Cost of living #3

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I went to buy a calendar and got a heated airer instead. The factory shop had 1 left for £59, so I got it. It was not easy to carry home one handed in the rain, but I got it home and set up, just need to throw out the old broken airer now.
 
I will have a vet bill for xander soon. Its annoying that they dont bill while I am there cos I have to drive back in to pay it. And I dont know how much to budget until they send the bill at their convenience but must be paid within 7 days of getting the bill. I wish things were straight forward here, get service then pay bill and have it over with, but even the mechanic doesn't work like that here! Its a real drag on my mind.

Im restocked on coffee and loo roll for a while lol. Have been bulking up the minimum orders with them. And now they have sent a $20 off voucher if I spend over $200 on delivery but its probably not worth it cos $200 in store is gonna get me much more.
 
Got my December electricity bill, went up £30 because of that cold snap and putting the heating on. Thankfully I had a lot of credit built up so used that for it. However prices have risen again this month so I'll have to up my payments again.

Haven't yet used the oven this month, and might try to stretch it out for a few more weeks before I do, partly because of costs but partly because of safety with my injury.
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
I rarely use my oven too.
Im still holding out for a $35 air fryer! Haha.

Got $20 off my online shop today. Day before the promo ended ha. Bulked the order with half price multivitamins as it had a minimum spend.

Sometimes I can google coupon codes for online shop things, but this hasnt been as effective as it used to be. Mostly cos postage costs ends up making buying online less appealing for me, but this is a good tip to keep in mind for little savings.
 
Im still holding out for a $35 air fryer! Haha.
Really? I capitulated and bought a Ninja Air Max. Well - not really "capitulated". I wanted that one because it had the most recommendations and it's taken weeks for John Lewis to get new stock in. But - it was £149 - which I reckon is A$262.16. 😯 I couldn't get a frying pan for $35! I don't know a) whether I've done the right thing b) whether it's too big for the kitchen and c) whether I'll use it. It might meet the fate of the bread-maker; soup maker; slow cooker and Ninja Nutri-bullet and never come out of the box. Sigh...I might send it back. ☹️
 
Really? I capitulated and bought a Ninja Air Max. Well - not really "capitulated". I wanted that one because it had the most recommendations and it's taken weeks for John Lewis to get new stock in. But - it was £149 - which I reckon is A$262.16. 😯 I couldn't get a frying pan for $35! I don't know a) whether I've done the right thing b) whether it's too big for the kitchen and c) whether I'll use it. It might meet the fate of the bread-maker; soup maker; slow cooker and Ninja Nutri-bullet and never come out of the box. Sigh...I might send it back. ☹️
Aww give it a go at least 😁 My neighbour has a big one like that and he just raves about it. Loves the thing. Goes on and on about his chicken wings. I only need a little one for one person, single serve. I have seen good ratings for a small air fryer at target which was $89. The market has to be flooded by now! I can wait it out 😆
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Same! I'm going to wait it out until they get cheaper.
Packed lunches it is. Best to save money.
Yeah I've been terrible this month for buying lunches instead, but I'm going to do some mini sausage rolls in the airfryer this morning to have for lunch today.

I'd love to get a bigger one like a ninja, but I barely have space for the little one I have
 
I didnt look at sizes of things online again... The magnesium powder I got is massive lol. But the potato salad and coleslaw are very small. What sorts of little easy prepacked meals do people get? I just cant cope with cooking in the summer heat so thought I'd try get some fancy premade packaged things. I can do a bulk cook day here and there so none of the frozen meals since they are just outrageously priced, but stuff that is fresh and ready to eat. I dont even know what to search for! I only got the potato salad cos they were on the specials page (and now seeing the size of them, not so special!!)
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
I used to use Purple Carrot, loved it but it's really expensive.
I usually look at the party food stuff, so sausage rolls, samosas, spring rolls, mini bites stuff, which come in bigger pack sizes and just need warning up from frozen. Cold food wise more, mini quiches, pork pies, scotch eggs etc, basically picnic foods. I like to make dips though and just cut up cucumber or carrots.
 
November
November
Quiche and dips are great ideas! Thanks :)
Some peeps at work were raving about air fryers? Are they really worth it?
My kitchen is literally the size of a large closet. So space is already at a premium! 😳
 
Angelic Slayer
Angelic Slayer
We use ours all the time! We got a TFAL - XL and it's the perfect size for two people. Less greasy I find than the oven
Some peeps at work were raving about air fryers? Are they really worth it?
My kitchen is literally the size of a large closet. So space is already at a premium! 😳
For me yes, I barely use the oven now, and use the airfryer most days.
 
Some peeps at work were raving about air fryers? Are they really worth it?
My kitchen is literally the size of a large closet. So space is already at a premium! 😳
IDK - I haven't psyched myself up to opening the box yet! My kitchen is a stupid shape with angled walls and three doors off. I'm desperately short of worktop space and cupboards. If the AF ever comes out of the box, it'll have to stand on top of the actual cooker. Either that or I move house to accommodate it! 😕
 
IDK - I haven't psyched myself up to opening the box yet! My kitchen is a stupid shape with angled walls and three doors off. I'm desperately short of worktop space and cupboards. If the AF ever comes out of the box, it'll have to stand on top of the actual cooker. Either that or I move house to accommodate it! 😕
Mine is technically in my living room, it's open plan and I didn't have enough room in the kitchen area so have a 2x2 kallax until that doubles as my kitchen worktop, the airfryer and slow cooker are on that.
 
Mine is technically in my living room, it's open plan and I didn't have enough room in the kitchen area so have a 2x2 kallax until that doubles as my kitchen worktop, the airfryer and slow cooker are on that.
You're brilliant! I might just a 4x1 Kallax either side of the freezer. I wanted to order one for a TV in the bedroom but ordering 3 justifies the delivery charge.
 
November
November
Cheaper than moving!
I have ordered a bunch of easy meat in the next delivery. Its way more expensive to have it preprepared but I am just so over real cooking. The lamb steaks today were so easy, and even at $6.66 for two bits, that's still not too bad for a days feed. Ok, its way more than I want to pay, but the ease of it quick in the pan makes it worth it for me at the moment.



I had to laugh at this, caviar is cheaper than fake meat!
 
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
That's cheap for the plant based meat. It's way more here where I am.
As expected, my water bill was way higher than it should be, due to that cold snap we had last month and I had to leave my faucets running for days to keep my pipes from freezing.

This week, I have a friend visiting so I decided to take a couple days off work to entertain her. I want to show her around town, but on a budget. I wanted to take her on a guided tour of the Art Deco district downtown, but it's pretty expensive, $30/per person, so I'm just doing a self-guided tour. Money will be really tight this month, but I'll manage. I may have to pick up another side job, like do Doordash.

My hack this week: buy a large, on sale cheap bag of kale and eat it for all three meals!
 
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The prices in pret are so crazy.

Especially the salmon sandwiches and they are delicious.
 
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My hack this week: buy a large, on sale cheap bag of kale and eat it for all three meals!
That's just everytime I buy a bag of veg, as many meals as possible to use it all up! And the reason I tend to buy frozen rather than fresh, so I don't have to eat it for every meal for days.
I've spent way too much on food this month, been good to try out things, but I'm looking forward to actually cooking again. Next month will be a cheap food month as the plan of reducing the freezer stock didn't happen this month so I will next month. I'll still do a £40 online shop for the month but that will be about it.
 
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