A massive welcome to the wonderful Frugal Queen. I'm sure you will agree she is an inspiration to us all. Also another huge welcome to Ruby Tuesday who has also joined my humble blog. Thank you ladies.
Yesterday I had yet another bill, this time for a car service, £131. The car has been expensive this month. It shows that I haven't been organised with my money and need to budget for the car as the same bills come round every year. Mot, tax, insurance, service and tyres. I have therefore set us an account and will put £100 in every month. Anything left can be rolled over and monthly amount reduced or saved for a new car when the times comes.
The beef left a lot of nice gravy in the bottom of the slow cooker along with a few bits of veg and beefy bits. Determined not to waste it, I left the slow cooker on and added a handful of dried, red lentils, some curry powder and a few Indian spices that lurk in the cupboard.
Here is the crock pot (boot sale bargain £4-still in the box)
Flour- any sort
Tablespoon oil
Teaspoon salt
Warm water
Form a dough, divide and roll out.
Get a hot frying pan, no need to oil.
Few seconds on each side till lightly brown.
I served it with plain rice and garlic and coriander flatbreads. Recipe above. I never measure for these I just add more flour if too wet.
I am chuffed that I made a whole dinner for two out of what was left. Since becoming more frugal we hardly have any food waste. Any left over veg goes into stir fries, soups or curries. Any small bits of meat get added to lentils for curries. Bread ends are frozen for breadcrumbs. We don't have waste as I now meal plan and shop for what we need rather than what the supermarkets want me to buy.
We have £20 in our joint account last till next Wednesday when we get paid. This account is just for food and bills so there is never supposed to be anything left anyway. We have managed to pay for Big Mans car tax and my car service from here as we have a surplus. With no cigarettes to buy we just don't go in shops much. It used to be a packet (or 2 of cigarettes =£14) plus little extras, perhaps a packet of gum, a drink. £20 had been spent on nothing.
Have a great weekend, your comments, as usual will be received with thanks and replied to.
WOW!! Gorgeous looking pasty and a bargain curry I bet they both tasted delicious. Putting money by for the car is a good idea, I have been doing this for a good few years and it means there is now worries when something needs re newing. I upped my payments at the beginning of the year and then this week I have changed my car and the insurance was slightly more so that took care of the extra without having to dib into the bank account.
ReplyDeleteIt just goes to show that by not smoking you are also saving money on small and unecessary purchases. Great to have money left at the end of the month rather than month left at the end of the money lol Well done x
Karen x
What a good saying that is. I'm just not using my debit card anymore. There was alway £8-£10 every day in debits which was the dreaded smokes.
ReplyDeleteGoing to have a few accounts for car, holiday, emergency fund etc so no surprises next year.
Sarah x
Hi Sarah, you remember you were inquiring about the lack of 'frugal men'? Well - here's a very keen frugal lad you might like to read about? No relation - I just came across his blog & thought of U. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://frugalityuk.blogspot.co.uk/
Bernard x
Hi Bernard,
DeleteI do already follow him, he is the only one I knew until you......it's nice to know there are some men out there. I'm sure there are more, perhaps they are not as vocal as us girls? Will be checking out that walk you recommended soon.
Sarah x
Hi Sarah, I looked at your blog list first, but didn't see him mentioned.
DeleteHowever, before you set off to Spade Oak, check with the weather man first -
http://tracker-bar.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/hope-it-stops-raining.html
(Rather damp).... Bernard x
I will, I'm in Kent at the moment, dog sitting for my parents and its awful here too. Sounds like a gale outside as I type. I must add my reading list to this blog, not very techno I'm afraid. It takes me ages to put pictures on here. I take it it's still raining in Bucks?
DeleteI know i have been absent from blogging for a while but did you change your blog design or am i just imagining it. Cars can be expensive sometimes. In the last 2 weeks have had to pay £100 pounds for my car, £60 pounds for my car grill and £40 for a new tyre. I also need to start saving for my car expenses.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteYou are most observant. I changed the colour to yellow as I thought it would be more cheerful than blue. Ha ha, I hoped it might bring a bit of sunshine too. Cars are expensive, don't know how some people do it with car loans and the massive cost of fuel. I honestly drive like Miss Daisy to save fuel and it still seems to eat it.
Glad you are back, hope you are well?
Sarah x
When I gave up smoking I saved a fortune! I used to have to go in the shop to but cigarettes and would always pick up something else. When I stopped I used to save the cigarette money, but I was amazed to find that money stayed in my purse just because I wasn't having to go to the shop on a daily basis xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Fran,
DeleteYour bread pudding is not making me feel like dieting today!
I used to use my debit card and there were loads of small transactions, now there are none. I haven't saved the money yet as we have debts to pay but we can see money left over now so we are thrilled.
Sarah x
I have never Smoked but my weakness has been M&S. I would drop in after work (teacher) and tell myself I deserved a treat whether it was a dine in for a tenner or flowers/ cakes etc. I have dusted off slow cooker and am enjoying coming home to tasty home cooked dinners. Bank balance much healthier. Have discovered Aldi and stocked my cupboards. OH very happy with all this home cooking. My car is not my friend it cost me 400 just before Christmas to keep it on the road! I too have started a car fund savings pot. Loving all the frugal ideas!:)
ReplyDeleteHi Janice,
DeleteM&S- Marks and Spensive I call them. Have to say though, the food is lovely. I use Aldi all the time now and have a store cupboard with tins and dried stuff.
Don't talk to me about cars....spend spend spend.
Thank you for popping by and leaving a comment.
Sarah x
Have to say you curry looks fab ! I'm back to work tomorrow after 12 weeks off. Both slow cookers currently cooking up a storm in preparation.
ReplyDeleteHi Emma,
DeleteCurry tasted better than it looks. What are you cooking in your slow cookers? I love my slow cooker, save loads of time and energy.
Sarah x
Anything I can ! Casseroles, curries, whole chicken, gammon joints, huge batches of boli and chilli, meat for pies etc. sometimes the odd syrup pudding. I've got a timer plug to use if I don't want it on all day. I've got some rectangle Pyrex dishes with plastic lids suitable for one lady/one man portions that I used to freezer lasagnas and cannelloni in. For other dishes I freezer single portions in chinese T/A boxes and either use two or pad one out with veggies or legumes. Must be enough because I'm still over weight !!! Tonight we are having homemade lamb & corriander burgers served in smallish naan with slaw and spicy wedges. Tommorow Slow Cooked Pork Meatballs with Mash and French Beans. Do you make a weekly meal plan ? I'd love to see it x
ReplyDeleteWow Emma, that is some cook fest! The trouble with me is I do two man portions and that's why I'm overweight! I do like my food though. I've just given myself a couple of weeks to crack the non smoking before I start to diet. I love the sound of all of your meals especially the lamb and coriander burgers and the slow cooked meatballs. Sound gorgeous. I try to do a meal plan before I go shopping but then if I see something on offer I change it. Your menus would put mine to shame.
DeleteSarah x