Darkest Days

[how-did-this-happen]

Thank you everyone, good to know its not just me!!

[how-did-this-happen]

One thing I did forget to mention.....I actually bought a lucky charm off a gipsy in town. I knew outright that it was crap...but in the back of my mind.....you never know.

[kallis3]

[:D][:D]

[althas]

Nothing I have done, yet. But this post reminds me of a thread I used to read on another forum (Moneysavingexpert.com) about a woman and her strugle to feed herself, husband and child on.............£20 (yes TWENTY PONDS) for a whole MONTH

It was SO inspiring, she almost managed it as well, and I think she blew £6 over her budget in the end. But she posted daily and some of the ideas were superb. I use them now. The old "rubber chicken", red lentils in mince for spag bol or con carnie

In the end I think you do what you have to do to survive (unless it is illegal), and if that means making a chicken last 6 or 7 meals, or eating a 6pence jar of curry sauce, then you do it

I know it feels embarrassing sometimes. I was talking to my mum about the chicken, and she almost laughed about it thinking I was kidding. You get used to Sunday lunch and thats it. But dont, "frugality is the new black" I say but keep the stories coming in, share the ideas around

[kallis3]

I have to say that there are certain things I won't compromise on. I only eat free range eggs, and won't eat value chicken, and that's purely because I don't agree with battery farming.

I'm afraid that whilst we do sometimes have left overs after Sunday lunch, the majority ends up being fed to the dogs for a couple of days during the week. It makes the dog food go further.

[Shining]

I'm the same with Chicken (well all meat) and eggs, I like quality on some things but don't mind skimping on others.

[martgoingmad]

Darker moments, I've had a few, but some how we always seem to get through.

6p curry sauce, if you go at the right time ASDA has a value one for 4p - excellent base fro a curry.

We now freeze most of our leftovers and every so often we have enough for another meal.

[kallis3]

It's up to 6p again at Asda again now. It is good though - I use it with chips as it tastes just like chip shop curry sauce.

Hubby does his own spag bol, chilli, stew etc and makes enough to freeze loads of portions so we always have a meal in the freezer.

[Wizzzard]

I've reduced my weekly meat bill by £4.00 pw simply by using a butcher and buying just what we need i.e. 3/4 lb mince for spagbol, 4 sausages instead a pound or pack of 12 (I don't like frozen sausage I like em with flavour). I do the same with veg too ... purchase just what I need. I really annoys Mrs Wizz cos I count the sprouts (we have 5 each [:D][:D])

[Shining]

Wizz we do that, I often go in the butchers and ask for 9 sausages or something doesn't bother me at all but there is no waste.

[kallis3]

Our butcher is excellent - you can buy as much or as little as you want. A lot of OAP's use him and buy one egg and/or a couple of rashers of bacon or two links of sausage. We tend to buy in bulk, seperate it and freeze it for a later date.

Our butcher even delivers to some of his more infirm customers and does not charge them for the delivery.

[Shining]

Sounds like a great community spirit there Jan which is all too often lost these days x

[kallis3]

Cannot fault our butcher.

Must admit H that I don't skimp on the washing powder!

[Shining]

I agree some things skimped on can be false ecconomy.

[kallis3]

Quite agree Lesley.