Saturday roundup of this weeks ideas
The weather forecast for this weekend is rain all weekend and so I think there is little chance of me taking more photographs this weekend. It’s only 11 days to the Spring equinox. That will be closely followed by Easter and we will be putting the clocks on an hour so the evenings will be lighter and maybe a little warmer.
At least Guy Fawkes had a go
Guy Fawkes was one of the conspirators that tried to blow up the House of Lords and King James the 1st on November the 5th, 1605. The House of Lords is still there 400 years later. At least they tried. This week a house was up for sale in London for £100 millions. That’s more than last night’s Euromillions jackpot. It was a very large terraced house, leasehold of course. The land wouldn’t be sold, that is traditionally how the rich stay rich and bleed the poor dry. The Duke of Westminster must own a fair bit of land in London.
Thrifty shopping to save money
This week’s Super-Six at Aldi are oranges (6), apples (6), pineapple, plums (500g), conference pears (6) and kiwis (8), all at 69p each. They have lots of special buys for today and Sunday too. We have to shop around and try to save a few quid.
Thrifty Thursday | school holidays
I took photos in the park the other day. We used to go there as children during the summer holidays and take jam sandwiches and a bottle of water. There was a water fountain and paddling pools. The paddling pools have gone and replaced with those skateboard ramps. They protect the kids around here with speed humps and then encourage them to skateboard on those ramps. Many of the kids can’t afford skateboards round there. The council puts stuff in for themselves and their kids. The leisure centre used to be for swimming, now it’s for getting a sun tan.
Finance Friday | luck of the draw
Next Friday there is a Euro-millions draw and although the odds of winning the jackpot are over 100 million to one; we have a better chance in the UK Millionaire raffle. That will be creating 100 new millionaires next week and the odds are better. I think I will buy a ticket for that! I might be lucky! (more…)
Feeding a family on a budget
I read an article some time ago about feeding a family of four on 60 pounds a week. I thought, I can do better than that! The eggs, chips and peas in the picture cost about 50p to cook. If every meal was as frugal as that, it would be easy! The big problem is that kids can be so fussy and so you do have to present the food in an attractive way for the children. My eggs and chips are multi-coloured; white, yellow, green and red makes it look quite attractive! (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Bargains
My bargain this week comes from this website and can save you up to £25 when you spend £80 at Matalan. I found some stuff I wanted but the jeans were out of stock in my size. Remember too they have really good home ware stuff as well as clothes. I like the Easy brand in the clothes and you can’t have enough tee shirts. The Pierre Cardin boxer shorts are 2 for £10, with the discount off they are a really good buy. Last time I was in Matalan I bought rice bowls for a pound each. They have bargains on hats and sunglasses too. I want a linen hat from there. (more…)
Finance Friday | Frugal living
I edited a guest blog earlier by Fairy Dharawat about how we buy things habitually and how that tendency can be used to merchandise more successfully. How can we resist the attempts by the larger retailers to persuade us to buy more, when we are trying to buy less and save? We can be aware that we do get into habits and buy the same things every week. Some retailers change their stores around a lot and we complain because we can’t find anything or because our shopping takes longer. We have to actually think instead of buying by force of habit. I went shopping the other day and I have got into the habit of buying a soft drink when I enter the store, but it wasn’t there. They had replaced it with cider and so I didn’t buy any. The changes can be more subtle and clever though and we do end up spending more money. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Eat out or in
Many families go for a takeaway meal on a Friday in the UK and a favourite is fish and chips. Many fish and chips shops dip the chips in batter so they will look more appetising and are cheaper to cook. They then encourage you to buy a medium sized portion that contains enough chips for 2 people. You end up with a meal that is over 600 calories and loaded with fat. This is the Friday treat for many families and can work out quite expensive. I tend to be frugal on a Friday and try to save on meals, so I can enjoy something a little more special for Sunday lunch. Egg and chips is a favourite for dinner on a Friday. (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 | When to borrow
I went in Matalan yesterday and looked at the clothes. I was going to buy a straw hat for the summer but they weren’t quite what I wanted. They had the hats and sunglasses on offer, both for £8.00. I can’t wear the sunglasses though because mine are prescription. I didn’t buy anything in the end but we were out of the rain and using their heating and not mine! I do know some people who would have bought a lot of clothes they don’t need and paid with their credit card. This is essentially borrowing money to buy stuff that you don’t need. (more…)
Finance Friday | Budgeting
Budget 2012
I learned this morning how many people read my blog and in which countries; I was surprised to learn in how many different countries. I have to be honest there were a few, that were unfamiliar! In the UK, later this month, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will present his budget for the coming year. We too have to budget and be careful with our money wherever we live in the world. This is a matter of understanding money and setting priorities; essentials are more important that luxuries and then keeping proper accounts. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Saving for a better future
I think most people in the UK could manage to save £100 a month but struggle to do so and struggle to make it to the end of the month because they waste money. You can live for today, but if you are thrifty and frugal now and save for the future, you can have extra money to spend for a few decades. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Thrifty Christmas
I think everyone tends to spend more at Christmas and often too much. You should however still shop around and look for bargains or you might regret spending too much in January. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Christmas Shopping
The goodies in the picture were mostly bought last weekend. I have been to Lidl, Aldi and Asda this week. The thing that really bugs me is not being able to afford what you need when you’re out, especially if it’s a special occasion. Like not being able to buy what you need on a day out or on holiday. If you’re thrifty you can always afford what you need. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Inexpensive gifts
If you have a nice photograph like the one above why not print it out and frame it in a nice frame, gift wrap it in nice wrapping paper and it will make a welcome present. They have nice frames in Poundland. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Christmas thoughts
I had a look at the prices of turkeys today. The larger ones work out cheaper; generally speaking. The turkey crowns are about £9.00 a kilo. The price per kilo varies a lot and some are basted with butter. The price can be less than £3.00 a kilo for a large turkey. I found Asda to be cheaper than Tesco. It pays to check all the prices per kilo. I live alone and don’t want much left over and so the turkey thigh joint will be enough for me. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Read the ingredients
Junk in Junk food
Wheat Flour, Water, Whole Meal Wheat Flour, Rye Flour, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower), Sugar, Baking Agent (includes Emulsifying Agent (Sodium Stearoyl-2-lactylate), Wheat Swell Flour, Dextrose), Yeast, Salt, Malt Extract (Barley Malt Extract, Water). Chicken (60%), Coating [Wheat Flour, Vegetable Oil (Rapeseed), Water, Breadcrumbs (Wheat Flour, Salt, Yeast), Maize Starch, Egg Albumen (Free Range Egg), Pepper, Potato Starch, Raising Agents (Disodium Diphosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Salt, Dried Parsley, Natural Flavouring (contains Milk, Mustard), Ground White Pepper, Milk Protein, Mustard Flour, Stabiliser (Methyl Cellulose), Colours (Capsanthin, Curcumin), Ground Red Pepper, Celery Seed], Water, Potato Starch, Natural Flavourings, Yeast Extract Powder, Salt, Ground White Pepper, Anti-caking Agent (Silicon Dioxide), Emulsifier (Polysorbate 80). Prepared in the restaurants using a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil. Water, Vegetable Oil (Soya Bean or Rapeseed Oil) (38%), Free Range Egg Yolk (4%), Modified Maize Starch, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Salt, Mustard Flour, Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum), Preservative (Potassium Sorbate), Lemon Juice Concentrate. 100% Batavia Lettuce.
The above list is the junk (ingredients) that go into a ‘chicken burger’ at a well known fast food ‘restaurant’.
This is the ingredients if I cook chicken, chips and peas – Chicken, potato, sunflower oil and garden peas. My meal is not only healthier, it’s very much cheaper. (more…)
Frugal Food 3 | Soup
Chicken and vegetable soup
Chicken drumsticks (2 per person)
Onions ( 2 or 1 per person)
White cabbage
Carrots and swede
Herbs d’Provence
Chicken or vegetable stock
Seasoning
tomato puree
A little sunflower oil (more…)
Frugal Friday | Cooking
Waste not want not
I was reading how many billions of pounds people waste by throwing away food. The meal in the picture was made from left over boiled potato fried to golden brown and I added some veggies and a chicken drumstick. Very frugal, quick, easy and delicious. I wish I had browned that chicken drumstick a little more though… (more…)
Frugal Friday | Luxuries
Essentials and luxuries
I regard my electricity and gas as essential but I can still save money and be frugal. I try not to boil more water than I need, the kettle takes 3 units of electricity an hour. The same applies to running hot water from a tap, I have a plastic bowl in the kitchen sink, it saves on hot water and is less noisy when you’re washing up! I have seen energy monitors for electricity and they are a waste of money. It costs me about £1.00 to leave a television on standby all the time for 1 year. They take about 1W on standby. (more…)
Frugal Friday | Winemaking 1
Commercially wine tends to be made out of grapes because they contain more sugar, but many wines are made from apples, pear and other fruits. Winemaking was very popular a few years ago and most people made it from kits. There is no need for a kit and you can make it from fruit or fruit juice from the supermarket. Forget those dusty old wine making books that tell you to use citric acid and raisins! You can do much better than that these days and make a wine that is comparable with the stuff you buy; but a lot cheaper! (more…)
Social Media – career enhancement
Neodigital Art - It shows creativity and possibly a respect for nature
Horoscope Aquarius
Sunday 10 April
Look towards your health and well-being. The Moon in your wellness zone is encouraging you to slow down, not so easy for someone who is currently whizzing around at a million MPH. So think about nurture and nourishment. You need the kind of foods that feed your nervous system, brain food, if you like. Eat well like this and you’ll feel so much better.
That’s my horoscope for today. I need some brain food; I have chicken for dinner that is loaded with tryptophan and I’ll have lots of veggies too. My health is the most important thing to me but we have to think about other things and make life interesting. Man cannot live by chicken and veggies alone! (more…)
Neodigital Art
Neodigital Art
Neodigital - gthe photograph has been digitally altered.
Neodigital Art for the 21st century
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence in the 1870s and 1880s. The name of the movement is derived from the title of a Claude Monet work, Impression, Sunrise (Impression, soleil levant), which provoked the critic Louis Leroy to coin the term in a satiric review published in Le Charivari.
The word impressionism has continued to be used to describe a variety of art movements ever since. There have been post-impressionism, neo-impressionism and in the 21st century impressionism is still popular. These days to become a modern day Monet or Cezanne you don’t need paints, brushes or canvas. Many artists now upload the work to the Deviant Art website and many other web sites. Art is now digital (get used to it) and art galleries can go online; artists can display their work online for the world. You don’t need permission to be an artist from the curator of a dusty art gallery; art is being democratised. Art is now digitised and the new 21st century school of art is Neodigital and you can join. You have a computer or you wouldn’t be reading this and so all you need is a digital camera; some free software and an eye for an artistic image. (more…)
