Prepping on a Low Budget

[AlohaMolly]

The prepping boards have been extremely useful to me over the last year, but I feel a bit lost as to what to do next.

I’m in the tourism industry on furlough and also in one of the devolved nations. I’m on a low wage anyway, but feel I’ll be on furlough till the very end and then either made redundant or struggle for business until at least easter 2021. I want to continue my prepping but have to balance the cost of replenishing stocks/building supplies with continuing to save for what will probably be a hard winter.

Does anyone want to join me for a low budget, long term prepping thread?

@FloggingMoll I am in awe of your Christmas preparations already DS1 loved making the cake last year though, I'll have to start getting the ingredients in!

How old is your DSD, is she old enough to understand about prepping/ budgeting? I wasn't taught about money at all in school and I do think that it's something kids could learn about at a younger age, especially at the moment. Is it something she could be involved in if she visits you often, even if it's just working out recipes you could make with what you have?

[quote RubySlippers77]@FloggingMoll I am in awe of your Christmas preparations already DS1 loved making the cake last year though, I'll have to start getting the ingredients in!

How old is your DSD, is she old enough to understand about prepping/ budgeting? I wasn't taught about money at all in school and I do think that it's something kids could learn about at a younger age, especially at the moment. Is it something she could be involved in if she visits you often, even if it's just working out recipes you could make with what you have?[/quote]
That's a brilliant idea @RubySlippers77! She's 12 but I reckon could get involved in the making of things and it would be a good lesson.

Her DM and stepdad are pretty well off, so when she comes to us it's a bit of a downgrade - she can be a bit precious about cuts of meat, for example, and clothes. She went through a stage of coming to stay without any clothes and expecting us to buy her new ones - which we'd then never see again. Kids eh?

I've yet to get the Christmas ingredients so don't be too in awe - I talk a good game, that's all! 😂

I think with what will potentially be a long, hard winter on the horizon, it would do your DSD good to learn how to budget, even if she may never need to! And yes, buying new clothes every time for them to vanish is not sustainable

This Delia cake was a really good one to bake with DS1 (3 at the time), although I didn't bother faffing around with different types of currants etc, just bought mixed fruit or whatever they had till it made up the required quantity!

I'm hoping to make (or get the DC to make!) some presents this year, so am saving jamjars etc. They like making chocolate truffles but obviously they can only be done closer to the time. I've invested in some lovely ribbon though, printed with 'with love from DS1 and DS2' - it's been a hit in previous years

Hi all. I was on earlier threads, but name changes recently.

Building up stocks again. Ordered logs for the wood burner, worked out what was good and what was pants. Investing a bit while I can.

@RubySlippers77 where did you buy the personalised ribbon please? Sounds like a fab idea. We make a lot of our presents and this has never crossed my mind.

One of our best preps was 12 packs of 20p spaghetti and 12 jars of 65p pasta sauce. Makes such a huge variety of crowd pleasers with small additions and lasts for ages.

@FrolickingLemon

Hi all. I was on earlier threads, but name changes recently.

Building up stocks again. Ordered logs for the wood burner, worked out what was good and what was pants. Investing a bit while I can.

@RubySlippers77 where did you buy the personalised ribbon please? Sounds like a fab idea. We make a lot of our presents and this has never crossed my mind.

The logs thing sounds a good idea: I don't need it personally, but someone on another thread mentioned that they lived in a northern hemisphere country and nationally the log supply was running out, as everyone worked from home and burned more fuel.

Hello everyone. Just pottering along. Got a large joint of beef this week yellow sticker. Froze it then cooked it in slices in the slow cooker. Got 4 meals for two out of it plus today’s meal. Got some 40p baked beans with sausages had with baked potatoes and small side salad.
I will buy more of them plus more normal baked beans.

Apologies for missing this @FrolickingLemon, we took the DC away for the weekend and I've been ill ever since nothing serious but I am shattered! The ribbon was from The Radiant Ribbon Co who I originally used via ebay, but that is their direct website. I have a lovely purple one; it's not expensive and they were very quick to deliver

Any update on your Christmas food prep @FloggingMoll?!

@RubySlippers77

Apologies for missing this *@FrolickingLemon*, we took the DC away for the weekend and I've been ill ever since nothing serious but I am shattered! The ribbon was from The Radiant Ribbon Co who I originally used via ebay, but that is their direct website. I have a lovely purple one; it's not expensive and they were very quick to deliver

Any update on your Christmas food prep @FloggingMoll?!

Hello! I've name changed but was previously Moll. No update to speak of yet, need to get the ingredients for Christmas cake and that's on my to-do list next week. Have picked up some books and a T-shirt for various nieces, so they're going in the stash.

I have to say I'm feeling quite drained at the moment. Counting every penny is starting to wear me out! Waiting to hear a date on the job start too, could take up to 6 weeks apparently.

How is everyone else? Hope you're all ok.

Don't forget the brandy @DontBeShelfish

I am frazzled from looking after the grumpy DC and praying for the heat to go away - it's just too much, for them and me! We can't even go to the playground as all the equipment's too hot; we manage a quick trip in the morning but by the afternoon they're bored, hot, fed up and moany. Grrrr. Still, the rain is forecast soon, in fact just in time for our camping holiday

I've been spending more at the supermarket each week but less in general, not eating out or even picking up snacks when we do go out. Don't think DP is on board with this though as he was out at the weekend and spent £££!!

@RubySlippers77 I think the way I feel right now the brandy wouldn't make it to the cake! 😂

@DontBeShelfish I have been cutting up fruit and putting it in a jug today with loads of ice, to make a refreshing drink for me and the DC - if only I could have added a big glug of Pimms it would have made today much more bearable

waves

Hi everyone, how are we all doing? I dropped off the thread because life got busy and I was burying my head in the sand.

I’ve just had a rude awakening as DS was back to school for two days and then off with a cough. We had to self isolate for five days while waiting for tests and results, and it’s highlighted holes in my preps, including shampoo and deodorant that I’d let run down and then obviously they all ran out at the same time during self isolation

DS did a really good job and we did a lot of home Ed so I’m glad I spent a bit of time buying workbooks etc. I will be keeping an eye out for more felt tips and things like that.

I let my eggs run down too which is silly and bread is an issue still because I haven’t pulled my finger out and braved making any!!

I’m contemplating making a list of like a top up pantry stock. I always shy away from buying meat because it’s expensive but I want it in my freezer! It would have to be on my credit card which is a shame but it’s upsetting me...

Hi @AlohaMolly! Numbers are rising in our area so I'm ramping up prep again. Made a big dent in my credit card bills but using them again until I start my new job & it's already making inroads into that. Just trying to resign myself to it for the foreseeable!

I've been slowly prepping for Christmas and I'll be making things as gifts this year instead of spending a fortune on last-minute stuff.

I ran out of deodorant during lockdown & was too tight to buy it from Tesco instead of Savers. 😂

Yes I was too tight to order online from a supermarket so went to lidl yesterday after my all clear. I usually buy dove from B&M or somewhere, but I’m trialling a cien 59p one!

I don’t even know where to start with Christmas. I feel like I’ve got no space in my budget at all for bigger preps like that but once DS finally goes to school tomorrow, I’m going to see if I can get back into side hustles and selling stuff.

@AlohaMolly I've been doing Christmas prep since May as I was worried about losing my freelancing contract. I finally did this week, but have fortunately found another more secure job, for which I'm eternally grateful right now.

I started with stocking fillers and am about to buy DDs main present. Luckily she's still small enough for us not to have to spend a lot to keep her entertained.

How are things work wise for you?

Dont congratulations on your new job! That’s great news.

My job is secure I reckon, at least until January! We’re actually doing very well given the circumstances and now DS has started school I’ve volunteered to work from home for the next few weeks within school hours so that should boost my income a bit. Our first minister has threatened us with imminent national lockdown if people don’t change their behaviour though so who knows!!

@AlohaMolly Thank you! It's a huge relief. I'm in the same country as you, but a little lower down I believe; we've had quite low numbers here but I suspect that will all change over the coming few weeks.

That's partly why I didn't stop prepping over the summer; I knew come September, which is traditionally a time of lurgy in our town as students return and schools go back, that unless something miraculous happened we'd be staring down the barrel of a new lockdown, in some capacity.

I’ve just had a news alert on my phone saying that wales’ second wave is due to peak over Christmas - great fun!!

I'm in England but still trying to watch the pennies as we just never know when/ if things will change yet again! With the DC finally back at school I was hoping to pick up some part time work, but we have no back up childcare, if schools close again they would be stuck at home with me

(Reminder to self: stock up on gin...)

For now I am cleaning the house top to bottom (months of lockdown have taken their toll!) and selling off anything we no longer use, whilst keeping an eye on job alerts etc. I'm also going through our prepping stocks to see if there's anything I could add, a service I could subscribe to, early Christmas gifts I could buy more cheaply etc.

Sigh. I hope everyone is feeling well anyway, my DC have come straight down with the sniffles but thankfully no coughs yet!!

We too have the sniffles.

I’ve agreed to take on extra hours in my current job, from home during school hours, as I said I just didn’t want to commit and then let them down at short notice because of school/child based issues. I’m hoping to get through a few weeks like that without any disruption! But Whitty and Valance are doing a briefing without questions this morning so I think something is about to happen

Don't know if anyone has posted this yet. Just noticed it on the Number 10 page.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-package-to-support-and-enforce-self-isolation

That’s really good, assuming it is easily accessible. I hope wales put something similar in place!

@AlohaMolly

I’ve just had a news alert on my phone saying that wales’ second wave is due to peak over Christmas - great fun!!

Oh balls, I hadn't seen that! 😩

@RubySlippers77 I had an email from BrandAlley this morning and they've got discounted Playmobil, not sure if that's something that might assist with the Christmas budgeting?