Caitriona Redmond: What do my kids think of living on a budget and what are their thrifty habits?

Plus my recipe for macaroons, perfect for baking in a hurry

Macaroons, not to be confused with their glamorous French cousins ‘macarons’, are simple coconutty pleasures.

We had to go into Dublin last week, without the kids, and this kind of trip attracts a tax that includes treats for the kids when we return. Doughnuts were the order of the day. Has anybody else noticed how expensive they have become?

On the way into Dublin I tracked down a box of these sweet treats for collection later on in the day using the TooGoodToGo app. The box of six doughnuts cost me €5.99 (normally approx €16). The kids shared the doughnuts with their cousins that evening and were tickled pink at the idea of using the app to source what I wanted on a budget.

“Can we use it the next time we have a Dublin-day please?” asked the tweenager. He has fantasies of meandering through the capital city while sampling food on a budget. I think it’s worth giving it a go. The teenager, on the other hand, wants to plan several days in advance to make sure that he can get his items of preference. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The eldest, who doesn’t live at home anymore, sent me a picture of her vegan Thai curry. She had made it at home using frozen and tinned vegetables to save money, using a method she’d learned in the kitchen with me. It’s the kind of message that makes me feel 10-feet tall.

Yesterday I went to Tesco with both kids. I know, not recommended when you’re on a budget, but sometimes it has to be done. The teen asked if I could install my Clubcard app on his phone so he can get Clubcard deals if he goes shopping on his own. The family benefits from the points, and he saves money: it’s a win-win situation.

Crossing the threshold of the supermarket, I grabbed a basket. The younger boy was reciting the list that he had memorised. “We should go straight to the yellow sticker section,” he said, “then we can change our shopping list if we have to but we will definitely save money.” He was nearly walking too fast for me to keep up; then came the punchline: “Can I use whatever we save to buy myself something nice?”

I thought that was my preserve? I really shouldn’t take the kids to the shops with me! If I do this more often I can kiss my sneaky trips to the bookshop goodbye.

In answer to the question, I think that living on a budget is very attractive to my kids, it’s borderline become a game. My canny ways are rubbing off on all three by way of gamification. This gives me great hope for my future budgeters. Who knows what they will save up for when they are older?

For now, I begrudgingly handed over the money in the bookshop for a book each, rather than one for myself. At least it’s still investing in their future. I’ll go to the library instead.

Home Truths

Appliances always seem to break down in sympathy with one another in my house. My contingency fund can replace a single appliance, not several at once. When the dishwasher broke I headed to YouTube with the error code and discovered I could fix the issue myself with a screwdriver and a wet/dry vacuum.

The problem was the filter. It was difficult to reach but once cleaned out of various nails, pins, and a single hair bobbin, it’s run like normal.

The fridge-freezer couldn’t stay cold because the door wasn’t closing properly. That spiralled into the freezer becoming frost-bound due to temperature fluctuations. After defrosting it, I cleaned all the seals and my food now maintains optimal temperatures, while the door closes tightly.

I’ve set a reminder to check all the appliances in the kitchen, in particular their seals and filters, every fortnight. The longer I can keep my machines running efficiently the more money I will save.

Coconut Macaroons

recipe by:Caitriona Redmond

Macaroons, not to be confused with theirglamorous French cousins ‘macarons’, are simple coconutty pleasures. So easy to make they require no use of electric mixers. These are perfect for the minimal kitchen and baking in a hurry.

Servings

8

Preparation Time

 10 mins

Cooking Time

 30 mins

Total Time

 40 mins

Course

 Baking

Ingredients

• 200g caster sugar

• 2 medium egg whites

• 300g desiccated coconut

• more caster sugar for dredging

Method

1. Heat a fan oven to 170˚C. Line a baking tray with a sheet of non-stick greaseproof paper.

2. Combine the sugar, egg white and coconut with a fork in a large bowl, until you get a sticky paste.

3. Wet your hands and shape the mixture into balls.

4. Space the eight balls of mixture on the baking tray and shake a little more caster sugar over the top of each.

5. Bake in the oven for 20-30 minutes, or until golden. Allow to cool before lifting them off the paper, otherwise they will stick.

6. Once cool you can dip the macaroons into chocolate if you like but I prefer this treat as it is.