Insourcing...from a working womans perspective...

 

Insourcing when you work full time, is not for the faint hearted, I can tell you right now.

 

I've learned a few things in the three months since I returned full time to the corporate world.

 

For example, tinned tuna, and cured meats are your friend. A decent tin of tuna, some pre-made GF gnocchi and a bit of baby spinach gave us a gourmet feast one night. Restaurant worthy...3 serves for $8.

 

Leftover Christmas Ham (and why DO we only buy a leg of ham at Christmas....such a budget friendly meal really), made a platter to feast on another hot night, for under $10.

 

I'm learning to KISS...Keep It Simple Sweetie...

 

Short list for easy insourcing:

 

Eggs

Pre-made gnocchi

Tuna

Baby potatoes

Grow some herbs

Baby spinach or rocket

Cherry tomatoes

Red onion

Parmesan cheese

Smoked meats or fish like salmon

Capers, cocktail onions, relishes

Shredded cooked chicken (my poached chicken breast is ideal)

 

Keep that lot on hand and you'll never go hungry.

 

I promise.

 

 

Birthdays remain a reason to splurge, but the splurge here was a pair of Birkenstock sandals (her request), and a Mimco jewellery set sourced as an unwanted gift on eBay. Thankyou for the half price Mimco eBay!

 

Butchers paper and silk flowers remain a firm favourite for gift embellishing. That 5 kgs of butchers paper has lasted me 7 years...and probably 7 more to go! MUCH money saved on gift wraps. I couldn't begin to tell you.

 

We dipped our toes in the water one weekend. We ate at home the whole time to avoid the holiday crowds. Much money saved on cafes and the like. At least $300, probably more like $500.

 

Lavender picking, not screen time, was the order of the day for the granddaughters. French Lavender always makes everyone feel good. Price...free...

 

A gift of some Sari inspired fabric saw me making petal tassels one Sunday. I hung them on the Christmas tree...which is still up. Is that wrong in February?

 

I trotted out the pencil skirts and heels more than once....Etsy is my new best friend for upcycled, vintage inspired work clothes. Hundreds saved on retail purchases. Truly.

That's where this Chanel inspired knit came from too...

 

Meanwhile, Husband has been sawing and hammering up a frenzy to build me a new She Shed.

 

Lucky me!

 

Those Hermes scarves...expensive things but on a dollar-per-wear basis, I'm down to mere cents.

 

Get one. You won't regret it.

 

One step quiche is the order of the day for Work lunches.

 

A bit of sewing when I had a minute, saved me over $300 in designer pillowcases. I'm on a roll there.

 

Fresh snapper baked with miso butter and herbed veges was another easy meal. Snapper pieces were $13 a kilo at the market. Yummy.

 

And you know we love a good yoghurt parfait. Coconut yoghurt...home made of course. That saves us around $50 a week. I kid you not.

 

Fresh herbs snipped into gnocchi another night, saved $60 on takeaway. We have expensive taste in takeaway. What can I say.

 

Work looks. Fun.

 

And the staff at work got a glimpse into the 'Real Mimi' with a vegan cake for a morning tea.

 

I'm killing it friends.

 

You'd be proud of me.

 

What did you insource last month?