Frugal fun in February - the one with the Spring spring

[Unescorted]

New thread continued from this one

All are welcome - just dive in.

Baking will be happening here too. And washing and not a lot else

Here come the storm

I know wolf the energy stuff is nothing but depressing.
Nearly to the end of the month and I’ve (just about) stuck to the food budget but petrol is crippling! Feels like where will it end?!
em that sounds like a nightmare, will you have to delay?
Spendy time for us next week, we are having new double glazed windows at the front of the house. £2550. Will have 4 left at the back of the house to do sometime. Hoping that’s going to make a difference to heating. I suspect our old boiler isn’t helping much either.
Unusually I have a day ‘off’ as football cancelled due to weather - going for a long dog walk.

Which is the energy thread. It’s such a worry
Oh no em. Hope you get sorted sharpish
Refund from decathlon £62.50
Paid milk bill and ds valentines present £53

Hi can I jump back in please? I was last here as Madden but have had a recent name change. We moved house a year ago at the end of the month and I've been justifying lots of spends (including table and chairs!) as long term investments but the trouble is, money is running out for stuff for the house and with upcoming squeezes in all directions, I thought I'd pop back here to keep accountable.

First frugal job is working out why we've been charged council tax this month (I had already spent the February and March free months in my head - £700 altogether as we were already paying arrears from when we moved in 😭)

Morning all should be a nsd here as not planning on going out except to take ds to work and walk the dog went and windy again here

martha no. We’re not delaying. We’re going for it. Whether that’s the right thing or not we’re going for it. DH is under the impression the work can be done for £10k. The builder has estimated £30-40. I was always thinking £30k.

Im at the point where I want my new kitchen. I need new windows and I’ve paid for the accommodation so the builder can have the house.

It’s a case of putting a lot of trust in someone.

We can extend accommodation if needs be and his t&c do say he will pay for it. So. It’ll be ok. It’s stressful.

Off to the dump now to get rid of some kitchen bits we don’t need. An entire boot full….

Wow em that’s a big difference between your estimation and your DH’s! Does he tend to be a bit unrealistic financially? My DP is similar

Alfie that is shocking re your mil. PALS would be who to contact at the hospital.
Unfortunately for my purse, Plymouth has an amazing little bakery which has become a must visit when we're here (£25 this time). 2 big sourdough loaves and various cakes & pastries. Theatre last night for Mamma Mia which was fab & budgeted as it was in lieu of Christmas presents. Out for tea which will be paid for by fil, then the long drive home.....

Busy as per
Em have the house done as you want, no point in waiting .
NSD for me thankfully , have a lovely day everyone
Alfie that is so worrying for you all, bless you and your poor MIL
Dumfee welcome back lovely
Tayto good luck to your Dd in her mock exams
To everyone really worried abour the energy bills going throught the roof, all we can do is try to save as much as we can.
I have bought 3 little electric heaters which cost pennies to run , they take the chill off the room , layers help too . Electric blankets and throws. It really sucks l know

@marthasmum

Wow em that’s a big difference between your estimation and your DH’s! Does he tend to be a bit unrealistic financially? My DP is similar

Sort of. Yes

Hey Dumfee it is lovely to see you again. It doesn't seem a year.

em he is cutting it fine..... make sure you contract has an end date. .

Happier it is a lovely thing to read an actual newspaper in bed. With coffee and maybe to get up to mushrooms on sourdough topped with a poached egg. Bit more reading, a walk and slope off to the pub.

Alfie elderly care is so hit and miss.

I have been stress baking again.....A Victoria sponge. My mum had some "intense" more fruit less sugar Bonne Mama jam which has worked a treat. If you were going to go on Bake Off what would be essential to learn? I need a project to focus on.

Ooo I think 3d unescorted. They seem to like a structure from biscuit or bread
£19 Aldi today for the things I always get and ran out of.
Still not got the hang of this oven. My crumble was biting back.

em I had missed your scope of works and your DH's estimation of costs.

I have also done a meal plan for the week... admittedly as I was walking around ALDI.
We are having:
Roast chook with sage & onion stuffing
Carcass made into stock - to be used in Mushroom soup and remaining stock to be refashioned with the power of a pork chop & miso into a base for Japanese ramen
Remaining 3 chops made into breaded chops & chips
Prawns, with Cherry tomatoes and pasta - PSA Aldi are doing tinned cherry tomatoes for half the price in Tesco.
Home made pizza - it is too cold and wet for the Ooni but I crave pizza.
Last of the mince in the freezer is a Chilii filling to enchilada
Remaining pok choy, Chinese cabbage and chicken breast from Ramen made into a stir fry.

Remaining odds and ends - cheesy scones, chocolate pudding and chocolate sauce, more cake and I will have to make some bread rolls.

I may need to top up on sugar, butter & another bag of prawns - so I think that will take it to £70 for the week. I am pleased with that.

NSD

Life have you got an oven thermometer? I calibrated my oven & it has made such a difference. I have a 5 deg difference from LH front to RH back but the middle is bob on with the dial setting.

I'd say research odd types of pastry they seem to love making it difficult for people

Oh I think I'm going like this thread

And on the subject of cooking has anyone got an electric range cooker? I'm thinking original (arsehole) kitchen designer's idea is not going to work as the peninsula won't be big enough to take an induction hob plus have space to chop and space to eat. So I'm thinking alternatives

Agree re 3d work. Biscuit structures. Tiered cake. Sugar paste.

On the subject of cooking does anyone have an instapot or ninja food I like to use my slow cooker which died fancied an instapot or ninja but went for a cheap slow cooker and it’s rubbish don’t own a pressure cooker or air fryer and I am rubbish at cooking rice lol

We have an instapot. It’s amazing. Although I don’t k ow how to use it. DH bought it and uses it a lot. It’s honestly a game changer. Whole chicken cooked after work in 30 minutes. Yea please!

Sleepless night last night. Up worrying about the renovations. Playing the “what if”
Game by myself.

Things always seem worse at 3am.

Dhs estimate was way off which is surprising as he has done building work before. I think he’s seeing it as the builder is “just” taking the wall down and putting some steels in. However he’s forgetting the rest of it.

Initially I’d budgeted £40k all in. This included new furniture. Kitchen alone was £18k. Tiles for flood another £3 accommodation £4.5. Couch £2.5. Windows £6. So yeah. In my mind we’ll be lucky to see change from £60k. But it’ll be worth it.

Said to DH yesterday it’ll add value to the house. His response “we’re not selling! That only matters if you plan to sell!” Which is correct. But ah well.

The last time we got a new kitchen was when we lived in our apartment. It cost us £7k all in. Wall down and new living room open plan type thing again. But we did the work ourselves and it took forever.

Anyway. New week.

@alfiemoon1 I have an instant pot and a instant pot air fryer. I use them one od the other most days. Cheaper on electricity as well

Wolf my pil have an electric range with induction hob. They have a freestanding kettle which goes on the top and it boils just as fast as a mains electric - amazing thing!

Ok new week, new frugal mindset, let's do this!