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Archives for September 2013

Putting Vinegar in ketchup to make it last longer
Does anyone do this when you can't get the last drops of ketchup out of the bottle or is it just me? I love the taste of vinegar in ketchup.
Stoptober!
Just thinking and sorry if it has already posted but what about doing a stop buying what we don't need for Oct rather than give up drink or smoking if we don't do that anyway. I'm keen anyone else?
Gout friendly recipes
Poor old hubbie is suffering from recurrent gout and has a bad attack at the moment. I am struggling to think of what to make for tea which won't exacerbate it. I need to avoid: meat, poultry and fish beans, lentils, spinach and asparagus quorn and yeast extracts sugar and it should ideally be low fat. Anyone got any…
Shoe repairs?
I notice my leather boots are starting to wear a little. At first i thought i must have funny feet but apparently all/most people show heel wear towards the rear outer edge more ! So what are the options? Heel looks like tacked on rubber block,sole is leather. Fit Blakeys segs ? metal or rubber? I notice they now have…
How to get stains off white UPVC sills?
Can anyone tell me what to use on my outside window sills? They seem to have been marked with insect droppings. I've used Jif cream on an old dishwashing sponge/scourer. Then I bought UPCV cleaner. I've got the original 'droppings' off but it's left a brownish stain on the white sills. Is there anything that will remove…
Apple press
Hi I have 5 apple trees in the garden and would like to purchase an apple press and crusher. Can anyone recommend any good ones please? Thanks
Bread making - flavour
So I make my own bread. Yay! It looks good, smells fantastic!! My husband eats it a loaf at a time (I make 1lb loaves) but I don't think it has much flavour. I use bread flour, yeast, water salt and oil. I do a long overnight prove ( in fridge during summer, kitchen side during winter). Mix by hand. Has anyone got any…
How much cheaper to make own bread?
Just wondering if it's worth starting to make my own bread. My DH is a baker (only in a supermarket currently) but he still remembers how to make various things so said he would make bread or teach me for when he doesn't want to be baking ALL day! If you make your own how much does it cost roughly per loaf? I buy bread at…
Gloopy Fabric Softener
Hi, I've got some fabric softener, which is so thick and gloopy my washing machine can't get it out of the drawer. It's so thick, if I put enough water in it to make it normal consistency, I don't think I'd be able to fit enough in the drawer for it to be any use. Any suggestions? Thanks and happy Monday! (If I pretend I…
OS Daily Monday 30th September 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, please do come in, put your feet…
damp and mould HELP!
I have been smelling damp in my bedroom for a while but can't see any damp on walls. What I have found however is mould on the cuffs of my leather jacket on the bedroom door. I checked the whole room and found it on an old tv at one side of the room and on suitcases at the other side. How can I remove it all without…
Mini oven? Remoska? Wait? Advice please!
My electric oven no longer works, the fan goes but does not heat, this happened already in 2007 (£80 for repair) and in 2009 (£92 for repair). As we are going to change the kitchen in less than one year (I hope) it is not worth buying another cooker with oven, also because we don't yet know exactly what the new layout will…
Any Pastrami fans?
It's nice and I often have a sarnie with it in. The American's love the stuff.
Chipped china
My mother used to say you should throw away a cup or plate if it gets chipped as it can harbour bacteria. I do have a few items of chipped china I still use, but I do always think about what she said. Is there any truth in it? Do you keep using chipped items?
Weekly Flylady Thread 30th September 2013
Welcome to the weekly Flylady thread. If you need help organising your week or getting motivated when it comes to housework then come and join us. Thank you to Dusty for last weeks thread Still going with the new style this week, which works on how much time and motivation you have. The idea is that even if you are really…
Can I make tan shoes black?
I have some two tone black and tan shoes in my wardrobe which have hardly been worn, and yet I could do with some new black shoes which seems to be a waste. The obvious question therefore.... how could I make the tan black? Many thanks.
Loyd Grossman Tomato & Chilli Sauce - recipe for making own?
I absolutely love this! I normally buy it when it's on offer for £1 as I think it's not worth £2. Any recipe on how to make something similar myself?
Freezing Meat
Hi, I've always frozen meat as soon as I've bought it, then defrosted, cooked and eaten straight away or i've cooked it straight away and then frozen if batch cookin e.g. chilli etc, but I was wondering how safe it is to freeze meat twice? e.g. I've got some chicken thighs in the freezer, can I defroost them and make them…
What do you have in your store cupboard?
My friend has been made redundant and unfortunately the company she worked for hasn't been able to pay her salary as they promised. I was thinking of putting a box of store cupboard stuff together for her as she was talking about bills/mortgage/food etc and rather than take her flowers and chocolate I thought I'd do this -…
Frozen cream
I have loads of frozen cream in my freezer that I wanted to use in desserts. The first time I did this worked well, so when I next saw a load of reduced price cream I bought it and stuck it in the freezer so I could make a tray of fudge in bulk. Unfortunately the next time I tried, the cream split...not a nice result! I…

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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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