Hunga Munga
Scooby
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2015
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- 56
Yeah you're paying through the nose for your veg 🙁 . 5 Aussie dollars would get you 2.5 kg of spuds ,a cabbage and a kilo of onions over here at supermarket delivery prices .
Cost of living #2
- Thread starter nightshade
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Yeah I had been comparing prices with @nightshade for a couple years now. Its been quite depressing haha. Food is cheaper over east. Some of it is because we have very high wages with people working on the mines, the rest is distance and just plain rorting cos options are so limited. Aldi shook it up for about 10 minutes but now are not too much cheaper than anywhere else.
The real cost of living stuff hasnt hit here yet, energy and all that are coming next year for us. Not anything I can else cut back on, welfare will keep up with the CPI anyway, every rise makes me rent go down!
Pets are like cigarettes. Everyone said how much cash I would save if I gave up smoking back in the day. I did not save any cash, at all, but lost a lot of enjoyment. Its the same with my animals. If i got rid of them, I wouldn't notice the cash saved, but I absolutely would notice the absence of joy.
Anyone got any ideas to use up a tub of coleslaw, got it for a bargain but I have to use it all up, and all I'm thinking is bring it to work tomorrow with a baked potato.
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Cole slaw? And cabbage soup.
Hunga Munga
Scooby
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2015
- Messages
- 1,488
- Age
- 56
Earnt a £5 Amazon voucher doing marketing bs , will be buying 'something' at the end of the month .Also got a Prime video 28 day free trial locked and loaded ,so that's my christmas streaming sorted . Some 99p channel trial options too . I've had them all before, must check if they've got any new stuff for Xmas 😉 .I know Prime has got a few bits.
Freevee is still killing it though .Barely feels like an ad supported service at all ,with strong titles on the books.
Turning off Netflix again in a few days ,i'll nip back in the spring .Strained the life out of my Netflix subscription for now .
The blu ray player is killing it ,saving big with that . Those eBay returns sellers can have a lot of value in their listings .It's a bit of a gamble but mine seem to pay off .50% off a brand new machine that got returned or lost in the post . 11 watts too , slashes my running costs. 🙂
Switched over to 6 watt led bulbs , only a bit of value there . More a psychological saving 😉 .
Freevee is still killing it though .Barely feels like an ad supported service at all ,with strong titles on the books.
Turning off Netflix again in a few days ,i'll nip back in the spring .Strained the life out of my Netflix subscription for now .
The blu ray player is killing it ,saving big with that . Those eBay returns sellers can have a lot of value in their listings .It's a bit of a gamble but mine seem to pay off .50% off a brand new machine that got returned or lost in the post . 11 watts too , slashes my running costs. 🙂
Switched over to 6 watt led bulbs , only a bit of value there . More a psychological saving 😉 .
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I've run my food down more than I am comfortable with. I am going to do an Aldi run this week, big stock up on things like onions, carrots, pumpkin and potatoes. I will still have to go down there once or twice before the new year, but I'd like to really top up the cupboards before the holidays start.
A few things I can drop off my shopping lists, like firelighters. I only started using them cos Mum said to but if I have enough kindling there is no need for them. I never used them before this year anyway. Gona double the milk and eggs because I go through more milk in summer and I have no duckies for eggs 🙁 I'll try and get bulk meat to freeze as well, just so I know thats there.
My neighbour practically ripped up half his garden to give to me after I dropped off the bean burritos. I think he should have tried them before being so gracious! So I have a bunch of HUGE radish's, more broadbeans and a heap of spring onion to use. He has 3 tomato plants established, so Im not gona bother to buy or grow those. I prefer cooking for him in exchange over trying to grow my own! Uses just as much electric cooking for two as it does for one. He only ever seems to have stew or curries when hes on his own. Explains why his kitchen is always so clean!
A few things I can drop off my shopping lists, like firelighters. I only started using them cos Mum said to but if I have enough kindling there is no need for them. I never used them before this year anyway. Gona double the milk and eggs because I go through more milk in summer and I have no duckies for eggs 🙁 I'll try and get bulk meat to freeze as well, just so I know thats there.
My neighbour practically ripped up half his garden to give to me after I dropped off the bean burritos. I think he should have tried them before being so gracious! So I have a bunch of HUGE radish's, more broadbeans and a heap of spring onion to use. He has 3 tomato plants established, so Im not gona bother to buy or grow those. I prefer cooking for him in exchange over trying to grow my own! Uses just as much electric cooking for two as it does for one. He only ever seems to have stew or curries when hes on his own. Explains why his kitchen is always so clean!
Plasma
You need duckies so I can stop being sad at you not having any :(
I would have saved myself $25 if I had just avoided the middle aisle in Aldi! Bulk soap for $8 which is gona last me at least 3 years. There were too many doggy choices... The puppies got a new toy and bulk liver treats.
And I got a large dog cooling mat, but not for them haha. I'm laying on it right now and how I wish I had this when I first buggered up my back! What a sweet relief this thing is! I duno how long it will stay cool but so far so good and I would totally buy more of these!!! There are so many bed gadgets and blankets to keep warm with but so few to keep cool with, that arnt wet. This is bliss! I bet the bunnies would like this too, as long as Anya doesn't chew on it. Harmony already tried to chew it and got banished to the hallway. This is my new favourite thing and no one is gona eat it!
Speaking of eat, roast turkey breast is sooo much cheaper at aldi! So I was stoked to get that and had a laugh cos it was next to the turduckens and that always reminds me of Supernatural 😎
And I got a large dog cooling mat, but not for them haha. I'm laying on it right now and how I wish I had this when I first buggered up my back! What a sweet relief this thing is! I duno how long it will stay cool but so far so good and I would totally buy more of these!!! There are so many bed gadgets and blankets to keep warm with but so few to keep cool with, that arnt wet. This is bliss! I bet the bunnies would like this too, as long as Anya doesn't chew on it. Harmony already tried to chew it and got banished to the hallway. This is my new favourite thing and no one is gona eat it!
Speaking of eat, roast turkey breast is sooo much cheaper at aldi! So I was stoked to get that and had a laugh cos it was next to the turduckens and that always reminds me of Supernatural 😎
Joan the Vampire Slayer
That mat sounds like it would be great for my back!
£10!?!!
Wow. I should’ve gotten a cat! A quick headcount and I’d estimate at least £100 monthly for the dog 🙈
Not the entire monthly spend, but I get two different dried foods for him which I buy every few months, and mix and decant into a large tub, so that bag mixed with the other that I bought previously will do for the rest of the year.
I do get him wet food and treats, so it probably averages out at around £20 a month.
Yeah, you still shoulda got a cat!
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
What do you mean? You bought it then returned it? But still have it? Huh? I get what you're saying about your Blue ray saving you money - I also rewatch a lot of DVDs, Buffy of course! I also go to the library and rent DVDS the old school way! I do have a Roku and nice TV I got as a gift so I watch the free channels on it (Tubi and Crackle) but when I get sick of those selections I do have quite a few DVDs I own of favorites I can rewatch.
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It's gotten cold here, so I'm trying to decide what I want to eat next week. I definitely want to make something in the crock pot. Maybe some veggie chili and cornbread. But last time I was at the store, they were out of cornbread.
Also, vegetables are so expensive now. Luckily, for the veggie chili I make, it's flexible on what vegetables you can use.
Beyond that, I've been driving as little as possible (and thankfully my work is only a ten minute drive from my home).
I also have this cute little portable hand washing machine I may start using to save money on going to the laundromat.
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It's a previously lost or returned item , that I've bought at a discount . Like an Amazon warehouse sort of deal.
@Hunga Munga Oh, I see! That's awesome. I got my Blue Ray player free actually from the Buy Nothing group in my old neighborhood - are you familiar with Buy Nothing Project?
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Hunga Munga
It's a previously lost or returned item , that I've bought at a discount . Like an Amazon warehouse sort of deal.
Well I just realised that I have worked about 40 hours less this month! Or will have by the end of it, so it's going to be a very tight month next month.
Thankfully not much of Christmas left to pay for, but I need to fill up the car with diesel and that's not cheap.
However my car insurance is due January so I need to cut back enough to at least put some aside for it. December I'll work extra hours again for the school holidays, but I'll struggle with getting more hours come January.
Thankfully not much of Christmas left to pay for, but I need to fill up the car with diesel and that's not cheap.
However my car insurance is due January so I need to cut back enough to at least put some aside for it. December I'll work extra hours again for the school holidays, but I'll struggle with getting more hours come January.
Hunga Munga
Scooby
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2015
- Messages
- 1,488
- Age
- 56
A quick google and I am now 😀 One thing this thread(s) has taught me is I don't make enough use of these more modern freecycling opportunities . I was never too proud to go scrapping or dumpster diving, or boot sales, or thrift stores ...but I'm too proud to use a foodbank ? Need to sort that out 😀 .
I was using my PS4 for blu rays but it's pretty juicy . 50+ watts just to run the disk ! I've put that in storage til energy prices come down . Became a bit of a streaming slug , the energy crisis made me add up every watt and I was shocked by my running costs 😀 .Ideally I need a little low wattage netbook for internet , mostly cut the streaming cord , only use a big screen for blu ray/Dvd . I'll be cheaper to run than an old style lightbulb 😉
I run my tv and everything through my little laptop which has a DVD slot too. Since I got the dogs I use my phone for the net much more, cos I am out on the patio much more! Not the most comfortable but its easier that bringing the laptop out every time.
The food relief I go to has not much. Its mostly chips, cereal, a few tins, premade meat balls donated by the butcher (and not very nice at all but nice they donate so much) and whatever fresh people drop in the box. There is limited refrigeration so much of the fresh stuff goes off. Its generally stuff like apples and lemons which I have trees for anyway. I want to try the big food bank on the coast but Im so worried they might say no at the till cos I dont live in that shire. Plus, I have to put my pension number in and that worries me too. I dont want to trigger any alerts that I may not be spending my money wisely enough. Although now the gov has scrapped the cashless cards which controls where you can spend, maybe it will be ok.
I get by ok for now anyway and dont want to be taking from those with less. I saw a bunch of articles about people using food bank so they could afford travel at Christmas which made me feel a bit uneasy. But I have pets so cant really judge.
When I moved here my rent was over 41% of my "income" now with every CPI rise, its down to 37% and that already has made a big difference. So has the coles delivery, as dodgy as that may be!
My mum does the buy nothing thing. She has soooo much junk now lol. I just cant stand the clutter I already have, but chucking stuff out feels like chucking out money. Facebook isnt worth the mental health cost for me lol.
The food relief I go to has not much. Its mostly chips, cereal, a few tins, premade meat balls donated by the butcher (and not very nice at all but nice they donate so much) and whatever fresh people drop in the box. There is limited refrigeration so much of the fresh stuff goes off. Its generally stuff like apples and lemons which I have trees for anyway. I want to try the big food bank on the coast but Im so worried they might say no at the till cos I dont live in that shire. Plus, I have to put my pension number in and that worries me too. I dont want to trigger any alerts that I may not be spending my money wisely enough. Although now the gov has scrapped the cashless cards which controls where you can spend, maybe it will be ok.
I get by ok for now anyway and dont want to be taking from those with less. I saw a bunch of articles about people using food bank so they could afford travel at Christmas which made me feel a bit uneasy. But I have pets so cant really judge.
When I moved here my rent was over 41% of my "income" now with every CPI rise, its down to 37% and that already has made a big difference. So has the coles delivery, as dodgy as that may be!
My mum does the buy nothing thing. She has soooo much junk now lol. I just cant stand the clutter I already have, but chucking stuff out feels like chucking out money. Facebook isnt worth the mental health cost for me lol.
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
I definitely went to the good bank for a while when I was really broke, back in like 2012. No shame! you gotta do what you gotta do.
Yeah, I love Buy Nothing! In my old neighborhood, it was great. I got a lot of great stuff and gifted a lot as well. But in my new city there is no Buy Nothing here, sadly.
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that's good! They say you shouldn't be paying more than 30% of your income on housing.
Same! I logged out and and am taking a break from it too.
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
So I'm trying to only spend $50 a week on groceries and it's HARD.
If you guys were doing that what would you cook? Help! I need ideas...
*also I am vegetarian
If you guys were doing that what would you cook? Help! I need ideas...
*also I am vegetarian
I have become obsessed with Chayote/choko fruit. Great to bulk up dishes! But I dont know how much they cost in shops because my neighbour grows them and I got them all for free. Zucchini is also a good bulk food but can be bitter. I grate carrot into everything. Do you eat eggs and milk? Quiche is a summer fave of mine.
I would go for the Low GI options as much as possible, so things like brown rice, bran and Milo (an aussie chocolate food drink). Im not a big fan of brown rice, but i found a much better way to cook it with coconut oil in the oven and I like it a lot more when cooked like that.
I know you're already great at beans having seen your posts, but what about some mushrooms in there too? They can be expensive but probably dont need to eat heaps. Chayote soaks up any flavour its cooked with, so I found with mushroom pies, the pieces tasted like mushroom and I didnt have to use as much mushroom for the same flavour.
Yeah I have read that anyone paying over 30% on rent is in housing stress, but this place is half the price of the places in the cities and honestly the cheapest I could get! Even apartments were not this cheap, but I will be looking to down size in the future. Im hoping I can hold out until I qualify for an over 55's village or units, but the way my health is I duno if I will last that long with this garden!
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
I do eat eggs but not milk. I love my almond milk. I have never made a quiche actually. Do you think I could make it without milk and it would still be good?
Yes, brown rice is a staple I always have! Oatmeal too. Cheap and filling. I top it with peanut butter and nuts and sometimes dried berries.
I'm sort of so so about mushrooms. I'll eat them in like a stir fry but that's about it.
I'm very lucky that my house is paid off and my other bills are pretty low but I still have a high car payment and debt I have to pay off. So that's why I'm being frugal.
Absolutely. Especially of the pastry-less variety which is my fave cos its so much easier anyway haha
Joan the Vampire Slayer
I'll give it a try!
Been thinking more on this @Joan the Vampire Slayer - Bran or oat muffins are cheap to make, can add any fruit or ingredients you want to them. Scones of the english variety can be sweet or savory. I like cheese and chives.
Veggie and bean patties or mock meatballs? They can be packed with grated or frozen veg. If you eat pasty, kidney beans are good instead of meat in meatless sausage rolls. If you can grow any window sill herbs they go nice in that sort of stuff too. 4 bean salad is a regular here haha. I often substitute chick peas and chicken stock into chicken recipes (the stock is flavour to me but can be left out)
There are some cute recipes on Instagram, but the ones suggested to me are all meat! I am enjoying meat and milk for as long as i can haha. Maybe the algorithm is listening so if I see any vego ones I'll share them 🙂 dinner ideas are so tough at the best of times!
Veggie and bean patties or mock meatballs? They can be packed with grated or frozen veg. If you eat pasty, kidney beans are good instead of meat in meatless sausage rolls. If you can grow any window sill herbs they go nice in that sort of stuff too. 4 bean salad is a regular here haha. I often substitute chick peas and chicken stock into chicken recipes (the stock is flavour to me but can be left out)
There are some cute recipes on Instagram, but the ones suggested to me are all meat! I am enjoying meat and milk for as long as i can haha. Maybe the algorithm is listening so if I see any vego ones I'll share them 🙂 dinner ideas are so tough at the best of times!
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Great ideas! Thank you.
@Joan the Vampire Slayer are there any other free groups around, Buy Nothing doesn't have a group here but we have several similar groups, as well as Too Good To Go app, and a lot of places, not so good here also use Olio for unwanted extra food being given away.
Mostly I would look at recent shopping receipts, and see what you buy regularly and look at if it's cheaper to buy in bulk, or if there's a cheaper version of it available.
I also find it cheaper to not go into the shop, so not tempted by the extras I didn't plan to get. Having a rough meal plan helps as well, not a this is what I'm cooking everyday, but a I'll make such and such at some point so I need to get...
I have to hit £40 for my monthly shop, and it's actually quite difficult now to do that, as I only shop once a month so don't add much fresh foods on it. I buy mostly frozen veg instead, I do usually get one type of fruit,which does for the first week of the month, then I'll go get more when I have to go to aldi. Although this month I've been given loads of apples free, and I have bananas free from the zero waste stall so very few aldi trips needed.
Mostly I would look at recent shopping receipts, and see what you buy regularly and look at if it's cheaper to buy in bulk, or if there's a cheaper version of it available.
I also find it cheaper to not go into the shop, so not tempted by the extras I didn't plan to get. Having a rough meal plan helps as well, not a this is what I'm cooking everyday, but a I'll make such and such at some point so I need to get...
I have to hit £40 for my monthly shop, and it's actually quite difficult now to do that, as I only shop once a month so don't add much fresh foods on it. I buy mostly frozen veg instead, I do usually get one type of fruit,which does for the first week of the month, then I'll go get more when I have to go to aldi. Although this month I've been given loads of apples free, and I have bananas free from the zero waste stall so very few aldi trips needed.
Joan the Vampire Slayer
I'll check out the Too Good To Go app, thanks!
Insta heard me 😆 these were on my reels feed this arvo
www.instagram.com
www.instagram.com
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Peyton Pratte on Instagram: "Easy Oatmeal Cups topped 4 ways. Healthy Meal Prep pt. 4! These are perfect to make a giant batch of for the week! Follow @choosing_balance for more healthy recipes 💗- - - - Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas 1/2 cup peanut b
Peyton Pratte shared a post on Instagram: "Easy Oatmeal Cups topped 4 ways. Healthy Meal Prep pt. 4! These are perfect to make a giant batch of for the week! Follow @choosing_balance for more healthy recipes 💗- - - - Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas 1/2 cup peanut butter 2 1/2 cups milk of choice...
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nicole(nic) addison, RD, MHSc on Instagram: "APPLE PIE OAT CUPS by @nourishedbynic SAVE these for a meal prep breakfast and FOLLOW for more 2.5 cups oats quick, minute or rolled work! 1/4 cup unflavoured collagen powder (protein powder or oat flo
nicole(nic) addison, RD, MHSc shared a post on Instagram: "APPLE PIE OAT CUPS by @nourishedbynic SAVE these for a meal prep breakfast and FOLLOW for more 2.5 cups oats quick, minute or rolled work! 1/4 cup unflavoured collagen powder (protein powder or oat flour also work!) 2 tsp baking...
www.instagram.com
Giuseppe Federici on Instagram: "Satay Inspired Tofu Noodle Salad with over 40g plant-based protein 💪🏼, stored in these leakproof @sistema_uk containers perfect for making sauces and keeping food fresh! 🌱 #sistema #alwaysreuseful #ad INGREDIENTS: (3
Giuseppe Federici shared a post on Instagram: "Satay Inspired Tofu Noodle Salad with over 40g plant-based protein 💪🏼, stored in these leakproof @sistema_uk containers perfect for making sauces and keeping food fresh! 🌱 #sistema #alwaysreuseful #ad INGREDIENTS: (3 meals) 2 blocks firm tofu (2 x...
www.instagram.com
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Oh, that tofu noodle salad sounds good!
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