milk & cucumber again

oompah18 · Post by **oompah18** » Mon May 12, 2008 8:39 pm

As you know, I don´t leave this village & it´s one shop very often, so can you all tell me that I am not dreaming (nightmare) & not being ripped off by SIWA where milk is 1 euro a litre.

But, happily, (just for Penelope

) our daily ration of cucumber is about 60cents for 1 average Finnish cucumber!

**Sponsor:**

richard berman · Post by **richard berman** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:01 pm

I heard on the radio that milk was going up by 5%

This was from Feb 2008 http://keskustelu.suomi24.fi/show.fcgi? ... 0032695283

And this http://www.taloussanomat.fi/kauppa/2008 ... 5/12?rss=4

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Mon May 12, 2008 9:24 pm

It must be hurting the school dinners budget. The glass of milk that the kids are supposed to drink at lunchtime counts for a large portion of the protein content of the average school lunch. I guess there will be some hard and fast negotiations between Sodexho/Amica and the municipalities during the summer. Given that milk and cereals are the basis of most school meals, I can't imagine how they can keep costs down.

We've pretty much stopped eating cucumber. Nobody seems to miss it, in fact I've discovered that they all enjoy spinach

which is terrific. We just had a lentil stew with onions, carrots and some spinach stirred in at the end, plus boiled potatoes cooked in chicken stock. It was really good and VERY cheap and VERY filling.

My kids drink a lot of milk, but I guess it is probably a cheaper form of (animal) protein than some (which is why it is served up with school lunches). And I seem to remember it is cheaper in Finland than in many other EU countries. I just bought 3 litres from Citymarket in Lippulaiva at 98 cents a litre. It is cheaper in Lidl.

I guess the good weather means that Finnish spring veg will be in plentiful supply this summer (and hopefully cheaper).

oompah18 · Post by **oompah18** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:51 pm

Spinach? Not in siwa but I still frequently look! We live on frozen mix veg packs, bananas, pasta, potatoes, our own frozen berries & siwa´s half price almost-at-sell-by-date meat. They don´t even sell fish except in tins or soaked in some slime or other. But at least once a month, at hubby´s payday, he goes mad on his stockmann card in the city & gets proper fish, meat/poultry, fruits & lapin rieska bread!
I think I should get out of this village more......

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:13 pm

Oh, LIDL just had frozen whole fishes last few weeks.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Thu May 15, 2008 12:11 am

Now they also have canned game meat!!

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:32 am

I have tried to refrain from responding to your posts, but I can no longer do so.

Oompah, you already have three kids and your fourth on the way. And, from reading some of your previous posts you make it “clear” that your family is struggling financially. In one particular post you stated, “sometimes I only have 5 euros a week to feed my family.” You have your fourth child on the way…how are you going to be able to provide for the fourth child, when your are struggling to feed the other three!?

I say this because my SO and I would like to have a child, but are holding off for a few years so we can set enough money aside to be able to provide the best environment for our future child. So it tugs at my heart string when I read posts from you mentioning you only have X amount of euros a week for food, and then read another post where you mention that you “just had to get Satellite TV to watch your sports from the UK.”

Hank W. · Post by **Hank W.** » Thu May 15, 2008 10:48 am

Well, a satellite tv is much cheaper than happy pills for cabin fever.

oompah18 · Post by **oompah18** » Thu May 15, 2008 11:26 pm

Oh come on, our ONLY luxury is Sat TV! No car, NEVER go out in the evening (no buses anyway!), no new toys, clothes, household stuff, everything from kirppis or huuto & I do mean everything. That´s how we live Anyway, I like this forum because it gives USEFUL information, But my kids don´t need for anything. Just that I find it hard to survive in the same style of living that I did when I was single & working full time in a tax free country, as an expat.
Of course non one is perfect.

EP · Post by EP » Fri May 16, 2008 12:36 am

I say this because my SO and I would like to have a child, but are holding off for a few years so we can set enough money aside to be able to provide the best environment for our future child.

What is "the best enviroment"? It has nothing to do with financial things. Of course food is essential, and in this climate you even need clothes and a warm house, but otherwise a good relationship of mom/dad is "the best enviroment". Everything else is just decorations.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:34 pm

...and we all know that in the vast majority of cases the "best environment for a child" is having mum and brothers and sisters at home. Which, if I understand correctly, is what Oompah does. She's also young and has a ton of energy. That's a pretty good start in life for most kids.

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:10 pm

penelope wrote:...and we all know that in the vast majority of cases the "best environment for a child" is having mum and brothers and sisters at home. Which, if I understand correctly, is what Oompah does. She's also young and has a ton of energy. That's a pretty good start in life for most kids.

Yes, but when something BASIC such as food is lacking in the home, such that you have to ration the food (which Oompah has mentioned); and the fact that sometimes they have only 5 Euros to feed a family of five for a WHOLE week (about the same in W.Africa)…I’m sorry, but that is just not a “good environment” no matter how you try to spin it!!

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:20 pm

Oompah, I am in no way trying to slam you as a mom. In fact, I think you do an AWESOME job raising your kids with the little money and resources you have. But, what has put me on edge, is when you discuss your struggles to properly feed your family. I personally, cannot read those sort of posts anymore, and not feel sad/concerned about your situation. No one should have to go without proper food, and that’s basically the point I was trying to make.

kay30 · Post by **kay30** » Fri May 16, 2008 11:06 pm

Well said, Cory.

Since I don't have kids either, I would not judge someone who does... but hey... everyone is different and it must be nice to be so perfect to feel comfortable judging others.

I would rather be in a loving family with less money than an rude, snobby, well-off and judgmental one any day. It's all about values and manners. Some people have them, some don't. And that is something money CANNOT buy.

Goldie · Post by **Goldie** » Sat May 17, 2008 12:05 am

kay30 wrote:Well said, Cory.

Since I don't have kids either, I would not judge someone who does... but hey... everyone is different and it must be nice to be so perfect to feel comfortable judging others.

I would rather be in a loving family with less money than an rude, snobby, well-off and judgmental one any day. It's all about values and manners. Some people have them, some don't. And that is something money CANNOT buy.

Kay,

I don't give a toss what you are anyone else on this forum thinks about me. The fact is, Oompah has mentioned on this forum many times about not being able to provide proper food for her family; and sometimes having to feed her family of 5 on 5 euros a week. I cannot help that I actually care enough about Oompah and her kids to have enough BALLS to get on this form to post my concerns knowing I will get the S%&# beat out of me. I cannot help that I have a heart, and that it bothers me when I read such words. Oompah, may not realize that her posts have such an effect on readers, but they do.

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