Dear reader,
It started with the most horrific sore throat and I now have a really bad cold and cough. Hot and cold shivers and feel terrible. Have gone sick from work which I try not to do. The thing with my job is that if you take more than 18 days sick over the last 3 years they will not let you apply for anything else that comes up, promotion or otherwise. It's to catch out the shirkers. The trouble is it makes people who are ill struggle into work and pass on whatever they have which is where I caught this. I can even pinpoint it to the exact sneeze! It gives me the hump.
Today, while I dozed in the lounge big man went out for shopping essentials and remedies for me.
We also bought non smoking patches which were half price and the spray for me to try as well as some fruit, cooking oil, cough medicine and dish cloths. £40
He also bought some coal for the stove as the "seasoned" wood we bought is not and is still above 20% dampness. Too high for burning. He has one of those little machines with prongs on that measure the water content in the wood as too much water causes creosote in the chimney which damages it. He got it off e-bay for £13. We think we may just use coal now which is £8.40 per bag of 25kg. Less storage space and no worries about seasoning. It seems to burn longer as well.
So we spent £33.60 on fuel as well which was not budgeted for but we will cut down the food to make up for it.
I have made a budget with all our outgoings today. I wanted to use any spare money towards debts and pay it out on payday rather than see how much is left then pay it out. Once it has gone its gone.
We have left ourselves £30 a month for pocket money. All a big change for a girl who could easily spend that on just foundation!
My shopping so far this month is now just under £133 out of £160 but that includes the coal and the quit smoking supplies.
I have found a really good new blog as well so have been catching up on that today, Chelmarsh Chunterings, some very appealing baking!
Sarah. X
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
Frugal cooking with one gammon.
Dear reader,
As you know I am trying to feed the pair of use every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner for half of what I used to spend which was about £80 per week.
On my last main shop at the end of December I bought £37 worth of food from Lidl. I like Aldi but we don't have a local one.
One of my purchase was a gammon for £3.99. I boiled it in the slow cooker overnight and cooled it before refrigerating. This is what I have made with it so far.
Sandwiches for lunch x 3 days
Diced and put into spaghetti Carbonara
Diced and put into a minestrone type soup
Thereis still some left which I will save to put on homemade pizzas later this week.
I am enjoying the challenge of being creative with meals.
Today we entered our meter reading online with British Gas and we have been really frugal with it. We don't have the heating on unless it is really really cold, which is hasn't been lately. We just heat the lounge with the log burner. We have a combi boiler which is brand new and efficient. We do shower daily and have a couple of baths a week as well as washing up up but nothing excessive....
Or so I thought. I was secretly a bit excited to see how cheap our bill was going to be and was disappointed when it was £74.55. Not happy especially as we have just swapped to a cheaper online tariff. Not sure what else we can do except have less baths. We don't cook with gas either.
Does that seem a lot for one month? Or am I being tight? Am trying to see what the average is for a couple using the same as us. What do you get charged per month and how can I reduce it?
Sarah. X
As you know I am trying to feed the pair of use every day, breakfast, lunch and dinner for half of what I used to spend which was about £80 per week.
On my last main shop at the end of December I bought £37 worth of food from Lidl. I like Aldi but we don't have a local one.
One of my purchase was a gammon for £3.99. I boiled it in the slow cooker overnight and cooled it before refrigerating. This is what I have made with it so far.
Sandwiches for lunch x 3 days
Diced and put into spaghetti Carbonara
Diced and put into a minestrone type soup
Thereis still some left which I will save to put on homemade pizzas later this week.
I am enjoying the challenge of being creative with meals.
Today we entered our meter reading online with British Gas and we have been really frugal with it. We don't have the heating on unless it is really really cold, which is hasn't been lately. We just heat the lounge with the log burner. We have a combi boiler which is brand new and efficient. We do shower daily and have a couple of baths a week as well as washing up up but nothing excessive....
Or so I thought. I was secretly a bit excited to see how cheap our bill was going to be and was disappointed when it was £74.55. Not happy especially as we have just swapped to a cheaper online tariff. Not sure what else we can do except have less baths. We don't cook with gas either.
Does that seem a lot for one month? Or am I being tight? Am trying to see what the average is for a couple using the same as us. What do you get charged per month and how can I reduce it?
Sarah. X
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Frugal dinner recipe
Dear reader,
I am a real fan of home cooked non processed food and have cooked these faggots many times after finding the recipe on Frugal Queens website. Sometimes she adds a bit of diced bacon and a couple off eggs but this recipe is delicious, cheap and you know what's in it unlike the frozen ones you can buy in the shops which taste of anything but meat. See what you think.
This makes between 20 and 24 faggots and I reckon 2-3 per person.
I buy pork from Lidl in a packet, usually chops or loins. £3.29
Then pigs liver (it's cheapest) not sure how much buts costs me 51p but any liver will do
X2 onions 50p?
About 2-3 slices of bread. I always keep the ends we don't use in the freezer for this recipe.5p
Any old herbs in the cupboard you have, basil, thyme, parsley. I chuck anything in or not if I don't have any. 10p
Get a food processor and finely dice the onion and put in your largest mixing bowl. Then do the same with the pork so it's minced. Try to remove any visible fat from the edges first. Put in bowl with onion.
Make breadcrumbs from the bread, if its frozen put it in the toaster. Put them in the bowl.
Then drain the liver of the blood and mince it in the processor too. It's look revolting live a pink liver cocktail. Put this into the bowl with all the other ingredients. Add any herbs and seasoning you fancy.
Then and this is the good bit, get your hands stuck in and squish it all together. When all mixed well form into balls. They will be wet and sticky at this point. I make them about the size of a satsuma or clementine. Put in a roasting tray and I roast them for about 20 mins on 180. Then I make up a large amount of gravy usually with onions and our this into the roasting tin and cook for another 20 mins.
I serve what we want that night and let the rest cool before portioning up in the gravy and freezing.
We get 5 dinners from this and it costs around £4.50 in total plus any veg you serve with.
You could add anything you wanted to them, chopped bacon, stuffing mix. We have made them spicy before with a bit of chilli. Try and enjoy.
Have you got any frugal recipes you use regularly? Please let me know.
Sarah x
I am a real fan of home cooked non processed food and have cooked these faggots many times after finding the recipe on Frugal Queens website. Sometimes she adds a bit of diced bacon and a couple off eggs but this recipe is delicious, cheap and you know what's in it unlike the frozen ones you can buy in the shops which taste of anything but meat. See what you think.
This makes between 20 and 24 faggots and I reckon 2-3 per person.
I buy pork from Lidl in a packet, usually chops or loins. £3.29
Then pigs liver (it's cheapest) not sure how much buts costs me 51p but any liver will do
X2 onions 50p?
About 2-3 slices of bread. I always keep the ends we don't use in the freezer for this recipe.5p
Any old herbs in the cupboard you have, basil, thyme, parsley. I chuck anything in or not if I don't have any. 10p
Get a food processor and finely dice the onion and put in your largest mixing bowl. Then do the same with the pork so it's minced. Try to remove any visible fat from the edges first. Put in bowl with onion.
Make breadcrumbs from the bread, if its frozen put it in the toaster. Put them in the bowl.
Then drain the liver of the blood and mince it in the processor too. It's look revolting live a pink liver cocktail. Put this into the bowl with all the other ingredients. Add any herbs and seasoning you fancy.
Then and this is the good bit, get your hands stuck in and squish it all together. When all mixed well form into balls. They will be wet and sticky at this point. I make them about the size of a satsuma or clementine. Put in a roasting tray and I roast them for about 20 mins on 180. Then I make up a large amount of gravy usually with onions and our this into the roasting tin and cook for another 20 mins.
I serve what we want that night and let the rest cool before portioning up in the gravy and freezing.
We get 5 dinners from this and it costs around £4.50 in total plus any veg you serve with.
You could add anything you wanted to them, chopped bacon, stuffing mix. We have made them spicy before with a bit of chilli. Try and enjoy.
Have you got any frugal recipes you use regularly? Please let me know.
Sarah x
Saturday, 5 January 2013
No food waste and menu planning
Dear reader,
A wonderful thing has happened since I drastically cut down our food shopping budget.
No more food waste.
I didn't have a awful lot of waste anyway but as I am now meal planning before I go shopping there is no waste at all. I still have loads of food left from last week although I did do a small top up for milk and bread and ended up spending £14 which I will deduct from this week. In fact I don't think I will need to shop this week. I have checked the freezer and we have an old fashioned larder which is rammed full.
I have in stock: King prawns, x4 portions of Frugal Queens faggots, sausages, the gammon joint which I have boiled and a lot of sausages as well as all the usual cupboard staples, rice, pasta, noodles etc.
So this is my meal plan for next weeks dinners. Packed lunches will be the usual sandwiches etc.
Monday-Spaghetti Carbonara with some of the ham joint chopped up with onions and mushrooms.
Tuesday-Sausage casserole with mash and veg.
Wednesday-lasagne and potato wedges
Thursday-King prawn Thai curry and rice
Friday-Sausage, chips and beans
Saturday-Naan bread pizzas
Sunday-Faggots, roast potatoes and veg with onion gravy.
I can't even talk about the no smoking-I am a sad failure and really disappointed in myself.
I will start Monday as a fresh week.
I have been at home today and have still got my pj's on from this morning. Big man is at work tonight and I have been working 12 hours a day and 16 hours yesterday so feel like slobbing out.
I have done a lot of housework and rearranged the lounge. I have the log burner on and am drying some washing. What a wild life I live!
I could have gone out, met friends, spent £50 on overpriced drinks in some bar and then another £20 plus for a crap meal somewhere so I choose NO SPEND SATURDAY and debt freedom.
How was your Saturday night? Any tips on frugal fun?
Sarah x
A wonderful thing has happened since I drastically cut down our food shopping budget.
No more food waste.
I didn't have a awful lot of waste anyway but as I am now meal planning before I go shopping there is no waste at all. I still have loads of food left from last week although I did do a small top up for milk and bread and ended up spending £14 which I will deduct from this week. In fact I don't think I will need to shop this week. I have checked the freezer and we have an old fashioned larder which is rammed full.
I have in stock: King prawns, x4 portions of Frugal Queens faggots, sausages, the gammon joint which I have boiled and a lot of sausages as well as all the usual cupboard staples, rice, pasta, noodles etc.
So this is my meal plan for next weeks dinners. Packed lunches will be the usual sandwiches etc.
Monday-Spaghetti Carbonara with some of the ham joint chopped up with onions and mushrooms.
Tuesday-Sausage casserole with mash and veg.
Wednesday-lasagne and potato wedges
Thursday-King prawn Thai curry and rice
Friday-Sausage, chips and beans
Saturday-Naan bread pizzas
Sunday-Faggots, roast potatoes and veg with onion gravy.
I can't even talk about the no smoking-I am a sad failure and really disappointed in myself.
I will start Monday as a fresh week.
I have been at home today and have still got my pj's on from this morning. Big man is at work tonight and I have been working 12 hours a day and 16 hours yesterday so feel like slobbing out.
I have done a lot of housework and rearranged the lounge. I have the log burner on and am drying some washing. What a wild life I live!
I could have gone out, met friends, spent £50 on overpriced drinks in some bar and then another £20 plus for a crap meal somewhere so I choose NO SPEND SATURDAY and debt freedom.
How was your Saturday night? Any tips on frugal fun?
Sarah x
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Skinflint shopper
Dear reader,
Popped into Asda this evening, only for bread as I couldn't face another solid cake loaf from the breadmaker and milk. Loads of yellow stickers which was great. I have passed the slightly cringey embarrassment of sidling upto the reduced section and now squeeze myself in with the rest.
I found, skimmed organic milk, 2 pint 34p x2, loads of bread, 10p a loaf x4 and some weight watchers sausages 79p x 4. Don't really eat many sausages but these are very low in fat and not at all greasy like the cheap ones you can get. Will be good for a slow cooker sausage casserole one evening.
Also some nice seeded rolls for packed lunches tomorrow.
Tried to think of some alternatives to take to work as we often work late at night and I like to have something different sometimes. I had defrosted some chicken drumsticks so I rubbed these with a dry BBQ jerk seasoning I had in the cupboard from AP Food and roasted them for tomorrow.
Has anyone else got any ideas for packed lunches I can use?
Sarah.
Popped into Asda this evening, only for bread as I couldn't face another solid cake loaf from the breadmaker and milk. Loads of yellow stickers which was great. I have passed the slightly cringey embarrassment of sidling upto the reduced section and now squeeze myself in with the rest.
I found, skimmed organic milk, 2 pint 34p x2, loads of bread, 10p a loaf x4 and some weight watchers sausages 79p x 4. Don't really eat many sausages but these are very low in fat and not at all greasy like the cheap ones you can get. Will be good for a slow cooker sausage casserole one evening.
Also some nice seeded rolls for packed lunches tomorrow.
Tried to think of some alternatives to take to work as we often work late at night and I like to have something different sometimes. I had defrosted some chicken drumsticks so I rubbed these with a dry BBQ jerk seasoning I had in the cupboard from AP Food and roasted them for tomorrow.
Has anyone else got any ideas for packed lunches I can use?
Sarah.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Day 2 smoke free
Dear reader,
Day two of not smoking and not spending yet. Had some urges at work but luckily there were still a load of sweets in the office so stuffed my face instead! I know, I know, it's bad especially as some of my colleagues are super fit and run several miles to work and home again. They've asked me to join them and I agreed..........in the car!
Now I don't mind a walk or a jog occasionally (if the ancient and greying sports bra is found) but 5 miles before work at 0530,? Naaaaahhh. Actually, the above is a total lie, I DO mind jogging. I much prefer a leisurely swim and I do like walking, scenic preferably.
Really pleased with no spending today. I might have popped into the golden M before work for a breakfast £3.69, then I probably could have eaten a canteen lunch at work £4 plus a drink 80p plus
Those that we cannot mention in the house today £7. It wasn't that bad every day but there was potential.
I asked big man how he had done today and was scowled at! I think he suffers more than me and then weakens which is the perfect excuse for me to join him. All in the past now, feel good today, probably cost me a fortune at the dentist after the tin of Quality Street I found but at least I didn't smoke. Is it just me or do the round gold ones pull out everyone's fillings?
Instead of buying food today I had,
Breakfast: slice of toast (homemade bread, a bit heavy but hey)
Late breakfast at work: ham sandwich-homemade bread
Lunch: last nights curry and rice
Dinner: The beef bourguignon ( I will make stew next time as have to keep looking up spelling) and mash. Chocolate rice pudding.
I know, I know no fruit, not much veg, it looks terrible written down. Will try harder tomorrow but I do get up at 5am and it ain't pretty!
Does anyone have any tips on how I can make my breadmaker bread a bit lighter? It's very sort of cake like and solid.
Smoke free savings: £28
Sarah. Xxx
Day two of not smoking and not spending yet. Had some urges at work but luckily there were still a load of sweets in the office so stuffed my face instead! I know, I know, it's bad especially as some of my colleagues are super fit and run several miles to work and home again. They've asked me to join them and I agreed..........in the car!
Now I don't mind a walk or a jog occasionally (if the ancient and greying sports bra is found) but 5 miles before work at 0530,? Naaaaahhh. Actually, the above is a total lie, I DO mind jogging. I much prefer a leisurely swim and I do like walking, scenic preferably.
Really pleased with no spending today. I might have popped into the golden M before work for a breakfast £3.69, then I probably could have eaten a canteen lunch at work £4 plus a drink 80p plus
Those that we cannot mention in the house today £7. It wasn't that bad every day but there was potential.
I asked big man how he had done today and was scowled at! I think he suffers more than me and then weakens which is the perfect excuse for me to join him. All in the past now, feel good today, probably cost me a fortune at the dentist after the tin of Quality Street I found but at least I didn't smoke. Is it just me or do the round gold ones pull out everyone's fillings?
Instead of buying food today I had,
Breakfast: slice of toast (homemade bread, a bit heavy but hey)
Late breakfast at work: ham sandwich-homemade bread
Lunch: last nights curry and rice
Dinner: The beef bourguignon ( I will make stew next time as have to keep looking up spelling) and mash. Chocolate rice pudding.
I know, I know no fruit, not much veg, it looks terrible written down. Will try harder tomorrow but I do get up at 5am and it ain't pretty!
Does anyone have any tips on how I can make my breadmaker bread a bit lighter? It's very sort of cake like and solid.
Smoke free savings: £28
Sarah. Xxx
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Stopping and frugal take away
The first day of a new year and I'm feeling all positive and cheery.
Happy New Year to you.
Today is the day I will become a non smoker and I feel excited about it.
I feel a bit of a fraud writing about being frugal and all the time sneaking to the shops to get my fix.
£7 a day to kill myself!
I don't know if any of you have been smokers and believe me I really dislike being a smoker but I find it extremely difficult to quit. I have tried the patches, the fake ones, hypnosis, cold turkey and the longest I lasted was 3 months. I think if I really want to stop, I will.
Big man is also a puffer and we both have stopped today. I actually want to curl up with embarrassment that we were spening £400 plus a month on cigarettes!
That's more then double the amount I have set myself to spend on food. How weird that I was prepared to spend twice as much on the things that will kill me than the things I need to stay alive.
I will be using this blog to chart my progress and I would find it really helpful if anyone had any motivational tips etc.
However, I digress. Today I cooked some more. You can tell I'm a girl who likes food!
I cut up a pack of braising beef and put it in the slow cooker with onions and carrots with a packet mix from approved foods for beef bourguignon. The beef was £6 for the pack and I reckon this will make two meals for the 2 of us. We were going to have it today but the carrots were still hard so I resorted to rummaging in the freezer.
Whenever I have any left over curry, of which I make quite a lot, I always freeze the extra. I decided that I could clear out the freezer and make a kind of Indian take away. There were three, chicken curry Chinese style, lamb Thai curry and chicken and vegetable Thai. I just defrosted, heated in the microwave and put them in those proper little silver bowls with the handles like you get in a curry house. A couple of naans, drizzled with garlic oil and grilled and some plain boiled rice. It was lovely! I definately think the flavours develop if kept and frozen.
I reckon a three dish takeaway would have cost us £30 plus so quids in.
Money saved on that which must not be mentioned £14.
Have a great evening.
Sarah. Xxx
Happy New Year to you.
Today is the day I will become a non smoker and I feel excited about it.
I feel a bit of a fraud writing about being frugal and all the time sneaking to the shops to get my fix.
£7 a day to kill myself!
I don't know if any of you have been smokers and believe me I really dislike being a smoker but I find it extremely difficult to quit. I have tried the patches, the fake ones, hypnosis, cold turkey and the longest I lasted was 3 months. I think if I really want to stop, I will.
Big man is also a puffer and we both have stopped today. I actually want to curl up with embarrassment that we were spening £400 plus a month on cigarettes!
That's more then double the amount I have set myself to spend on food. How weird that I was prepared to spend twice as much on the things that will kill me than the things I need to stay alive.
I will be using this blog to chart my progress and I would find it really helpful if anyone had any motivational tips etc.
However, I digress. Today I cooked some more. You can tell I'm a girl who likes food!
I cut up a pack of braising beef and put it in the slow cooker with onions and carrots with a packet mix from approved foods for beef bourguignon. The beef was £6 for the pack and I reckon this will make two meals for the 2 of us. We were going to have it today but the carrots were still hard so I resorted to rummaging in the freezer.
Whenever I have any left over curry, of which I make quite a lot, I always freeze the extra. I decided that I could clear out the freezer and make a kind of Indian take away. There were three, chicken curry Chinese style, lamb Thai curry and chicken and vegetable Thai. I just defrosted, heated in the microwave and put them in those proper little silver bowls with the handles like you get in a curry house. A couple of naans, drizzled with garlic oil and grilled and some plain boiled rice. It was lovely! I definately think the flavours develop if kept and frozen.
I reckon a three dish takeaway would have cost us £30 plus so quids in.
Money saved on that which must not be mentioned £14.
Have a great evening.
Sarah. Xxx
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