Juggling July - Frugaleering into Summer

[roguepixie]

New thread for everyone here.

[AdoraBell]

That sounds like the mind of site I might need, Thanks Fluffy, I haven't been out yet.

[shortscotty]

would've been NSD but I went to my allotment and found a mass of rhubarb so brought it all home and turned it to crumble, so £4 on foil trays for the freezer. May do an Ikea run to stock up on freezer boxes as all mine have broken through use or lost lids etc

[OodPi]

I was thinking of mass producing rhubarb crumble too but I haven't discovered a nice way of milk-replacement for the custard and crumble isn't right without

[OodPi]

School fayre tomorrow. How can I take a 2 year old and keep it cheap?

[Fluffycloudland77]

I'd love an allottment, even a half plot.

Soya custards not as nice as normal, too pale.

[ExasperatedSigh]

Ooh, accidental NSD today :)

I'd love an allotment too. Must put name down on waiting list for a half plot.

[wheredidiputit]

My sister has one, so she does all the hard work and we just eat what she grown . Best of both worlds.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

Hi, can I join the frugaleers? Did my first Lidl shop for years at the weekend (just discovered one is much closer than I realised) as we have got sooooo many expenses coming out this month, which is so damn long!

Nearly had a NSD but I had to buy an emergency KitKat at work...

[Fluffycloudland77]

Everyone's welcome.

[Thatsinteresting]

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Monday seems a long time ago already. Had to go to pet shop for a few bits today for remaining pet but resisted the urge to replace pet with something more hamster like.

I've taken out all our remaining cash so I can keep a tight control on the last few pounds. I've done a small shop that'll see us through to pay day but I'll need more milk. Really I should have bought the milk today and frozen it but the freezer is full of ends of bread that I keep meaning to do something with.

Minimalist Where are you shopping? We're vegetarian and used to eat organic but these days the budget won't allow it. We still have organic milk, butter, yogurt, eggs and tea bags but everything else isn't anymore. I cook from scratch everyday but we still spend £65-70 per week so any tips you could give me would be great.

[AdoraBell]

Spent £4 on fruit and the requisit tóxic juice cartons, and £3 on coffee and cake DD1 told me Today, after I'd shopped that the teacher told her they have to take double snacks. They've known about this match for moré than a week, and they couldn't comunícate that fact úntil Today?

Doubt I'll be going anywhere Tomorrow as Pirate, smallest dog, has just pulled me over one of the other dogs and I landed on my left knee.

[KinkyDorito]

Would love a NSD. It seems to be that time of year where everyone is doing a collection for someone leaving/wedding and it's £5 every way you turn. Gah!

I need to get as much saved before the holiday as possible. I know when we come back, I have so much to sort out financially that I need to damage-limit before we go. Plus, there's the dreaded August school shoes/new uniform/stationary run.

It's blummin endless. Get over that lot, then there's the 'C' word to start saving for.

I am going to be skint forever.

[SpangleMaker]

Impromptu spend on pub meal yesterday when due to a communication error DH and I both turned up at nursery to collect the DC. There is a lovely country pub near to nursery and it was warm and sunny... I need to check with DH if he used the joint account, if so it will come off the grocery budget but I'm not too worried as I haven't needed to do my usual shop this week and we have the 4 weekly organic fruit& veg box arriving soon. The house related spending is ramping up so that will take up all 'spare' household budget for this month.

[SpangleMaker]

The 'C' word... I have thought it but daren't speak of it in July!

[OodPi]

We have a C fund in an account with one withdrawal a year. All coppers and small cheques go in it and £30 a month. Currently almost £400!

[daisychicken]

I had allotments and hens but had to give it up for illhealth that said, I loved it, it was hard hard work but got 90% of our veg and most fruit from it.. so if you get the opportunity.. go for it!

Despite trying.. I haven't managed a NSD this week.. today will be my best with only 20p going out... Lidl have pork joints on offer this weekend so that'll be Saturdays money as we are going to stock up plus I need a birthday gift for a party ds2 is attending and Sunday ds1 has a karate course so that'll be mega expensive but hopefully next week I'll have at least 4 NSD.....

kinky yup dreaded school uniform run here as well... I've bought the logo'd stuff already, just the rest now. The supermarkets don't seem to be doing their big offers (one trouser, 2 shirts, 1 coat kind of thing) - am I expecting it too early? I'm sure it had already started by now in the last couple of years...

[roguepixie]

I must admit to already thinking about 'C'. I am making as many pressies this year so need to know what I'm doing well before hand. Not sure if making the presents makes a huge amount of difference in cost but it always goes down well.

NSD yesterday but won't be today - need to go to Costco to get the bulk items. Also need to get jiffy bags for Ebay posting.

I would love an allotment and there are some nearby but the waiting list is huge. It's a shame as some plots are clearly not being used but they have to wait to get those people removed.

[roguepixie]

Talking about school uniform - looks like DS will need another blazer for next year . I don't know how he manages it, it's like his body gives off fabric destroying hormones but they seem to disintegrate before my very eyes. DH says he only had two in his entire school career, I had one. So far DS is 2 for 2!!!!!!

And don't get me started on shirts and trousers ....

[Helenagrace]

Can't remember who asked but my pastry recipe is:

225g plain flour
110g butter, cubed
40g lard cubed (can use butter instead but lard gives a nice texture to the pastry)
3 tbsp cold water

Place flour, lard and butter into the food processor and blitz until it resembles breadcrumbs.

Whilst processor is running on slow add 2tbsp water. Keep processor running add 3 tbsp in little bits and see if the pastry is coming together.

When it forms a ball it's ready.

Put it in a plastic bag in the fridge for about 30 mins.

Roll it or shape it and then chill it for another 30 mins before you cook it and this should reduce shrinkage when you cook it.

I make a double batch and freeze half.

Struggling to get my second NSD this week. Need to top up fruit and veg today. Just heard I've got a £90 cheque coming from second hand uniform sales from DD's old school.

[MinimalistMommi]

Thats believe it or not we shop in Waitrose for our weekly shop as they have the best organic range I've found.

We meal plan right down to what the two DC will eat for puddings and packed lunches each day.

Last week we bought four two pints Duchy semi skimmed milk, two packs four of Yeo Valley Strawberry yogurts for DC, three packs of 300g Waitrose branded organic medium chedder. A pack of Rachel's unsalted butter. Waitrose branded organic pasta (99p for 500g) A bag of Waitrose branded organic Strong white flour (we already had wholemeal in cupboard) Waitrose branded organic self raising flour.....doves farm yeast....three bags of large organic Pink Lady apples, one bag of organic pears (The four bags in total come to £10.00) Heinz organic baked beans, two cans of organic chopped tomatoes (approx 80 something pence a can)
Organic frozen peas, organic bag of carrots

The following is non-organic:
Fairtrade Bananas
One cucumber
Bottle of black current HighJuice
Box of Cheerios x 2 for DC won't need to buy cereal next week (bought in Tesco, half price)
Waitrose own brand Cream Crackers
Waitrose own brand chocolate covered digestive bars (£1.22 for 10) for packed lunches



Four baked potatoes from M&S (nice and fluffy inside £1.50)
Tesco Value pure apple juice cartons x 6 (cheaper then anywhere else!)

There might have been the other odd thing that I have forgotten but that was basically it from memory. During the week we ate things like jacket potatoes, HM Lentil and tomato soup, HM pizza and veg x 2, pasta and HM cheese sauce...

We eat totally different stuff each week, like roasted veg and rice, pasta with tomato and courgette, Somerset stew from BBC Good Food website (lush) etc etc etc

The biggest thing I guess is we make all our own bread and pizza and rolls and bake cakes and biscuits for puddings at home. Making the organic bread saves a lot of money I think.

I hope that helps.

[Fluffycloudland77]

£7 today. I am truly rubbish at this week, it's less meal planning more meal damage limitation.

[shortscotty]

spendy today, supermarket and town runs both done. Had to get necklace fixed again, dang thing broke so that was another £8. Though I wear it all the time and have felt odd without it.
He shares the plot with his brother (started as a boy-bonding thing)but brother hasn't been near since last September so I started helping. We don't go as often as we should(foul hayfever) but its free exercise so I think I am frugaleering twice over - free veg and work out

[ExasperatedSigh]

Fluffy I haven't been so great this week either, so we can hang our heads together I suppose Spent £3 on drinks in the park, £5.30 on fruit in town, £21 in TK Maxx (but that bought two birthday presents, a party dress for DD and a stocking filler for DS - bearing the C word in mind already). Then gave the neighbours £80 towards the new fence between our gardens. Oh, and £1.80 on ice creams for hot and bothered DC after nursery.

[Dilidali]

Sunny weekend ahead, ladies!
So I was thinking about taking the clan to the seaside. I even filled up with petrol. Then I thought: nah, 3/4 of England's population is going to the seaside this weekend. I commute, the thought of being in the car ...naaah.
So I have planned to take them for a walk around here. Pub lunch was suggested but I was wiser than them, we're having a picnic! But a planned one as opposed to just chuck some bread and cheese in a bag and let's go. I'm bringing the table cloth to spread and proper plates, the works. Thought of a 'menu' and although I absolutely love eton mess, I don't think it travels well. So I am still thinking of a pudding.
To complete the madness, I will apologise now to whomever might see me in a pair of shorts, I am aware it is not a pretty sight but frankly, I need some sun.
We will all take books and snooze on blankets all afternoon.
There. And not a penny spent.

[AdoraBell]

Hope you enjoy your picnic Dilidali

NSD again

Tomorrow estate agents take over the house, so OH will end up spending something as we have to be out.

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I can't bring myself To think the C word yet as still have DD's birthday, a major público holiday and evil comercial Halloween.