Inflation and the cost of living.

😲
That is a special offer!

Did you know that Charlie Bingham tastes even better when it’s on special offer? And our local supermarket often has a due date reduction - £5.78 for bœuf bourguignon was a treat on Tuesday.

Allira

Charlie Bigham is cooking here tonight

Ok, he's called round here too. That's good of him.

Jaxjacky

It’s ok Norah I’m rather frustrated at my situation, I usually cook, it’s been an education for MrJ!

I remember having to sit on a kitchen chair, leg in plaster propped up on another one, teaching DH how to cook more than just sausage and mash.

What is so difficult about following a recipe in a cookery book, I wonder? 😀

It’s ok Norah I’m rather frustrated at my situation, I usually cook, it’s been an education for MrJ!

Charlie Bigham is cooking here tonight

Allira

Norah

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

As with anything, depends on what one buys and how much a person is willing to spend. I'd not prefer to spend £53 for a meal. It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

Some people find that an eclectic mix of cooked from basics, ready meals, an occasional takeaway and meals out is what suits them.

There is no virtue in cooking from scratch if you've had an operation, are struggling in any way or rushing home from a day out when alternatives are available.

We don't spend on takeaways, cafes, pubs
Do you never go out for a meal? What about when on holiday? Or do you stay in self-catering and cook from scratch there?

If I was virtue signaling I apologize. I'm frugal.

I very much dislike spending on food we could prepare.

Not that it matters. Never have we been struggling and unable to cook at the same moment. On holiday we self-cater or river cruise.

I believe I've explained myself well. Apologies to Jaxjacky.

Norah

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

As with anything, depends on what one buys and how much a person is willing to spend. I'd not prefer to spend £53 for a meal. It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

Some people find that an eclectic mix of cooked from basics, ready meals, an occasional takeaway and meals out is what suits them.

There is no virtue in cooking from scratch if you've had an operation, are struggling in any way or rushing home from a day out when alternatives are available.

We don't spend on takeaways, cafes, pubs
Do you never go out for a meal? What about when on holiday? Or do you stay in self-catering and cook from scratch there?

Jaxjacky

It was my birthday Norah I’m recovering from a complex hip issue, it gave my husband a rest as he’s been cooking from scratch for weeks.

Apologies for offending you.

I pray you recover well. Proper physio is essential.

RosiesMawagain

But @Norah I don’t see any need to be so dismissively superior about another‘s choice.

Apologies, I didn't intend to be dismissive.

We don't spend on takeaways, cafes, pubs. Not superior, a different choice. The tread was about COL and inflation. I'm in the wrong, it seems.

M0nica, is it your experience that " children seem unable to leave the house without a packet of crisps or sweets"?
I do not see this out and about, nor when I am collecting from school or nursery.
Younger people seem, sometimes, more critical than older folk ( well, me, anyway) with regard to seasonal fruit and vegetables and air miles.
Imported strawberries - my children would deliver a stern lecture to me if they found these in my fridge.. I have been known to hide things from them.

And Jaxjacky should feel no compulsion to make excuses to you or anyone.

But @Norah I don’t see any need to be so dismissively superior about another‘s choice.

Jaxjacky

It was my birthday Norah I’m recovering from a complex hip issue, it gave my husband a rest as he’s been cooking from scratch for weeks.

We all need a break from cooking sometimes.

That sounds good value for an Indian takeaway meal for five, Jaxjacky. We had one recently and I think it was more, but DD paid and wouldn't tell me how much!

It was my birthday Norah I’m recovering from a complex hip issue, it gave my husband a rest as he’s been cooking from scratch for weeks.

RosiesMawagain

Norah

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

As with anything, depends on what one buys and how much a person is willing to spend. I'd not prefer to spend £53 for a meal. It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

It’s not £53 for a meal but for a meal for five (plus leftovers)
£10 or under a head sounds pretty good to me!

An opinion I do not share. Good we all spend differently!

Norah

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

As with anything, depends on what one buys and how much a person is willing to spend. I'd not prefer to spend £53 for a meal. It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

It’s not £53 for a meal but for a meal for five (plus leftovers)
£10 or under a head sounds pretty good to me!

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

As with anything, depends on what one buys and how much a person is willing to spend. I'd not prefer to spend £53 for a meal. It is down to 'where you live, how you shop' and if you prefer scratch made.

theworriedwell

I buy a Freddo occasionally. They are quite small so appropriate for small people, I need bigger bars myself. I shall definitely be buying a big bar for the end of Lent.

Freddos I don't recall, the biggest size change is Mars bars they used to be massive compared to the tiny offering we get today

Jaxjacky

We had a very tasty Indian delivered last Sunday, £53 for the five of us, with leftovers for Monday.
It does depend on where you live and how you shop I think.

Definitely very true and on target.

We are very lucky in Spain to have "a menu del dia" - which is a lunch consisting of:

beverage ( wine, beer, soda, cider ) & comes with a basket of fresh bread
1st course ( norm is a choice of 4 or 5 different choices )
main course ( fish, beef, lamb or pork or poultry )
dessert or café
and one can add the 1 €uro for their coffee or tea

AVERAGE PRICE NOW: 12.90 € - 16.00 €uros

THE MENÚ DEL DIA was put into our CONSTITUTION for the workers during the 1950s more or less.

HIGHLY VALUABLE AND DEFINITELY WORTHWHILE.

FOREIGN Restaurants also have a menu de dia.

MaizieD

^Now people eat ice cream almost daily, can afford to eat strawberries all year round and children seem unable to leave the house unless clutching a packet of sweets or bag of crisps.^

This is what free market capitalism is all about, MOnica.

Free market capitalism is the problem there is no control, any spare money we spend on what gives us pleasure in the short term.
Not what we need for the future, we have not invested in the future for decades, which is why the UK had a weak economy.

I buy a Freddo occasionally. They are quite small so appropriate for small people, I need bigger bars myself. I shall definitely be buying a big bar for the end of Lent.

Mollygo

Allira
If Labour see chocolate rather than potatoes as a way to engage young people in politics, they may be more in touch than I thought.

😁

David49

"the ability to afford small indulgences is an important indicator of economic and social health. We can all agree here."

It's not the small indulgences that are the problem, its the big ones, compared with 50 yrs ago those that can afford it are spending a great deal deal more on holiday, homes, cars technology and services.
It's only economic health for those that can afford it, at the expense of those that cannot afford it

Indeed. It's priviledge.

Allira
If Labour see chocolate rather than potatoes as a way to engage young people in politics, they may be more in touch than I thought.