Monthly Archives: January 2011

Day light robbery.

Saving money

I’ve just returned from Tesco, from being fleeced, from being robbed and can honestly say that the Light Brigade made less ridiculous charges! Some food items are now 25% higher than before Christmas. The cheap items are just the junk food that they pile high. The basics are much more expensive. We shop fortnightly and we are really feeling the squeeze. We are having to add more pulses, more rice, more potatoes and more soya to our diet every time. We have bought meat, but we will only eat that every other day. Tinned meat is looking cheaper but only in comparison with fresh and a tin of corned beef is now £1.50, whilst last summer, it was about 79p a tin. Now, even a corned beef hash is expensive.

Frugality is no longer a life style choice, it’s a matter of survival. It’s literally, your money or your life. Today, I kick myself that I didn’t have foresight, that I didn’t look into the future and I didn’t see this coming. Now, every day is about preparing for tomorrow. If something is being sold as a lost leader, and you use it, and you can afford to stock up, then do so. Today it was laundry liquid. My Tesco, no longer stocks the Value soap powder or Value Laundry liquid, which washed our clothes just fine. So, if your local supermarket has it, then stock up. They always sold these products at a near loss, and they can’t do that any more. If you see flour for under 70p a bag, then buy a year’s supply if you can keep it. Keep your eyes open in the discount stores and compare with supermarket prices, it’s going to get a lot worse and we all need to think, not only about tomorrow, but the months ahead, when recent global weather impact world food prices. I’m having a gloomy weekend, where I am actually being faced with the reality, that I might not be able to live and pay off my debts as quickly as I’m doing. It’s going to be tough.

Stinking bills!

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Today I received my water bill for 37 cubic meters of water - it cost me £177.33. I’ve been really careful and have reduced my consumption this quarter by 8 cubic meters and yet, the bill is really high. I really don’t know what I can do to reduce my bill any further. My blog today, is at the frustration I feel, about a bill, I can’t do anything about.

Open letter to South West Water.

I would like you to know the lengths I go to save water. We only flush the toilet once a day, the rest of the time it remains unflushed. I wash my dishes in a washing up bowl and then tip the water down the toilet after wards. We keep small washing up bowls in the bathroom and down stairs toilet sinks, so when we wash out hands, we tip the water down the toilet afterwards, so we effectively use second hand water to flush out toilets.

We have a shower timer, a flow restrictor and we have five minute showers. I use the bowl in the sink and wash four times a week in two litres each time and after wards, I use the water to flush the toilet. I have two showers a week, taking eight minutes each, when I wash my hair. I have one bath a fortnight and when I have used it, we ‘bucket’ the water outside and give the car it’s fortnightly wash and rinse.

I have an eco washing machine and I use it three times a week. Even with the most minimal usage of water, my metered bill is almost £700 a year. I am grateful for my meter, because without it, my bill would be £1400 a year. Nonetheless, the main reason my bill is so high is that fact that you are all blood sucking thieves.

Your profits increased again last year. In the middle of one of the worst recessions in living history, your profits increased by 14.9% to £190 million in a year, the company, of which you are a subsidiary, also saw their profit share increase by 8.7% to £133 million. In times, where people can genuinely ill afford to pay bills of any kind, your operating profit increased to the point of topping the £billion and share holders have received record payouts. And that was just 2009 - 2010 and then you throat squeezing misers…………….increased our bills even further. All over the ‘South West Water’ region, there are people, who are in crippling water poverty and they have no choice of water providers and they have no choice but to go without water, wash less and live a less hygienic life.

Sincerely, Frugal Queen!!

Gym’ll fix it?

Frugal weight loss

This is not my school gym, our gym does not have posh ceiling, but it has all the kit and tonight it was mine all mine. The head of PE (no minor deitiess would do!) gave me the don’t kill yourself, here’s how to use the machinery safely talk. It’s free, which has got to be the best part and I’ve committed myself to using the gym for three nights a week. I had the place to myself. Radio One on full tilt, NO MIRRORS!! woo hoo! and me and the kit. I cycled for 6 KM and then rowed for 2KM and burnt off 180 calories!!!! So, not to waste the calories, I had a glass of red wine when I got home! All in all today, in one way or another, I have travelled 10KM, as I have walked to the station, then walked to school and then at the end of the day, after 30 minutes cardio, did it all again.

If I did that for the next thirty years, then I might end up being as fit as this old bird! And if I carry on with the 20 points a day, I might end up as thin as her! I also imagined that Madonna will look like that in a few years if she gets any more scrawny! No worries about that. Below is me at ‘fighting weight’, when I last dieted down to 10 and a half stone and made it to the elusive size 12! I’m disgusted in myself that I can actually admit that I cried with joy in Next, when I got into a pair of size 12 jeans! I now squeeze myself into a pair of size 16s! The frugal exercise is in hand and the diet, unfortunately, with rising food prices and the need to eat healthily, isn’t as frugal as it once was. I’ve set myself another challenge, not only get rid of the debt, but get rid of the weight and then keep it off. I love a challenge.

Me, 2006 - 40 years old

A day on a frugal diet.

Frugal weight loss

As some of you seemed worried yesterday, I thought I would blog every mouthful of food I eat today. For breakfast I had, two slices of low calorie toasted bread with 15g soya spread, dried fried mushrooms with dry fried baby tomatoes, one egg, scrambled - Points for breakfast =5. I’m sure you’ll agree, no one’s going hungry on that lot!

For lunch I had, half a tin of sweetcorn (in water) 100g of low fat coleslaw, 150g of microwaved salmon and eight baby tomatoes - Points total = 7. Again, full of protein, low in fat, carbs in the sweetcorn.

Supper = one sweet potato (baked in the microwave and then mashed) dry fried mushrooms, grilled quorn sausages and grilled baby tomatoes. Total = 8 points. There you are, 20 points a day. I also had about 100ml of soya milk in decaff tea and about five glasses of tap water. The only expensive part of my day, was the Salmon, which was on offer at Asda. It costs me about £4 a day to feed each of us and I’m eating healthily. I may not eat green veg and fruit every day, but my diet balances out as average over a week. Tomorrow, I’m going for my induction in the school gym (smells like teen spirit!!!!) but it’s free and I won’t have to go far to get there, just across the play ground! I’m digging out my charity shop trainers, charity shop Diadora tee-shirt and car boot sale Long Tall Sally track suit bottoms! Cheap chic! I’ll be swigging on tap water and woo hoo! I’ll have every excuse to use the bathroom at work and have a long hot shower afterwards. (That’ll save me water!) I’ll be back tomorrow to blog about the aches and pains!

Trying harder!

Frugal weight loss

As I am not losing weight, I have cut back on my points from 22 to 20 a day. To do this, I am going to eliminate carbs for a week to see if that works! In fact, the last time I weighed myself, I had put on weight! I went for a very brisk two mile walk tonight, which was no fun at all in the cold and dark. I investigated all of the local gyms and all of them were about £40 a month and I would never get my money’s worth, the only answer is going to be power walking and tomorrow, I’m going to try and fit in a walk around the block at lunch time. Watch this space…………it’s trying and frustrating at the moment, but it worked before, and I’m sure it will work again. Tonight’s supper? Grilled salmon, no points salad and fat free dressing.

lovely low fat munchies!

frugal weightloss

I felt a bit cheated tonight. One of the joys of the winter is a steaming plate of beef stew and dumplings. Beef stew with 100g of steamed rice and yet more veg, doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Hey ho! It’s healthy and will have the right effect in the long run.

I prepared supper this morning and popped a pack of stewing beef (really cheap!) an onion, three chopped stalks of celery and four chopped carrots into the slow cooker, along with a sachet mix (just add water and currently 3 for £1 at Asda) of Beef Bourguinon sauce. It’s so comforting to get home, through the dark and rain to a bubbling stew. Normally, I would get the mixing bowl out and make a few dumpling, with plenty of parsley but not tonight. 60g of rice, which when cooked is a very healthy sized serving. Already, I’m getting used to feeling very full on a lot less fat and calories. In weight watchers points (in ‘old money’) my supper was eight points. I also have a small tub of rice and stew for my lunch at work tomorrow. Even cheaper as I stretched the supper to three meals. Price increases mean my supper was over the £1 and came to £1.25, again the higher price of healthy eating.

Must try harder!

Frugal weight loss

Oh swizz! I haven’t lost any weight this week! Mind you, I haven’t exercised much, nor have I drunk much water and I have occasionally allowed a complimentary chocolate fall into my mouth, not to mention some ice cream! I will be good. If I can stick to not spending money, then I must be able to stick to a diet. I must remember to eat really well at meal times and then not at all at any other times. I’m sticking to 23 points a day from here onwards and I hope to lose weight! My supper was 7.5 points and is becoming increasingly expensive. The chicken portion was 60p, half a pack of beans was 35p, the rice was 5p, the veggies 12p and the sauce mix was 25p so in all £1.37. In such a short time, I’m getting used to only eating low fat and healthier options. It’s all just a bit expensive. It was another late day at school and after leaving home at 6.30 this morning, I arrived home just before 7 pm this evening. I’m exhausted again and I’m off to bed to read. Oh, I promise, I will try harder at this weight loss malarky!My weight remains at 13′ 5lbs! Swizz indeed!

What is happiness?

frugal happiness

I was reminded of the government commission by the National Audit Office, whilst I lay in the bath tonight, something, which by the way, always makes me happy and listened to a Radio 4 Moral Maze debate on happiness. Happiness is going to be measured. As yet, I’m not sure why………I must have drifted off whilst they talked about the why.

I consider myself to be mostly happy with the daily struggle and tussle with life and know that working really hard for something is dreadful at the time, but incredibly satisfying at the end. I know that the more I struggle and the more I fight for something, then it’s so appreciated at the end. I don’t strive to be happy and I don’t go looking for it and although, it may make me sound rather dour, I really enjoy the challenges of daily life. Of course, it’s all relative. I don’t have to walk miles for water, five of my children didn’t die of starvation, nor will I die a painful death from malaria, but we all have our struggles in one way or another. I sometimes think that happiness can be over rated and people start worrying if they are not happy. Some one on the radio said, words to the effect, if you are well, have friends, do something meaningful, then why would you not consider yourself happy?

Today, I arrived at work and watched the sun rise over St. Austell bay, and I drove home watching the moon rise over Bodmin moor. Now I could dwell on the fact that I spent dawn till dusk at work but I could also celebrate the most beautifully crisp winter day, filled with bright cloudless sunshine and a clear star filled night. I’m going to celebrate the latter along with the fact that I had a job to go to and a home to come home to.

I’m content in the knowledge, that in my struggle, that I’m doing the right thing. I’m content in knowing that the moments of happiness come and go, sometimes like a visitor that can’t stay long and like a dear friend, we miss it when it’s gone.

Souper and Very Frugal!

Frugal weight loss

It’s official! I love soup! My favourite soup is plain old veg. Tonight, I just had vegetable soup. Carrots, veggie stock, a parsnip for thickening, spinach, tin of tomatoes, onions, celery and a tablespoon of red lentils. It’s such a delight to just leave it simmering whilst I get on with something else. I’ll eat it for supper tonight and lunch tomorrow. Dearly Beloved will have his with some homemade croutons, whilst I’ll just have that on its own.

When the kids were young, I would often make soup as an every other day meal. You could have as much as you liked and it really stretched every penny as far as it could go. It’s certainly cheap but it stretches every calorie as far as they will go. A huge steaming bowl of soup, hardly any calories and in Weight Watchers terminology, with the exception of a half a parsnip and a teaspoon of lentil per serving, it is ‘pointless’.
I also blend my soup and it’s a lovely orange colour from all the carrots and tomatoes and I’ll keep tucking into it all night, just if I can find ‘room’ for any more!

What a whopper!!!

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We’ve been out today and met with my daughter as she was moving home and we helped in a minor way. It was good to see her. We took her out to lunch in cheap and cheerful Mc Donald’s and we had their chicken and bacon salad without any dressing, if you’re interested, that’s only 3 points.

I have lots of Quorn in my freezer, mainly because it’s very cheap (£1 a pack in Lidl) and nutritious and it is also low in fat and calories. Tonight’s supper was dry fried quorn, sliced onions and mushrooms and I sprinkled a tiny amount of tikka mix over it. The most yummy thing I made tonight was remoulade. Take one celeriac, peel and grate, mix with a tablespoon of low fat mayonnaise, a teaspoon of Dijon and a tablespoon of lemon juice and mix it all together. I also baked and mashed a sweet potato between us, I always add a dash of lemon juice to sweet potato mash……well, because it’s very sweet! It was a whopper of a supper. Our entire supper was only 6 points each. I weighed myself today and I now weigh 13 stone 5 lbs.