Frugal Notes from Last Month

Way back before illness and town living I always used to post a list of frugal type things done each month............time to start again, this sort of post helps to keep me on the straight and narrow, very necessary after the big spends of moving and furnishing. Now we will be trying to live on Col's County Council Pension plus interest from investments and the reduced ESA - and trying not to dip into the lump sum too often. We need to keep living carefully until we both get state pensions to add to our income (2021 me and 2023 Col..... unless a new government moves the goalposts again)

So .....April's list.

Car boot bargains for grandchildren...........a booster seat/feeding chair and toys.

I bought 4 bags of 20p parsnips  that were on special at Asda before Easter, chopped, par boiled and open froze. Nearly 2kg for 80p.

Also bought 2 bags of the 20p huge leeks, kept one leek for a pasta/leek/ham bake and chopped, blanched and put the rest into the freezer.

£1 for basket of mushrooms from Car boot sale, put most in freezer.

Bought 2 yellow sticker fresh chickens reduced by £1.50 each. Popped them in the freezer.

Found £1 on the ground in the Asda Car Park

Took a packed lunch on a long day out when I was  reading meter at the bungalow, taking keys to Estate agent, visiting youngest daughter and Florence and then Colin in hospital. Made coffee in the day-room at hospital for a donation. Colin takes a packed lunch when he has to be at hospital all day for blood transfusions.

Sowed  saved Climbing French Bean seeds in pots in the greenhouse,first lot failed so sowed again with some different seeds.

First "harvest" from the garden ..........chives, which I chopped and had with scrambled eggs two days running to use up some eggs before they got too old.

Sorted through 15 boxes of books and found some I really don't need. One box-full wanted by Ziffit  for £25 and  then another  box-full  for £28 plus 4 boxes to take to a car-boot sale, one box donated to the railway museum and three large bags for charity shop.

Car boot bargains - £1 bought me ....4 teaspoons, a tin of tomatoes, a roll of baking parchment and a plastic jug.

Given a bucket full of Wild Garlic Plants to plant in the Birthday wood

Started making bread again but although rolls were OK my first loaf was a dud. Think I need new yeast!

Col built a seat from pallets to put at the end of the meadow.

Picked up twigs and bits from the trees to use for kindling wood.

 Next Christmas (sorry for mentioning it already!) entertainment sorted.............4 seasonal magazines for 20p each from Charity shop  and a jigsaw for £1. The jigsaw is a bit unusual as its nearly a yard wide but only 9 inches tall............. a panorama.

Read library books - only one second hand book bought.

Now number 9 has sold I've applied for refund of the two home Stamp Duty Tax, which is enough to live on for a year!

Claimed a refund on half a month buildings insurance for number 9.

Unexpected £30 from Essex and Suffolk Water

Used few Nectar points for Sainsburys bargain bacon

Made birthday cards using bits from stash.


On the down side we had to spend extra on car repairs,book shelves, the cooker - it's fitting and the LPG gas, Col's lap-top repair and I'm still restocking cupboards and freezer after moving. There were birthdays and visitors so despite the frugal things our April spend was still HUGE.
Now we head into May - Must Do Better!