Now and Then:- 28 Feb - 6 March

Queenie · 5 March 2005 at 10:04AM

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the ideas you see on here?
Do you ever think when you read something: "Great idea, I must try that!" only to find that yet another inspiring idea takes over and you "forget"?
Do you sometimes need a little extra motivation?

I thought it might be helpful to have a weekly thread comparing what we did that week which was new/different/cost cutting compared to how we "used to", therefore breaking all our knowledge down into bite size pieces on a week by week level. This may make it easier for those who are just starting out, those who may need a reminder of something or simply a way of reflecting on how much we have accomplished that week.

Shall I begin?

Now:
We had something to celebrate at short notice; I baked a cake and rustled up a HM (homemade) card. Family were suitably surprised and impressed with the cake; started a new "tradition" ..... occasions/events will now be celebrated with my "Secret Recipe Family Cake" (lol - it's not secret, but it does add to the "specialness" by claiming such)
Then:
I would have rushed to the supermarket, bought a "celebration" cake, grabbed a card off the shelf and bought a gift (plus wrapping paper) to make the person feel extra special.

Now:
Took dh's shirts that were for the bin, removed all the buttons; folded the shirt neatly and put into my rag bag for future quilting/rugging projects.
Then:
Simply thrown it away!

Now:
Had our once a month treat of a takeaway. Only bought 2 portions of chips and asked for the - free - salad extra (selecting only the onions and tomato).
Salad was put in the fridge for using in next days soup. Leftover meat was also added to the soup.
Then:
We would have ordered 4 portions of chips, no salad and all leftovers would have been binned.

Now:
Found a half used box of "Sugar Soap" in the Utility Room cupboard - realised that it is good as a household cleaner and have put it under the kitchen sink for Spring Cleaning.
Then:
Would have thrown it away; continued throwing money away by buying brand named cleaning products at over inflated prices.

Now:
Wanted to make a lap quilt to match the cushions I'd made last Spring. Rummaged through my fabric stash and found all the toning colours of fabric; measured each piece and know I have enough to make the quilt top plus a table runner for the TV Unit.
Then:
Looked through quilt pattern books, find a design I liked, made a list of fabric requirements, gone out and bought new fabric according to the instructions.

Now:
Taught ds to make potato and leek soup.
Then:
Would have bought a tin of Heinz (well, two actually to feed us four).

Now:
Teaching the boys to hook a rag rug (I have two half finished). They can *earn* computer time by completing so many rows. We craft together and have a good natter. "Quality Time"
Then:
The boys would have been languishing in some unknown world of virtual reality on a games console! (all that electric too!)
The rugs would by lying dormant in a hidden corner until the family grow up sufficiently for me to have the time to complete them: 12th of Never!

Phew! Feeling quite proud of our week.

Trow · 5 March 2005 at 10:10AM

Wow thats impressive! Especially involving the kids - thats what I need to start doing.

I did ask my daughter yesterday if she wanted to cook a meal with me today and she said 'could we make cookies?' - not quite what I had in mind, but might be a useful bribe......

Queenie · 5 March 2005 at 10:12AM

Trow - cookies are a great way to start her off

If that's what has captured her interest, go for it - you'll soon guide her towards bigger and better things, like .... toad in the hole etc

LearningToSave. · 5 March 2005 at 10:19AM

wow!!!!! that is impressive queenie.........huge pat on the back.
well im new so the only things i can say inotice so far are:-

now.........buy ingredients and cook meal from scratch.
then.........would have bought,jar sauce etc and as much ready prepared stuff as possible! :eek:

now..........using leftovers/bits of fruit and veg that are starting to turn to make soups for lunch or possibly sauces for freezer.
then..........would have just thrown away. :eek:

now...........using old bits of material,yogurt pots etc,anything really to put in craft cupboard for 2 year old daughter.
then...........would have thrown away and took a trip to hobbycraft every now and then :eek:

think thats it but im addicted to these boards now so hopefully next time there'll be loads to report

excellent thread

MATH · 5 March 2005 at 10:45AM

Wow! Queenie you've done great. I love the idea of families sitting around getting involved in crafts and together activities. It is just the "idea" of it I like though, cos I'm just not that kind of parent. I have always envied parents who can embark on these family projects without worrying about the mess etc. I do cook almost everything from scratch and make loads of things on the cheap but I tie the kidz to the radiators before I start.:o

I was probably born Ol'Style and was certainly raised Ol'Style so my now and then list probably won't look so impressive. Many of the changes I've made over the last year have been about ethical/health issues as well as moneysaving. Here goes.

2004 Use the car for every journey
2005 Walk 4-8 miles a day

2004 Kidz spent pocket money on magazines every week or so
2005 We all go to the library on a Friday to get a week of reading for free

2004 Spent £40 a week killing myself smoking
2005 Saving £40 a week and giving my lungs a break

2004 Bought cordial in vast quantities
2005 Kidz drink mainly water

2004 Bought 'value' range biscuits and cakes for kidz tuck
2005 Kidz take fruit, cheese 'n' pineapple, or raisins for tuck

2004 Planned meals around tesco value meat cuts
2005 Eat vegetarian diet 50% of the time

2004 Had a cupboard full of cleaning stuff
2005 Limit it to 5/6 "do all" items and make my own gloop

2004 Larder busting at the seams with all kinds of foodstuffs
2005 Larder now run on an inventory and kept 75% empty

2004 Everything came from Tesco
2005 Now use more local shops and trade skills for fruit/veg in the village

Queenie · 5 March 2005 at 1:15PM

Hey, those are great lists! Looks like we all deserve a good ole pat on the back

LearningToSave: I had to go through the withdrawal symptoms of avoiding craft shops, so I can relate!
I console myself with trips to the local charity shops and buy bits of old jewellry, old clothes with pretty lacey bits (for the lace - the fabric gets the scissor treatment for the rag rug bag). Books are sometimes bought merely so I can indulge in the art of "Altered Books"; old wellies are bought for garden plant pots; old pictures I buy just for the frames, then I can decorate them to suit our style. It's amazing how many "craft" bits can be found with a little bit of lateral thinking

MATH wrote:

2004 Larder busting at the seams with all kinds of foodstuffs
2005 Larder now run on an inventory and kept 75% empty

Thanks! A reminder I definately needed - going to have to put that on my To Do list for the weekend.

Never underestimate the power of being tied to a rad while watching someone cook from scratch ... better than staring at a TV - and warmer on the buttocks too

Forgot to mention ....

Now: (Mothers Day)
Dh is going to cook a roast dinner.
Boys will be suitable primed if spending money to buy me a pot plant (lasts longer and will be a visible reminder).
Cards will be HM (I'm guessing here, obviously haven't had them yet, but dh does have his "instructions" - LOL )

Then:
Dh would frantically try and book up a place for a meal out and end up paying a ridiculous amount of money for an overcrowded location and not especially great quality food!
Boys (with dh's guidance) would buy me several gifts, costing a small fortune, which would have novelty value but no "staying" power.
Cards were shop bought, overpriced with very little 'personal sentiment' attached.

moggins · 5 March 2005 at 4:00PM

Queenie this is a great thread!

I realised the other day just how my life changes were affecting the kids too.

Now - Made a new door for the guinea pig hutch from scratch.
Then - Would have gone out and bought a new hutch

Now - make more bread and puddings from scratch
Then - all shop bought bread and rarely did a pudding, if they wanted one it was ice cream or a yoghurt.

Now - always have a meal plan and stick to it
Then - would have rushed out for a last minute takeaway because anything edible was still in the freezer and would take an hour or more to cook.

Now - Use Haynes manual to see what I can fix on my car
Then - Taken it straight to the garage.

DingDong_3 · 5 March 2005 at 4:02PM

Queenie wrote:

Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed by all the ideas you see on here?

Yes I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed. I discovered these boards 2 days ago and I'm a convert! I realise it will take me a while to change all my habits but I've already started:

Last week: Bought ready meal spag bol
This week: Making it from scratch

Last week: Bought eggs/meat from Tesco
This week: Buying cheaper on the Market

Last week: Bought cleaning products
This week: Bought some white vinegar!

As well as saving money, it's also good for the environment so I'm really excited about all this.

Murtle · 5 March 2005 at 4:39PM

I have good intentions!!! I think this will be the push I need to make some real headway!!! Am currently on a decluttering experience so an awful lot of things are heading for Charity shops...not keen on their opening hours so I seem to store it for longer then required, but I can't bin it!!!!

chickadee · 6 March 2005 at 2:37PM

I've just started all this, but wanted to share my recent experience of Book Day Fancy Dress v last year's.

My son wanted to go to school dressed as Legolas so I did my usual ringing round of the fancy dress shops. No success. In desperation I went shopping. I am quite creative, but even surprised myself as to what I can achieve if I try. I bought a few yards of fabric from the local market to make a tunic and cloak. Then I went trawling the charity shops in search of accessories. No luck in the first couple, but was thrilled to find the PDSA shop had a sale on! Kids items were 10p and adult items were 49p. I bought some ladies suede-effect trousers to alter to fit my 9-yr-old. A brown belt, some black boots, size 4 (and a child's fleece for playing out in and a chenille jumper for me). The lot came to £2.06! OK, I spent the afternoon sewing, but my son was thrilled with the result and I got a lot of satisfaction from it.

This year: a unique costume(to keep), a fun afternoon and a very pleased son. Total cost was about £5.
Last year: a boring, uninspiring, hired costume, probably Harry Potter, which every other child also had, costing about £12 to hire.

The key, as with everything else, is preparation. Plan things out and you will save!

Queenie · 6 March 2005 at 2:59PM

Well DONE, chickadee!!! A well deserved "Pat-On-The-Back" - I admire your creativity. What a lucky son you have

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Now and Then:- 28 Feb - 6 March

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