Great to see this thread still going. I love to read but have little to contribute as my hints are already in here.

Will have to find a way to get my adult children living at home to use up leftover food. If they dont like what is already in the house they just go and buy something they want. They all have their night to cook but the menu planner has not worked for this household. Too much food going into the compost heap or rubbish for my liking

akalea - 2014-06-03 08:21:00

I have a little (well biggish problem) I recently got a new car for transporting all my children. My Aunty came with me and ended up helping with part of the deposit. every time I see her she mentions it :(
I will pay it back asap. But was thinking a loan would be better then I wouldn't hear about it all the jolly time. So good idea or bad what do you think

fatboy6 - 2014-06-03 16:32:00

This message was deleted.

backing_black - 2014-06-04 14:29:00

I have asked for her account but she hasn't given it. I will try again or just open an account and start paying into that I think. It didn't help that I loaned my daughter $150. the next week

fatboy6 - 2014-06-04 20:18:00

fatboy6 wrote:

I have a little (well biggish problem) I recently got a new car for transporting all my children. My Aunty came with me and ended up helping with part of the deposit. every time I see her she mentions it :(
I will pay it back asap. But was thinking a loan would be better then I wouldn't hear about it all the jolly time. So good idea or bad what do you think

Noooo, not a loan, think of the interest you would pay! Try and stick to a set amount each week into an account, you might still be reminded, but a reminder is cheaper than 19%!!

kay34 - 2014-06-04 21:07:00

Frugal Friday at Pak n Save, was hoping for cheap pumpkins and fruit for lunches - good score, Bananas 79c/kg and pumpkins 99c each, 3l milk for $4, didn't totally have to get milk today, but price was right!

kay34 - 2014-06-06 19:22:00

*bumping*

heulog1 - 2014-06-13 22:14:00

fatboy6 wrote:

I have asked for her account but she hasn't given it. I will try again or just open an account and start paying into that I think. It didn't help that I loaned my daughter $150. the next week

Be very clear with her that is causing you stress not being able to pay her back in a structured way - If she doesn't give you an account then maybe buy bonus bonds in her name - then present them to her when you get them. I think communication is the key - next time she mentions the loan - say .... "Aunty please let me set up an automatic payment so that I can stop stressing about it and we both know its being sorted - it upsets me when you bring it up... if we set up the AP we can both move on knowing its handled"

toadfish - 2014-06-14 06:23:00

Its 5 weeks since my last major shop - had a couple of emergency top ups but this just goes to highlight what I need to buy more of this time.
If marg is a good price I will put a couple in the freezer.
I do find that we spend less this way - but today is going to be a whopper - luckily I don't need meat, so that will keep the $$$ down and I will just keep an eye out for more meat specials and buy in bulk - unless Pak n Save has a great special on meat - in which case I wont be able to help myself and will buy some In bulk.
I cleaned out the freezer last weekend - And I was very proud of myself - nothing lurking there that I had forgotten about - I seem to be very good with eating the older stuff first. I do still have a box of wontons since DD 21st last year so we had wonton soup last weekend and will probably again this weekend. A packet of chicken noodle soup with about 12 wontons thrown in is a great lunch for DH and myself, and I have a few more lunches left in the box.... waste not want not.

Last weekend because the freezer was clean and organised I cooked up a storm and have frozen some Leek & Potato soup, vege soup, lasagne, spaghetti Bolognaise, some lunch pasta bakes and soup for ones. So I am building up a stock of no fuss dinners and lunches so we don't ever need takeaways.

I am a member of simple savings and have been doing "No lunch buying in June" I don't buy It much anyway - but it keeps me on track.

Have a fab weekend everyone - I have a pink ribbon breakfast here today - I know a bit late - but better late than never and every little bit helps.

toadfish - 2014-06-14 06:33:00

I look forard to your posts Toadie they are always positive and a delight to read. I have been reading the free newsleters on the Simple Savings website, is it worthwhile buying a membership?

crails - 2014-06-14 07:32:00

Thanks for that toadfish. I have set up an account for the loan repayment and took a little from three of my other accounts that dont get touched much and then have been putting some money into it, then I got a bonus yesterday of gardening money and added that and the account is at $400. :) so not much to go. I showed my aunty last night how much I had put away she was pleased :D I will give her the total amount in a couple of weeks she said it is $500 but I know its $460. but will probly just give her the $500. cheap interest I guess
Sorry a bit long winded.

fatboy6 - 2014-06-14 07:42:00

PS enjoy your pink ribon breakfast Toadfish

fatboy6 - 2014-06-14 07:44:00

Yay only $50. left to pay my aunty. Such a good feeling.

fatboy6 - 2014-06-27 18:03:00

fatboy6 wrote:

Yay only $50. left to pay my aunty. Such a good feeling.

Good for you!!!!

toadfish - 2014-06-28 06:50:00

crails wrote:

I look forard to your posts Toadie they are always positive and a delight to read. I have been reading the free newsleters on the Simple Savings website, is it worthwhile buying a membership?

I thoroughly enjoy it - It has a message board with lots of like minded people.
People live off the smell of an oily rag for all different reasons.
Some because they absolutely have no other choice to get by and others that hate waste or like me they want to live a Champagne life on a beer budget.
There are both types on the Simple Savings Forum.
Keeps me in "The Zone" interacting with them daily

toadfish - 2014-06-28 06:54:00

Finally attempted pumpkin soup, very much a bit of this, with some left over that, and i wonder if that would work with it..... success, and now have 3x work lunches, and 1x dinner for 2 in the freezer, after already having lunch for 2 days. Budgeting blown to pieces for a little while, hubby off to Melbourne at very short notice tomorrow after his Aunty died - will be pumpkin soup and frugal eating for the next little while, and even more so in July - petrol hike, ChCh rates hike, oh and general living!!

kay34 - 2014-06-28 20:14:00

Hi guys what a great read. could someone please post the recipe for washing powder again please?

bubagump - 2014-07-03 20:11:00

bubagump wrote:

Hi guys what a great read. could someone please post the recipe for washing powder again please?

Sorry I can't help you - i budget by buying the commercial stuff at a great deal rather than make my own.

I have set my self a wee challenge - i am going to trademe myself to Melbourne next March - Its a girls weekend and I am going to make some money by
A. Selling my clutter
B. FInding stuff to sell

Will be an interesting exercise - just a bit of fun. Only have 4 things listed at the moment but I am on the hunt for more :)

toadfish - 2014-07-05 06:28:00

toadfish wrote:

Sorry I can't help you - i budget by buying the commercial stuff at a great deal rather than make my own.

I have set my self a wee challenge - i am going to trademe myself to Melbourne next March - Its a girls weekend and I am going to make some money by
A. Selling my clutter
B. FInding stuff to sell

Will be an interesting exercise - just a bit of fun. Only have 4 things listed at the moment but I am on the hunt for more :)

What a great idea Toadfish - love reading all your posts in this thread.! You have inspired me - on a much smaller scale.... im going to "trademe" my way to everything i need for my vege garden this spring - including compost (do our own, but may need a top up), seeds, plants, etc. Outstanding, i have one of those counting money jars sitting in a bottom drawer - now i have a use for it, and a goal to reach!

kay34 - 2014-07-05 18:30:00

its just a wee game - maybe I need a hobby lol.

I have achy breaky flu today - no coughing or running nose just feel like I have been run over by a steam roller. Have lots to do so will "pace" myself today.
Plan to make a Leek and Potato Fritatta for tomorrows dinner - and have a big grey pumpkin I should really make into soup as I a running out of my soup for 1's. That size pumpkin should make a meal for 4 (maybe 2) and lots of single serves.

toadfish - 2014-07-06 07:37:00

Goes to see what toadfish has for sale........................

goodbooks - 2014-07-06 13:46:00

goodbooks wrote:

Goes to see what toadfish has for sale........................

Small beginnings - you can tell what's mine and what is a result of hubbies shed clear out .
I am always surprised at what is popular and what is not - That "Meals without Meat" is a spare - I love it and use it all the time ... And it has only had 4 looks.
Still looking and will check out my box in the shed .... And just remembered we still have our old microwave out there - it's a relatively new whirlpool crisp grill - just wouldn't fit in the space when we remodelled the kitchen

Edited by toadfish at 6:43 pm, Sun 6 Jul

toadfish - 2014-07-06 18:42:00

Thinking i should really start using some of my preserved fruit i did a few months ago - have found in the recipes thread on here, a bulk crumble recipe - easy to make and freeze, cheap cut of meat in the slow cooker at the moment, and i think a black boy peach crumble might be just the thing for after, with small bottle of cream i found in the fridge with a BB Date of today.

kay34 - 2014-07-20 13:40:00

kay34 wrote:

Thinking i should really start using some of my preserved fruit i did a few months ago - have found in the recipes thread on here, a bulk crumble recipe - easy to make and freeze

I have come home from a week away and clearly I am the fruit eater in the house as there seems to be a back log of fruit from the vege box - also a few vegies that needed finishing off. My parents are coming for dinner so I have a huge pot of vege soup bubbling, a loaf of bread in the bread maker that will finish cooking in about 20 mins and some RTC rolls from the freezer to be warmed in the oven.... the new fire is roaring the house is deliciously warm and smells delicious.... didn't feel like making a crumble for tonight so I am going to microwave the pears that wont last much longer with some apples and freeze them in a pyrex dish... ready for the crumble topping to be added when I do feel like making one.
Nothing gets wasted in this house - even the chickens had a feast from all the vege peelings and will thank me tomorrow with delicious eggs..... life is good!!

toadfish - 2014-07-20 16:35:00

Melbourne Challenge
$30 to date....

*runs off to look for more Trade me Items* lol

toadfish - 2014-07-20 16:39:00

Melbourne - has now become Gold Goast as the weekend that suited everyone was the same weekend as the Cricket World Cup Final in Melbourne so we moved cities lol.

$100 to date.
* 4 listings and aim to have microwave listed by tomorrow night
Added a $70 Market research payment to it - Took 30 mins to taste 4 different Kiwi fruits and 4 different chocolates.... not bad eh!

Edited by toadfish at 7:26 pm, Sat 26 Jul

toadfish - 2014-07-26 19:25:00

Did my Groceries a week early to take advantage of 40c deal - Just by chance my tank was empty in fact so empty that the light went on on the way to Pak n Save lol.
Saved $29 on a tank of diesel !!!
I was also $15 short of a 2nd $200 spend so brought 3 more Shampoo and 3 more conditioner - they had the family favourite Sunsilk on special 2 for $5 - I had already brought 10 - but with 3 of us using it should last us for a few months. This means DD will save $20ish as well.
Got to love that!!
Got an amazing huge ham bone from the Deli - $8.40 - they had left so much meat on it, it should do us all for lunches tomorrow and Monday and then still be heaps left on the bone for soup.

Edited by toadfish at 7:32 pm, Sat 26 Jul

toadfish - 2014-07-26 19:31:00

toadfish wrote:

Melbourne - has now become Gold Goast as the weekend that suited everyone was the same weekend as the Cricket World Cup Final in Melbourne so we moved cities lol.

$100 to date.
* 4 listings and aim to have microwave listed by tomorrow night
Added a $70 Market research payment to it - Took 30 mins to taste 4 different Kiwi fruits and 4 different chocolates.... not bad eh!

And people think im mad when i do the survey thingys, i got a $50 Westfield voucher a few months back - for writing my name 4 times, with 4 different vivid markers - madness!! Do online surveys too, and get $20 Farmers vouchers. Do i like my Rusell Hobbs red sandwhich press, that cost me nothing but time? YUP, love it!!! Now i use the farmers vouchers for birthday presents.

kay34 - 2014-07-26 21:12:00

kay34 wrote:

Do online surveys too, and get $20 Farmers vouchers. Do i like my Rusell Hobbs red sandwhich press, that cost me nothing but time? YUP, love it!!! Now i use the farmers vouchers for birthday presents.

Which on line surveys do you do? I am looking into those at the moment.
A friend of mine introduced me to market research when my children were in Nappies - it was on Nappies and they are 20 & 21 now and I have been doing them ever since - and now they do.
DD2 got paid $100 2 weeks ago for talking about ice cream for 1 hour - not bad hourly rate for a 20yr old lol.

Edited by toadfish at 6:43 am, Sun 27 Jul

toadfish - 2014-07-27 06:43:00

My sister does them on silly things too, and is rewarded with a $50 Warehouse voucher each time for her trouble, her kids school uniforms are available from there, so keeping kids in uniform doesn't cost her any of "her" money - not sure what they are, but the online ones i do, check out www.valuedopinions.co.nz. Should come up with a red background with a couple from memory. They're 99% boring, but worth it in my opinion - easy thing to do while watching tv

kay34 - 2014-07-27 09:06:00

Ooop, background has changed, red boxes, white background, top banner changes from a skyline view over water, to a single guy, to a group of 3/4 people lol, just checked my balance - $10.20, and showing $12 to be credited,hopefully will have that voucher in time to use for my Dads birthday end of Sept. (They are slow at adding survey dollars to their totalsl!)

kay34 - 2014-07-27 09:14:00

Thanks for that - managed to list 4 items this morning.... fingers crossed lol.
The by product of all this decluttering is that I am tidying as I go along.....
The storage shed has a lot more space without a stonking great microwave sitting in it. I put it in the box the new one came in so its been well protected.... just bulky.

toadfish - 2014-07-27 09:21:00

Fabulous meat deal at the Mad Butcher - Boneless skinless Pork Loin Steaks.

http://madbutcher.kiwi/

I got 6 trays to feed 4 adults (approx. 800gms) and 1 beautiful 2kg Roast for $75.00

The Roast was $20 and will do Dinner for 6 and leftovers when Mum and Dad come around.

Averages out at $10 Per meal .... the top end of my budget but beautiful and lean.

Edited by toadfish at 9:44 pm, Fri 1 Aug

toadfish - 2014-08-01 21:43:00

mmmm Domestic Goddess here.
Boneless Roast Pork cooking.
Leek & Potato Frittata Cooking - Tomorrow nights dinner.
2 Weetbix Loaves cooked this weekend - 1 sliced and gladwrapped for lunches during the week.
1 Large pot of Pea & Ham Vegetable soup cooked - 1 meal for 4 for the freezer and 5 soup for 1 Jars for the freezer for lunches.
$4.98 RTC worth of chicken breakfast sausages made into Devilled Sausages for an easy mid week dinner.
And possible by the end of today there may even be a large pot of pumpkin soup - for soup for 1's for the freezer for lunches - now DD1 I working full time - they don't last as long as that's one of her favourite lunches.

Edited by toadfish at 4:38 pm, Sun 3 Aug

toadfish - 2014-08-03 16:37:00

got a bit organised tonight (finally), broccoli 99c/head, bought 4, granny smith apples, 2kg $2, have just cut, blanched and put them all into meal serves for 2, apples will go well with the bulk crumble i made a while back, and broccoli, just yum, easy, and tastier than the store bought frozen stuff.
Managed to succeed with my "trademe my way to a vege garden" ordered and paid for a 6x4 trailer of compost, bought seeds and plants over the weekend, even had $'s left to buy an apricot tree, to go with our black boy peach and nectarine trees - roll on summer!!! (lol, seems a while off though - hailing at the moment, and expecting -4 overnight)

kay34 - 2014-08-12 21:00:00

Bumping cos i love this thread.
Sorry i have nothing to contribute. But i will skight (sp) and say i won a $50 voucher for our local butchers and it only cost me $1 for the raffle ticket!!!

whiskey13 - 2014-08-17 22:30:00

Yesterday I pottered in my lovely kitchen. Made 2 x Weetbix loves and cut and wrapped them into slices and popped them in the freezer for lunches, 1 curried sausages (meal for 4) for the freezer, Made a kilo of mince into 13 delicious home made burger patties for the freezer and a Potato and Leek Frittata for tonight's dinner.
Shopped yesterday - just a little top up as I wanted the 20c petrol saving - 20c over a tank of gas saves me $14+ dollars.
Got some great RTC sausages - a pack of 20 from $12.59 to $6.50 - got both packs. Cooked the curried sausages with half of a pack and had people for a BBQ last night so BBQ'd the other half to have with some lovely pork loin steaks, then froze the other tray in 2 bags of 10. I am not a big fan of sausages - but DH is and $3.25 per meal is pretty good. Also got a family size pie, reduced from $5 to $2.50 for the freezer. It was a good shop :)
Won't do my next shop till next month now.

Edited by toadfish at 5:43 am, Mon 18 Aug

toadfish - 2014-08-18 05:40:00

whiskey13 wrote:

Bumping cos i love this thread.
Sorry i have nothing to contribute. But i will skight (sp) and say i won a $50 voucher for our local butchers and it only cost me $1 for the raffle ticket!!!

Good for you!!!

toadfish - 2014-08-18 05:44:00

Love weetbix loaf Toadfish, must remember weetbix in the next shop!
Compost arrived for garden this morning, and fruit trees are showing signs of bursting into flower soon, sooner the warmer weather arrives, the sooner the power bills go down, and we can spend more time outdoors.

kay34 - 2014-08-23 16:01:00

my savings/lifestyle are a bit different, but to save myself money to eat the way i want to i rarely eat meat, when i do its free range ort organic on special, otherwise im vege and seafood - again i only buy the fish i like when its a price i like, i buy squid tubes frozen at pak in save as i can get it at a good prices, I buy a lot of my dry organic foods from a co-op which is wholesales prices, and Ive found an excellent vege shop where I get organic eggs for 6 bucks a dozen and organic vege/salad I spend around 26 dollars a week for my eggs and vege/fruit - I freeze or eat leftovers, I cook my beans from dried and freeze etc for use another day, I even do that with cooked rice for a quick stirfry or fried rice - I sprout my own, make my own hummus, I don't buy much processed at all, maybe rice paper and noodles and I don't buy them often. I love eating and living this weay and buy cutting back on meats I am able to have the veges and eggs I want, when I get a place of my own again I will grow again but for now im lucky to get some from family and the market has a good range of spray free

motorbo - 2014-08-23 18:01:00

toadfish wrote:

Which on line surveys do you do? I am looking into those at the moment.
A friend of mine introduced me to market research when my children were in Nappies - it was on Nappies and they are 20 & 21 now and I have been doing them ever since - and now they do.
DD2 got paid $100 2 weeks ago for talking about ice cream for 1 hour - not bad hourly rate for a 20yr old lol.

Another $20 Farmers voucher arrived this week, whoop whoop.

kay34 - 2014-08-29 20:10:00

Oh, and grabone had a $50 Butchery voucher for $30 - have bought these before for the same butchery - meat is beautiful.

kay34 - 2014-08-29 21:44:00

Bumping, its getting quiet in here!!

kay34 - 2014-09-06 23:14:00

Bumping because its falling way down the list.
I am home unwell today but between snoozes I have managed to list some more on here - to add to my travel fund - which is incredibly over $600 now - all made up of $5-$10 sales on here, a couple of Market research's and a new one...... drum roll please.....
I pop all my gold coins in my "Holiday Fund" money box - its amazing how that adds up, I already have cashed in $80 and added it to the fund.

toadfish - 2014-09-23 15:47:00

Bumping

heulog1 - 2014-09-23 16:37:00

This message was deleted.

phy39 - 2014-09-23 19:09:00

I'll bump the thread

toadfish - 2014-09-23 19:30:00

Toadies Weetbix Loaf - Makes 2

6 Weetbix
400gm bag Mixed Fruit
1 Cup Sugar
2.5 Cups Milk
3 cups Flour
3 tsp Baking Powder

Soak Weetbix, fruit, sugar & milk- leave overnight - or a couple of hours if you don't have time. I threw it together about 3pm and baked it in the oven with dinner last time I made it.
Add flour, baking powder & mix well - if its a bit dry, add a splosh more milk.

Place in 2 loaf tins & bake 1 hour at 180 deg Fan or till skewer comes out clean

toadfish - 2014-09-23 19:54:00

Added a $70 Market research payment to it - Took 30 mins to taste 4 different Kiwi fruits and 4 different chocolates.... not bad eh![/quote]

Can you tell us a bit more about this please...where to access etc? Thanks!

tramore - 2014-09-24 15:55:00

http://www.people4info.co.nz/
http://www.consumerlink.co.nz/
http://www.reidresearch.co.nz/
The top one PFI is my main one, the kiwifruit was through the 2nd one and I have only recently joined the 3rd one and am yet to have a market research group with them.
Just go on to the website and "Join the panel"

toadfish - 2014-09-24 17:24:00