I forgot to mention at the start of the week, that last weekend I emptied out the three large planters of potatoes that I planted back in August. it was only when I saw Angela's tasty little harvest that I remembered the photographs languishing in my camera.
I had noticed weeks ago that the foliage was all really dying back quickly, but I had to smile to myself when I rounded the corner to the shed and saw that all greenery had completely vanished ... nothing to go into my new bargain tiny compost bin then. 😄
We didn't get many potatoes from the 18 planted but what we did get was split between the two of us. Alan decided to try and keep his for our Christmas lunch, but I thought I would cook up half of my portion for a shared meal that night and I still have the ones in the blue bag to have for another meal. There might not have been many, but they were delicious, and of course now I have those huge planters to plant either more potatoes in or something else for next year.
And next year I really do want to try and grow more and finally get my tiny vegetable garden into full production. I now have both the fancy wooden raised beds and these three large planters, and once December is over I should have a good stash of seeds from my Advent calendar.
Next year is going to be a year of real simplicity as I am already making plans to stop spending on anything but the absolute necessities. The food budget is to be cut to whatever money I have been able to make this year ... it's not been counted yet, so that could prove interesting. As most of you are aware this year I have sold at two table-top sales and on and off all year on Facebook Marketplace. I have just made a final book sale via Ziffit and made myself another £22.48.
A little tip that I learnt this year, if Ziffit doesn't offer you much for your books or DVDs, try alternating with selling via webuybooks. By doing this I have managed to get quite a bit more money each time!
It all adds up, so hopefully I have enough in my little pots and boxes of cash dotted about the place to cover my housekeeping budget for next year. I have gotten into the bad habit of squirreling away the money that I have been receiving over the year in dribs and drabs in the strangest of places, and sometimes where I expect to find money in my old Sealed Pot for example, I instead find something completely different. Salt and spices anyone?
I have no idea how much there is, but I managed to get rid of most of the small change when we did the table-top sale so it is at least in one and two pound coins and notes which will make shopping with cash much easier.
I have tried doing variations of this a few times and I always seem to make it more complicated than it needs to be, so this time I am keeping it really simple and just having the pot of money to dip into whenever I need to shop. When it runs out, it runs out ... as simple as that. So, the only real Challenge is not to dip into it too often!!
Sue xx
Look forward to seeing how much you've stashed away and learning from you as you make it stretch next year.
ReplyDeleteThe greenery on our tub of 'Christmas' potatoes died back suddenly too, so we emptied ours out on Wednesday. We had a fair amount of tiny potatoes but the skins don't look as clean as yours. They are blemished but we are going to cook some for tea tonight so I'll have to see what they taste like then.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to following your cash stretching challenge next year!
I'm new to this growing-potatoes-game. But everyone is saying their foliage died back very quickly. Is it the weather?
DeletePP, it sounds as though you had the start of blight if your skins were blemished, a couple of mine were like that and they were quite green too so I threw them into the compost bin ... who knows there could be potato plants in there next year. ;-)
DeleteAngela, it's the time of year AND the weather. Very late potatoes nicknamed 'Christmas potatoes' because of when we harvest them ... or try to ... are very susceptible to the weather and this year has been especially changeable, with unusually warm weather and then VERY wet weather. Usually you can leave them in the ground a bit longer, but when all the foliage has gone it's quite important to get them up soon after, otherwise the potatoes are just getting wet in the soil over and over with no greenery to drink the rainwater.
I'm sure you will manage well with what you have made over the year. Our outgoings have been quite heavy in recent weeks, with things being serviced and the car having a couple of very expensive repairs. MoT due too. Incomings from sales have balanced out some of this, and we used another big chunk to buy Keith's 2nd hand mobility scooter, ramps etc.
ReplyDeleteYour spuds look worth growing, and no damage to them at all.
I am a very keen “squirrel”. At the start of the year I began putting 50p pieces in a piggy bank. When I needed to take an unexpected (and not budgeted for) flight to Ireland to see a family member last month I counted my 50ps and had £160 - enough to cover the return flight and coach fare. I was so relieved. I’ve started again since returning. Best wishes, June
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how you do and how much you actually have to spend. You always do great.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
My grandmother squirrelled away money over decades - what was left each week from her pension I think. It went into jugs, jars, cups on the dresser, tureens, everywhere. Her house was empty for her final years, but after her death my aunts were clearing out and found lots of cash, some no longer legal tender. It came to nearly £1,500 - and that was over 40 years ago!
ReplyDeleteIf you're in the UK it's always legal tender, usually only changeable at banks, and for the oldest of money only at the Bank of England. Hopefully mine will be used up before it goes out of date ;-)
DeleteHow interesting that money would not be accepted as legal tender! I'd never heard of such a thing. My grandfather was a great squirrel, as well, and like a squirrel, he did not remember that he had money stashed away. My father inherited his house, and found little bits of money (probably went a bit further at the time of 'stashing') here and there for some time.
DeleteYes, but we all agreed which bank/branch we would pay our share into, just to avoid suspicion!
ReplyDeleteWell done on the potatoes, there is nothing like the taste of homegrown even if the crop is small.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a big jar for cash but since the pandemic I rarely handle actual money now. A shame really.
ReplyDeleteThe potatoes look delicious. xx
Lovely spuds - looking forward to your challenges in 2023
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Oh my, that is a real challenge! After a lifetime of frugality---raising 5 sons will do that--I must admit it is nice to finally have a few small luxuries, and to buy things I like. But of course, having always been a thrifty person, I always look for and usually find bargains. Tomorrow morning we will be out early because there will be marked down breads and rolls after the holiday, which we can stash in the freezer. And maybe reduced cranberries too.
ReplyDeleteWe had the last of our home grown spuds last night in a curry.
ReplyDeleteFor years we always threw our small change into an old biscuit tin and cashed it in at the end of the year as spending money for our six weeks in India. We haven't used much cash since the you-know-what and, due to the on-going visa decarcle, India's off the agenda for another year. xxx
Look forward as usual to your challenge. I am on a mission next year to relieve our loft of a few boxes of stuff that I inherited from my mum and MIL - I will try and sell as much as possible but I have no idea what is valuable or not, I don't think we have any undiscovered masterpieces up there though!
ReplyDelete