Wednesday 19 January 2022

Shopping Lists

 Move house and there's usually something that needs buying or work that needs doing. 

In my case this time it was a fridge/freezer, a dishwasher, two pairs of black-out curtains for my bedroom, a heavy duty dirt trapper runner mat for the hall, a whirly washing line and an extra long curtain rail for the living room and more recently a small chest freezer to put in the garage. No furniture, no painting and decorating, no carpets............... I reckon I got away lightly!

But and it's a big but  (or even 4 Butts!) there have been a few expenses for the garden and I use the word 'few' with my fingers crossed.
 
The most expensive purchase was the greenhouse and it's concrete base. The only expense for making the raspberry bed and the 3 vegetable beds has been a bag of soil and some bags of compost. The wood edges were all recycled. I've bought 2 pear trees, 3 Minarette apple trees, 15 for the price of 10 Raspberry canes and a gooseberry bush. I don't count the odds and ends of decorative garden plants because they've been the sort of purchases that I might have bought anywhere and many have come from boot-sales anyway.

Thank goodness the garden shopping list has now shrunk to............................
 
  1. 3 (or maybe 4)water butts with taps and stands and the connections to greenhouse guttering and house down-pipe(s) (first one for Greenhouse now on order) Once I get the water butts set up I can sort out getting a water meter and save on the cost of my water supply and sewerage charge.
  2. Wire for tying in the raspberry canes in the new bed
  3. Netting to cover the long thin raspberry bed
  4. Netting to cover the other raspberries up against the fence
  5. Automatic window opener for greenhouse 

What a good thing it was a down-sizing move leaving some money spare!

Then there is the  one list that's needed all year round.......... the general shopping list. I keep it in the kitchen with a pen and add things as they are needed, before I run out. This month  very few things needed as the garage freezer still has some of the things I got in for Christmas when I didn't know who was where and when.

And talking about shopping lists, it will soon be time to start thinking about what I need to look out for at car-boot sales. The first sales are noted in my diary for the beginning of March, and the way time flies by now I'm old, that will be here in no time.

 
Back Tomorrow
Sue

24 comments:

  1. I sat down yesterday to make a to-do/to-buy list. But mine is the opposite to yours, we have the 'stuff' but the walls are looking shabby. We bought a Brabantia whirly gig dryer a while ago, and it was worth the money, still going strong. But we do need to repaint some rooms.

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    1. I'm not totally in love with the pale grey walls in my living room but they are clean and the thought of painting doesn't appeal at all, so they will stay

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  2. Exciting plans!! March will be here very soon - have you noticed how much lighter the afternoons are getting now? It's good!
    xx

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  3. I have never made a shopping list. When I moved here I bought a new washing machine and dishwasher because I left the old ones in the house I sold but they didn't need a list. They were essentials. I am afraid I don't get lists at all. Even when I sort out what courses I am doing I don't make lists, I just check the calendar to make sure I don't have any clashes of days and times before I pay up the fee. Lists becoming master scare me.

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    1. It would be nice to discover another blogger who doesn't do lists. I always feel the odd one out. I am organised, plan, not wasteful, not forgetful and don't lose things. But lists for me are so far a no no. Maybe the time will come one day.

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    2. I’m afraid I’m a lister.
      I simply can’t operate without one.
      Or a small diary in which to write the list.

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  4. The good thing is ALL the things you still need to buy will save you money in the long run. Four water butts sound like a great idea before you get that water meter installed.

    Lists are good, even only needing a few things it is handy to have them written down as a reminder. I only needed a couple of things at the shop this week so I hadn't made a list and it was only at the last minute that I remembered I really needed apples.

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    1. Its easier for me to write a list than to remember what I need when out, especially in the winter when I don't want to go out much

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  5. Shopping lists are amazing. If I remember to write them AND remember to read them, they save me so much time and money.

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    1. I've lived so many years miles from a shop that a list was a must to save another trip out

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  6. Hi Sue, hope you're all settled in your new home. I've been missing on here but stalking in the background. I am blogging again to help me refocus. Tania x

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    1. Good to see you back I shall hop over for a visit

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  7. I love lists! Shopping lists, quilt project lists, what's in my freezer lists, present ideas lists and so on and so on! I have to admit that they're on paper - my family keeps suggesting I write things on my phone but that just feels wrong to me. I need a list on paper so I can score things off!

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    1. Some of my lists end up only being on the blog, then I have to search back to see what I wrote!

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  8. I love lists - always have. I love opening up a new Moleskin notebook or day-timer each year and setting things down. This year I have a number of small things for my apt. as the main planned purchases - Curtain rods for the kitchen & Living room, curtains for the Living Room, new liners for my shower curtain, a new toilet seat and a stack of really long-life LED bulbs! These are necessities - the Wish List includes new dining chairs and some new bookcases if IKEA ever gets back to normal. Lists keep me on track and ensures that I prioritize my spending, especially as I am hoping for a fairly low spend year in general.

    As others have pointed out - your purchases were necessities and items that will save you money in the long run. Your garden will be lovely and productive.

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    1. I need a lower spend year than last year - moving was expensive but had to be done

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  9. I like your well ordered manner of getting things done. Having everything mapped out is impressive. You've accomplished a lot. I do much the same and always have a plan and good list. The productivity of your garden and greenhouse will be very rewarding.

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    1. I love a good list and am looking forward to March when I will able to get started with sowing seeds.

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  10. I love me a good list.

    God bless.

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  11. Good for you for making lists. I have good intentions but list making is not something I excel at. Strange, as they really seem to help me. I just forget to make them!

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  12. My expensive list includes new shingles on the house roof ($$$$$), repairing some water damage spots on the ceiling by the basement stairs, new flooring in the den, new paint in the den/hall/bath. One thing at a time and not all this year.
    I plan to start my garden want list soon. We will not be doing much with seeds until March at the earliest. Our climate is too cold.
    I do plan to get new fruits. Rhubarb, blueberry, strawberries for sure. Our pears and elderberries are doing fine so far.
    And I will be making our garden plan after taking last year off. I need to check the pantry to see what I need to put up and what I can just plant for fresh eating.
    Spring will be coming in a few months!

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