Reflections on a Sunday

Although there are still two days of this month to run, today feels like a good time to review the month.

This last week I have been more or less confined to barracks because of the cold which has been such a pest.  Friday I went out to a family funeral but that’s the only time I have left the house since Monday.  I’ve had a couple of bottles of Ribena, my usual treat when I have a cold as I go off my usual black coffee.

So, my food shopping so far has been

Corn on the cob                 1.00

Market vegetables             2.80

Marfona spuds                  1.00

Elmlea                               0.70

Bread buns                        0.50

Coke                                  5.00

Cucumber                          0.49

Milk                                   1.00

Eggs                                  1.00

Yellow fat                          1.00

Lemons                              0.80

Ribena x 2                         4.00

Total                                  19.29

Now by my standards that is amazing, (even though I say it myself) but there is no way I want to live like that long term.  In many ways it has been a very easy month anyway because I have had garden fruit and vegetables, both home gown and gifts from other people.  I have a ridiculously well stocked store cupboard and freezer and at no time have I had to be overly inventive in order not to be bored or malnourished.  I have had quite a lot of meals with other people and have done little entertaining in return.

So what have I learned?

Lesson one from the egg.  It is not a good idea to bulk buy perishables when one lives alone.  Small quantities may be more expensive per unit but they are better for the budget.

Lesson two from the apple butter.  There is no point in preserving food which one doesn’t like anyway.

Lesson three from the freezer goblin.  Take a LOT of care in labelling.

Lesson four from my cold.  Home cooked ready meals are fantastic - but see lesson three.

Lesson five from my reflections.  I still need to rationalise my stores.  An inventory would be good, both for the freezer and the store cupboard.  I haven’t managed to defrost the freezer yet but that will be the time to make an inventory.

I’m beginning to think about my frugal challenge for next month.  This month has done wonders for my bank balance and I’ve got ideas both about carrying on with the frugal food budget and about facing the challenge in other areas of my life.