Am I poor if I do not spend?

Money, get away
Get a good job with more pay
And your O.K.

Money, it's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands
And make a stash

New car, caviar, four star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team


I have pledged to join all on frogs blog with a Stoptober spend free month and well today it stared. I have money in my wallet for our usual spends transport and fresh veggies but apart from that I ant spending bupkiss to so there! Lol.
Activities that needed budgeting fro have had the pennies allocated and all good to go there too. As for extras e.g. fabric, buttons, car boot bits (am beginning to sweat now)! Are not happening. I truly truly don’t need it I have a comfortable life food in the cupboard roof over my head friends who I like and furry freeloaders who will eat me out of house and home. So richer than some, poorer than others.

stock picture from the net

 

 

 

 

Money get back
I'm all right Jack
Keep your hands off my stack

Money, it's a hit
Don't give me that
Do goody good bullshit

I'm in the hi-fidelity
First class traveling set


And I think I need a Lear jet  


Talking of getting lucky i really did yesterday. My local co op has been a real godsend of late, well since we moved in really. The reductions I get are as a rule fair sometimes I get lucky and they are ASTOUNDING. yesterday was one of those days 250g of cheese down to 83p was £3.79 a block there were 8 and like the milk down to 89p was £1.19 a litre even got 2 lots of stewing steak was £2.05 for 80p x2, field mushrooms 30p was £1 lettuce 25p was £1 the list goes on and on ended up spending £23. ish and that coupled with the bits I have in the freezer excess milk bread and the usual odds and ends we shall dine like lords for a good couple of weeks if not longer.

stock picture from the net

Money, it's a crime
Share it fairly
But don't take a slice of my pie 
Money, so they say
Is the root of all evil
Today

But if you ask for a rise
It's no surprise that they're
Giving none away
Away
Away
Away
Away...






 Had a rummage in the fridge and found half a leek some carrots some leftover mushroom soup popped in the slow cooker along with a found pepper lurking of all places in the bottom of the fruit bowl, well it hat to live somewhere veg from Sunday lunch, we will eat for approx 80p a head including a rhubarb crumble and homemade custard. I will feel very smug about that.
 Had a wonderful surprise from a mate of mine she was sorting out her linen cupboard and found a whole heap of single quilt covers and sheets she didn’t want and 3 thick novels that she thought I would be able to do something with. Already I can see a couple of aprons, some pillow slips and a thin quilted throw for dads’ bed and possibly a summer weight dressing gown. Then with the scrap leftover bits some cloth shopping bags and the beginnings of some drought excluders.

image

Courtesy

  of happy mothering.com

 As you know I am also trying to save pennies on loo roll, this week I will be sourcing some old tea shirts and making a heap of family wipes for me with a cloth bag to pop them in. What I am hoping to do during the week is prep bits as and when I can then on Sunday morning when my loved ones are either sleeping or at church I can just crack on until lunch with sewing them. Might shorten the shower curtain and use some of the waste from re usable bin lines for the bathrooms and to line my cloth bag. Just been sat here thinking and a now acquaintance was once friend said to me there is no value in being a house wife I beg to differ, I feel there is no value in not being appreciated weather you work at home or else where.
 So wonderous people what  have you been planning/ hoping to do of late.
 All the best
Rachel

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pink+floyd/money_20108700.html ]

where does alll the money go?

I have been thinking a lot of late about what is in my purse and what money will be available when I retire. Did a little math and decided I dint like the result. So where do I go from here. Savings will be the ultimate goal and one that I have "just" started. Can remember someone saying to me "when you save it has to hurt a little" so I looked at the House keeping and decided the following...

Buy bread when the reductions are genuine if not shut up and bake!

Consider saving to be a household bill after all you know you need to allot x amount for the phone bill etc why not savings

 is there anything more I can do to learn how to re skill if so what is the best option, Nanny used to say to cheep isn't necessarily better think about what you will gain long term.I know that's what I'm doing by having sewing lessons.(see nanny gone you may be but never forgotten)!

Can I change providers for my services and if so where is the best deal and then check again to see if it is.
When we moved we were compelled to have B.T for our phone and broad band. one grudging phone and an 18 month contract later I bitterly got off the phone. In a couple of months I can move yea! Whilst I am sure for some B.T offer very good deals it has not been so I feel for me. Cheapest monthly payment I could get at the time was £50. Suggestions anyone?

 So I am systematically going through the utility and dedicating myself to walking to where I need to go more often. Looking at what I can buy locally, even if the price is higher I would need to add in the cost of transport to bring it home. So does it make it cheaper?

One habit I am getting into it to go on line supermarket web sites and "grocery shop" there. And by copy and pasting what I need and printing it out I have a record to take with me and I either shop local or see if a trip to town will be worth the expense.
 Next on my list is a wheeled shopping trolley I am truly tempted to buy one new so if it dies I have some comeback.

 One thing I know is I will be posting some of my unwanted bits on eBay or doing a car boot myself. During the year I had some very pretty and practical finds (will post them soon) and the items they replaced will be loved by someone else so OUT THEY GO!

 If anyone out there has any personal grooming tips to keep me feeling good but for no or very little cost I would LOVE to hear from you,
 Went for a bit of read and came across how to make your own mamma pads (washable sanitary towels) Have you or anyone you know done this and was it a good experience? I am also toying with the idea of family wipes as well (personal use)

 I have decided to go and get my very occasional haircuts dome by a student at the local college apparently a wash cut restyle and blow dry is £8 and a cut n dry only £6.00.
 Okay any suggestions, points of views or how toos' would be much appreciated.
 Take care of yourselves
Rachel
stock pictures taken from the web

Helooooo and a recipe

Been a while since I posted anything at all, Life seemed to have taken over. I had to go and have a minor opp. My partner needed some more t.l.c than usual ( god I feel for him) he also decided to throw a birthday in there as well lol. The powers that be are STILL being annoying and I have yet to sort out anything that will help the house run smoother.

 However I did have a mad five mins in the kitchen and went through the fridge thinking there was nothing in and found I was able to pull out some sandwich mix one quiche 3 risottos and a mushroom soup(Inspired by the wonderful frogs over at frugal queen) Recipe at the bottom of this posting.

Did manage to go to a car boot and fuel my growing addiction to wool. I am happy with what I spent I think over the last 3 weeks it’s been about £25.00 I know it sounds an awful lot but it will be well used Presents for. 

(stock photo taken from the net) 

We all know Christmas Is a coming so I thought I would make granny square throws for people I believe a blanket will cost me about £2.00 to make and that will be a standard double bed size a few scarf’s and bake some peanut butter cookies along with some peppermint creams and fudge. Sounds grand but believe me when costed out I might have spent £3 per head, so I can grumble. Had another good find when shopping managed to get ready rolled marzipan for £2 per unit that coupled with the fruit cake ingredients I picked up uber cheep at my local co-op . They had a HUGE turnout of lines they would be no longer stocking. I even managed to pick up olive oil for £1.04 per litre. I know went mad and just bought EVERYTHING as I will never see it at those prices again. 

(stock photo taken from the net) 

Let me sister have a cherry pick through the pantry and she was chuffed as well. I will be able to get 4 12 inch cakes fully made up and decorated in a plain white icing for about £3.75 each. No one likes a fruit cake like my Father lol and I can pass one on to my sister and the rest can be eaten throughout the beginning part of the year. I know I can’t believe I am writing about Christmas already but I was thinking the other day , as you do if I don’t get a move on NOTHING will get done and People won’t be able to have a treat. Well the above is half theory and half WILL be done. Just need to get me bum into gear and sort out the bits so I can make what I want for some bloomin lovely people I know.

(stock photo taken from the net)

 Ok the recipe here goes...

Take whatever mushrooms you have either I use the stalks mostly saved back from the caps used in another recipe.

Some onion, leek, or spring mushrooms. Gently

Cooking fat (your preference)

If you have a bay leaf pop one in remember dyed herbs are more concentrated so you will need about half of what you would use fresh!

IF you have a small clove of garlic and want to add that it will add to the flavour (and as you know every little helps lol) Aprox

3 stock cubes veg beef or chicken or a combination.

crème fraîche/cream/milk

 Few leftover spuds

Leftover bacon or chicken

Method

Take all of the above ingredients adding if you want the garlic season and fry until you are happy with what you see. Take the bay leaf if used and add to the pan and pour in the stock as much or as little as you want. Myself I like quite a thick soup. If it seems a little thinner than you would like pop in some leftover potatoes. Not forgetting to remove the bay leaf pop into blender and blitz the life out of it!

 If you have any mushrooms over slice a few and pop in but no biggie if you don’t.  Sometimes I bulk mine out with a little leftover chicken or bacon. If I can I serve with homemade garlic bread I tale a French stick or the like slicing through it at an angle but not cutting it and then I mix butter garlic pepper and poppy seeds (if you have some) and just fill it all over. If there is any scrap cheese grate and sprinkle on the top (you won’t be sorry) wrap in some foil, normally if you are anything like me there is some scrap knocking about in a drawer. Gas marl 7 ish or about 200 degrees   this is nice for a winter supper type meal and I like to sever it with a leftover salad adding any bacon bits or meat to the leaves and serving alongside as well. This can be as cheep or as expensive as you like. I just know I am now hunger and need to go and do something about it lol happy eating folks

Gone but be back soon!

Hi
Have been up to my neck in it this week. We have had problems with the builders and some company is comming out to asses the problems so I want the house to be  A1 so pulling out all the stops. will be back soon.
Thank you to those who took the time to pop by and/or comment I am touched.
BRB
Rachel

 

Hello
 Welcome I have threatened for years that I would start posting, but never have done, Always seeming to let something get in the way. So in the last few months there have been some changes in my life; because of this my slap dash attendance for going to the gym was swiftly reviewed. The Gym. It isn’t the b all and end all of my life but I have shifted 3 stone and there are some more needing to be shifted but have decided to go and focus on half a stone at a time.

My main love is my Father and Partner one sister and a nephew. Not forgetting the six furry freeloaders from hell (cats) and a dog named jack! Who has disarmed us all? I love to craft sewing and crochet being fast favourites, not stunning at it but I have a creative mind and decided that I needed to rid myself of the trillion (ok dozen ish) unfinished half started bits before I start one more thing.

I try to live a frugal life. I know it’s all the rage at the moand a ressesion is of no help, but it is something our family has done all its life. I had an aunt who was a young married woman during the war and it always astounded me what she would do with what she had on hand. However sadly when I was 15 she died and all that knowledge went with her I remember bits but truly I never listened to her fully, well I was 15  knew everything about nothing so over time I have taken what I remember from her and built on that. I hope with some degree of success. One mate said "well they aint dead yet so you seem to be doing ok"! lol
So what I hope to share with you along the way is my triumphs’ and my, eh um "artistic" endeavours? lol A bit about life and some info on the way that I do things. Would love to share the same with you as well. So fire away.
Hope to hear from you,

All the best

Maidofdevon.