News

**MSE Lawrence** · 16-10-2009, 4:47 PM

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Thrifty Ways on the telly" Blog.

Please click reply to discuss below.

mcjordi · 16-10-2009, 8:02 PM

watching this now on itv 1 yey

socks_uk · 16-10-2009, 8:02 PM

watching it now!

nikki702 · 16-10-2009, 8:19 PM

washing your hair with rain water

happymummy24-7 · 17-10-2009, 12:08 AM

have just posted this on the actual OS board but thought it would be better here!!

well done everyone involved in the programme....haven't looked forward to watching telly like i did tonight in a long time!!!
I do have to lend my weight to the idea that it was abit 'jumpy' from tip to tip-i do get the idea of cramming the info in but i think its such a gem of an idea...and a timely one at that....that it could well make a great series giving each family abit more time to share their ideas-thats what makes MSE so great for me,i can flick through and read all the different topics and tips that interest me and relate to my family,infact i found the OS thread by accident (well nosiness....i hadnt popped into that thread coz i thought it didnt apply to me.....WRONG!!!) and now i batch cook,sew things,make gel smellies,use a slow cooker,make bean can christmas cakes,use vinegar like its the 8th wonder of the world.....and im a 29yr old mum of 3 young girls not exactly a candidate for OS (i really didnt think it would apply to our family as no-ones ever shown me how to 'make do and mend' so im glad to eat my hat and say thank you OS'ers!!) ITS SAVED ME FORTUNES..and gives me a sense of motherly pride money couldnt buy when ive spent a day filling my freezer with homemade chicken kievs and have a double batch of twinks honobs ready for the girls comming out of school

Ive waffled,i know,but im passionate about getting the message out to younger families that we waste too much and shows like this can really educate in an exciting way,Martin you know what makes a good show,i hope you agree and push for a series-how about ditching ITV and getting a slot on the one show on BBC...then doing a spin off once you get everyone hooked ( rouge traders,watchdog...MSE A'n'E,lol)
well done everyone.............lets have a series

xxxlaura

spidystrider · 17-10-2009, 1:29 AM

I love these kinds of programmes and watch them all. I did find this one really interesting. I'm always surprised by how much money some people waste and just how much they can go on to save.

Mistymaid · 17-10-2009, 5:02 AM

Don't quote me Nikki, but I think you'll find rain water caught in a butt in softer. This is because when rainwater hits the ground it then has to travel through whatever substrates there are before finally ending up in the water system. Hence you have areas that are hard/soft water etc and are 'cleansed' with chemicals and treatments.
If I offer my animals a bucket of water from the tap or water from a butt, they go for the butt every time!

meher · 17-10-2009, 6:06 AM

I caught up with the feature here. Excellent editing. Nicely narrated. Very good idea inviting an environmental consultant, that emphasis on awareness of waste complimenting cost is normally taken for granted.

Roadkill animals sound scary and tragic but from what I understand it is an environmentally friendly thing to do as it doesn't decompose, also lesser risky as there' no artificial feeding and drugs pumped into most of those animals and birds, I was still surprised it was included in the programme because I thought it wasn't as appealing here in the UK as in the States.

Martin looked very nice in the later part of the documentary, nice shirt as well. The only thing I didn't like was the leather jacket because it somehow gives a very common

look. Or at least it shouldn't have had the shoulder epaulettes. Hope

it was ok to comment on that.

Anyway more on topic, you could easily do this as a series including range of topics like sewing and gardening and preparing gifts (fruitbaskets/hampers/arts/crafts), herbal preparations for common ailments (don't know if the OS has explored that area) etc and actually bring in a trend of not only being money saving but also promoting old style lifestyle as a timeless classic.

Mistymaid · 17-10-2009, 6:15 AM

Yeah, Meher, but you know what happens when the media get hold of these things ... they become very twee and easy - look at the home renovation programmes, it all gets a bit silly.

Nobody ever seems to mention that a lot of it takes more time and can be hard work.

SallyD · 17-10-2009, 10:07 AM

Great programme hope my son (he who spends money like water) was watching and realised I do talk sense when I offer him my tips to economise. But hats off to BARBARA GREEN what a glamorous granny - those outfits were just fabulous - sack Joan Collins (anyone that saw her programme in the week will know what I mean...hopefully)

SallyD · 17-10-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happymummy24-7

have just posted this on the actual OS board but thought it would be better here!!

well done everyone involved in the programme....haven't looked forward to watching telly like i did tonight in a long time!!!
I do have to lend my weight to the idea that it was abit 'jumpy' from tip to tip-i do get the idea of cramming the info in but i think its such a gem of an idea...and a timely one at that....that it could well make a great series giving each family abit more time to share their ideas-thats what makes MSE so great for me,i can flick through and read all the different topics and tips that interest me and relate to my family,infact i found the OS thread by accident (well nosiness....i hadnt popped into that thread coz i thought it didnt apply to me.....WRONG!!!) and now i batch cook,sew things,make gel smellies,use a slow cooker,make bean can christmas cakes,use vinegar like its the 8th wonder of the world.....and im a 29yr old mum of 3 young girls not exactly a candidate for OS (i really didnt think it would apply to our family as no-ones ever shown me how to 'make do and mend' so im glad to eat my hat and say thank you OS'ers!!) ITS SAVED ME FORTUNES..and gives me a sense of motherly pride money couldnt buy when ive spent a day filling my freezer with homemade chicken kievs and have a double batch of twinks honobs ready for the girls comming out of school

Ive waffled,i know,but im passionate about getting the message out to younger families that we waste too much and shows like this can really educate in an exciting way,Martin you know what makes a good show,i hope you agree and push for a series-how about ditching ITV and getting a slot on the one show on BBC...then doing a spin off once you get everyone hooked ( rouge traders,watchdog...MSE A'n'E,lol)
well done everyone.............lets have a series

xxxlaura

GOOD FOR YOU, HAPPYMUMMY 24-7. I am shocked at the amount of sheer rubbish in some of the young mum's shopping trollies at the supermarket - my daughter-in-law's is no exception.. Its refreshing to know that you bake, sew and use white vinegar too......nothing beats home made and that motherly pride.

septemberblues · 17-10-2009, 11:05 AM

I watched it and thought it was great

. Can we have a weekly series please? Oh, and ps, I thought Martin looked good, and I think the clothes were right, it would be weird to see him advocating money saving in a shirt and tie!

larmy16 · 17-10-2009, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mistymaid

Don't quote me Nikki, but I think you'll find rain water caught in a butt in softer. This is because when rainwater hits the ground it then has to travel through whatever substrates there are before finally ending up in the water system. Hence you have areas that are hard/soft water etc and are 'cleansed' with chemicals and treatments.
If I offer my animals a bucket of water from the tap or water from a butt, they go for the butt every time!

My mum always used to wash our hair in rainwater from the butt in the garden - I am talking late fifties/early sixties. Seems our Mums knew a thing or two about money saving and they were green before their time.

andyjohnbiker · 17-10-2009, 4:52 PM

Watched programme and I also run off cold water from hot tap into a bucket to flush loo with. Also use my water butts in garden to flush loos in winter as water not needed in garden.
Yes Im on a meter and it saves a fortune as waiting for water to get hot is otherwise money down the drain...LITERALLY.
Chatting to a friend about this he told me this tip!!!!
He has plumbed his loo into the hot water pipe for exactly the same reasons.
Another plumber was aghast when he found out but the logic is what do we do when weve used the loo?
Yes.. we wash our hands in water which is then already hot. SAVES THE BUCKET METHOD.
Anyone have any comments on this?

bubblegumcola · 17-10-2009, 10:22 PM

I thought this was a great programme, you could easily have a weekly show on this. I couldn't believe how much the family could potentially save by shopping the way the Green Granny showed...9k!!!!!! 12 k on food? I think we are about half that for my family of five, I'm sure I could cut it down further if I really thought about it. Pennies are tight in my house just now, made me question what i buy.

dppops · 18-10-2009, 2:18 PM

Great programme, just told my daughter about it and she is going to try plan her meals for the week. It makes sense to buy only what you eat.

bylromarha · 18-10-2009, 8:00 PM

Have just watched and already do a few of those things.

But the lasting taste in my mouth is roadkill sausages...certainly choosing not to incorporate that one however bad money gets.