Paper Towel and Disposable Wipes challenge!

I am an addict.  In the last few years and especially the last few months I have become addicted to using baby wipes throughout the house.  I use them to wipe sticky fingers, wipe messy tables, spot clean the floor and walls, and even wash myself if I am in a hurry.

Now one of the ironic things about my addiction is that I wouldn't actually use baby wipes on my son.  I used reusable wipes with a special solution made from essential oils for nappy changing.  I did use baby wipes when out in public with his cloth nappies most of the time for convenience.  I usually used baby flannels to clean him up after meals.  I occasionally bought natural eco- and baby- friendly wipes when I could afford them.  Or just ordinary wipes on sale.  But it is really since my son has been potty trained that I have become wipes mad.  Maybe I am living a busier lifestyle trying to cram in work, childcare and domestic chores...but I want to give up my addiction.  I feel that it isn't great for the environment to use disposable products or ones full of chemicals (like formaldehyde!).  And it isn't great on my wallet either.

I actually haven't been buying paper towels in the last couple of months because I have been cutting back on unnecessary expenses.  I have a number of packets of wipes around--probably in every room and in the car!  Thanks to my recent trip to Costco. 

So I am setting myself a challenge before baby comes along.  For the month of April, I am going to hide the wipes.  I will leave the ones in the car because they are so convenient.  I will not buy paper towels or wipes.  I will get out the flannels, baby flannels, dusters, and cut up some old towels to make some more cleaning cloths.

Half a Lamb

Yesterday we took delivery of half a lamb from the guy who rents one of the farm fields for his sheep.  I admit I am still squeamish about eating lamb I watched grow up--especially after being vegetarian for ten years.  Never mind the the ten years of eating meat since!  I still struggle with the idea of eating meat and rather like the packaged stuff we get from the supermarket.  Ideally I prefer organic or free range meat because I am nervous about the hormones and things fed to animals these days.  I am also concerned about animal welfare and prefer to eat "happy" animals if that is possible!

I love that this lamb is local and that it tastes so good!  Here is the UK most of our lamb is imported from New Zealand.  And although I know that New Zealand is well known for its lamb, the taste just does not compare to some of our local stuff.  In fact, during my last pregnancy I couldn't eat lamb because I thought it had too strong a flavour.  Whereas I have managed to eat plenty of our last half a lamb and I have been looking forward to this delivery. 

It cost us £45 for half a lamb, which was butchered and wrapped ready for the freezer.  This lasts us a few months if we are careful.  Our first chops (my least favourite cut) last night were great. 

Finding a small, independent supplier like I have might not be easy, but you can always check your local butchers for prices.  A good option is salt marsh lamb  It is a bit expensive, but some of the most delicious we have had.  Go in with a friend and you may get an even better price.  Sheep are free range anyway, so if the organic aspect does not matter to you, then you can save a bit. 

Cook for a Month Trial Cooking

So here we have hit a bit of a snag.  I had already taken into account that I would not be able to cook all at once.  And I had taken into account that my son had a birthday party to go to, disrupting our cooking the next day.  But I did not fully consider the disruptions caused by a really bad cold running through the household.   I usually think it is best to stay out of the kitchen when you are sick, so this is a real dilemma.

A quick look at the expiry dates helps to organise the cooking over four days rather than two.  Or maybe more days...

Day One: 
Beef Brisket:  Cost a hefty £15.  Cooked in the bottom of the AGA all day.  Made one roast dinner, and FIVE cottage pies in various sizes with this one.  Portions:  17-20 depending on size.
Day Two:
Chicken:  One free range chicken cost £7.  I cooked this in veg broth, apple juice, leeks, apples, onion, bay leaves, peppercorns, carrots, celery, and parsnips.  This made quite a few portions of soup.  We ate this and froze the rest in various size containers.  Then, we took the bones, added spices and more veg and put it in the bottom of the AGA overnight to make more stock.  This was made into soup and frozen/eaten.  Then the rest of the chicken was eaten during two lunches AND the rest made into a Thai peanut curry and tucked in the freezer.  Portions:  15-19
Eggs and Croissants
Day Three:
2.5 kg Chicken pieces:  These cost £6 for 16 pieces on the bone.  Four went into Honey Dump Chicken sauce, another four the same.  Then I divided the other eight into two more freezer bags.  I had originally wanted to make the Indian chicken and lentil casserole, but did not feel well enough.
Eggs and chapatis from the freezer.
Chicken Soup
Day Four:
Tilapia:  2 whole tilapia for £7.  Delicious.  Served with ugali and sukumawiki.
Eggs
Chicken---made this into Thai Peanut curry to freeze (see above)

This is the story so far.  We still have cheddar, Parmesan, eggs, onions, apples, and more to use up.  And I haven't made any muffins yet.  I am hoping my wonderful partner will make bolognese tonight or at least divide the mince and put it in the freezer.  I know I am asking a lot of him.  But I am hoping that we will appreciate it in the end!  We will likely skip the meatballs this time around.  We have some great looking sausages that we divided up and put in the freezer as well.

Cook for a Month Trial Food Shop

I think we did really well! I spent more than I would have liked I guess, but we did not come home with food we won't eat.  I also managed to find plastic boxes on sale and glass baking dishes with lids!  This is great because I prefer to use reusable things instead of plastic bags. 

So I spent an extra £30 on those items.  And I found some great pillows on sale.  This was on my wish list because I am entering that stage of pregnancy when you want good pillows.  And mine are currently flat as a pancake. 

But all of the food was within my original budget.  And I was able to get cat food, cat litter, and everything else on my list.  By dividing the list we were able to get through more quickly than usual even though it was a Saturday afternoon.  We were all tired by the end though!  And best of all we were able to fit everything in the fridge until it is all cooked and put away. 

Cook for a Month Trial Pre-shop Prep

If your weekly shop takes major effort, then a monthly shop and cook is a military operation.  Here is what I did to prepare:

• Choose a shop:  I chose Costco.  This is 40 minutes away from my home and I haven't been in a while, so this is a bit risky because I don't know their stock well.  They might not have exactly what I want and I may then need to go to a grocery store as well.  But there is no better way to find out than trying it.
• Choose days to shop and cook.  I need a day when my Other Half can drive, and he needs to be home the next day as well to do lots of cooking.
• Make sure there is room in the freezer and on the shelves for the goods.
• Choose recipes:  I chose a number of dishes we like, ones I know to be inexpensive, a few which are new (but easy), and a few standby.  Since I don't know what they will have I need to be flexible.  For instance, I have no idea of they sell free range chicken.  Here is my preliminary list:  chicken goujons, cottage pie, meatballs and bolognese sauce, broccoli soup, fruity muffins, banana peanut butter muffins, mac & cheese, chicken & lentils with spices, Dump Honey chicken, and One Pot Feast.  I also plan to purchase croissants to freeze, ketchup, spices, a few canned goods, pasta and fish....if the prices are right.  Fortunately I have quite a few things, especially for the baking, already.
• Make shopping list from recipes:  This is the scary part!  It is a huge list.  I divided it into two, so we will split up in the shop.
• Check out my containers:  Do I have enough glass baking dishes, plastic storage boxes, and freezer bags for all of these things??  If not then do they have any at Costco?  My plan is to budget for more containers this time, and if they don't have them try to buy freezer bags until I can get some. 

Cook for a Month Trial Part One

To continue my new year's resolutions of paying off my debts and being more organised with family meals I thought I would give this a go.  I have been reluctant to cook-for-a-month for a while, but the only way to really know if it would work for us is to try it.

I am nervous that I won't want to cook all in one day, or two.  Especially since it is hard for me to find two whole days to devote to it.  Right now I am not cooking much at all because I feel so ill during this pregnancy.  But I have recruited the help of my Other Half who is willing and able. 

I am also worried about trying to come up with recipes we can make easily, and will enjoy for the whole month.  I know it will work better for our first venture to limit the number of dishes and just multiply them by 3-4.  We love cottage pie so I know we will eat that four times or more easily.

I think this will work in the winter when we like soups and casseroles.  I don't think this will work well for the summer when we barbecue and have more salads. 

Venturing into the world of Ebay

A few years ago I purchased some cloth nappies from Ebay, and I have thought about selling on there ever since.  Something makes me nervous.  Will it be worth it?  How do you calculate postage?  How could I possibly package up breakables??

Well I think it is high time I found out.  I have been toying with the idea of a car boot sale for ages, but it isn't car boot sale season.  And quite frankly I have not had a sale for many years now.  So why not have a go at Ebay? 

Today I had a look around at similar items.  And I read the directions.  I will need some good photos and good descriptions.  I also need to weigh the items to come up with postage fees.  I am still nervous, but I am determined.  My goal for the next week is to locate and list three items from my house.  A good start I think.

Temptation

Just as soon as you resolve to do something, fate sends temptation your way.  So I decide I need to cut back on spending and then received five sale catalogues through the door.  Actually that wasn't so bad.  I can resist clothes from Lands End because they don't do maternity.  (But I am worried that if Cox & Cox are selling things cheaply does that mean they won't stock them anymore??? Then I could miss out completely on some things I have been eyeing up).

But here was my dilemma for yesterday.  I phoned Ocado to make sure they don't renew my Delivery Pass.  The one which gives me unlimited delivery for a year, but costs £109 right now.  And the lady on the phone quite happily stopped the renewal.  But then she asked me if I wanted to have unlimited delivery for £3.99 per month.  This is the new deal.. I said, that I was cancelling because I was told I would have to pay £109.  She said, that was if I renewed automatically.  Now I am both confused why they would happily charge me so much when they have a deal on, but also I am not sure if I should sign up to the new programme. 

I said that I would need to think about it and now I can't find this offer on the website to think it through further.  The thing is, that if you cough up £50 on your credit card and then don't pay it off for several months, then you are not only not saving, but losing out big time.  So be strong.  Say no.  Walk away. 

Abundance

Although I would say that I am fairly good with money, I have found in the past when I try to be really strict with it I fail miserably.  I feel blessed with simple tastes and by this simple fact alone have managed to save for things when I needed them, because it sure wasn't my will power!

I think that just like dieting, setting strict limits on spending can have a negative effect on the psyche.  Sure, I have a few days of optimism, until I hit the grocery store and end up spending another £60 at the till.  My two areas of overspending are on groceries and stuff for the kids (dvds, toys, books).  And so to help me get into the right mindset for the next few months I am undertaking an exercise in abundance.

I am almost embarrassed to admit just how much food we already have in the house.  Especially when I know there are so many people out there who don't have much.  And to sit and complain seems a bit strange.  But I guess this may be the point of the exercise.  I am imagining my pantry now and I am going to list all of the things I can make with the ingredients on hand.

• Pancakes
• Bread
• Muffins---oatmeal, blueberry
• Cottage Pie
• Turkey meatloaf
• Turkey and Apple Sausages
• Pasta with pesto or tomato sauce
• 1/4 of a lamb in the freezer can make many dishes
• Chicken stir fry, and chicken soup from yesterday's roast chicken
• sukumawiki
• ugali, rice, semolina, barley, quinoa, bulghur wheat
• oatmeal
• Sushi
• Apple crumble
• Apple pie
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Clam chowder
• Frittatta
• Cheese sandwiches
• Bread and Butter Pudding
• Ice Cream Sundaes
• Cereal
• Potato Latkes
• Sweet Potato Oven chips
• Zege
• Bean Soups
• A number of vegetable dishes
• Kebab with flatbread and veg and meat
• Samosas

Now I won't make all of these right away and there are plenty more things I could add--especially if I dig to the bottom of my chest freezer.  But I do feel reassured that I can feed my family this week without stepping foot in a shop.  And probably next week too.  (Though I think I will venture out to buy milk, eggs, and onions when I run out).

Materialism?

I like to delude myself that I don't really need much.  I am relatively frugal because needs must, but in truth I am probably as materialistic as the next person.  I think that if only I had the perfect set of kitchen tools, or organic underwear my life would be ordered and complete.  I believe that once I make the next purchase I will turn into a domestic goddess and keep the living room spotless just so I can house said object.  If I can but have beautiful objects I would of course appreciate them, take care of them, and not need anything else.

So here are a few things I am convinced I need.

• A whole new wardrobe.  I am sold on Gok Wan's idea that we only need 24 key pieces.  And my key pieces would be organic, fairtrade and/or vintage.  Plus organic undies, pajamas, and yoga pants.  (I would probably keep my Shetland wool cardigan which belonged to my grandmother).
• New dishes.  I technically have enough dishes to feed quite a few guests--although I don't have a table which will fit quite a few guests.  But over the years my dishes have by way of breakages become a mix and match set.  Need?  No.  Want?  Yes!
• Books.  Well there are always more than a few books on my amazon wish list!
• Greenhouse, Chicken Coop and Chickens, oh and a new wheelbarrow
• More memory for my computer (enough to house all of my music and films)
• New winter coat, jacket and snow boots

Budgeting

We have created a New Year's Resolution for 2011 to pay off our credit card debts.

A quick look over our income and outgoings tells me that we will have to make a few drastic changes in order to achieve this goal.  At the moment this is roughly what we look like:

Income: 

• One full-time salary
• Plus overtime shifts on occasion
• One part-time salary, reduced a bit by long term illness
• Expecting some money back from a Payment Protection Insurance Claim

Outgoings:

• Food
• Petrol
• Utilities
• Council Tax
• Entertainment
• Child Maintenance
• Childcare
• (We housesit, so do not have rent or mortgage)

Upcoming expenses:

• MOT both cars next month
• Tax Disc for one car next month
• Haircut---would like one since it has been two years and I have split ends
• Tax disc for one car in June
• Items for new baby May onwards

Debts:

• Two Credit cards
• One overdraft
• Two outstanding loans

Oca, oca ocado, ocado, ocado

I have been having the most wonderful love affair with Ocado.  For over a year now I have had my groceries delivered to my door, by nice drivers, on time and what's more--with very few "substitutions."  (I have had two very poor experiences with Sainsburys deliveries and Tesco won't deliver to me because I live on a farm.  I am not a farmer, but that does not matter to them.)  Yes, I prefer our local farm shops and our meat and vegetable box delivery scheme, but they don't sell everything.  So needs must.

But they are too expensive, you say?  No, they have Tesco price match, Waitrose brand products, Ocado brand products, and deals all of the time.  Plus, when I go to the grocery store I end up putting tons in my trolley.  Online, I can take them out if I go over budget---much harder to do at the till with a toddler.  I have actually been able to reduce my grocery spending over the last year using ocado.

I want to pick out  my own stuff you say!  Well, I don't with a toddler.  Any trip to our Tesco Extra means 20 minutes in the toy aisle and then a frantic look around for what I want.  I can never remember what I want by then, and always leave disappointed. (I do like Tescos, but on my own, or with a lot of leisure time to explore the toys!)

Actually I am sometimes disappointed with the produce from ocado, but I do pop into other store occasionally.  (The produce is usually very good quality, but your avocados might not be as ripe as when you pick it out yourself. ) I also purchase cheap toilet paper elsewhere, because we need the really cheap stuff because we have very old drains which can't cope with puppies and teddy bears.

I don't want to pay for dellivery, you say!  Well, the nearest supermarket is 20 minutes away from me, and with the money I save by not putting extras in my trolley, I can afford the delivery.  Plus I have a trick.  They offer a annual delivery pass for about £110 or so.  I wait until they have an insanely good offer like last year when I got the delivery pass for £59.  You can then have as many deliveries as you like for the price. 


Having said all of that, I have to make some dramatic cuts to my spending and so I need to cancel my ocado for a few months.  My free delivery pass is expired.  And with a minimum spend of £40 per delivery I cannot manage this amount for a while.  I need to be extra frugal if I am going to meet my financial goals this year.  So it is farewell and not good-bye.  We will meet again one day.

Budget Cuts

So it is time to face up to the fact that we cannot manage to get out of debt or save up for the future without some really dramatic changes to our spending habits.  I believe that even a few months of cutting back will have its rewards. 

There isn't actually much we can do about some of our direct debits without cutting off the phone altogether.  Tempting sometimes, but I have only just started my blog and would like to keep broadband if possible.  So the areas we will target are food, petrol, and entertainment.

We are dividing our goal into monthly and three monthly segments We have already decided that we do not need to purchase the following for the next three months:  clothes, books, going out, and we will reduce eating out too.  That was the easy part!  We don't eat out much, we have enough clothes for a little while, and we have an inexpensive on demand tv service which gives us movies and tv at our convenience.  (We are considering cutting the tv service, but when the nation goes digital we will not have any tv whatsoever except for on demand---because we have an ancient aerial hanging off the house which will not pick up the digital signal.)

I would like some maternity clothes, but can manage on what I have and make a skirt if necessary.  And I insist that the family gets to eat from the major food groups each day.  I will have to compromise on our food choices, but all of our meat and eggs have to be at least free range as usual.  I am afraid fairtrade may go out the window for a month or two.  But we will do our best.

So here are a few of the ideas we have been discussing to try to cut our spending over the coming months.  I will let you know which ones worked for us when we have tried them out.

1. For January, cut on food bills by eating from the pantry and freezer, setting an extremely low budget, and using store reward vouchers to pay for food.  (I usually save them up for gifts and treats).
2. Pay money towards the credit card on the first of the month, so I cannot spend it.
3. Take out cash for food and petrol and make it last the month.  The amount will vary each month according to what is in our pantry already.
4. Declare one car off road to defer having to get a tax disc and MOT until we have saved up for it.  (This will work better if I am still off sick---but I hope to feel better soon).
5. If I do return to work, take up some freinds' offers of childcare to save some costs of the childminder.  (I would offer to barter, but it is illegal to provide childcare "for reward" in this country unless you are fully registered.)
6. Cut down on extra car trips to save petrol.
7. Other Half will do some overtime shifts and sign up to do some agency work on his spare weekends to bring in more money.
8. I will start doing some craft projects to sell at a craft fair in July.
9. We will gather items which are suitable for a car boot sale in the spring.  (Years worth of boys clothes come to mind---since I am having a girl this time.)