination of both and see how I get home

One thing occurred to me in my working out my finances, I've made no allowances for extra social time, and I've actually been invited to 2 events. But if I stick really strictly to my budget, I don't have the money to go to either. So I have to rethink that.

Today I had mixed muesli for breakfast, I added prunes, peach slices, and some mango and passionfruit yoghurt. Lunch is a pizza I made, I used naan bread as a base, I mixed some tomato purée with sweet chilli jam and put that on to the naan, then I topped it with tomatoes, shredded mozzarella and grated cheddar cheese. So I will cook that in the air fryer and that's lunch done. Tea is smoked salmon fish cakes, not home-made this time but courtesy of Aldi, and I will have these with a with mashed potato and tender stem broccoli peas and carrots. I also have some mustard mayonnaise that I made.

sams247

A mixture of money and food = yesterday I went to a community food pop-up, where excess food from the normal session was being given away free. Although there was an opportunity to donate a pound, this goes towards allowing somebody accessing the community food to get their shopping for free if they are struggling to pay the normal five or £10. Most people I saw donated the pound. 

So, for my pound, I got some lettuce, some bread, seven eggs, and lots of  mushrooms, all different varieties. Last night was a baking extravaganza. I tend not to eat bread due to digestive issues so that was given to a neighbour. I made mushroom soup, and garlic and mushroom cream sauce which I mixed  with tortellini and that was my tea, (a replacement for the planned fishcakes which I will have tonight).

And for breakfast, I made a mushroom and tomato frittata.

I have some mushrooms left over so they got sliced up and put in the freezer to be thrown into shepherds pie and the like in the future. 

Three of the eggs were used in the frittata and the other four will be used on other days. The lettuce will accompany all meals until it's gone, so for £1 I think I've done pretty good. 

And I didn't go to any supermarket, so I did not spend any money!

Today is an at home because its too hot day.  Breakfast as above.  Half the soup for lunch with a little side salad made from the bits I picked up from community food.  Tea will be the fishcakes from yesterdays plan.  I’ve made the mustard mayonnaise ready, and I will add some (English) mustard and cheese to the mash.  Probably only use peas as I have lots now.  

sams247

I dont know how to make the photo's small!!!

Lolina

Wow those dishes look amazing, you are a good cook! Great going for £1, what a great idea that is!

sams247

The decision has been taken! I have cashed in my premium bonds and have moved the money to my emergency savings. I only had very few bonds anyway so it did not feel like a loss. And if I ever get to a point where I have spare money, I can always buy more premium bonds in the future.

A working from home day today so that can easily be translated into a no spend day today. I got a lot of free oranges from the community food pop up the other day and I spent a happy hour yesterday juicing them all, some juice went into ice cubes in the freezer, and some of it I made into smoothies.

Breakfast this morning was ‘boiled’ eggs (I put a quote around that as I actually use the air fryer to cook the eggs rather than actually boil them. This was the first time I tried this method having read about it, they came out firmer than I would have liked them so I think I need to reduce the cooking time, although they do say to plunge into cold water immediately after cooking and I certainly did not do that. Either way with a slight adaptation I think this is a perfectly quick and easy way to have a boiled egg). I served my eggs with a toasted and buttered bagel. Lunch will be the rest of the vegetable soup, I will crumble in some blue cheese to give it a salty flavour and I will serve this with the other half of the bagel, toasted. Tea tonight I have planned some breaded “chicken” and I will have this with salad, coleslaw, and the last of my mustard mayonnaise.

@Lolina Thank you. Food is a big deal so I learnt to cook very young. I am a very messy cook….. why use one pan/spoon when you can use 5 😄

sams247

When I was a child, my grandmother used to make us ice lollies by putting juice into ice cube trays with a little cocktail stick to hold them by when they were frozen. I did the same with my children. I'm sure somebody would protest as to the safety of children and cocktail sticks, but no harm was ever done to anybody. I still do this now for myself, so that in this great heat I can at least have one amazing ice cube of orange juice to munch upon to cool down.

Another at home day, so no money spent today either. Tomorrow I am headed to Aldi to get some coleslaw and the ingredients of mayonnaise. I use mayonnaise and mayonnaise based sauces quite a lot so I really want to learn to make my own rather than rely on shop bought. I'm sure it will be healthier as less additives.

I've been looking at local farm shops with the idea of getting my salad and vegetables from them instead of the supermarkets. Part of the idea is to stop myself from going into supermarkets where I buy excess other stuff at the same time, and it would also be a nice thing to support small businesses rather than large chain store supermarkets. Price is also on my mind though as some of the farm shops I've been looking at are a lot more expensive than what I've been paying in Aldi. I'll have to weigh up the pros and cons.

Today I actually skipped breakfast as I had had a rough night and wasn't feeling too bright. Better by lunchtime so I had breaded halloumi with some sweet chilli mayonnaise and salad. Tea will be chicken with rice, peas, sweetcorn, and chopped peppers.