Finance Friday | Recession–what recession?
It seems the British economy is growing and we aren’t in recession after all. GDP has increased 0.3%. Well it’s better than nothing. That means spending has increased by 0.3%, that’s combined spending, the government’s and ours. The government is spending less. Are we spending more?
Thrifty Thursday | more bargains
The Aldi super-six this week are plums (400g), fun-sized apples (9), kiwi fruit (8), cocktail vine tomatoes (250g), red onions (1kg) and sweet potatoes (750g). They are all 69p each. I’ve never tried sweet potatoes…
Thrifty Thursday bargain hunt
The Aldi super-six this week are leeks (pack), new potatoes (750g), onions (1kg), broccoli (350g), carrots (1kg) and parsnips (600g). They are all 49p. That’s better, we can make some winter stews with those to keep out the cold! (more…)
More Thursday Thrifty shopping
The Aldi super-six this week are braeburn apples (6), mango, kiwis (8), plums (400g), pineapple and oranges (6). They are all 69p each. Those are all rich in vitamins. We all need extra vitamin C now the winter is finally coming to an end. Spring begins with the Spring equinox, next Wednesday.
Thrifty Ideas for Thursday
The Aldi super-six this week are chantenay carrots (500g), white cabbage, little gem lettuce (2), spring onions, lemons (3) and celery. They are all 49p each. If you’re making a winter soup stew, you can add the carrots, white cabbage or the celery. White cabbage and celery give a stew a nice flavour.
Thrifty sale time
Aldi
The super-six at Aldi this week are sprouts (500g), carrots (1Kg) and parsnips (500g) are all at 39p and the Maris Piper potatoes (1.5Kg), lemons (6) and clementines or satumas (600g) are all at 69p. The same as last week. I have some shopping to do, so I might look at the today’s special buys this afternoon. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday shopping around
This week’s super-six at Aldi are sprouts (500g), carrots (1Kg) and parsnips (500g) all at 39p each. There are also clementines or satumas (600g), lemons(5) and Maris piper potatoes (1.5Kg) all at 69p. I had the Maris piper potatoes and they overcharged me, I was charged £1.49. I will complain this time!
More Thrifty December bargains
The super-six at Aldi this week are cucumber, broccoli (350g), onions (1kg), celery, courgettes (3) and tomatoes (6). They are all 49p again this week. I bought some celery and broccoli this week. The celery is good for adding to chicken stew this weather. Be careful of the broccoli, mine was a little wet. Remove the cling film and if it’s wet wrap kitchen towel around it to make it drier, it’ll last longer.
Thrifty Christmas Countdown
Super Six
The super-six at Aldi this week are cucumber, broccoli (350g), onions (1kg), celery, courgettes (3) and tomatoes (6). They are all 49p this week. I wish I had bought celery now, that is great in a soup or stew. I did have a couple of lots of broccoli, I need the vitamin C. I had chicken drumsticks and thighs (1.26 Kg) for 2.99, those will be good for making chicken stew. That’ll keep the cold out…
Shop thrifty – save money
Aldi
The Aldi Super-six this week are lemons (5), plums (500g), peppers (3), sweet potatoes (750g), conference pears (6) and red onions (750g). I must make an effort to eat more fruit. I bought a kilo of bananas (68p) on Sunday and I’ve only just started eating them. We need lots more vitamins in winter.
Thrifty Autumnal shopping on a budget
The Aldi super-six this week are mushrooms (350g), clementines (600g), butternut squash, peppers (3), large vine tomatoes (450g) and fun size apples (7). I won’t be having any of those. I had apples last week and they aren’t very tasty, but I am used to apples from my own trees. I think I’ll have grapes this week.
Thrifty student shopping for one
There is a lot of advice around now for students, from people who have been there, done that and are still trying to pay their student loan. My memories of being a student are a little vague now, but I did go shopping with two students this week. One problem with the big supermarkets is they have offers that are suitable for families with a commercial size freezer. 2 packs of chicken for £6 is good, unless you are short of money or freezer space, then Tesco expect you to buy one for £4.00. That is £10.62 a kilogram compared to £7.96 with the offer.
Thrifty Thursday | healthy eating
I think today’s photo looks cool. It blends in with the black background. My digital photography is quite frugal. I share the photos by using them on my blogs and through MSN instant messenger and Facebook. Much better than the old days of film and developing. I took 300 pictures on Sunday, that would have cost a fortune in the old days. I mentioned the price of some veggies were high last week because of the weather. I’ve been looking for bargains this week! (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | supply and demand
It’s the 15th of July on Sunday and St Swithin’s Day. Folklore says that if it rains on St Swithin’s Day, it will rain for 40 days after. I think in England we have had the 40 days rain already. The forecast here for Sunday is quite good, but a little cooler. It looks good today, blue skies and sunshine. The rain has caused problems and caused some vegetables to be in short supply. Broccoli has been flying off the shelves in some supermarkets apparently. Fortunately it freezes quite well and so you can choose frozen broccoli. If you use frozen try not to cook it too much or it goes quite soggy. I have had frozen peas from Aldi for 99p and even cheaper in Asda at 95p. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | savings
I haven’t been shopping yet this week, but intend to go to both Asda and Aldi. I need something to do stir fry with. I would prefer diced pork, but will make do with bacon if I have to! I had peaches from Aldi last week they are part of their super six. The super six this week are apples, oranges, peaches, cherries, bananas and cantaloupe melon. They are all 69p each. The peaches are delicious and the bananas are OK. I tried apples but they tasted like cardboard. Comment if you have tried the cherries! (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Downgrading
If you want to save money on food, you can downgrade and go to a budget supermarket. You can however, continue to use the same one if it’s close to your home, but consider different products. There are premium brands and there are budget brands and you can save as much as 30% by switching from premium to budget. I have tried own brand or budget brands of things like salad cream and ketchup and they’re virtually the same. You don’t switch if the premium brand is on offer of course. I had Heinz salad cream and ketchup from Poundland discounted on the usual price. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | surviving the recession
I went to Aldi yesterday in search of a few bargains. I particularly wanted fruit and veg, I had run out after the long Bank Holiday. Recent research has implicated infections as the cause of even more serious diseases and so it’s important to get vitamins and minerals. I think antioxidants like vitamin C are important. I managed to get broccoli, for 49p; that’s usually on offer. I also have the grapes, 1.29 for 500 grams. I find that there isn’t a great choice of meat and often the shelves need restocking. I do pass Asda on the way back though and so could pop in there too. I have a few things from Asda (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Summer savings
This week my phone bill with TalkTalk was reduced to just under 18 pounds. They offered me the reduction if I agreed to renew my contract for another 18 months. It’s usually just over 25 pounds for broadband (40 Gb), line rental, calls 24/7 and international calls to countries around Europe, the USA and Australia. They advertise 60 pounds a year off, if I pay my line rental a year in advance too and so I’ll check that offer out on the website. Another saving of five pounds a month has got to be worth looking at. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Credit cards.
Sometimes it can be useful to borrow money, but paying interest goes against the grain for us thrifty and frugal ones. A credit card can be useful for emergencies, but borrowing on one can also be useful for small investments. I have to buy some food in bulk and so need a freezer. If my freezer broke down and needed to be replaced, I would consider buying a new one using a credit card. There are some that have a interest free introductory period like the Barclaycard Platinum purchase card that offers an interest free period for 15 months and balance transfers with a 2.9% fee, but the interest rate is 18.9%, so make sure it’s paid off within the 15 month period! (more…)
Finance Friday | Quality
I read this morning that Ikea the Swedish store here in the UK is one of the most popular stores. It certainly seems that way on Bank Holidays when they clog up the road system by having a sale. I wanted some photo frames a few years ago and Ikea had some for £12, but there were some virtually the same in Poundland. I can spot quality and I can also spot overpriced imported crap. I might frame my watercolour; pictured above. It’s better than a lot of the street art that I saw on TV this week. Talk about the emperor’s new clothes, they need to keep those pictures away from small children… (more…)
Thrifty | à la française
The economic news in the UK over the past week or two hasn’t been too good and so there is even more reason to be thrifty and frugal. I have found bargains as usual at Aldi and Lidl. Aldi has a lot of French goodies from wine to instant soups and Lidl is also doing ‘A Taste of France’ promotion starting on the 3rd of May. Both stores have things for the garden like compost, grow bags and seeds. If you can only grow a few herbs on the windowsill or a few lettuces in a tub, it all helps to cut food bills a little. (more…)
Thrifty | Food and essentials
I read about the Black Country Food Bank this morning that distributes food to people who are referred by doctors or various agencies. Food banks get the food from the stock piles of the European Union and also donations. They have food stamps in the US too and I have a particular dislike for schemes that treat our citizens as charitable cases. They are necessary but in wealthy countries they make us realise that there is a deep divide between rich and poor. Many people need this food because they have to pay exorbitant council tax, television licence and even rents for social housing is taking up a large chunk of many people’s income. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Changing times
Aldi
I went to Aldi again this week in search of few bargains! They sell Bank’s beer in my local Aldi which is a popular beer around this neck of the woods. I see the guys buy a few bottles which is very different from years ago when they would go to the pub for a few pints. Pubs keep closing down or going up market and serving meals. Some are showing sport as people go to sporting events less and prefer to watch them on TV. Men certainly seem to spend more time at home rather than in the pub. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Little emergencies
Saving for emergencies
We try to be thrifty and frugal and then when an unexpected expense comes along it’s not a disaster. I’ve had a little trouble with my car and the EMU, Electronic Management Unit appears to have a fault. This could be expensive! The light is coming on intermittently and so it could be a little damp getting into the unit or wiring, no need to panic!
