Finding ways to get through lock down: five frugal things

How is everyone coping during this weird period in our history? We are finding ways to get through lock down, having our regular daily walks with the dog, tending the garden, writing, reading, working from home and watching TV. Probably watching too much TV actually, but c’est la vie!

Archie decided to roll in something unpleasant the other night so needed a bath. As he grows, this is getting trickier. He doesn’t mind being in the water, but hates being dried. We end up having a fight, with him biting the towel, as well as our hands, before running around the house at break neck speed like a lunatic. Here he is, having his post bath nap.

Puppies are exhausting! It’s like having a toddler with ADHD! Still, I wouldn’t be without him.

So what frugal things have I achieved this week?

Ocean Savers

My daughter recently discovered an eco-friendly cleaning brand called OceanSavers* and I was inspired to try some of their products.

It is a brilliantly simple concept. Instead of buying cleaning products in a new plastic bottle each time, you purchase a small concentrated pod, which you dilute with water in your own spray bottle. 

They are pretty inexpensive too. The three in the photo cost me just £1.50 each, not bad for an eco-friendly cleaner. I absolutely love this idea. Mine arrived yesterday and I can’t wait to try them. My daughter says they work well and small amazing.

If you don’t have a spare plastic spray bottle, Ocean Savers sell a bottle for life too.

Yellow sticker bargains

My local Coop continues to come up trumps with their reduced section. I picked up two loaves of bread the other day for 10p each. They are obviously on their best before date so went straight in the freezer. I just take out a couple of slices as they are used.

I find something reduced in there pretty much every time I pop in.

Making extra pennies

I think I mentioned having a good clear out of my wardrobe a couple of weeks ago. Some of it is sitting in the shed waiting to go to the charity shop or textile collection at some point in the future. However, I also listed several items on eBay, three of which have already sold for £10 each. 

Not a fortune, but every little helps, as they say. Better than having clothes sitting in my wardrobe unworn and unloved! If you want to sell your old stuff on eBay, check out this post for some tips.

Garden update

There has been quite a bit going on in the garden, although we have to work one at a time or Archie runs rampage. One of us has to dog sit!

I found some sweet pea seeds that I had collected from last year’s plants, so they have been sown. Hopefully these will come up, providing totally free plants.

I have been growing some lettuce and had planned to put some of them on the veggie patch. However, the weather turned very cold this week so instead I planted them in the green house. The tomatoes aren’t ready to go in yet, so there is space. This will save us buying salad from the supermarket.

Because of the late frosts, we had to protect the beans and courgettes that are already on the patch. We had some old fleece given by a neighbour, plus some little tunnels that I bought cheaply on eBay, so they did the job.

I have also planted carrots, broadbeans and peas. They haven’t germinated yet, but it has been cold.

As always, we are grateful for our garden – one of my favourite ways to get through lock down.

Keto brownies

Although I am not sticking religiously to keto, I am still trying to eat a low carb diet, as I said. My sticking point is finding good snacks at a reasonable price. (Snacking is one of my ways to get through lock down, I think…)

Ready made sweet snacks are extortionate and I haven’t bought any at all. I finally got round to trying the brownies from my Quick Keto Meals in 30 Minutes* cook book. I enjoyed the keto crackers from this book, but not so keen on these.

When they came out of the oven they looked like a giant cow pat!! They were OK, but not squidgy like normal brownies. In addition, because they use stevia rather than sugar, they had that slightly odd fake sugar after taste.

They were quite nice with cream and strawberries on top, though, but what wouldn’t be? I need to continue to experiment with good keto snacks I think, so any ideas for recipes will be greatly appreciated.

I hope you have had a good week and are finding ways to get through lock down. Things are easing here in England, although I am not sure they should be. Stay safe!

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I’m linking up with this Cass, Emma and Becky in this week’s ‘Frugal Friday’ linky.