Cost of living #3

[November]

I am so glad I spent that stimulus money when I got it. I am still well stocked in stuff like deodorant, soap, toothpaste and loo roll. I probably shouldn't be spending the leeway on easy meat, but its just so so so nice and relaxing to know what is on the menu each day rather than scrambling to see what I can scratch together. I cant do cinemas or cafes or social events so having food so easy counts as recreation now 😆

I am getting a pre prepped turkey breast today, one that I can slice and use in salads. I thought maybe I could use some grapes up to eat with it, like cranberry sauce but with grapes? I'll see how it goes. My neighbour gave me two tomatoes when I dropped a box of grapes at his place, he says he will have a lot more tomatoes soon. He is smart and stages his plantings so they dont all come at once like mine! Hah. Tomatoes are about $9 a kilo from the shops so I haven't had them for a while.

Harmony is asleep on one of their new cushions so that was a good buy. Anya bun just loves the little house as well, its so cute, but I did get it for xander! Its hers now haha.

I am crocheting more handtowels so I can space out the washing more. They are simple to do while watching tv. I have a bag of scrap yarn from a lady in the congregation to use, nothing enough to make anything bigger.

 

[TamsinValencia]

Got a bottle of innocent coconut water with vitamins for £3 but not sure if it was a good deal.

 

[Nix]

My elec and gas bill for January was £200!! So I've turned the heating off and will only put it on to help dry clothes. Blankets and Ooooooooodies have been handed out!! lol Everything is just so expensive, just basic living is harder than what I've been used to I guess.

 

[November]

Some here have only just realised the prices have gone up cos its affected coco pops 😆 https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/r...k/news-story/ba765a3818e91d67aa5612821cd5b4b5

Its been $9.50 a box at the IGA for the last year anyway lol.

I found a cheaper dog food that isnt too unhealthy for the dogs, cheaper now than me cooking for them but Lilah has such a complex around food, I have to add bits to keep her interested. Also found out they like the cheapest treats at coles, so that saves me a bit 🙂 The dog food was $6.40 on special for a roll that lasts over a week (some Frozen). Hopefully it will be on special again in a month when i need more haha. And hopefully lilah isnt off it by then either!

 

[TamsinValencia]

Oh no not the coco pops

Those are my favourite

 

[HowiMetdaSlayer]

My elec and gas bill for January was £200!! So I've turned the heating off and will only put it on to help dry clothes. Blankets and Ooooooooodies have been handed out!! lol Everything is just so expensive, just basic living is harder than what I've been used to I guess.

And I was freaked out when mine was $100! Live in a small apartment, and the service fees are more than half of the bill! 😏

 

[Plasma]

Some here have only just realised the prices have gone up cos its affected coco pops 😆

Oh no not the coco pops

Those are my favourite

Sounds as though you’re going cuckoo for (the price of) Coco Pops

 

[nightshade]

Does anyone make their own sauces, preserves etc?

I have a lot of kitchen gadgets, and really want to use them more this year, but still cheaply. So not buying extra food where possible but just using what I have better to last longer

 

[Dogs of Winter]

Where are all the freakin' eggs 😟
Last night was the 3rd week running there were no eggs at my supermarket. I need my eggs !

Are the supermarkets blaming this on bird flu?
I did read an article where a farmer was saying the supermarkets wont pay a fair price for their eggs and it is becoming less profitable for them, so now farmers have ordered less hens for this years flocks

I've finally worked out how to use the library's app for downloading ebooks and audiobooks.

I keep meaning to try that. Do you get a good choice of ebooks at your library?

 

[nightshade]

Where are all the freakin' eggs 😟
Last night was the 3rd week running there were no eggs at my supermarket. I need my eggs !

Are the supermarkets blaming this on bird flu?
I did read an article where a farmer was saying the supermarkets wont pay a fair price for their eggs and it is becoming less profitable for them, so now farmers have ordered less hens for this years flocks


I keep meaning to try that. Do you get a good choice of ebooks at your library?

I got eggs this week, Aldi had plenty. I miss getting proper free range ones for free though, not liking this paying for eggs business! My mother needs to get it sorted and get chickens again!

There's a good range but still have to wait for popular books like you would with physical ones.

 

[TriBel]

Where are all the freakin' eggs 😟
Last night was the 3rd week running there were no eggs at my supermarket. I need my eggs !

Are the supermarkets blaming this on bird flu?
I did read an article where a farmer was saying the supermarkets wont pay a fair price for their eggs and it is becoming less profitable for them, so now farmers have ordered less hens for this years flocks

Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other (not eggs - reasons/excuses). Bird flu has meant free-range birds having to go inside; feeding them grain has become more expensive (blame Russia) and supermarkets have been profiteering. I'd like to blame it on the government but I can't - nor can I blame it on Germany because Aldi have had them in. I also wonder whether some higher-end or "ethical" supermarkets are reluctant to sell eggs that aren't free-range (I have to admit, I felt a bit guilty when I saw "from caged birds" on the box I bought).

 

[Dogs of Winter]

I also wonder whether some higher-end or "ethical" supermarkets are reluctant to sell eggs that aren't free-range (I have to admit, I felt a bit guilty when I saw "from caged birds" on the box I bought).

I saw a quote from the chief exec of The British Egg Industry Council saying they are still 100% free range hens - they just happen to be housed inside at the moment, so problem solved 😉

Although he did also say that consumers are more than happy to continue to pay the same price or even more whilst they are housed inside so maybe dont believe everything he says

 

[nightshade]

Although he did also say that consumers are more than happy to continue to pay the same price or even more whilst they are housed inside so maybe dont believe everything he says

Do we have a choice!

Tomorrow is going to be my first attempt at making fudge in the slow cooker, with the idea of making a big batch to slice up for work treats. Got lots of cheap aldi chocolate for it.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Cant believe you never made fudge before...

 

[nightshade]

Cant believe you never made fudge before...

I've made it before, just not in the slow cooker.

I want to see what's at the zero waste stall tomorrow as well, I haven't been for ages but will try to get there tomorrow

 

[November]

Does anyone make their own sauces, preserves etc?

I have a lot of kitchen gadgets, and really want to use them more this year, but still cheaply. So not buying extra food where possible but just using what I have better to last longer

The bbq winglets I had reminded me why I started making my own marinades in the first place! Too sweet like sugar syrup from the shop! I dont have the right equipment or storage for long term preserves but I have made plenty small batches for use within a week - specifically chutneys and marinades. My apricot jam was awful lol but soy/garlic/honey type marinades are better homemade.

I havent done anything more with my grapes yet ... the google has some great ideas for what you have on hand. Insta might hear us too 😉 I know you said not buying extra food, but for example a whole pumpkin is cheaper per kilo than a chunk and maybe you could dehydrate some chips from it, a curry or soup in the slow cooker and honey mustard crusted for the air fryer? Carrots would also work and are cheaper by the kilo.




Just got back from the vet with Harmony. She had a prickle in her toe which had blown up into a little abscess. So I got her yearly check up and vaccination done while I was there (a month early). Good news is that the toe will heal fine. Bad news is, she needs an operation on her leg 🙁 🙁 🙁 she is insured but it will still cost a bit and the recovery could be tough for me to manage with two puppies under two years old. The vet said the sooner the better so I will aim to get it done before her second birthday but have a lot of training and preparation to do as I dont want her coming home, playing spastic in the yard and mucking it all up again. Lilah will be hard to contain, they just love to play so much! I would also like to get her a little pool for non weight baring exercise but the vet said its too sever for physio to help so a pool may cost more than the op.

 

[nightshade]

I know you said not buying extra food, but for example a whole pumpkin is cheaper per kilo than a chunk and maybe you could dehydrate some chips from it, a curry or soup in the slow cooker and honey mustard crusted for the air fryer? Carrots would also work and are cheaper by the kilo.

Pumpkin is always cheap or free after Halloween! Wrong time of year though now, I meant more like not going to buy a kilo of strawberries to make jam, but will use what I either grow this year or already buy.

Today is my batch cooking day for the month, flapjack and chicken to be done in oven, fudge in slow cooker, that should keep me going for a while. I'll do a roast dinner tonight, chicken curry tomorrow with plenty of leftovers, and maybe a soup for the rest of the chicken, that can be frozen. I'll see what I can get at the zero waste stall for soup making.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

An expression if true love:

 

[Plasma]

Bought a Brita filter, which I’m hoping will save me more in the long run by not having to buy bottled water.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

My elec and gas bill for January was £200!! So I've turned the heating off and will only put it on to help dry clothes. Blankets and Ooooooooodies have been handed out!! lol Everything is just so expensive, just basic living is harder than what I've been used to I guess.

This is absolutely true. The cost of everything has just gone up so much, it's hard to absorb.

Post automatically merged: Feb 8, 2023

Does anyone make their own sauces, preserves etc?

I have a lot of kitchen gadgets, and really want to use them more this year, but still cheaply. So not buying extra food where possible but just using what I have better to last longer

I make my own ketchup! It's super simple:Easy Homemade Ketchup (Naturally Sweetened)