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Archives for January 2013

£30 a week, family of 3 and am stuck on meals help!
Hello, I do my weekly shop for the 3 of us and the dog for about £30 / £40 max a week. I am so bored of my weekly dinners and would love some ideas for dinners that I can make stretch and are still cheap, my son has school dinners in the winter and hubby just has ham / cheese / tuna rolls , fruit from the market, home made…
Non perishable packed lunch?
My son is going for a weekend away with scouts and he needs a packed lunch for on the way there tomorrow and also for on the way back Sunday! Does anyone have any ideas past crisps/crackers/biscuits/fruit? I am stumped :) Thanks in advance x
breville slow cooker
Hi - just ordered new model breville 4 in 1 multi function slow cooker - does anyone know if you can use the inner (seems to be coated metal ) part in the oven - its exactly the right size and shape for a hat cake i want to make but cant find a sponge (non pudding ) type recipe to use in the slow cooker so was thinking of…
Shopping help for a tight month!
Can anyone give me some advice on shopping for a single veggie on a tight budget due to a couple of unexpected bills please. I dont eat any meat but do eat eggs and cheese. I do eat quorn. like most fruit and veg not to keen on tomatos but will eat in sauces etc. Just want to cut back this month to get back on track. I…
Thursday 31st jan
O/S Daily Thursday 31st 2013 This is an “over the garden fence” type thread where we chat about everything Old Style and maybe a little bit more. It’s a great, inspiring and motivating thread we start each day to discuss what Old Style things we’re going to do today or what we’ve achieved already. Everyone’s welcome,…
Catering for a tea at home after a funeral
I am going to be catering for the tea after my mother in laws funeral there wil be approx 60 people returning to the house (big house) can anyone help on how much food to provide for a finger buffet there are no vegetarians. I have thought of doing the following foods: Sanwiches egg mayo tuna mayo cold meat cheese Sausage…
Is is safe to buy reduced packet ham and freeze?
I've been doing this for a little while as didn't see the harm in it considering i buy lots of reduced food anyway and freeze it. The slices defrost fine in the fridge over night and we eat it for lunch that day. I'm just checking that the reason the packs don't say you can freeze them on it is more for a taste point…
Hello...newbie here!
Hi everybody! I'm a newbie to the thrifty lifestyle and I'm hooked! I'm having a lot of trouble persuading my DH to follow but he is appreciating the extra money it's giving us! We started as we have a huge amount of debt to clear and its giving us an extra 200 at least per month! These are the things I have done so far:…
chocolate cake slow cooker recipe please
im after a chocolate cake recipe (not pudding type) as it needs to be iced and stuff - most ive found online seem to be pudding types - can i just put in normal chocolate cake mix and if so how long and what settings - help please
OS Cake Recipes
Hi It's my boyfriends birthday next week, and I want to bake him a cake to take to work next week, does anybody have any good OD cake recipes, that doesn't require me spending a fortune on ingredients. I have the basics in my store cupboard. The cake should ideally serve 10-12 people, and can be a large cake or small…
Butter or Stork?
Hi, I need a bit of advice. I have a few cake/treat recipes that need butter, when I went shopping I saw that you could get stork for half the price of butter, does it do the same thing? Sorry I am a complete novice with baking but I am really trying to cut down on buying so many pre packed cakes and cereal bars for my…
Sofa Cover?
Hi all, I have a fabric sofa which is just about threadbare on the arms and the cat has scratched it to death down the sides of the sofa. the actual cushions/ the bit you sit on is ok, it's just the arms and sides that look terrible! A throw doesn't seem to work as we are an active family with little kids and it just keeps…
O/SDaily Wednesday 30th January
O/S Daily Wednesday 30th 2013 This is an “over the garden fence” type thread where we chat about everything Old Style and maybe a little bit more. It’s a great, inspiring and motivating thread we start each day to discuss what Old Style things we’re going to do today or what we’ve achieved already. Everyone’s welcome,…
Argos Value Range Microwave MM717CFA - anyone have one?!
Evening all! :beer: This might not be the right place to post, but OS always has good answers! Does anyone have the above microwave? I'm looking for a replacement plate for mine (the original is long broken and thrown away), don't want to chance it with 'universal' ones, and I can't seem to find the info I need from…
Please can you recommend a cookery book for DD, 15
Please can anyone recommend a suitable cookery book for my DD. She is 15 and I would like to get her a book that covers the basics of cooking. I am rubbish at cooking to my shame, and I would really like to give my kids more experience in the kitchen as I think being able to cook a decent meal is a life skill that every…
leg of lamb
i have been given a 1.3kg leg of lamb with the bone in, what would be the best way to cook it? slow cooker, slowly in a low oven? i love lamb and dont want to ruin it.
Advice needed on twinks hobnob?
Hi Everyone I love the twinks hobnobs recipe on here and have made it a lot! I have an idea to try a new variation it but don't want to waste ingredients(because not sure it would work). So here's my idea: some chopped glazed cherries(left over from xmas) dessicated coconut almond flour(instead of regular white flour) oats…
Diabetes cheap meals/snacks
Hello, I'm looking for some advice and ideas for meals that are reasonably cheap. I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and have been told to follow the diet of someone with type 2 diabetes. I have so far cut out sugar in tea, chocolate but having 2 rich tea biscuits after my evening meal. In the past week I've…
Removing mould
I was just hoping someone had a remedy for removing mould from shower grouting. I've tried those expensive mould removers but have not had much luck and don't think they've removed much. Any tips?
Advice please on HM flapjacks
Hi all, I thought I'd try dipping into your vast knowledge of baking :) I'm thinking of making some flapjack type snacks. I've made baked oatmeal before, but have lost the recipe and it was terribly unhealthy anyways (lots of butter and sugar). Now, the recipe would have to be gluten free, sorry. I've got GF oats, honey,…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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