Updated to add: It’s 9:28 pm and I’m desperately craving cheese, not that I have any, any vegans know what to do???
Yet another blissful Sunday. I started the day at 6:30 am – ever since I began my downshifting journey I’ve noticed I go to bed earlier and of course wake up earlier! I started the day with an hour and a half hike through one of the wonderful parks London has, of course I couldn’t forget I was in England since it rained the whole time :0) After a hot shower I decided to do something I haven’t done in a looong while, I went to mass. I have to say I really enjoyed it, they sang some lovely hymns and I felt very positive and relaxed when I left. I came home and promptly fell asleep for 1.5 hrs! Spent the rest of the day relaxing, reading, cooking, prepping for next week and dreaming about living in France for a few months – more on that another day!
In my post on emergency fund goals Deepali mentioned a “go to hell fund” which I believe loosely translates to jack in the job and do something else, like travelling. Well my ears perked up at this, once a traveller always a traveller, and I decided once I’ve reached my emergency and baby emergency fund goals, I’m in need of a go to hell fund that would allow me to take 3-6 months off to travel & volunteer abroad, without dipping into my emergency fund! I’m excited already!! My cousin has recently done something similar, left her job as a scientist and has spend 6 months travelling through Australia & China.
Today was another no spending day! I was tempted to buy popcorn, oh sooo tempted but I resisted partly so I wouldn’t let myself down, partly so I wouldn’t let my readers down. No Spending Days take commitment and I really need to try to have 5 no spending days a week! So no popcorn for me!
Deepali asked for my bulgar wheat, lentil, beansprout and asparagus balsamic stir-fry recipe. I didn’t take good notes when I made it for the first time last night so I’m doing it from memory here! It may need tweaking depending on your portion size!
Cook 1 cup of puy lentils (as per directions) and 1 cup of bulgar wheat (as per directions). When cooked mix together, split into 3 portions and set aside – I put 2 portions in the fridge for further meals and keep 1 portion out for myself. Put 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a pan until hot. Add in very large handful of beansprouts, grated cabbage and 3 asparagus stalks and stir until cooked (approx 5 min). Then add the 1 portion of bulgar wheat and puy lentils. When all mixed together add 3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and enjoy! The two additional servings of mixed together lentils & bulgar wheat mean I have a base for 2 more meals over the week, all I need to do is add veggies! I costed this dish at about £0.45 approx $0.90 per portion! Frugal, healthy, low GI and oh so yummy!
Daily Speed Walking session: 6/20
Vegan Day: 7/30
No Spending: 5/20
Water 10 glasses – it was the long walk!!
Alternative Exercise Goal: 1/4
For those keeping track of what I’m eating during my vegan month, this morning I had a late brunch of muesli vegan muffin with an orange cut into slices. This muffin lasted me all day!! For dinner I had my beansprout, asparagus, lentil & bulgar wheat stir-fry with a pear for afters!
p.s. I’ll have to do the blog awards tomorrow as I can’t seem to paste the awards into the post! Hopefully the computer or wordpress co-operate tomorrow!
I call my go-to-hell fund my contingency fund, but have been thinking about re-naming it “burn out” fund. Same idea, though. I will post more on it, but I was wondering if you wish to contact me to discuss London housing. Email is mspennypence@gmail.com. Congrats on today!
Sounds like you had a great day!
Hi there-what a wonderful day you’ve had!! After your long hours at work, its nice you have the time to relax and enjoy your Sunday!!
your sundays are so peaceful ft..I need to follow your lead, mine are too bust at the moment!
France??!
Did I really put bust then…obviously it’s supposed to say busy
lol
You do really well and have so much perserverence and self control. I went vegetarian for a year as a bet but came back with the knowledge that I like eating animals – especially chickens. I’m not that keen on wringing their necks, plucking and gutting them especially after I’ve given them names but I have done it when we used to have our smallholding. Eating eggs is easier, hens get a lot of satisfaction laying eggs, least you can do is eat them and not leave them to rot.
Sounds like a great day indeed!!
Does your employer offer something like banking some of your pay now to take time off later? I know my employer offers that to full-time employees. My cousin is also doing it for 6 months in 2010… money’s been taken off her paychecks since 2006 as she planned for this (she’s a teacher, so 6 months off for the school year plus 2 months summer vacation, she’s getting a whole 8 months!).
Keep up the great work!!! We’re all cheering for you
As for the cheese, have you looked into the soy cheese loaves? I’m not sure those are vegan though?
hey, you shouldn’t cook with extra virgin olive oil -i think i read that it’s carcinogenic, you should only use it on salads, and cook with regular olive oil…
did i tell you that we have started having bulgar wheat too? so much nicer than brown rice ! the other day i mixed up some cooked BW with sultanas, silken tofu and walnuts and stuffed some peppers, baked for an hour. delicious!
great recipe! can’t wait to try it. i love the idea of lentils and bulghur. and i think some people call the “go to hell” fund a “freedom” fund…
Sounds like a great day.
I’m going to copy your no spend days and incorporate several days each week. I think I’ll start with 2 and easy myself into it. Thanks for the idea!
Sounds like great day indeed! Hope you have a fantastic week!
…. and i hope you also find something to sooth that cheese craving 
a good thing to do when you are craving cheese: take a block of silken tofu and add some garlic, a packet of frozen spinach, and a tablespoon of olive oil. Blend until pureed. I put this between baked vegetables or I stuff pasta shells with it. If you add a bit of tomato sauce, you can’t tell it’s not veggies or pasta stuffed with ricotta. Try it next time you do a shop
I have “tagged” you … info on my blog.
However, don’t feel obliged to follow this through!
cheese – try “veggie rella” or something like it. anyone at an organic food store will be able to suggest alternatives to real cheese.
although, are there really any?? tee hee…
I think the walk and then mass sounds fab. mind you I’d be missing the cheese too!
Good to catch up with you. I haven’t had much time to check blogs lately. Glad you have a wonderful goal to travel after you reach your financial goal. And it did my heart good to know you went to mass.
I just found your blog the other day- I’m in Canada, but my sister has moved to London and is feeling the money crunch, I will have to pass on your blog to her.
My friend adds some kind of super powered friendly vegan yeast to flavour it after popping- sorry I don’t know exactly what kind. But it is delicious!
Thanks for the recipes!
I wanted to give you a popcorn tip- a (vegan) friend of mine makes her own. Hopefullly they sell it over there as they do over here- dried popcorn in the bulk food or grain section. It’s cheap and a little bag lasts for ages and ages. Put a layer of oil and a super thin layer of the kernels in the bottom of a pot with lid (my husband forgot the lid once- near disaster!)
Hold the lid lightly, and move the pot constantly over medium heat- it will pop! and you can have your popcorn and be frugal too
I’ve visited your blog ( http://notesfromthefrugaltrenches.com ) and found out that it contains a lot of interesting and useful information for me. I’m searching for advertising. Can I buy links on your pages? Or can you write a post with the link to my site? How much does it cost? Please, let me know whether it suits you or not. Waiting for your soon reply. Thanks a lot.
What a brilliant idea, “the go to hell fund”. That is exactly what I need. So, how do you do it when you support a family????