It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

sparrer

mummysaver wrote: »

sparrer - I cook several bags of beans together and freeze in portions, mixed and seperate! Def cheaper than cans for most beans, we need thriftlady to do one of her price comparisons really (if you're reading this?!). quote]

Mummysaver - I think I solved the problem of over-use of the cooker (which I am loathe to use at any time) I put the 3 varieties of pulses in my 3-tier steamer and cooked for 30 mins then left to cool til this morning. It worked, I have steamer full of soft pulses . Now I just have to find room in the already-full freezer for them all :rolleyes:. Would still be interested to know if it's cost effective but looking at the amount of pulses in my kitchen I am sure it is, there's enough to feed an army there!

Leopardlady

I think that we are struggling, but no more than most at the moment. I work from home and find it very difficult to leave the heating on the regular setting! But socks and good slippers have helped. Also i find that when i am sitting at my computer i have often got to around 6pm without turning the lights on, but this does mean i often can't see the keys to type! (must get better at touch typing!).
Cooking wise i was very fussy and hated left overs (please don't shout at me!) i have got over this and now love the exctiment of trying to work out what to do with something left over.

I am going to try and cook a load of pulses and then freeze some as this is something i have been meaning to do and keep forgetting to cook them, then have to change my meal plans because i don't have enough time to cook the beans or pulses!
Thanks for all the advice

purpleivy

moanymoany wrote: »

I LOVE the Tightwad Gazette. I know that it is American and that it is now quite old - but the items contain the germ of knowledge and inspiration that can be translated into the here and now.

An example - Amy gives a way to protect your mailbox from guys in cars with baseball bats. We don't have that problem here - but we are hoping to buy a bungalow and we worry about the bedroom window being open in the summer. What we have decided is not to change our minds and buy a house - but like Amy strengthening the box with concrete - we are going to plant a large bed of VERY prickly plants under the windows!

The idea of the book with prices in so that if you go into a new shop you can quickly check how much an item is in other shops you use, well worth doing. I only shop at Mr.T's so don't use it. However, there are a lot of people who regularly use several supermarkets and it would be useful for them.

Just watching Bloomberg and someone has just said it will be 14 quarters until we get back to the economic situation we had April-June this year. That is June 2012!

How about choosing a room at the back of the house for your bedroom, then it's less obvious to passers by?

debtfreeoneday

Leopardlady wrote: »

I think that we are struggling, but no more than most at the moment. I work from home and find it very difficult to leave the heating on the regular setting! But socks and good slippers have helped. Also i find that when i am sitting at my computer i have often got to around 6pm without turning the lights on, but this does mean i often can't see the keys to type! (must get better at touch typing!).
Cooking wise i was very fussy and hated left overs (please don't shout at me!) i have got over this and now love the exctiment of trying to work out what to do with something left over.

I am going to try and cook a load of pulses and then freeze some as this is something i have been meaning to do and keep forgetting to cook them, then have to change my meal plans because i don't have enough time to cook the beans or pulses!
Thanks for all the advice

I work from home too and sit with ski socks and a thick scarf on most days rather than put the heating on.. Regular cups of tea help as well.. Was only thinking today fingerless gloves would be good as well! I look a right state I can imagine!

Caterina

debtfreeoneday wrote: »

I work from home too and sit with ski socks and a thick scarf on most days rather than put the heating on.. Regular cups of tea help as well.. Was only thinking today fingerless gloves would be good as well! I look a right state I can imagine!

I also work from home and just a few minutes ago gave in and put CH on, on a very low constant heat so it warms up the house and then gets switched off just after we have dinner.

I tried to work with fingerless gloves on but found it really hard to type with them on, has anyone experienced this? I wonder if very thin gloves would work!

Endless cups of tea, yeh I can relate to that, off I go to pour myself another one!

Charis

Leopardlady wrote: »

Also i find that when i am sitting at my computer i have often got to around 6pm without turning the lights on, but this does mean i often can't see the keys to type!

If my sums are right, you can run a 10W compact bulb (60W equivalent)for ten hours for 2p. [DS has just checked for me, he says 'tis so]. I have based it on a unit price of 20p per unit (KWH) including VAT, yours may well be less - mine is.

That's about one tenth of the price of 2 Anadins (currently reduced at Mr T's) to get rid of the headache induced by eye strain :cool:

Seriously, though, you should not have just one screen (PC or TV) as a source of light in a room. Apart from the potential eye strain, when you move away from the screen you could trip over something in the dark before your eyes have a chance to adjust. Please take care.

mardatha

Does anybody else remember sets of three triangular pots that fitting together onto one cooker ring ? So you could 3 diffrent things on one heat ? I wonder if you still get them?

retiredlady

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody else remember sets of three triangular pots that fitting together onto one cooker ring ? So you could 3 diffrent things on one heat ? I wonder if you still get them?

I may have seen some at a camping accessories shop this summer?

Marion

Charis

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody else remember sets of three triangular pots that fitting together onto one cooker ring ? So you could 3 diffrent things on one heat ? I wonder if you still get them?

Do you need triangular spoons to get into the corners? :rotfl:

Austin_Allegro

Had my sister and brother in law round for lunch recently, unexpected.

I had some soup but not enough to go round so watered it down a bit.

Cue jokes from them about Oliver Twist and gruel...