FUEL ECONOMY/RISING PRICES

I have had to be even more vigilant than before with petrol usage as we have now reached £1.17/ltr (£5.30/gall), and on short trips we only get 30 miles to the gallon.

I have just been quoted 63p/ltr for heating oil whereas this time last year it was 43p/ltr.

Combine all this with the rise in food prices and people on the poverty line will be seroiusly having to consider heat or eat this winter.

As it is we only even in the winter use our oil heating as little as possible and use the open fire to heat downstairs and the boys have electric fan heaters to take the chill off their bedrooms.

I noticed yesterday when I went to the supermarket that some things have again risen in price by 4p since last week; or things that have been on offer have now gone back up to full price and the price has jumped by at least another 6p.
Things that used to be cheap options are now at a similar price to what mainstream options were last year.

WEEK ENDING SUN 8 JUNE

The rubbish produced is still only 1 bag from the kitchen bin and every 2 weeks the recycling bin is full. As we are now cutting the grass and tidying the garden more the compostable bin is also full every 2 weeks.

RUBBISH - 1 bag kitchen bin

CLEARING OUT

Things are ticking along nicely, we are continuing with the clearing of things and alot has gone to charity chops this last week.

The boys old clothes etc are being given through the schools colloection programme again (the school gets paid per kg).

In the garden we have rhubarb galore and also garlic; I am also waiting for the elder tree to flower so I can make elderflower cordial, this is a drink I really enjoy mixed with iced water.

On the baking front I used up some cereal which the boys had decided they no longer liked, by using it in a cake (Maisie's Recipes).

CATCHING UP

Although we have been busy over the last few weeks not alot extra has been done on the "green" front. W ehave just continued with the day to day stuff.

The rubbish is still being kept to a minimum with the recycling bin full every 2 weeks, and the compostable bin also.

I still haven't managed to defrost the freezer yet as I got a nice haul of "whoopsied" meat including steak and whole chickens, which will nearly do us the month of June and it only cost £25 for £40 worth of meat.

After getting this lot I have on talking to the farmer where I buy my eggs from found that he will sell me pork,lamb and beef as and when I want, and you see the animals in the farmyard. His prices are good as well £70 for half a pig.

So yet again I am on a mission to clear the freezer so that I can take advantage of this meat after defrosting the freezer; the farm is only 5 miles up the road (closer than the supermarket) and the animals all go to a local abbatoir which is only 40 miles away.

I also managed to come in only just over my Grocery Challenge budget (£1.22) in May (MSE.com).
The whoopsied meat is from June's budget.

WEEK ENDING SUN 1 JUNE

The rubbish produced is still only 1 bag from the kitchen bin and every 2 weeks the recycling bin is full.
As we are now cutting the grass and tidying the garden more the compostable bin is also full every 2 weeks.

RUBBISH - 1 bag kitchen bin