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Original poster

Awesome August Frugaleers..

999 replies

Laska42 · 29/07/2015 18:17

Blimey.. It's August Already (nearly) Grin

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/1324074-For-those-who-cant-afford-to-use-central-heating-this-year-How-are-you-going-to-cope

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1543785-your-top-tips-for-money-saving-and-a-more-frugal-life

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/credit_crunch/1600030-Small-money-saving-habits-petty-even

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OP posts:
babsmam · 09/08/2015 20:53

Lsd today. Went to a local museum with our season ticket and a pic nic. £7 on the traditional sweet shop and that's it. Same tomorrow hopefully.

girliefriend · 09/08/2015 20:55

NK5 my dd has had them a few times, i share your pain!

I would recommend you all take a tablet now and again in 2 weeks as although the tablet kills the worms it won't kill any eggs - sorry!

Wash all bedding and towels and keep your towels separate, I also damp dusted around the beds and gave the bathroom a good clean as well. They are a complete PITA - literally Wink

NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 21:11

Well I've washed all the stuff or at least they are all piled up going in once the first round is done. Thankfully we don't have ordinary washing to do (and there I was being smug about no laundry pile!).

The cleaner is coming tomorrow - coincidence - she usually comes on Tuesdays. Thank goodness. I will throw down some bleach though. Just in case.

Spotty - Hahahha - yes. I guess I should be happy he told is. He is v much detail oriented too. Confused

colliewobbles83 · 09/08/2015 21:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pointlessfan · 09/08/2015 21:27

I have a very short list of things to get from Asda and the 99p shop tomorrow as I'm running the fridge down pre-holiday. Also planning trip to the park which is conveniently next to Asda. I'm a bit worried that we'll have done all that by about 9.30 though which leaves quite a lot of day to fill! Hope the weather is nice again so DD can play with her new water tray aka an old plastic box from the loft while I do more weeding.

Original poster
Laska42 · 09/08/2015 21:34

Hi all, blimey this thread is moving so fast , we are only on 2nd week of August (could be a three-er this month!)

firstly happy birthday Ipsos ( a bit late )
and 2, spotty no not upset you just inadvertedly hit my 'guilt' button..
Anyway i am really pleased with my sale purchases, (and still in budget!) ..

I am on day 3 of DGS staying (aged2 1/2) he goes home tomorrow, but its been fun, we've been to the beach a couple of times, had the paddling pool out , footie in the garden, walks , duplo..etc . Hes in bed now , but i am so tired , that i made a toasted sarnie for myself this evening and managed to burn both it and my thumb on the toaster getting it out! (Ouch, now have huge blister!). I ate it anyway though Grin.. Anyway have had a compensatory Wine.. it still hurts though!

But last night I made NK5s sweet and sour chicken.. WOW wow wow wow wow.. it is so good.. Thank you so much NK everyone raved about it.. I made a little tweak.used Mirin instead of chnese cooking wine ( they had some in Easyweigh, but it was £5 and I already had Mirin, but will now buy some) . also i only used half the amount of sugar as we prefer more sour/sweet in this family , but did use all the i pineapple juice out of the tin. oh and put in water chestnuts as we all love them.. served it with soy sauce noodles . I already have requests to have it again..

I thoroughly recommend you try it !

Have you any other good Chinese recipes NK?.. We all like 'Chairman Maos' hot and spicy red pork out of the Fushia Dunlop book but its tricky.. so any good shortcuts would be appreciated ) What i'd really like is a good 'Peking Duck , 'hack' also if you have one

OP posts:
Original poster
Laska42 · 09/08/2015 21:38

oh yes, was a NSweekend (Dh paid for the ice cream)

Also we wash up ! had adiswasher once, but actually (sad person alert) I acually quite like washing up . ( also its mostly just me here as Dh works away all week,) However Dh also likes washing up ..... Ok we are weird..

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 09/08/2015 21:44

The sweet and sour sounds good, I might try that.

Does anyone have any idea where I can get cheap heat packs. Preferably the sort I can wear under my uniform at work and still move about freely with? This got quite expensive last time iirc.

Fluffycloudland77 · 09/08/2015 21:45

Ha! my dm likes ironing. I don't even iron dh's work shirts.

It's drip dry all the way here for work stuff.

NK I had worms as a teenager, it's a parasite so it has to be good at being picked up or it would be extinct by now. No idea where mine came from either.

NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 21:49

Hello laska - glad you liked it!! Grin Makes me slightly happier since my worm incident (read below).

No idea how to make Peking duck - sorry, although I imagine there's five spice mix in it.

If you like pork, this is very nice. And it's very authentic. I can promise you, you've never had it in a Chinese takeaway. www.noobcook.com/tau-yu-bak-braised-pork-belly-in-soy/2/

You can even cook it in a slow cooker. Just fry the meat first coz it just tastes better.

NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 21:58

Do you like spicy aubergine? You can use this sauce www.amazon.com/Lee-Kum-Kee-Eggplant-2-8-Ounce/dp/B001X7RGCY

All you need is, one aubergine, some mince meat (pork, even quorn). Fry the aubergine (cube it first), and the meat. Add sauce. Viola. You can also cook from scratch but I've not tried. Will link a recipe in next post. It's v v yummy. I can eat it all day every day.

NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 22:00

uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/631885

Think she's a chef on UK TV? The sauce costs something like 80p per packet. Chinese supermarkets will definitely have it.

Original poster
Laska42 · 09/08/2015 22:01

Mmm... that looks good NK do you buy the beancurd as already fried or do it yourself?

OP posts:
Original poster
Laska42 · 09/08/2015 22:04

ooh.. and as it happens I have a couple of aubergines in my fridge .. was wondering what to make with them.. ( i usually do aubergine chickpea and spinach curry or parmagiana )

OP posts:
NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 22:14

There's already fried bean curd. www.unicurd.com.sg/product_TauKwa.asp

NK5BM3 · 09/08/2015 22:15

Sorry, not sure what happened there. Meant to say, that fried tofu is available in the Chinese shops too. If you can't get it, eliminate it. It's fine. Don't substitute with normal soft tofu, it's quite gross.

Original poster
Laska42 · 09/08/2015 22:20

Definately looks like a visit to the Chinese supermarket is in order when i'm next on the mainland.. Thanks NK (theres a good one in Brighton and I'll be there in a couple of weeks..) ..but ill have a go at the aubergine recipe this week ..

OP posts:
Lucie99 · 09/08/2015 22:22

Thanks for the links Ipsos Smile. I'm going to give the lottery up ... that's £4 a week extra saved Grin

Passthecake30 · 09/08/2015 23:16

We're flying from Luton, as far as I can tell that means it's burger king for dinner. That sort of food always makes me feel a bit bleurgh. ..

All this talk about worms, my dd brings them home so often, she doesn't like washing her hands (bleurgh). I find I get a sicky stomach just before she announces them.. not actually sick but a bit gippy ifykwim.

SpottyTeacakes · 10/08/2015 06:43

Pass we went from Luton recently. It's quite small but there's a Frankie and benny's which is where we ate. We ate airside though. Once we had been through security and into where the shops are we went straight there (it's to the left at the end). It's a silent airport though so keep an eye on the screens!

AuditAngel · 10/08/2015 07:19

Morning, yesterday was spendy, but nowhere near as bad as I expected.

It was my sister's hen do. We started off with champagne afternoon tea, which we were told wax £17, I put in £20 which was good as they added a service charge. Personally I would have argued about he service charge as the service was rubbish. It took them 45 minutes to bring drinks let alone the good we ordered. When the food came, the sandwiches were dry and starting to curl up. We are going to complain.

Then we caught a bus from Kingston to Richmond and went to my husband's bar. I had suggested to my sister that we had a "whip" for the drinks, so no-one got a shock when the bill came and also people could leave when they were ready. We each put in £20, later in the evening my sister had added an extra £20 but I noticed the whip was low so I stuck in an extra £20. I paid £10 for a cab back to mine. So all in all the day cost me £70 plus a bus fare

SpottyTeacakes · 10/08/2015 07:29

I'm thinking of getting dd some lego for Christmas. Any experts (girlie?) know what would be good to start with? She will be 5.5 by then.

wheelycote · 10/08/2015 07:33

NK bloody worms. Think it's quite common but people don't talk about it

girlie thanks for tip on wilkos dishwasher tablets.

Back from camping and fell off the frugal wagon well and truly.

wheelycote · 10/08/2015 07:57

I'm way behind you all I think...need to come up with winter check list to make sure it's not as cold as last year. Back to work today, hoping for a quiet oneSmile

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