First Frugalling month of 2018 almost done , so Forging forward into Feb we go

[Laska5772]

...and here we go !
Welcome all!

Quite you poor thing, that sounds sore & embarrassing

Ouch quite! I fall a lot too, the other day I tripped on nothing and fell into the clothes horse.

Mammy I like your thinking

Mammy This thing that I've got is dragging on as well. Must just be a long one this year. I hope you feel better soon.

The flu symptoms are unmistakable too. Hilariously, dh has had a really bad cold this week, while I have a very mild flu, and the difference is very clear. The classic flu sign for me is always that weird feeling of being too heavy to get up off the floor, coupled with the vague feeling of my heart beat being on its last legs. Your cooking sounds very impressive btw.

Yeah mammy but I have cold, and will feel a bit crap for a few days max. You've had flu for sure. Real proper flu.

Ouch bandit, those cattle grids can be lethal can't they?

We are having cauliflower mac n cheese for tea actually!

He needs to read the return policy and chill the fuck out Wreck, it'll be a second hand car when you return it and therefore has signs of wear.

You can't live like this for the next few years.

NSD.

YY to staying off work when your ill, if you can.

I don't mind there being a siblings only rule but my brother had invited us over to the ward without telling me that quite important bit of info! Dd was so excited to see her cousin, I obviously wouldn't have taken her if I'd known she wouldn't be allowed in.

Been a quiet sort of day, dd complaining of a sore throat so hoping that doesn't turn into anything, her attendance has been a bit shit since starting secondary so don't want her to have any more time off!

Did pop out to the vets for the cats px £33, picked up a massive bag of cat biscuits for £15, we seem to be getting through loads at the moment.

£23 in aldi, ran in and grabbed a few bits, hopefully this might be enough to last the week.

Yes good point girlie he def should have told you. I bet he completely forgot in the newborn haze (or am I clutching at straws?!)

at fluffy.

DH has just phoned as he drives up north, I was moaning I felt crappy and he just said 'well you shouldn't have fucking run 18 miles this morning, dickhead.'

True.....

Need

Yes fluffy you're right. He's never happy unless he has something to fret about

Last night we watched Young Offenders on Netflix really lighthearted comedy with lots of profanities in thick strong Cork accents not for everyone but I enjoyed

He has a point Need 18 miles is so far!! Hope you feel better soon.

Yes thats what i put it down to Wreck think they are all a bit shocked that the baby is here, he wasn't due until March

I sold dds bed today, that will be £60 when its collected, hopefully next week. Slowly sorting out all her stuff, once the bed is out of the room can start packing up other stuff and think about painting the walls. ...

Quiet that souds painful. Rest and ice the knee or it will be murder

Took dh to the train station and nipped into Sainsbury’s for one thing. Came out with three split shops which could have been four. To be fair over £15 was pants and socks for ds who apparently has none for school despite me washing at least once a day this week. God knows where they are, he will have hidden them thinking it’s easier that putting them in the wash basket - usually the hiding takes 50% more time and effort. 1000 points, 200 points and the another 500 points to put on next time.

I have been out. £20.01 on diesel (I hate that extra penny). And £11.49 in sainsburys, got 1000 nectar points back, is that a fiver? He scanned most of my wins from friday, apparently you can only do one the same per go, as "they all have the same number on them"

Then all my yarn from storage has been processed into boxes for collecting by courier. So I have that to sort out tonight.

Pulled pork for tea in reduced pitta breads, with roasties and some veg I suppose. I a) remembered to get it out of the freezer, and b) put it into the slow cooker on time. Having a meal plan on the fridge really works.

quite ouch! Hope your knee is ok. And at flashing your bum. Thats the sort of thing I do too. Usually in the most embarrassing way I can possibly manage.

Managed to do a £50 food shop, with what we have in already am hoping this will last the week. I’ve made rock buns for the packed lunches , and I have cooked some meals for the week.
My meal plan is-
Monday pasta bolognaise, Tuesday- bean burgers ,sweet pot wedged &salad,, wed- cottage pie & veg, thurs- vegetable balti &rice, fri- fish, couscous and ratatouille, sat- Vietnamese curry, roast chicken dinner.
I’m hoping to have enough cash left out of my budget to treat us all to cinema and meal out during half term.

Hello everyone,

I’ve recently had a Finance’s spring clean as we are moving into a new lifestyle house in the coming months...

I’m working towards building a few little projects at home to sustain our living costs in the next few years.

(Converting some old barns on our new farm into holiday cottages and a clamping field.)

So really, every single penny counts now. This is crunch time, if I can pull it off it means I can achieve my dream really but there’s only so much I have in savings and it’s a one shot deal as I sold my business to create the funds.

So, here goes! I’ve had really crappy attempts at doing this in previous years that have lasted for a few days!

So I have a Life Planner all filled in ready, it took me around a whole day to do this and go through every single payment, bank statement etc but they are all organised now in addition to a list of things I can update to get cheaper like energy and internet...

That was a real eye opener to see exactly what my fixed outgoings are!

I’ve setup 4 bank accounts so I have a clear view of the different budgets for Bills / Xmas & Bdays / Online Purchases / Emergency Fund.

And I’ve been to the bank and have a simple envelope system. These small A7 plastic wallets for my different expenses; Groceries , Dog Walker, Horse, Daily Spends, Petrol, Entertainment.... etc etc

Watching with Interest this thread and any experiences on this greatly received!!

I'm liking all this baking going on, do try oil versions if you dare!. Oils cheap compared to butter, Marg etc.

Nofilter Wow what a goal! No expierience but keep going till you get there. There's a huge house in Dartmouth called dart valley house, £14k a week and fully booked months in advance. The money's out there if you set your stall out. We knew a couple who'd done similar and it was very popular.

Need I like how he waited until there was sufficient distance between you before saying anything.

I see cauliflower mac n cheese mentioned a lot lately, stupid question but is it literally just mac n cheese with cauliflower added? 😋

Ive never eaten mac and cheese and cannot understand why its so popular . Its gotta just be with stodge with stodge sauce hasn't it? Isn't it just gluey to eat?

Sorry I am probably being a food snob (I do have terrible food snob tendencies I know) but I have often wondered about this so thought id ask you lot !

Because it’s yummy comfort food. It has to be a really strong sauce though. It’s one of the few things I make really well :o

Sausage and chorizo stew thing for dinner with rice yum

What would you have with it cag? Peas? Broccoli?

I make my mac and cheese with stock rather than milk. It’s lush.

Fluffy I've baked with oil before but only when the recipe calls for it. Is there an easy conversion?

Yes cag. I chuck the cauli in with the pasta a few minutes before it's cooked.

Laska it is but it's so tasty. You can add red onion and/or bacon to it. Or peas/sweet corn. We had ours tonight with gammon and sautéed leeks and cabbage. It's also nice with salad. I think it has to be served with something with a bit of crunch.

Thanks Fluffy!

I do a standard bechemel (sp?) sauce, add a dash of celery salt, smoked paprika, and any/all cheese I have, down to a scoop of philly, motzarella makes it delightfully stringy! It is one of lifes super comfort foods. We are having it on tuesday with sausages and peas and sweetcorn (dd1 away at grandmas, she dislikes mac and cheese and sweetcorn).

I did salad with the pulled pork in pittas, sucess there, and the rest of the pork will go on our pizza tomorrow. Dp makes the base, but puts a glug of olive oil and a dash of veg oil into the bread dough as he makes it, it makes it really smooth and stretchy, and roll the bases out onto semolina instead of flour, makes them amazing.

I often use oil instead of butter in baking. Carrot cake and choc cake lend themselves to it very well. Most american recipies (I'm a huge user of pintrest) use oil instead of butter. I always use basic veg oil, which is rape seed really, just not the fancy pressed stuff. Makes really good moist cakes.

I did so much shopping on friday that I was hard pressed to spend the £10 I needed for a coupon in sainsburys! I did need the 10 pints of milk though. But that was only £2.50. Got rubber gloves in anticipation of the skip, and loo rolls, as we will need them before my next proper shop.

I do like cauliflower cheese. I suppose I am just struggling with the idea of soft pasta in cheese sauce also made with flour

When I am off this diet perhaps ill give it a go with lots of veg in it also ..