Thrifty Thursday | Walsall again?
The Aldi super-six this week are celery, cucumbers, lemons (3), spring onions, tomatoes (6) and garlic (4). They are all 49p each. That’s the same as last week. I spend ten pounds this week in Poundland, which isn’t difficult. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | discounts and concessions
The Aldi super-six this week are salad potatoes (1Kg), green beans (220g), oranges, pineapple, large vine tomatoes (450g) and cauliflower. They are all 69p each. Green beans are really healthy and if the weather keeps improving, I’ll be eating a few salads.
Thrifty food ideas
At Aldi this week the super-six are spring onions (125g), salad potatoes (750g), celery (350g), cucumber, cherry tomatoes (250g) and little gem lettuce (2). They are all 49p each. That offer ends on Saturday. Today’s Thursday offers include work wear for men and some interesting tools.
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!
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.
Bargains in Aldi, Poundland and Matalan
The Aldi Super-Six is the same this week as last week. Button mushrooms (350g), clementines (600g), butternut squash, peppers (3), large vine tomatoes (450g) and fun size apples (7). They are all 69 pence each. Today’s special buys look more interesting, they have ladies leather gloves for 6.99.
Saving money this Autumn and Winter
It makes sense to insulate your home with energy bills going up yet again. Some energy companies will do it for free if you apply quickly, some offers end at the end of this month. The offer from British Gas ends on the 30th of November, so be quick to give them a ring, if you need loft insulation or cavity wall insulation. They might even help clear all the junk out of your loft, if you’re on benefits.
Hunting for thrifty bargains
The Aldi super-six this week are carrots (1Kg), sweetheart cabbage, new potatoes (750g), parsnips (500g), cucumber and mild onions (3) all at 39p. I nearly had some of those, but decided on a stew pack for 1.39 because I wanted a swede!
They are doing larger 1.5 Kg pack of chicken thighs and drumsticks for 2.49. I can make a chicken stew with those ingredients and some fresh basil. We need to shop around for everything, because the economy doesn’t seem to be getting much better.
Champagne and strawberries for the rich
When I look at town centre shops, I see charity shops, pawn brokers and pay day loans. Then there are discount stores like Poundland. I also see some signs of wealth in this photo, some posh shops and expensive take-away food. I also see a pedestrian area that must have cost a fortune to lay out. The blue signs of the local council are evident everywhere. The top council officers and the top councillors probably don’t use the charity shops. Do they?
Another week closer to Christmas
I took this photo in May, doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun? At the time of writing I can see blue sky and sunshine, we didn’t see much of that through the summer and now Autumn is flying by. It will soon be Christmas and we have to prepare, save up for some stamps to post our Christmas cards!
Hunting for bargains
I have been to Aldi again this week. The ‘Super Six’ this week are broccoli, carrots (1 Kg), iceberg lettuce, celery, onions and savoy cabbage. I’ve made soup twice this week and so the onions, carrots and celery came in very useful. It’s colder in England now and the delicious aroma of home made soup in the kitchen is one of the pleasures of Autumn and Winter.
Thrifty Thursday | Kids and students
I showed a picture of this woodland to a student and she said she would like to explore it, younger children are even more adventurous in woodland. Just be sure not to lose them! I have lost my way in that woodland before now. The kids want to enjoy their summer holiday and it can be difficult to find things for them to do on rainy days and so that was the subject of my blog today on a zillion ideas.
Summer barbecue, garden party or picnic?
I’ve read a lot about garden parties and barbecues just lately. We haven’t exactly had the weather for them in England, but there are breaks in the rain sometimes. I’m told that delicate little cucumber sandwiches are served at Royal garden parties and so it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. I would prefer a bit more salad on the sandwiches and maybe a bit of pink salmon. I had a iceberg lettuce for 39p and a tin of pink salmon is only about 99p, so if you get some cheap bread, it doesn’t have to be too expensive to do salad sandwiches. Those are ideal for a picnic or a garden party. A barbecue might be a little more expensive.
Thrifty Thursday | shop smart
If you read my blogs earlier in the week, you’ll know I went to a historic vehicle show on Sunday and took photos. I converted the photo above to monochrome; just to see what it looked like! We don’t usually go anywhere that costs money to get in, but we did get in at a cheaper cost than advertised, because of the weather. It pays to ask… How much?
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.
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 | 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…)
Frugal Friday | Christmas Ideas
We have real winter weather in England now and snow was forecast for today! Most people are thinking about Christmas and there appears to be a determination to enjoy it despite the economic problems. I read that toy shops are busy this morning. (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 | Preparing for Christmas
If you planning to put Christmas on your credit card, you will probably regret it in January. There’s no reason to stop being frugal, just because it’s Christmas! I checked out the new Lidl website and they have lots of goodies for Christmas. A 4Kg turkey costs £10; but I fancy that duck leg! There is also prawns to do a delicious gourmet salad with; they even have caviar! You can check Lidl Christmas stuff out here. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday | Poundland
I’ve started with an egg ‘n’ chips picture because it’s a thrifty and frugal meal. I used oven chips or it could have been even more frugal. But it’s still a meal costing less than 50p. I went to Poundland last week and picked up a few bargains. It will probably be Lidl on Sunday. (more…)
Thrifty Thursday 15
I like chicken and chips, but sometimes I like fish for a change. It is a little expensive, but after having a lot of frugal meals like egg and chips I can have what I want! (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…)
Thrifty Thursday 11
Microwave
I mentioned last week that I was buying a microwave. I ended up with the stainless steel one from Comet, but it’s not stainless inside. I paid £49.99 in the end for that, so not a great disaster if it doesn’t last. (more…)
