Dear reader,
I was having a read of some of the blogs I follow and a lot of people write with great authority on subjects they are good at, hobbies such as quilting, crafts and cooking.
There are blogs from wonderful people who have paid off vast sums of money, paid off their mortgage or have a really good life for very little money.
Yes, I could tell you about what I've cooked but I'm a basic cook and am sure you have better skills than I.
It got me wondering, what do I know about that could save people money?
I do all the usual things we read about, cutting down on energy consumption, shopping clever, making our own products and so on.
I used to work in the travel industry and thought that some of you may be booking or thinking of a holiday this year?
There are many, many ways to now book a trip. Internet being the main way now although some people do still use a travel agent for the face to face experience.
However you book, either flights and find your own accommodation or the full package there is one thing that all the companies will be trying to sell you.
Travel Insurance. This is a minefield and lots of people get caught out.
The reason they try so hard to flog it to you is the mark up. From 50% upwards I would suggest.
A lot of companies won't take your booking unless you already have insurance in place. Why on earth not? Just another way to try to get you to buy theirs.
Here are my tips on travel insurance. (I am not an insurance broker or expert and have no interest in the selling of it)
Do not be rushed in purchasing it.
Shop around but be aware you get what you pay for.
You must be aware of pre existing medical conditions. This will include diabetes, high blood pressure, previous illness. You must say what medication you are on.
If there is anyone who may affect you travelling, ie: you have a relative who has a pre existing medical condition and fall ill before or while you are away, (even if they are not travelling but you may cancel if they fall ill) the insurers may not pay out unless you told them beforehand.
Any insurance you get free via a bank account or credit card will probably only be very very basic cover and you MUST check the policy before you rely on it.
I wouldn't want to pay more than £30 max for an adult for 2 weeks in the med. There will be cheaper and I have had a look at these cheap ones before. great price but i wouldnt want to try to claim on them.
A lot of talk about the EU health card but it only gets you what the locals would get in that country.
I decided against a holiday this year but I have to admit after the cold spell I am feeling rather tempted by a bit of sun and sand.
How about you, have you plans for anywhere abroad this year?
Sarah. X
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Friday, 25 January 2013
Trying to buy organic
Dear reader,
Just come back from supermarket as I went late on my way back from work.
As you may know I have decided to copy some of you and buy less meat but what I do buy will be organic. Easy? That's what I thought......
Have e-mailed someone who offers a service of buying your meat directly from Smithfield Market in London. He replied and asked what I needed. I gave him, what I thought was quite a large order of 20-30chicken breast and the same of steaks and asked for a price.
Never heard from him since.
I then contacted an organic beef and lamb farm and asked for a mixed beef pack and half a lamb.
Never heard back from them either.
So, reluctantly went off to the supermarket and found a very dismal range.
Managed to get some lamb and minced beef both organic but had to have a free range whole chicken.
I have bought a months worth of food for £150 and hopefully we will manage with that and just top ups for milk etc.
How do you manage if you buy organic?
Sarah x
Just come back from supermarket as I went late on my way back from work.
As you may know I have decided to copy some of you and buy less meat but what I do buy will be organic. Easy? That's what I thought......
Have e-mailed someone who offers a service of buying your meat directly from Smithfield Market in London. He replied and asked what I needed. I gave him, what I thought was quite a large order of 20-30chicken breast and the same of steaks and asked for a price.
Never heard from him since.
I then contacted an organic beef and lamb farm and asked for a mixed beef pack and half a lamb.
Never heard back from them either.
So, reluctantly went off to the supermarket and found a very dismal range.
Managed to get some lamb and minced beef both organic but had to have a free range whole chicken.
I have bought a months worth of food for £150 and hopefully we will manage with that and just top ups for milk etc.
How do you manage if you buy organic?
Sarah x
Monday, 21 January 2013
Are we paying for nonsense?
Dear reader,
I was walking behind a girl wearing a smart pair of Ugg boots today and I smiled as I remember buying my first pair in a previous life when named stuff was important.
It was 2003 and I bought them in Harrods, as you do! A long tan pair, £125 and I hustled other girls out of the way to get the last 39 in stock. HA!
I remember wearing them when I was at an airport going on a short weekend break to the Canaries, as you do when you have a free weekend! I saw a couple of young women nudge each other and point to my cherished boots as I walked past. I had a right old smug look, another HA!
That was several years ago and I do laugh a bit when I think of those times. Times when labels were important and smugness was a plenty.
Now, I wear my beloved fur boots from Marks that big man bought me two birthdays ago. They have a proper sole and don't flop over at the sides.
I buy clothes from boot sales and ebay and can make make up last, oh for years. I know there are some who say its past its sell by date and unhygienic but I'm not bothered and a bit of old foundation won't kill me.
I have a stash of creams in my drawer that I am making last and I don't mind telling you that, at the moment a rather rich cracked heel cream is going on my face and its very nice too!
I'm sure the cream doesn't know if its going on my face or my feet.
I buy the cheapest shower gel and you know what? It works.
I buy the cheapest shampoo and it works too.
I'm not buying any clothes this year, I have plenty. (I'd have loads more if I could ditch a stone or 2)
I buy the cheapest anti-persperant and it works. I hope so anyway.
I read an article about £650 face cream yesterday. It's this, it's that, it will make you look younger, blah, blah. The trouble is, when you're 70 how will you know if its worked or not? And will you even care?
Perfume cost pennies to make but if it was really cheap no-one would buy it.
So, my thought for today as I rub foot cream into my face, is HA! to over priced, designer names that are probably all made in the same place and my new smugness comes from the extra money in my bank account.
What do you use that's cheap and cheerful?
Sarah
I was walking behind a girl wearing a smart pair of Ugg boots today and I smiled as I remember buying my first pair in a previous life when named stuff was important.
It was 2003 and I bought them in Harrods, as you do! A long tan pair, £125 and I hustled other girls out of the way to get the last 39 in stock. HA!
I remember wearing them when I was at an airport going on a short weekend break to the Canaries, as you do when you have a free weekend! I saw a couple of young women nudge each other and point to my cherished boots as I walked past. I had a right old smug look, another HA!
That was several years ago and I do laugh a bit when I think of those times. Times when labels were important and smugness was a plenty.
Now, I wear my beloved fur boots from Marks that big man bought me two birthdays ago. They have a proper sole and don't flop over at the sides.
I buy clothes from boot sales and ebay and can make make up last, oh for years. I know there are some who say its past its sell by date and unhygienic but I'm not bothered and a bit of old foundation won't kill me.
I have a stash of creams in my drawer that I am making last and I don't mind telling you that, at the moment a rather rich cracked heel cream is going on my face and its very nice too!
I'm sure the cream doesn't know if its going on my face or my feet.
I buy the cheapest shower gel and you know what? It works.
I buy the cheapest shampoo and it works too.
I'm not buying any clothes this year, I have plenty. (I'd have loads more if I could ditch a stone or 2)
I buy the cheapest anti-persperant and it works. I hope so anyway.
I read an article about £650 face cream yesterday. It's this, it's that, it will make you look younger, blah, blah. The trouble is, when you're 70 how will you know if its worked or not? And will you even care?
Perfume cost pennies to make but if it was really cheap no-one would buy it.
So, my thought for today as I rub foot cream into my face, is HA! to over priced, designer names that are probably all made in the same place and my new smugness comes from the extra money in my bank account.
What do you use that's cheap and cheerful?
Sarah
Sunday, 20 January 2013
Is it really what is says on the label?
Dear reader,
Day three of not going out (except for the dog walk yesterday). The day has started off with continual snow. The birds have been fed. Jingles has been eating, judging by the tail marks in the snow!
The cars have remained on the drive, the food we have in the house will have to be enough.
The heating is on, the coal and logs are ready for the stove tonight.
I don't mind the snow, it's just the hassle I don't like. The cars skidding, the panic buying at the shops, the wet shoes and the sludge aftermath when it goes all brown and dirty.
I have been doing some calculations while I have been indoors, using a mortgage calculator. There are loads of them online. You put in your mortgage amount and the interest rate and then how much you could overpay each month. It then calculates how many months you could reduce the mortgage by and the interest you would save by overpaying. Very, very interesting! Even an overpayment of £50 a month is a substantial saving. It's a real motivational tool.
I am running the food down in the house. I thought I had a sack of potatoes but when I actually looked there were three manky, little ones left. I have lots of mixes, sauces, stir fry packets but lack the base ingredient which is usually chicken in this house. I am quite happy with vegetables but big man likes his protein. I am concerned with whats in the cheap stuff. You hear how the meat is injected and pumped with antibiotics, not to mention the welfare issues of which there have been many reports of late in the press. It always really upsets me.
I have also read about lots of cases of the food just not being what it says on the packaging from meat and fish to pesto and some very well known retailers being fined large amounts. It appears a fast buck is worth the fine and deceiving your customers.
I had a look at Smithfield market which is a wholesale, meat market in central London. It supplies restaurants and butcher shops at wholesale prices but is also open to the public. It opens at 3am so I may go up there one morning and see if I can buy some organic chicken there and freeze it.
I looked online for organic chicken but they are charging £9.68 for two breasts which we just can't afford.
www.smithfieldmarket.com
Today we are eating, omelette with left over gammon and cheese with toast and tonight we will have sausage casserole with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables.
What do you think reader about cheap meat and do you trust what it says on the label?
Sarah x
Day three of not going out (except for the dog walk yesterday). The day has started off with continual snow. The birds have been fed. Jingles has been eating, judging by the tail marks in the snow!
The cars have remained on the drive, the food we have in the house will have to be enough.
The heating is on, the coal and logs are ready for the stove tonight.
I don't mind the snow, it's just the hassle I don't like. The cars skidding, the panic buying at the shops, the wet shoes and the sludge aftermath when it goes all brown and dirty.
I have been doing some calculations while I have been indoors, using a mortgage calculator. There are loads of them online. You put in your mortgage amount and the interest rate and then how much you could overpay each month. It then calculates how many months you could reduce the mortgage by and the interest you would save by overpaying. Very, very interesting! Even an overpayment of £50 a month is a substantial saving. It's a real motivational tool.
I am running the food down in the house. I thought I had a sack of potatoes but when I actually looked there were three manky, little ones left. I have lots of mixes, sauces, stir fry packets but lack the base ingredient which is usually chicken in this house. I am quite happy with vegetables but big man likes his protein. I am concerned with whats in the cheap stuff. You hear how the meat is injected and pumped with antibiotics, not to mention the welfare issues of which there have been many reports of late in the press. It always really upsets me.
I have also read about lots of cases of the food just not being what it says on the packaging from meat and fish to pesto and some very well known retailers being fined large amounts. It appears a fast buck is worth the fine and deceiving your customers.
I had a look at Smithfield market which is a wholesale, meat market in central London. It supplies restaurants and butcher shops at wholesale prices but is also open to the public. It opens at 3am so I may go up there one morning and see if I can buy some organic chicken there and freeze it.
I looked online for organic chicken but they are charging £9.68 for two breasts which we just can't afford.
www.smithfieldmarket.com
Today we are eating, omelette with left over gammon and cheese with toast and tonight we will have sausage casserole with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables.
What do you think reader about cheap meat and do you trust what it says on the label?
Sarah x
Saturday, 19 January 2013
Cut backs and food scrimping.
Dear reader,
Feel trapped indoors due to the heavy snow here. Decided to get out in it and take elderly neighbours dog for a walk. He is a real little fatty and I am trying to get him to lose a bit of weight. Might work for me too!
We went up to the common and watched the kids sledging down the hills, it all looked beautiful with the snow on the bracken and tree branches. Big man found it hilarious to shake branches just as I walked through!
My food supplies are going ok. We had cheese on toast with poached eggs on top for breakfast and I have a gammon in the slow cooker that we will have tonight with potatoes and veg. I always like a bit of a sauce with gammon so will do a quick parsley sauce as I have some on the window sill and have butter, flour and milk. No measuring, I just chuck it in, it's always fine.
I am pleased with the food budget so far this year and have refused to throw anything away.
I had some left over mash the other night and a few cooked cold sausages in the fridge. I decided to make some potato cakes/sausage bubble for breakfast and chopped the sausages with half a diced onion and mixed it into the mash with 2 eggs to bind. I then fried them in little dollops in a small amount of oil. They were lovely and I was pleased they were used.
The other things I have cut drastically down on are washing machine liquid and softener.
I use a very small amount, about the size of a 50 pence piece and a dash of softener, just for the smell.
We dry all our clothes in front of the log burner and sometimes they can take a while but I can turn the washing around within 24 hours no problem. I will be making some homemade washing liquid when I run out of this bottle and see how it is. Our clothes are never dirty as in mud and stuff, just need a freshen up. I hardly ever use the full cycle either just a quick wash. It's fine.
I also now only drive at a max speed of 60mph, even on the motorway. I put the miles per gallon on and I can see how much I am getting. It's a big difference when you go slowly and don't accelerate hard. It also cuts down on the braking. Thus saving me money on brake pads too.
My meal plan for the next few days is as follows. I am really scrimping and trying to stretch the food as much as possible. A pound less in the supermarket is a pound off our debts.
Sausage casserole (slow cooker) mash and veg
Chicken curry, rice and naans (in freezer)
Shepherds pie and veg
Veggie sausage, chips and beans
I think I will have to do a shop by then.
What do you cut down on to save money? Any tips gratefully received.
Sarah x.
Feel trapped indoors due to the heavy snow here. Decided to get out in it and take elderly neighbours dog for a walk. He is a real little fatty and I am trying to get him to lose a bit of weight. Might work for me too!
We went up to the common and watched the kids sledging down the hills, it all looked beautiful with the snow on the bracken and tree branches. Big man found it hilarious to shake branches just as I walked through!
My food supplies are going ok. We had cheese on toast with poached eggs on top for breakfast and I have a gammon in the slow cooker that we will have tonight with potatoes and veg. I always like a bit of a sauce with gammon so will do a quick parsley sauce as I have some on the window sill and have butter, flour and milk. No measuring, I just chuck it in, it's always fine.
I am pleased with the food budget so far this year and have refused to throw anything away.
I had some left over mash the other night and a few cooked cold sausages in the fridge. I decided to make some potato cakes/sausage bubble for breakfast and chopped the sausages with half a diced onion and mixed it into the mash with 2 eggs to bind. I then fried them in little dollops in a small amount of oil. They were lovely and I was pleased they were used.
The other things I have cut drastically down on are washing machine liquid and softener.
I use a very small amount, about the size of a 50 pence piece and a dash of softener, just for the smell.
We dry all our clothes in front of the log burner and sometimes they can take a while but I can turn the washing around within 24 hours no problem. I will be making some homemade washing liquid when I run out of this bottle and see how it is. Our clothes are never dirty as in mud and stuff, just need a freshen up. I hardly ever use the full cycle either just a quick wash. It's fine.
I also now only drive at a max speed of 60mph, even on the motorway. I put the miles per gallon on and I can see how much I am getting. It's a big difference when you go slowly and don't accelerate hard. It also cuts down on the braking. Thus saving me money on brake pads too.
My meal plan for the next few days is as follows. I am really scrimping and trying to stretch the food as much as possible. A pound less in the supermarket is a pound off our debts.
Sausage casserole (slow cooker) mash and veg
Chicken curry, rice and naans (in freezer)
Shepherds pie and veg
Veggie sausage, chips and beans
I think I will have to do a shop by then.
What do you cut down on to save money? Any tips gratefully received.
Sarah x.
Friday, 18 January 2013
Bearded lady does stock take.
Dear reader,
Have been indoors today just watching the snow continue to fall. Nice at first, quite pleasant to see and big man and I went out to try to build a snowman in the front garden. I know, big kids really.
I started with a small ball and it refused to get bigger. Wrong type of slow said the snowman expert, "Too powdery." So we walked tot he end of our close. As you come out onto the main road there is a small hill either side. To the left, the lane through the woods and to the right it goes towards the village.
There were cars stuck on either side, neither able to get up the hill. As I laughed a little, (I know, but I couldn't help it,) then fell flat on my bum. There were lots of the neighbours out, watching, pushing and spreading grit to help. I remained as dignified as one could considering I was wearing big mans beannie beard and looked like a bearded woman.beardhead.co.uk
When we got in I felt a little worried about food stocks as we would find it difficult to get out of here and being a girl who likes her food I did a stock take.
Fridge:
20 eggs
2 blocks of cheese
1/2 tub of spread
1/2 bag of salad
1 gammon joint
1 pack of mince 450g
1 punnet cherry tomatoes
Freezer:
2 portions h/m lasagne
2 portions h/m faggots
1 pack of sausages
1 pack frozen veg
1 pack frozen peas
2 bacon cheese grills
2 veggie sausages
1/2 pack potato croquettes
1 pack English muffins (orange flavour)
2 portions chilli
2 potions curry
Cupboard:
Potatoes (large sack)
Onions (large sack)
Rice
Pasta
Baked beans
Noodles
Cous cous (yes AF)
1 and 1/2 loaves plus ingredients for homemade
Panic averted. Must have enough food for at least a week or two.
Sarah. X
Have been indoors today just watching the snow continue to fall. Nice at first, quite pleasant to see and big man and I went out to try to build a snowman in the front garden. I know, big kids really.
I started with a small ball and it refused to get bigger. Wrong type of slow said the snowman expert, "Too powdery." So we walked tot he end of our close. As you come out onto the main road there is a small hill either side. To the left, the lane through the woods and to the right it goes towards the village.
There were cars stuck on either side, neither able to get up the hill. As I laughed a little, (I know, but I couldn't help it,) then fell flat on my bum. There were lots of the neighbours out, watching, pushing and spreading grit to help. I remained as dignified as one could considering I was wearing big mans beannie beard and looked like a bearded woman.beardhead.co.uk
When we got in I felt a little worried about food stocks as we would find it difficult to get out of here and being a girl who likes her food I did a stock take.
Fridge:
20 eggs
2 blocks of cheese
1/2 tub of spread
1/2 bag of salad
1 gammon joint
1 pack of mince 450g
1 punnet cherry tomatoes
Freezer:
2 portions h/m lasagne
2 portions h/m faggots
1 pack of sausages
1 pack frozen veg
1 pack frozen peas
2 bacon cheese grills
2 veggie sausages
1/2 pack potato croquettes
1 pack English muffins (orange flavour)
2 portions chilli
2 potions curry
Cupboard:
Potatoes (large sack)
Onions (large sack)
Rice
Pasta
Baked beans
Noodles
Cous cous (yes AF)
1 and 1/2 loaves plus ingredients for homemade
Panic averted. Must have enough food for at least a week or two.
Sarah. X
Heavy snow and a mouse calledJingles.
Dear reader, I have new followers. Thank you to Donna and no more spending. Xxx
Have just got up to thick, heavy snow falling here and no sign of stopping.
Big man and I ventured into the garden to feed the birds which we do every day.
Our rear garden has a large border of heathers before you get to the lawn. In the summer when we were out there, I had thrown some bread on the lawn for the birds. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a tiny little face peep out from the heather and grab a crust of bread. I showed big man and again the tiny face popped out. We were delighted at the tiny mouse. Big man named him Jingles from the mouse in the film "The green mile."
I convinced myself that Jingles was a little dormouse or field mouse and duly left him little snacks, a crust of bread, a small end of cheese just by the heather for Jingles to eat.
While washing up the other day and enjoying watching the birds at the table (with the usual crusts on the ground- for Jingles and the fat wood pigeon that can't fit on the table) I saw movement from the heather. I hadn't seen little Jingles since the summer and waited with bated breath.
Out came the twitch whiskery face and then the body, which had obviously flourished on my Kingsmill seeded loaf end and Chedder cheese.
Oh yes, Jingles had certainly flourished on my feeding, into a great big rat!
Ah well, rats have to live too I suppose although I have to admit I don't give him cheese anymore.
I will be in front of this today.
I may venture to the kitchen. I have minced beef ( well that's what it says on the packet)and a gammon joint. There is also a frozen monkfish fillet which was reduced the other day so will have this with garlic roasted potatoes and veg tonight.
I think I will make a shepherds pie or two for the week. Will have to see how far I can stretch the mince by adding carrots, celery, red lentils and tinned tomatoes.
Have a good day and hope your not too disrupted by the snow.
Sarah. X
Have just got up to thick, heavy snow falling here and no sign of stopping.
Big man and I ventured into the garden to feed the birds which we do every day.
Our rear garden has a large border of heathers before you get to the lawn. In the summer when we were out there, I had thrown some bread on the lawn for the birds. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a tiny little face peep out from the heather and grab a crust of bread. I showed big man and again the tiny face popped out. We were delighted at the tiny mouse. Big man named him Jingles from the mouse in the film "The green mile."
I convinced myself that Jingles was a little dormouse or field mouse and duly left him little snacks, a crust of bread, a small end of cheese just by the heather for Jingles to eat.
While washing up the other day and enjoying watching the birds at the table (with the usual crusts on the ground- for Jingles and the fat wood pigeon that can't fit on the table) I saw movement from the heather. I hadn't seen little Jingles since the summer and waited with bated breath.
Out came the twitch whiskery face and then the body, which had obviously flourished on my Kingsmill seeded loaf end and Chedder cheese.
Oh yes, Jingles had certainly flourished on my feeding, into a great big rat!
Ah well, rats have to live too I suppose although I have to admit I don't give him cheese anymore.
I may venture to the kitchen. I have minced beef ( well that's what it says on the packet)and a gammon joint. There is also a frozen monkfish fillet which was reduced the other day so will have this with garlic roasted potatoes and veg tonight.
I think I will make a shepherds pie or two for the week. Will have to see how far I can stretch the mince by adding carrots, celery, red lentils and tinned tomatoes.
Have a good day and hope your not too disrupted by the snow.
Sarah. X
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